I did a dream kitchen back in 1988 when I was still in design school, and it was not that large - it had a peninsula -no island and was almost square. I have an image of it somewhere, if I can find it. It also had four walls, which I still consider to be essential - I want a kitchen to be a separate room. It can have pocket doors to a dining room so that it can be opened, if needed, but it is also essential to me to be able to close it off, partly because of smoke and fumes, and partly because of noise. TV would not be part of my kitchen, but music would be.

I like to have a fairly small work triangle - not more than 12 feet - but I do like to have a large pantry. I will not use more than four burners on a range, and so having more than that is a waste of space, but I would like to have wall ovens, even though I seldom use the oven. I think I would use it more if I did not have to bend down to reach it. Also, I want a lot of upper cabinets, as I dislike lower cabinets for the same reason.

In the kitchen I did in the 1980s, there was a breakfast nook off to one side that had three or four barstools, but it did not intrude into the main space of the kitchen and had a bay window. The main connection with the kitchen was a formal dining room, and there was no connection to a living room or den. When prepare dinner, I make full meals - not snacks, although I make those for parties and always ahead of time.

It would have a breakfast room and the pantry and a designated area for the coffee pots. Everything else would be extremely practical as far as the layout of the refrigerator, the sink and the stove with sufficient space between each. As to the materials, I am not that excited about many of the things that I see on the market today. So dream kitchen…ends up really being about practicality and much less about appearance. Now if you were asking me about the house, it would be located in a neighborhood where the view from every room is completely gorgeous and unobstructed.

I wouldn't want a big kitchen. And I definitely prefer a separate room rather than open concept. I don't like a eat in kitchen--we prefer to use a dining room. I don't know what layout shape would be best, but I would want a ton of windows and not much traffic going through the space.

The only thing that I would add to my existing kitchen reno plan is enough room for a small separate room to cook/wok stinky food.

Windows and views with good light from the south! No or few uppers, windows instead. Generous prep space with prep sink on left and cooktop to the right. Separate clean-up zone with accessible drawer storage for all everyday dishes, glasses, etc. Separate beverage, snack, and baking centers. Beverage center would be good for coffee, teas and alcoholic beverages so would probably need a 3rd beverage sink plus ice-maker and beverage fridge. Spacious aisles. Ice-water-stone-fire would be fairly small to be efficient with the clean-up and other centers outside that prep/cook area so there would be good space to spread out. Large walk-in pantry. An eating nook or banquette. Plus a small sitting space with a comfortable chair or two for chatting, looking through cookbooks, playing on GW Kitchens. A woodstove (or natural gas/propane one) both for extra warmth and to cook on in the winter. I have no idea the shape or finishes. I'm not into fancy flourishes, just humble, sturdy ones. Not a traffic corridor. And my kitchen would have color!

I like this thread! Lars, I would also like a separate kitchen and am unfortunately I am about to embark on an open concept plan for one VERY big reason. My current kitchen is the MAIN traffic corridor to the entire house. To get to any room one must go through the kitchen. And like Funky, I want it sturdy. Places on walls for essential items. Function above looks.

Given this, I think Julia Child's kitchen would have been ideal. A true working kitchen.

I love open concept and LOTS of windows to a beautiful view. My current kitchen is 11x15 and for my DH and I that is plenty of space, don't need or want something that is more to clean but doesn't provide a needed function...an island is completely unnecessary for me and many times they are an obstacle in the middle of the room...no thanks. My pantry is a 30" wide, floor - ceiling cabinet with ROTS. At one time I might have said lots of pantry space was necessary but now our meals are mostly fresh, clean foods so our current space is plenty.

I love my kitchen, but it has only borrowed views, so I'd add a wall of windows. It's 13.5 x 13.5, and has narrow aisles--I'd make it 2 ft wider to increase the aisles to 48-54", and so that I could put my DW on the opposite side of the sink, because it's currently located between the sink and stove. Then I'd have a room just off the kitchen, to accommodate the maid that I dream about. :)

Oh, I like this thread! We will likely add on or remodel to relocate the kitchen and I have spent a lot of time thinking about this very thing. My current kitchen is a small, corridor kitchen between two main areas of the house with no windows. So my biggest desire is for windows! I would love an eastern exposure. Morning light is pleasant, and in the evening (when I spend the most time in the kitchen) the light is indirect and the outside views are of the long shadows. I live in a hot, arid area and western exposure in the evening is too hot and sunny! I too would prefer fewer uppers with more windows. I do like some uppers though as I'm tall and it is useful storage for me. Also I think it's a more traditional look to have uppers and my house is 1930s built. I would prefer closed concept but it may not work in this house if we add on a kitchen. My dream kitchen would also include a seating nook/window seat or a few comfy chairs for chatting. In a previous kitchen I had prep space under a window and I miss it very much. So add that in and there you have it, my dream kitchen!

While complaining yet again about the completely wacky kitchen we currently have (18x11 with all work done in a 6x8 area with an island) my dad asked me the same question. I pretty much told him that was too broad a question, you have to give me some limitation, the way I see it is if you build a house around a kitchen, the kitchen has to be specific, canning, baking, everything from a box, everything fresh, wheelchair access, have to see toddlers whatever. But you can almost always make a pretty functional kitchen out of any space.

Current dream kitchen? One that DOES NOT have a hip cracking island, a single 3' entry even tho there are only 3 walls, a recirculating microhood on exterior wall, that the people sitting at the table don't have to get up so I can empty the oven, that the dry goods storage isn't 12 feet from the prep area with fridge ovens and table between, a giant 8' long peninsula that does nothing but collect junk on top, and cabinets with 1/4" particle board sides. This is what 800K bought you in SoCal in 2007.

If we build our home, I will get my dream kitchen. Or as close to my dream kitchen as possible.

It will have a small pantry. I also buy fresh when I do cook and don't need a huge space for storage. Next to that it will have a separate "pantry" for DH where he can have his toaster, coffee maker, cups, small plates, wine opening and martini stuff, etc and when the doors are closed I don't have to see the mess. It will be next to the fridge so he can't complain he has to walk to get milk. If I can arrange it, I will also put a spigot in there so he can fill the coffee maker with water without having to walk and shlosh water all over the floor.

Because the fridge will face the living room, it will be integrated with a panel.

On the other side of the fridge will be DD's (dear dog's) stuff in a cabinet above and an appliance garage. Why? Because after DH feeds DD he just leaves everything out on the counter. Again, i can just put the garage down and mess is gone.

Next to or right near DD's stuff will be the prep sink. That is so DH can clean DD's bowl and then leave it on the counter where I can just close the garage. To the left of the prep sink will be a long expanse of counter so I can prepare the food.

Next to that will be a 36" induction cooktop. Heaven. Most of my cooking is done on a cooktop so for me this is one of the most important appliances. Then more counter and a single oven and a microwave or a speed oven. Actually if we decide on just a microwave, it too will go in DH's pantry.

An island facing my backyard will have my cleanup sink, trash and DW. Seating for 3 across from me. That will also act as a secondary prep zone for the times DH helps.

Finally our dining table will be behind the island. If I had one wish, it would have been to be able to make the kitchen just 1' longer so we had more space around the dining table.

While our kitchen/dining is open concept, there will be a half wall with columns (think arts and crafts) on either side of the kitchen to divide it from the living room. The kitchen is 20' long and the opening from the living room to kitchen is 10'4". Makes a nice but still somewhat open divider. The wall on the living room side will hold bookcases.

A dead end kitchen, which is what I built.

I hate hate HATE having traffic through my kitchen for any reason!

Now, the only reason you should be in my kitchen is because you need to be in there. :)

Mine is a 12x12 U shaped and it works great for me. Small enough that I can cross from any zone to anywhere else with just a few steps but also big enough that 2 people can use it without getting in each others way.

Oh fun! I've always pictured a big, square kitchen with a HUGE farmhouse table and lots of windows. No open concept. Attached mudroom & laundry, also a pantry. No formal dining room.

Creamy white kitchen with painted island, wood floors. Accent colors would be blues, greens, a bit of lavender. Big kitchen table, French doors to patio, fireplace/wood stove at one end of the kitchen, with two comfy chairs and an ottoman.

Overall shape, probably an L...maybe back wall would be baking center. Nice to have an opening (shutters/pass through) to dining room. Walk in pantry, mudroom and greenhouse would be off to one side of kitchen, dining room on other, fireplace/wood stove and access to family room on third wall and lots of windows, French doors on last wall.

Not that I've planned it out, or anything :)

My dream kitchen would be surrounded by garden on 3 sides. I'd really like a drop edge swimming pool with the close up view of the ocean, on the 4th side but then it wouldn't be attached to a house. No matter where I'd look year round the garden would be chock full of beautiful plants and edibles. And there'd be an outdoor kitchen set up.

The kitchen itself would have room for a crowd to mill around in and to cook! My family is big. And many of us cook. The aisles would be wide and the prep areas plenty. Of course I'd have induction with extra single hobs, a MW, toaster oven, and 2 wall ovens. I'd have a large fridge, a beverage fridge, 2 DWs and 2 sinks. I'd have a pantry with another DW and sink just off the kitchen, with enough space for the dogs and cats feeding stations and food. I'd want a fireplace and surround sound.

I can see it clearly. The lovely blue granite or glass island, the copper perimeter counters with the attached apron front sink...myself reaching out for some basil and chives... and the splashing and laughter of my family at the pool...

Hey you said dream kitchen... I think mine would be bigger than most. My family still comes around weekly for meals and DSon lives with us. What empty nest...But practical me would still want it to be set up right. Not quite sure where we'd eat, but that's not new. We often eat at the sofa now. I vote for eating in the garden under netting of course. I dislike sharing my meals with wasps! Which are plenty this year.

A chef :-)

I love my galley, just wish it were larger. So efficient to use. So a generous galley - not too wide an aisle, still want few steps - with a very large walk-in pantry and also an attached laundry room.

benje - yes yes a chef that cooks really healthy meals that taste divine.

A large window. I am talking really large like oldbat or mpagmom or fishies maybe 9' wide with my sink there. More square than an L with a much shorter side. It wouldn't need 4 walls but 3, yes I'd like 3. It would not be open to the whole house but tucked away a little bit, maybe adjacent to the family room. A pensinsula perhaps if it works, I miss mine. I'd like a pantry with a small convenient office nook like nini's. A small hearth room with a fireplace and LavendarLass to put some girly whimsy in there. Size? Just enough. I don't need large, I'd want efficient and comfortable. Maybe 12 x 12 with a small sort of separate spot for snacks and coffee.

Oh if I had an island it would be square and have seating on 2 sides for sure.

Fun thread.

Reviving this thread as I've been thinking about what a "dream kitchen " has and how realistic is is to marry form and function in it. What one would have if money and size had no limitations. For example, my dream kitchen would have a huge badass gas range with big shiny knobs as the focal point of the kitchen It just LOOKS so good. Reality Check, Form always follows function so I wouldn't put one in a remodel as it's a bear to clean and to lift the grates each time. The low ovens are also not as convenient as wall ovens.So...... I would go with a 36 inch, easy to clean, induction cooktop with wall ovens. Not my dream look. S,o thinking about my ultimate dream kitchen before reality sets in and what and where to make cuts. What is YOUR dream kitchen?

I am not trying to rain on your parade, just thought you may want to start a new thread. I love th etopic. Some people here are dont like opening old threads. Clearly, I am not one of them.

I lusted after the shiny range for decades as well and went with induction, so much less sexy, such an amazing tool. When I dreamt of my great kitchen, I didn’t know to wish for a CSO. Boy has that been a treat. Aside from induction and steam, my dream kitchen comes with a cook and a housekeeper! Those are still in the dream phase.

My response is not showing. Ugh, Houzz, c’mon.

oh I definitely get the cook and housekeeper part. except i want fairies who do it all, unseen and without getting in your way.

ok will start a new thread. Just thought there were some great responses here.