Overhead pic of the kitchen

Island pic

with microwave drawer

This off the wall (literally off the wall!) idea occurred to me as I looked at your plan.
As drawn, there may not be quite enough room between the big peninsula and the cabs on the right, but the peninsula could be shortened as needed.
Might be ideas here to consider. Not sure of your traffic pattern and if this would be an unacceptable barrier. Not sure if you would be willing to narrow that wide passage on the upper left.

It surely would add significant seating and cabinet space.

Incidentally, do use as many drawer cabinets as you can on the island and the perimeter. And a prep sink would be a very nice plus for you!

{{gwi:2136448}}

I wouldnt necessarily make the island into a poeninsula, but can it be turned around 90 degrees so the long side is parallel to the fridge/stove rather than the cleanup sink area? It just seems not very useful the way its oriented. I'd turn it around, and possibly add a prep sink to the island across from the fridge.

secondly, in answer to your question about the microwave drawer, mine is very happily installed in a 24" cabinet (picture below).

I think that not every kitchen is the right shape for an island. Can you physically fit one in? Sure. Should you scrap seating, of which you have relatively little, in order to get more cabinet storage, of which you have relatively little? No. You're scrunching up the kitchen and sacrificing needed storage and adequate seating, to fit the island.

That said, if you've always dreamed of having an island, go for it.

But another option would be to use the area behind the fireplace to fit a hutch for more cabinet storage and counter space - a coffee bar or a place to sit your toaster perhaps - and go for a farmhouse table in front of the french doors big enough to seat eight.

By the way, is there a reason you were hoping to leave the entire area in front of the doors empty? They can still be easily accessed when some of the space is used for seating.

Congrats on getting started.

Thanks everyone for the feedback. This is very helpful in getting me to think through the design. I have included a pic that shows the specs of the whole space -- we do have room for a table away from the island area. Also not shown is a walk in pantry outside of the door on the top right in original pic (this door leads to the garage too).

@Bellsmom: While i really like the peninsula idea, I am hesitant to go with it because I feel like it might block traffic flow from the living room. The kids are in and out of the living room, kitchen, and then a play room on the far side of the kitchen -- might drive me crazy to have them going by the oven, sink and dishwasher every time to get there. Will think more about that.

@Sjhockeyfan: love the pic of your microwave drawer. Definitely going with that option. I agree that a longer work space in front of the oven and fridge would be good. My concern is that it then leaves a huge open space in the kitchen between the work area and the table (see new pic). Any thoughts on what I would do with that space?

@EAM44: really like the idea of a hutch/counter on the brick wall. The table in front of the doors looks nice too but then I am left with a lot of open space in the area where the table was going to go (in front of the bay windows, can see in new pic). It is a large but somewhat awkward space. Would love any other thoughts you have.

Again, appreciate all the feedback. I wish I could feel more confident in my design choice before cabinet construction starts.

The small walls in the table are being removed so that will open directly into hallway. Thanks again for all the suggestions.

I agree with a couple of the above posters--an island that size will be a barrier between the opening by the fridge and the French doors to the exterior. People are going to follow the most direct path (or what they perceive as the most direct path). It seems that anyone entering from the hallway will continue straight ahead, through both of your work zones.

Those entering the house from the French doors might walk straight ahead, because they will be oriented in that direction. Personally I'd do two things:

1) Shorten the island by a couple of feet, making a more direct path between entry/exit.

2) Make work aisles 42" instead of 48", especially in the aisle between island and range, leaving more room at back and far end of island. (And maybe making those aisles less attractive as the egress route.)

I know that's less than the NKBA recommended width for aisles, but many of have less than 42", and it works fine.

Are the French doors already there? Is there any chance that they could move a 2-3 feet closer to the window bay? Then traffic would flow more easily through the empty space between kitchen and breakfast area.

You could extend the counter on the right side of the sink, and add another wall cabinet for dish storage near the DW. Or, you could move the sink down to leave more prep space on the left side.

Whatever the plan, I'm glad that you'll be getting a kitchen after three long years!

mama_goose: It has been a long three years! And is very exciting to finally be making progress. Thank you for these suggestions. I would love to move the sliding door down a few feet but unfortunately that is an existing element I need to work around. Maybe my best bet is to shorten the island a bit and narrow the aisles as you suggest. It's a snow day here today so I am going to play with these measurements. Thank you!

Is the window over the sink also existing? Because I was thinking that it would be nice to get the stove on the same wall as the sink. It would be better to have the prep area between them, and easier to vent the hood on an exterior wall.

Then the microwave could go on a shelf next to the fridge. That area could be snack central for the kids, and maybe a baking area. That would also give you more options for making the island a bit smaller, without a MW drawer.

I hesitate to say this because I love my island (work table really), which is 3x5 with seating on one side, with 36" of aisle space. But that side is not up against a wall, which means that there is ample room for shoulders. In your plan, shoulders will be brushing the wall. Any time some one is seated, traffic will have to pass through your work zones. Although I'd love for you to have that wonderful island with seating, I'm starting to see that there probably isn't room for it.

Since you have a chance to play with ideas today, consider leaving out the island, but using a smaller rolling cart, instead. I think you could shorten the wide door on the FP side, then wrap cabinets around that corner, over to the broom closet. Since you'll have a nice wide opening on the DR side, the broom closet could be made wider and deeper (the depth of the new cabinets) for more storage. All that storage would make up for losing the cabinets that were planned for the island.

You could make some of the cabinets look like the china hutch posted above, with shallower cabinets on each side. The rolling cart could be incorporated into the design, to be out of the way when not in use. It could be a lovely feature to make up for losing the island.

Maybe someone with better computer and design skills can elaborate on these ideas. Good luck!

mama_goose - thank you for these ideas, I appreciate your creative eye! The window over the sink is also existing as is the dishwasher next to it. It's not in the budget to move plumbing so I think I am stuck with the configuration. I have put a table and our make shift island in the space where the proposed island will be (along with some pink tape on the floor that marks off the actual dimensions). Between the edge of the island and the brick wall there is about 53" of space.

Still playing and would love any other feedback people have.

A few more pics of the current space.

Thanks again for everyone's help and apologies if these pics are not in the right format - this is my first time posting and I really do appreciate the feedback. Decision needs to be made this week - yikes!

Oh my, what a charming space, and beautiful kitchen you will have! By viewing the drawings, I'd never imagine the gorgeous brick--I'd have to think twice about covering that, for sure.

I had to do a lot of work-arounds in my own kitchen, so I understand the constraints. Please post progress pics--this is one kitchen reveal that I'll be anticipating.

After seeing your pics, I think you'll like the linked thread.

Here is a link that might be useful: You need these. ;)