I'm not a pro, but I agree with Sophie. You should at the very least have landing space on both sides of the cooktop.

One of the goals of my kitchen remodel was to get a hood that vented to the outside, so my strong preference would be to put the cooktop where you show L2, with a nice hood above. This puts the range a lot closer to your prep space (near the sink), and allows for drawers both under the cooktop and on the island.

Not only is your fridge a mile from the prep area, it is blocked by the island. A prep sink on the island would not only solve both issues, but separate your prep and cleanup zones. Since it doesn't look like you'll have seating on the island, you can have the prep sink face the window.

I would also try to relocate the cooktop to the perimeter. More landing space and overhead exterior vented exhaust are a must in my book.

Just popping in from work to say thanks to all, and to reply: apologies that I didn't indicate the following in my floorplan, but I hadn't anticipated folks generously offering advice about the layout. The 11' area/wall/line to the left is actually not a wall: a hi-bar extends from U1 to L1, and kitchen actually opens to the family room. So, the diagonal wall ends at U1's left: I can't place a cooktop there.

Having lurked for months, I do realize it's preferable to move a cooktop off the island, and that DD is not nearly as functional as a wall-mount exhaust. But as you can see, my kitchen walls are flocked with windows (which I love), and I don't see anywhere to move the cooktop. (This was an unintended reno due to a DW leak in August, so we're budgeted out doing all the "while you're at it" improvements/upgrades without also introducing de- and reconstructing the layout.) The DD ductwork (in slab and vents out directly beneath U4 wall) is already in place from current electric cooktop.

And while I'm not a "keep it this way just because it's been this way forever"-type person, we've managed to raise three kids (safely...not a burn mark on them!) with the limited (non-existent to the right) landing space on the current island. Heck, with the planned increase in island size, I'm thrilled to have a larger landing space for both my baked goods coming out of the oven and items unloaded out of the fridge.

I've never been a fan of a separate prep sink: all of my prep is done to the right of the main sink, and it's a quick pivot to the cooktop. I clean as I go, so having the cleaning and prep zones overlapping don't seem to interfere.

You can put drawers under an induction cooktop, even with a DD. They won't be great drawers but good enough for spatulas and stuff like that. It'll require some customization of the drawer boxes of course. But on the other hand, you need to keep your pots somewhere. But on the third hand, the counter is 33" deep so why the heck is the DD getting in the way? It should be in the space behind the cooktop and only a little bit intruding into drawer space. I would push on this. The KD might be right, but he might also be lazy.

Any reason not to center the cooktop in the island? And have you considered adding a gate-leg-type surface on the end next to the cooktop?

So anyway of the choices presented, I'd prefer your initial plan.

" we've managed to raise three kids (safely...not a burn mark on them!) with the limited (non-existent to the right) landing space on the current island."

Me too, 3 kids, nothin to the right....AND that side of the stove was a major passageway. Go figure. ;)

KD says we can't install drawers on the front, beneath the cooktop

Huh? I have a four drawer stack under my induction cooktop - the uppermost drawer (directly under the cooktop) is actually a full size drawer (so I could use the soft close hardware that was there already) but the carpenter scooped the drawer along the sides so it gradually goes from low to non-existent towards the back. This is important with the Bosch induction cooktop (which is what I have) because it has that little venting flap below that you don't want interfering with anything in the drawer. We know enough to keep the spices and spatulas and measuring cups in front of where the drawer begins to scoop. It's a very utilitarian drawer!

The no drawers might have to do with the downdraft ventilation rather than the cooktop.

Thanks, Fori. A couple of months ago, I did draw plans for three shallow drawers in the front (beneath the cooktop). As you mentioned, they couldn't be very deep, but would've created enough space for spatulas, etc. on top KD said because my cabs are bottom (not side) mount, and with the hood taking up almost the entire space (internally, 30w x 21h), the drawer hardware couldn't get past the hood...? I guess I trusted her instinct and figured I'd easily pick up the storage somewhere else. It IS a shame to waste all that space just under the cooktop, towards the front. I really wish I could just go back to the showroom, screwdriver set in hand, and take apart the vignette hardware so I could see for myself. ;)

I did fiddle w/ the idea of centering the cooktop laterally, but that would leave me (again) with two smaller areas on either end for drawers/storage. I've done so much research lately on cabs, drawers and unusable space, and a high priority is to maximize my storage. As it is, we eliminated two 36w x 30h uppers in our plans to demo that piece of hanging wall (architectural detail, as one pro dubbed it!) between kitchen and family room, and I need to pick up the loss somewhere else. Um...gate-leg? Lost me there. :) TY again.

Beth: LOL...new term for us: cyberspace doppelgangers!

I just want to comment that anecdotal evidence on safety is just that, anecdotal. The cooktop, as-is, in that location, is a safety issue. Just because nothing has happened yet doesn't mean it's safe. The worst type of burns are from hot liquids containing fat ... either oil spills or something like soup.

I recently went through a traumatic burn injury with my child (Ambulance -> ER -> Burn Unit, etc) and I've learned a lot about burns, for both small people and grown-ups alike in the therapy process. It's bad news. Scary bad news.

Anyway, I'd ceiling mount a hood in front of a window before using that island setup. The cooktop like that would be a major deterrent to me as a home buyer (I'd likely pass on the house unless it was discounted 50K to remodel and even then, too much trouble).

As your children are grown, please consider that you may again have small people in your space in the form of Grandchildren.

Yes, Pal - you hit it on the head. But I'm still thinking there's gotta be a creative way to go about this.

Jerzee: it's actually due to one of your previous posts that I left room for the cooktop flap (see my Plan A - Front view? That light blue, dashed-line rectangle is thanks to you. And I'm sure I also have you to credit for getting me thinking about customizing drawers for that awkward space. :)

Thing is, a downdraft is usually mounted in a 24" deep cabinet WITH a cooktop. So yes, that is tight. But you have a 33" deep cabinet. Or a 24" deep cabinet for a cooktop with drawers and a 9" downdraft cabinet.

Hmm, if you already have cabinetry in the form of L2, I think it would be well worth considering moving the cooktop to that location. I assume U1 is on an outside wall? Yes, you'd lose some of the opening between the kitchen and family room, but what you would gain in function would be enormous! Now the whole island is available for storage and landing space; you have full storage under the cooktop; you have efficient prep space between sink and range; you have a landing space on each side of the cooktop.

You might even be able to re-use L1 in the island.

Search houzz hood window if you are considering changing. That island cooktop would drive me nutso.

I was trying to imagine cooking on your island. :-/ That is my perturbed face. Haha. I went to grab for a spatula, hot pad, whatever...with the drawers going sideways. That seems way too awkward. So if you have no other option, I vote A. But I think you have a tentative plan C from annkh.

Have you considered her idea to move it to where you have L2?

It really would be great to get the cooktop off the small island and have a regular hood. You have had to live with this layout for so long that you are now used to it. But I think you would be amazed at how much better the range on the perimeter closer to your sink would function!

You would have to have a new wall built behind it, but at least it would not be the famous "hanging chunk of wall". LOL! It would just have to be out enough from the angled wall to hang the hood above. The rest of the pennisula would still be open. Whatcha think?

Beth: LOL...new term for us: cyberspace doppelgangers"

I had to go look up doppelganger lol. But it fits. Perfectly! ;)

As for your kitchen, my only advice is this. Do what you can afford and don't do what you can't afford, and do what you can live with comfortably. Whatever that is. Do it.

All: I truly cannot thank you enough for taking time to provide input and helping me think outside the box (that which is my island!) -- the silence you hear is me taking everything into account and seeing how much of it might work. I'll post more diagrams later with specific thoughts, but just hitting quick points off the top of my head:

annkh: ventilation differences aside and acknowledged (DD vw wall-mounted hood), moving cooktop over to L2 would make the fridge distance that much greater. At least now, my sink/prep zone, cooktop and fridge are somewhat in one general area. I'll detail other, more substantial issues later -- but you and others have me thinking! :) Part of my hesitation yesterday was that DH is soooooooooooo ready for this to be done already. We're going on a year, and he doesn't get it. His opinion matters. But when I discussed the potential change in plans, he's not totally opposing this...the door has widened a crack! And, yes, U1 is an exterior wall.

Fori: hope my diagram didn't confuse. That black rectangle in the first drawing (labelled Isl-A and Isl-B) simply mark off the planned extension. Plan A does indeed involve a 33" cabinet that will house cooktop/DD. With that sliver of extra space (~8" deep) to the rear of the DD housing, I'll stuff SOMETHING in there!

MamaRachel: I hope you know that I wasn't at all minimizing safety issues. Not trying to sound glib, but a kitchen is fraught with hazards, and we do the best we can to reduce chances of injury/harm, given what constraints our individual lives might place upon us. At one point, I did contemplate placing the cooktop in the corner, but NKBA guidelines instruct NOT to place cooktops beneath an inoperable window. That would've been the perfect wall, too, to plop a vent hood. I know kitchen styles and preferences can be very regional, so I checked w/ a couple of my real estate agent friends: they they both confirmed that cooktop/island homes have not been a deterrent to sales at all, and it's not a common occurrence that folks w/ homes as old as mine are moving stovetops to the perimeter. I say this in the context of your comment about resale (not that we ever plan on moving...but stuff happens in life).

rebunky -- haha....my H-CoW. :) Thanks for following along. As you can see, I'm definitely keeping an open mind. Extending the wall out: so, no way in heck I'd consider keeping H-CoW but reducing width to, say 36" (to accommodate hood width), and plugging that hole at the top? :) Many folks have an extremely visceral reaction to cooktops on islands: I have a similar reaction thinking that I'd be cooking, staring at a wall. Leaving space (beneath H-CoW) would be verboten, then?

beth: thanks as always. ;)

Definitely post more diagrams and maybe a current kitchen photo as they will help with those who like visuals. I'm glad you and DH are open to exploring ideas.

No, definitely the H-COW has got to go! With ya on that. Haha! What I was envisioning was a solid floor to ceiling wall.

I guess I'm not as concerned about cooking time looking at a wall as I am with prepping or cleanup. I think the kitchen FAQ page says it is something like 70% prep, 20% cleanup, and 10% cooking.

I guess I see that space for the stove as unique in that it would be completely open just past the range wall on the left and on the right you have the little celestrial windows under cabinet. It really would not 'feel' like you are staring at a wall in a box. Plus when I am actually cooking, I'm staring at the cooktop, stirring or flipping food in the pan, etc...

But if it is giving you such an extreme reaction, I am thinking it may be no-go. Not sure if your last sentence with "verboten" means it is forbidden or not because it has a question mark at the end. Maybe it was a typo and was supposed to be an exclamation point instead. If so, no problem, just let us know to nix that idea and go to plan D? :-)

I'm baaack! OK, first pic -- movement of cooktop over to perimeter, atop L2 cabinet space (ignore blue text re: removing the wall portion - that may not come to pass):

View into kitchen, from family room -- proposed positioning of standard vent hood and cooktop, spec'ed out:

Option 1: completely removing that hanging portion of wall, and building a new floor-to-ceiling wall. This is a long shot view into the kitchen. To the left is an entire bank of windows in the the FR, almost floor to ceiling, which brings a ton of light into the kitchen (see where I'm going with this?). Putting up this new wall will block out a lot of natural light into the kitchen. I've decided on medium-grey brown cabinets with leathered Black Pearl granite counters (as it is, with fingers desperately crossed that my kitchen won't be too dark), and I don't want to cut off this light source:

Option 2: Reduce the width AND fill in the top hole/gap of the hanging chunk of wall (just enough to cover the vent hood from FR view) -- this leaves me with an open view of the FR from my cooking area (I don't want to cook, staring at a wall), and allows light to come into the kitchen. Does leaving this open gap represent any type of code violation? BTW, measurement from bottom of wall chunk to cooktop = 24-25", which (if I recall correctly) is fine for the vent hood:

Thoughts? TY.

Would it be relatively low impact to do this?

I am not a huge fan of downdrafts, but I don't think that island cooktops are necessarily pure evil if they are not right at the edge and there is adequate buffer and set down space.

rebunky: maybe I'm a fast prepper and a slow cooker, but those %s don't apply to me, I guess. :) Verboten with a question mark, as in asking GWers (I clarified in my last post, re: code violation?). Frankly, a large part of the hesitation is that months ago, when we needed to push this forward somehow, we went ahead and purchased the DD vent and motor...signed, sealed, delivered, and sitting in the garage. Haven't yet looked into the return policy, and am willing to suck up any nominal restocking fee. And we made the decision to go DD instead of having a gray monstrosity hanging down from our 10' ceiling; so, yeah, lots of thought/time/energy had already gone into this. Sometimes, our emotions can't ever be completely rationalized, right? But I think of my mom in her little kitchen, being "stuck" behind the stove seemingly 24/7 -- facing the wall, with a teeny window to her left (that she really couldn't see out of since she stands 5' on tippy-toes, and window sill is about that height). Maybe I'm reacting to that, in "that's not gonna be ME" fashion...but there it is. So much plays into our decisions as adults, eh? (Sounds like the beginnings of a new thread!)

I'm proud of you for embracing the possibility of major change!

I do think you might be over-reacting to the "staring at a wall while cooking". Since you currently prep by the sink, I assume you stand between sink and cooktop when cooking. Aren't you then staring at the oven, fridge, and door? I agree with Rebunky - when I'm cooking, I'm looking down, not up.

I like your Option 1. I'm not sure if #2 is a code violation or not, but I don't care for it. I think removing a large portion of the HCOW will bring more light into the kitchen than what you have now. And it gives you the option of a lovely backsplash to admire while you're cooking!

Thanks, Pal: The current 6" duct opening (which is laid into slab and vents outward) is show in blue. So, I wouldn't be able to separate that from the cooktop's cab space. I'm sorry that when I sketched my layout, I didn't think to include the countertop overhang in my drawings: measurements are just for the cabinets. So, the space/aisle between what would be lower L7 and the current Isl-B corner is already pretty tight. With my Plan A, taking into account overhang, the aisle measures 29" -- still narrow by all accounts. Extending Isl-B outward further narrows that space to ~ 23" -- I feel it'd be like worlds of granite converging. One consideration was to move the entire island forward toward the fridge, but the newly installed porcelain tile was cut right up to the existing cabinets; now we'd be looking having that portion reinstalled (which is why we nixed that plan).

Regarding set down space, dunno about that. I'm a righty, and have cooked a lot of years here. With my current setup, I'm always stirring/sauteing with my right hand, and am dumping/pouring, etc. with my left (which means all my prepped items are to the left of the cooktop). And when I dump, with spatula/ladle still in my right hand, it's a quick pivot to the sink to plop whatever vessel just got emptied (either into the sink, or back onto the area to the cooktop left). I know there are definitely things that bug me about the kitchen (and would change when the opportunity ever arose), but by cooktop/prep/cleanup areas were never one of them.

ann: someone recently shared with me that 'the mind is like a parachute: it doesn't work if it's not open'. :) Also have to add: perhaps you and rebunky wouldn't be constantly looking down if you had something fun to look up at...HA! ;) (j/k - couldn't resist) I have to keep apologizing about the (incomplete) layout I initially provided because I really didn't think the conversation was going to head in this direction. But I should have remembered how thorough GWers are. Yes, my back is to the sink when I'm cooking. But to the right of the fridge is a hallway that leads to the door to the garage and (to the right) living/dining rooms and front door. At least up until partial empty-nest, there's always someone terrific (family!) coming into view! :) It could be just a sense of space I think I need, and I'd feel cramped with a solid wall two feet from my face.

The cooktop on the island is fine maybe in applications where the island has a landing space on both sides, and clearance of 18" behind it. In your application, it is not fine. It's downright dangerous. I understand your limitations though and realize you are only going to do what you can afford and think is necessary.

The pan handle will hang over the edge of the counter which is a reach issue for kids, or a knock the pan off the stove issue because of traffic. It hasn't happened yet is anecdotal evidence of safety. Or, you'll be boiling something on the side of the cooktop that doesn't have a landing space and need to move it over to the counter across (near sink) or over another pan to the other side and let's hope you don't slosh or get a steam injury in that motion, or turn into a toddler underfoot.

Birdseye!

Oh I understand now what you were asking about earlier. Thanks for clarifing. You are wondering if it is a code violation to have the bottom of wall (as in option 2) 24"-25" above. I think I still might have that wrong though. Haha! Sorry.

I also appreciate you explaining the emotional aspect of you aversion to the wall behind the range. Hey, we all have or little pet peeves right?

Lol on the "looking up while cooking" comment! No, I don't look up because I am very accident prone and my hands and arms are proof with the scars from burning myself. And that's while being careful and looking! :-)

What if you keep the down draft but go ahead and still move the cooktop on to the peninsula. It is still not the ideal to not have the vent above, but I totally can understand not wanting the big hanging monster hood from the 10' ceiling.

It would actually allow you to see out those huge windows in family room and interact with those hanging out in there. H-COW would be gone-baby-gone! Let there be light!

You would have actual countertop space on BOTH sides and lots of storage cabinets under.

Personally, that sounds much safer than the island set up to me. Mamarachels raises some good points. Your peninsula countertop would be a little wider and also have the small backsplash to the bar top for safety reasons like grease spatters, steam, etc...

I think I remember that you do not have seating at the bar, but have a desk behind? Is that setup staying? Could the desk move more towards the corner and turned under the windows?

My close friend has this exact setup. A range with down draft on the peninsula with a raised bar behind. At her parties, everyone wants to sit at the bar and watch her cook. No one has ever gotten splattered or steam burns in the face...well... yet that is. :-)

In javi's defense of the "staring at the wall" comment, I can relate. I have a stove basically in the middle of my kitchen now, and for almost 29 years I have cooked at it and have been able to stare out a set of double windows on the wall to left. In my reno, the only feasable/workable spot to move the stove, which is one of the main reasons for reno, is against a wall. That depresses me, I don't want to stare at a wall either. I want to watch sunsets, but, no more. So I totally get javi. And I am sure she is saying what I am saying. Yes, there are times when you should be looking at the pan/pot, etc. But when you are stirring that simmering cream soup for 10 minutes (or more), or gravy, or fudge, or whatever, you don't need to be staring at the pot. :)

rebunky: I've spent the past couple of days just silently circling my kitchen and pondering -- DH thinks this reno has sent me off the edge (why are these kitchen posts fraught with unavoidable puns?!). Have also polled a number of my friends out here, and they think it's super counterproductive (heh...counter...ok) to tear down H-CoW to open up space/light, only to put in a new 36-40" wide CoW (floor to ceiling!). I actually spent time yesterday climbing up and down a ladder, connected pieces of posterboard in tow, and mocked up a wall -- tried to see how much light would be blocked from my bank of windows: lots...far too much. Even with that little undercab window pulling light in, I felt like I introduced a mini-cave into my kitchen. Just can't do it. One of the main reasons I'd move the cooktop to perimeter would be to take advantage of the better ventilation (up and out). So, if I made the move, I wouldn't also keep the downdraft. (Envisioning people watching me cook, and I can't get the vision of Graham Kerr out of my head!)

I did realize that my current oldie electric coil cooktop has its panel of controls/knobs to the right, so burners have always been ~ 8-9" from the island edge. I may take Pal's suggestion (TY!) of widening the island, but will add the 3" to the cooktop side/cabinet. This may squish that walkway just a bit, but will still leave us with a ~ 36" aisle. The cooktop edge will still be only 4" from the island edge, but the smallest burner of the cooktop is another 2" in from that. Frankly, we decided on this particular cooktop knowing we'd primarily use the large center burner, and the bridge to the left (closest to the downdraft for more effective venting, relatively speaking). We've never found our current 6" burners of much use, but when we have, pot handles are ALWAYS turned toward center.

I'm now hoping that widening the cooktop cabinet to 36" may open up the possibility of a small drawer directly beneath the cooktop. With the vent hood housing being 30"w, perhaps this leaves enough space on either side for the drawer hardware to attach (don't know that drawer glides span 34", however). We shall see. Again, thanks to everyone for taking time to provide input!

Who's Graham Kerr? ;)

Sounds like you are getting there!

Javi, your puns are too cute! I can just imagine your DH thinking you have 'reached the boiling point' when you were on the ladder with poster board. So TKO....don't worry we all get you. Please keep us all updated on the progress. :-)