please give room measurements etc.

Additionally you say your children are out of the home and you are retired. Depending on how much room you have, you might want to consider doing a cooktop with an oven in a cabinet. Remember as we age, it can be harder to bend down. I know it doesn't seem possible when still active but I always think of my mother who was extremely active, went to the gym 5 days a week but developed Parkinsons at the age of 72. Because her ovens were high enough, she was able to continue to cook meals for many years after being diagnosed.

Where you have the microwave you can do a wall oven with a microwave on top. Both then are easy to access. The microwave would be at shoulder height. That is what I am doing in my new build. Again I'm thinking in terms of aging in place and at age 30 x 2, (I'll be darned if I say the actual number, LOL) I now understand my mother's thinking from many years ago.

Otherwise your layout looks very similar to what I'm planning. :)

Did you already explore a peninsula plan? I was wondering about combining the beverage center and clean up area under the window and put a prep sink in the peninsula. It might encroach on the dining room too much.

cpartist: thanks for your comment.

--The room is approximately 12'6" x 13'6".
--I did spec a gas range originally (been waiting 30 years for that) but after using a portable induction burner for a while I am so hooked on the induction that I am giving up gas. But you are correct about the wall oven (and I'm a bit older than you and understand the bending thing). I'm just not thrilled with an over the oven microwave, and not sure I want to close that counter wall with a wall oven. As currently drawn, the microwave would just slide into a lower shelf under the counter. But I will definitely take your advice and explore that option.

benjesbride: Thank you too! Your drawing is almost exactly what I originally planned. I wasn't happy about it for a few reasons: 1) my husband would come in the front door and pile his "stuff" and mail and whatever else on that peninsula, no matter I did. He just would. Love him, but I know him. 2) I'd rather not have the prep sink looking into the living room. We're very casual but...that's me. 3) as you said, the stools would encroach on that small dining room quite a bit. 4) There is a counter there now and I really don't like it. 5) I really like the small bar/prep/beverage sink by the door to the family room. DH will wash his hands there, fill his water glasses there 10X daily, and I can corral all the beverage stuff.

That counter under the new window is 15" deep (not long) and I'm planning deep drawers for storage.

Although we keep saying this isn't our "dream" or "forever" home, it likely will be the last house we do a major remodel, and we'd like to make it comfortable for the "aging in place" concept, so I'm all for ideas on comfort and ease of care. We may live here the rest of our lives, or maybe only a few years. We're adding an ensuite master bath within the current footprint of the master bedroom and gutting the other two baths as well. New HVAC, plumbing, electrical, raising hallway ceilings, new windows in the master BR, all new flooring. The outside will get a major facelift, but that might be after we move. If we survive that long. ;-)

Our architect is really big on giving guests/family a place to sit in the kitchen out of the way (hence the island seating), and also on bringing natural light in (he spec'd a new 6' window we hadn't thought of). He suggested a 36" range or cooktop, but I'm thinking 30" would be plenty and give a bit more counter space. I like to cook, but am tired of fussy cleaning, so am planning as much easy-care as possible. Love the easy cleanup of the induction burners, and will probably use a stone-like quartz for counters, creamy white painted cabinets. Floor will be a warm, medium-color wood and will be the same from entry and hall into the kitchen.

thanks for reading all this - and for your input. Very much appreciated.

It's great to be able to remodel while not living there!

First, we need as close to actual measurements as possible - even 3 or 4 inches can make a difference in what can be done. Please see the FAQ Layout Help topic (How do I ask for Layout Help and what information should I include?).

A few things I'm concerned about:

• You have all three primary work zones crammed into a small space within the larger kitchen. While that's fine if no one else EVER works in the kitchen with you (prepping, cooking, and/or cleaning up or, even, getting a snack), it is not a good layout if you have help of any sort.
• Aisle behind the island...while 48" would be fine if there were neither seats at the island nor work counters behind, with both seats and work counters, it's too narrow. Consider making the base cabinets 12" deep tall pantry cabinets (i.e., all shelves) (except in front of the window, of course), decreasing the depth of your island to 42" and see what size aisle you end up with (note: 12" deep cabinets are actually 13" deep when counting doors - if also counters, then 12" becomes 13.5"). If the aisle is at least 54", then I think you will be fine with seats + cabinets. [Remember also that you said it will be a busy aisle.]
• Seating overhang...I can't tell how deep the seating overhang is, but the recommended minimum overhang is 15" of clear knee/leg space. If you're are a tall family, more would be better. Note that this is "clear" space, i.e., after accounting for cabinets and decorative doors/end panels on the backs of cabinets on the island (or doors, if there are cabinets facing the overhang).
• Prep Zone...Your Prep Zone is a little bit iffy. You have no real workspace next to the sink and there's no water on the perimeter near the range. So, this means you will be cleaning/washing veggies in the sink and then taking them to the counter next to the range (where there's decent workspace). However, that space is also backed by the DW - so there could be an issue with backing into an open DW door. You only have a 42-inch aisle, so there won't be that much room b/w the (open) DW door and the counter in front of it.
• Standard MW under the counter...placing a standard MW in an alcove under the counter is not aging-in-place friendly. To use an under counter standard MW, you have to lean down quite far to see and use the controls and you have to practically squat to see in the window to check the food or reach in to stir. If you want an under counter MW, you would be better off with a MW drawer.
• Island - Workspace...You have no real workspace on the island b/c of the large cleanup sink in island and the relatively short island (short for placing the only sink in the island). You should have at least 36" on the non-DW side (42" is much better). So, with what looks to be a 36" sink: 1.5" overhang + 1" support panel for the DW + 24" DW + 36" sink + 42" workspace + 1.5" counter overhang = 106" (8'10"). Even if you skimp on workspace (down to 36"), you still need 100" (8'4").
• Trash pullouts should be in the Prep Zone and near the Cooking Zone where far more trash (and recyclables) are generated and for a longer period of time. So, it should be either in the island on the non-DW side or next to the range b/c of your limited space in the island.
• Finally, keep in mind that with your Cleanup Zone in the island your dirty dishes will (1) be front and center in your kitchen and (2) in the face of anyone sitting at the island.

Buehl - thank you. Yikes. The exact dimensions are window wall to entry wall is 14'4" and back wall to living/dining area is 12'7". Can I address your concerns?
Some background - in my current kitchen, my "prep zone" is a 32" counter and a 21" ancient single sink. That is also my "cleanup zone". Another counter houses a microwave oven, coffee pot and toaster oven, with a bit of room to set things down. A ridiculous tiny island with a stovetop smack in the middle of the kitchen, blocking the refrigerator from my 32" prep zone. Awful, and I raised three children with that setup. So.....my expectations are modest. The new kitchen is fairly small and I know it won't have the space or clearances I would love to have. But, I have to work with it.
"Aisle behind the island" - that run of 15" lower cabs is not a primary prep space, and would likely only be used when the kids visit or we are entertaining. I'm thinking of it as a serving area as well. I was considering 12" deep cabs there, but would like to go with the Ikea boxes which only go 15 deep. I know 48" isn't ideal for a walkway, but it might be the best I can get without giving up something more important. 90% of the time, it will be DH and me in there.
"Seating overhang" - point taken. We are not tall people, but I will mull on this.
"Prep Zone - You have no real workspace next to the sink and there's no water on the perimeter near the range." - The small sink in the beverage area is only a secondary prep zone (asking someone else to wash some lettuce occasionally). I'm considering the island sink/countertop to be my Prep Zone as well as Cleanup Zone. I'm so used to rinsing/chopping/mixing etc next to my sink that I know that will be my main station. I'm planning on a largish (33") deepish (9") sink with room for dirty bowls/pans, etc, and will use the counter to the right of the sink for overflow as needed. I don't leave the D/W door open while prepping or cooking; never have (since my prep zone for the last 25 years has been over the D/W). The counter near the range is available for prep or baking prep if needed, but my main work would be to the left of the island sink.
"Standard MW under the counter...placing a standard MW in an alcove under the counter is not aging-in-place friendly." - yes, I'm beginning to see that. Will look for alternate MW space.
"Island - Workspace" - I'm pretty much stuck with a 90" island, if I have an island. I'm looking at a 33" undermount sink, with a fitted cutting board which will add some workspace. I don't really want the D/W under my prep space (been there/done that) so need to preserve that 24" cabinet to the right of the sink for the D/W. Hmmmm. Which brings us to the
"Trash pullouts" - I was thinking a trash pullout to the left of my island sink, under my prep area. Convenient, but it takes up a lot of space in the island. in the range cabinet is an interesting idea, I would only need to turn around. Actually I was hoping to avoid having the trash under my workspace, as I would have to move out of the way for someone else to throw something away. Something that happens when we're feeding more people. ;-) We only need a small recycling bin for beverage cans/bottles and that could go near the beverage sink/center, so a narrow trash pullout would work.
"with your Cleanup Zone in the island" - Yes, dirty dishes on a pretty island isn't a lovely sight from the living room. I'm very good at cleaning-up-while-I-cook" (I've had to be) and I think the deep sink will hide some sins.
Buehl, thank you so much for your thoughtful comments. You have much more experience and I'm grateful for any ideas you and everyone else might have. This kitchen will be a vast improvement over what i have had for many years, but i know it will not be ideal and will be a compromise. I just can't move the footprint.
I could post the current floorplan of the kitchen, but it's terrible and we aren't keeping anything.

Can you encroach on the dining room a little? Maybe putting the beverage station there. Or perhaps you don't need the counter seating if you have informal dining space in the family room. I'm not a pro so I can't offer any layout suggestions, but I know when I was trying to conceptualize my remodel, I thought about how I used my adjacent family room and ended up deciding to turn it into more of a breakfast room to free up some room in my tiny kitchen.

thanks, ediblekitchen. We are planning a dining space in the family room - actually a corner banquette eventually. Giving up the island seating is a possibility, but DH LOVES it. He grew up with a "bar and stools" and is so excited about having it. I'm not completely hung up on a beverage center, but I am determined to have a small second sink for handwashing and beverage use, and that spot seems the best place. Out of the way of the cook and convenient to the family room and outdoors. We are big on beverages - mostly water, tea and coffee, some beer and wine, so I think the beverage area will get a lot of use.

At least 80% of the time, it will just be two of us there.