Pullouts mean you have to open a door, or both doors...all the way out, then pull out the shelf. A drawer means you pull out the drawer only as far as you need to. Takes less time and less space. I have a lot of drawers in my kitchen and some of the few cabinets that aren't, I am having changed to drawers. So you get a strong vote from me for drawers over pullouts.

I hope you'll get more out of your island than the 1 bank of drawers and a sink...Are you doing a sink and smaller bank of drawers to use the 36"?

Exactly rhome410! I am going to do a 15" or 18" sink cabinet (whatever I can get away with with a silgranit prep sink) and the remainder will definitely be drawers. We need as much storage as we can get.

Besides the extra effort, I always feel that pullouts waste so much space on the sides..

Besides the extra effort, I always feel that pullouts waste so much space on the sides..

And I always had things falling off. I hated pullouts and would opt for stationary shelves before I'd have them again. But drawers are great.

Shoot...Forgot to address the microhood. Instead, can you have a cubbyhole built into the pantry cabinet for the microwave and get a more efficient hood for over the stove?

I don't know about taking up the pantry space. DH wants the microhood bc he thinks it saves room and looks more streamlined. But I do like the look of hoods, esp. marcy96's newly posted one!

Rhome410 if you are still reading, how far off the edge of the island would you put the prep sink? I was thinking I want it to the far right in an 18" cabinet but I want a landing zone on both the left and right side of the prep sink..

For a more built-in look, price a 30" deep refrigerator side panel. Pad out the pantry and ref top cabinet to precisely match the depth of the body of your ref. Cut the side panel onsite to match.

I think silgranit prep sinks need at least 21"?

Mark me as another who doesn't care for microhoods. The micro-in-face plus the height over the cooking surface are irritating enough, but a lot of them have low powered fans.

I'd change the cabs around the stove to wide drawers and put the MW under the counter in the island. I'd also put the trash pull-out in the island, if that's where you plan to do most of your prep work. It would still be convenient to the clean-up sink, but it would be closer to where you'll use it most. Without trash near your prep area, you will be cursing as you haul onion skins and such across to that corner.

Nice plan for a small space. I only have one small suggestion based on your comment, We need as much storage as we can get.

Since storage is at a premium and you have nearby seating (love the banquette), consider replacing your bar seating with cabinets. This would also eliminate the bottleneck at the fridge when people are seated at the counter (your drawing doesn't list dimensions but it doesn't look particularly generous). This would gain you space to move the MW to the island. If you put it on the side facing the fridge and pantry, it will be handy for reheating leftovers, popcorn and such.

There is not a whole ton of storage there. I can see where you wouldn't want to lose your pantry to the MW. But I would think you also need most of the storage in the island.

Idea #1: Is it possible to make the island any longer?
I have seen islands with an additional cabinet on the end (say facing the patio doors) with an open shelf for the MW to sit on. That way you could have the hood and the same storage you have now.

Idea #2: Storage beneath the seats of the banquette. It's possible to have drawers made that can be pulled out the end even when people are sitting on the seats. Might be a good place for pet food, or a case of soda?

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchenkelly's kitchen in the FKB with banquette drawers

So DH and I spoke and he does not want to lose the seating at the island, nor do I. Is the trash where it is such a problem if we are going to have a garbage disposal in both the prep and cleanup sink? If so, we are open to moving it to the island...what would you put in a drawer stack to the far right of the cleanup sink then?

If this were your kitchen, would you want the prep sink on the edge of the island close to the fridge and stove OR in in the middle of the island (with 36" drawers on the right room but breaking up the prep space/work space)?? My only negative is that the purpose fot the prep sink, for us, was bc the refrigerator was on the other side of the island and we would have to walk around to the sink. With the prep sink in the island middle we will still have to do that... We can put the pots and pans in the 33" drawers that will go next to the range instead?

At this point, I'm thinking of not building in the microwave and putting it on the wall between the slider and the banquette on some counter/bar set-up area.

bmorepanic: I really like your suggestion to box in the fridge more. Thanks!

oh, as far as the silgranit sink needing 21"..

I found a prep/bar sink with overall dimensions of 15" x 15" so I didn't think that large of a base was necessary?

I would immediately say I'd want the sink on the far end by the fridge, except for the fact that in your plan that puts it in the best prep space. HOWEVER, if you see people using the sink and prepping things like salad, or doing baking projects on the end or on the seating side of the island, I'd deal with that first issue and have it on the corner anyway. You can always prep by the stove where you have plenty of room if you need to?

The disposals won't take care of cans you empty while cooking at the stove, butter wrappers and other packaging, etc., etc. that I find the need to put in the trash while cooking and prepping. Drawers by the main sink: Dish towels, foil and plastic wrap, maybe Tupperware,...?

I, too, would eliminate island seating with other informal seating so close (as I'm about to in my own kitchen)...But it's your kitchen. :-) I will leave a space for one stool in case someone needs to sit while helping with a lengthy project.

Moving the MW to that cabinet near the banquette is a great idea, provided you have enough landing space for it. (I wondered what that was over there but didn't see it in your drawings).

I understand not wanting to give something up. Are you planning on 2 or 3 at the island? It's hard to tell without dimensions. Maybe there's a way to shift them from in a row to down to an end and around the corner. Just a thought.

We have room for island seating that is 42" from our kitchen table. That's also the pathway from entry hallway to backdoor and to FR, not unlike what you have but instead of table seating, you have a refrigerator. We never put stools there because there isn't enough room. It'd be like trying to pass behind people in a crowded bar (not really the atmosphere I'm going for, lol). We plan to replace the overhang with cabinets for more storage.

It's funny, now I am completely obsessing over where the trash pullout goes. For years, we have either had one around a corner or under the sink and made-do..no huge deal. But now, I can't sleep :) Maybe I'll move it and have a little trash under the main sink just in case?

We are planning 3 at the island. Island being @ 74" x 39".
I'm sure we won't be sitting there all the time but I want the option.

I'm thinking the prep sink on the far right is the way to go. Then either 18" drawers stack or trash pullout and next to that the 36" drawers. Our kitchen is not huge so I can walk an extra 18" here and there with no fuss.

The relationship between the sink, stove, and island in my kitchen is very similar to yours. We put the trash on the end of the island nearest the sink, and the prep sink near the other end. This works out very well, and the trash is conveniently accessible for prep, cooking, and clean-up.

Here's how the elements of the island are arranged...

holligator! that is just what I'll do then!! looks and sounds great. thanks for your input. i have to now check out your finished kitchen.