I think I prefer the second one. The first one doesn't give you landing space for both the R and F. However a lot depends on the rest of the house layout. Can you post the kitchen within the whole house layout?

There's no landing space for the freezer. Although technically you could consider it cooktop workspace, the 4' between the fridge and cooktop would be the landing space for the fridge (since the handle is on the left), along with the island

The unlabeled room at the back right is a sunroom, the rest of the back is uncovered deck over a walkout basement.

I like the second option better, but in either case, I'd move the microwave.

It will likely be a drawer microwave, if that makes a difference. Where would you move it to?

I like option 2 better but not necessarily in the configuration with counter between fridge and freezer, I think I would scoot them together, and towards the pantry door.
I do like that you can open the fridge and put things directly on the island for prep.
I also like that it's slightly closer to where groceries come into the house although in reality that distance is negligible.
In my dream world I would have a hatch in the garage where my truck tail gate comes down, opening up into my pantry.
Or a conveyor belt.
My kids eat a lot of food...

Not what you asked, but can the sunroom door push open into the sunroom? It might be easier to use than opening into the dining room.

Also not what you asked for, but have you considered putting the laundry on the same floor as the bedrooms? It's kind of a maze to get to the laundry now, and that's after carrying everything downstairs in the first place. Seems as if that would get old really fast when carrying laundry baskets.

bpathome - we will likely be leaving the door to the sunroom open for weeks/months at a time in the summer, so it seemed most out of the way to have it opened against the back of the dining room rather than blocking the kitchen sink view. However, the sink has now moved a bit over to the right from where it was initially planned, so we could have the bottom door open out into the sunroom.... Hmmm glad you caught that!

Jillius - there's a laundry chute in the broom closet opposite the bathroom. We had several discussions about which floor to put the laundry room in, and the main floor was the winner for various reasons. I agree it'll be a long way carrying laundry back upstairs though.

I welcome any tangential comments though, so thanks to both!!

shadeshill - the initial floor plan was similar to option 2 but had the R/F side by side in the space far away from the pantry, with the ovens between the pantry and the fridge. I was concerned about several NKBA guidelines being broken, such as the corner of the island being between the fridge and the prep sink, the large distance between the fridge and the cooktop, etc. And I didn't like the microwave being tucked away in the corner.

If you can't tell from that, Option 1 is mostly my suggested changes from the original. I wanted the fridge to be central so that both work zones have a share of the fridge: the top prep/cooking/cleanup zone that includes both sinks, the cooktop, island prep space and the fridge, and the bottom snack/kid zone that includes the fridge, pantry, microwave and prep sink. The ovens were always the thing I had trouble placing.

The cabinet maker suggested splitting up the fridge and freezer to gain serving space beside the fridge, so the designer made option 2 to show that. I thought the space to the left of the fridge was the serving space, but now I don't hate option 2 either.

I prefer layout 2 because I would rather have the fridge on the edge of the workspace and the ovens closer to the cooktop as part of the workspace. I personally like to work next to the stove rather than across. With layout 1 I would get annoyed if kids were bumping into my work area getting drinks from the fridge, etc.

I think I'm warming to the idea of the fridge where it is in option 2. Still don't like the microwave in the corner though.

How about an option 3: easiest way to explain it would be to take option 1 and switch the fridge and ovens, then add a narrow full-height cabinet between the freezer in the corner and the ovens (my wife says we're definitely getting built-in R/F with cabinet faces, meaning likely $$$ Subzero, so I don't think the narrow cabinet will look weird between the freezer and ovens).

Pros: fridge out of the way but not around the island corner, drawer microwave and plenty of counterspace beside the fridge, and ovens firmly in the cooking zone

Cons: would the cabinet between the freezer and ovens be weird? I'm assuming an insulating strip between the two appliances would be needed, which would be just as bad so might as well get usable cabinet space out of it?

Hi. i think option 3 would be fine-- and I like the full height cab idea. I am doing a very similar kitchen layout to yours for our new house and like you have gone back-and-forth with the fridge/oven placement. After (too) much thinking I chose option #1. My reasoning was that we use our fridge dozens of times a day vs once or twice a day for the ovens, so I would rather have the fridge closer to prep/cooktop/ glassware/etc. My kitchen is a few feet longer than yours, and I think about the 10th time I walked past the ovens to get something from the fridge I'd resent those ovens, lol, and given their cost, I need to love them. I also decided that for me, the open fridge door semi-blocking the pantry would be less intrusive than it blocking the kitchen entry. (That said, It looks like you're doing all fridge/all freezer columns, which gives you more options; I'm under 5' and so am going with a 48" SZ side by side since I'd like to be able to reach the top shelf and the columns are just too tall.)

Whatever you choose, it will be beautiful--and I hope you will share your decision--and maybe some pics when it all comes to fruition.

Possibly consider a range if the wall ovens aren't so important to you [this to both Michael and houghton12]?

Sub zero is not your only option for columns. There's Thermador, Liebherr, I believe Bosch also has columns and several other excellent brands.

Oaktown - I have the exact same three reasons as houghton for choosing stacked double wall ovens

cpartist - great to know we have options!! Appliance details will be coming up soon so good to know what to look for. (P.S. I saw your incredible CP drawing from the convention, congrats!)

houghton - maybe I'll pick you brain about appliance details at some point, although it looks like our needs are slightly different. Great to have someone else building a similar kitchen though, in case either of us need ideas (or emotional support!)

Your kitchen layout is very similar to my new build. We did a s x s 36" all frig all freezer as well. We originally had ours set up differently than what we ended up with because we learned that on the Electrolux units we chose ($3k each), the handles could not be reversed. So....check with the models you think you'll end up with when considering your appliance placement.

Thank you Michael. Did you see it in person?

I saw it yesterday in one of the discussions you started. I'm sure it would be even more amazing in person.