With the exception of my hatred of the corner pantry (had one for 18 years - just never feel like it is neat or convenient) I think this is fairly tidy.

You can use the island for the fridge landing zone (in my house, I have a prep sink in the island and it makes the landing zone the "edge" of he sink... not ideal)

There's a good amount of space between the sink and range - my earliest KD told me that that is the most valuable real estate in a kitchen - and having a small space there - I have to agree!

You have enough space on the "other" side of the sink - so clean up zone can be there. And enough space on the "other" side of the range - as a landing zone for staging into the oven / cooktop.

I think fitment of your cabinets will help maximize the usefulness of this layout - but I think it's pretty good!

Thank you for that. I'm kind of wondering if it would matter if I moved the fridge next to the sink? The format would go sink, dishwasher and then fridge. Then put a pantry where the fridge was and take out that corner pantry and replace it with counters and double oven. Only bad thing is that when you enter the front door you will be able to see the fridge. hmmmm

While that layout gets rid of the dreaded corner pantry - you have a lot going on between the fridge and the sink, IMO, and that will cause ou to feel squeezed in your prep area.

The discussion on ice - water - stone - fire is a good one. Think of the flow here - if you pull something out of the fridge, (ice), knowing that you are going to the sink next (water) you will put "stuff" over the DW, and that will become your de facto prep area (stone)... and that is where I think you've squeezed yourself.

I am sure someone with more experience than me can help get rid of the pantry and esp if double ovens are in play, that makes this a little more complicated!!!

CP has it right! I was going to suggest something along that line.

Why do you hate the corner pantry? Just curious

I am not fan of the fridge there - especially with opening the door (if it's French Door) I think it's better to have at least 130 degrees or so of opening - my fridge has a full width drawer that you have to go a bit past 90 with both doors to have it clear and worry a little that the fridge landing zone is constrained by the smaller space on the right side of the prep sink.

re: corner pantry - that corner is a bear to access, and you can't "see" things back there. imagine being in a supermarket and having crap pushed way back at armpit height (or taller) it just ends up being the black hole of storage. And it's really big enough for "walk in" so it just feels claustrophobic. I think my door is only 22 inches wide too.

Pantry aside, where do you plan to eat most of your meals and how many diners during mealtimes??

jannicone, the fridge and oven can be moved down closer to the cooktop so there's at least a 9" or 12" space that can also be used as a pull out pantry to the left of the fridge. That would solve the problem of the door opening wide enough. She certainly has a long enough space to work with.

Here's with a pull out pantry also to the left of the fridge.

I think the double oven requirement is messing with your space. A slide-in range can include two ovens or a warming oven as an addition to the main.

Thanks everyone! Y'all gave me lots to think about. Cpartist I really like the last rendition you made but I worry so much about a pantry. I like to stock up on items and I'm afraid that if I use drawers under the stairs that I will not have enough room to store it. LOL

Nightowl - We are a family of 4 (mom,dad, daughter 15 and son 12 almost 13). We'll be using the island for breakfast and quick lunches and the dining room for dinners. Awe who am I kidding, we'll most likely sit out butts on the couch in the living room and eat our meals. LOL We're a very causal family not formal at all. OMG did I just really post that! haha

What about something like this. The only problem is I lose a lot of counter space but it does keep the kitchen cleaner (aka my husband) out of my cooking space.LOL

How about this? It gives you pantry and fridge next to each other so you can take all food items to prep area without having to walk all over the kitchen. And keeps your fridge out of view from the entry. And gives you a clean-up area separate from prep/cook.

I agree that your double wall ovens are making your kitchen seem crowded. I would get a range with double-ovens if I were you. I think it would help make your kitchen more pleasant to work in and feel bigger, too.

No. Putting the pantry on a corner cuts into your counter space and breaks up the kitchen. Personally I think it's one of the worst layouts.

You can put a 15" wide pantry to the left of the fridge for larger items like paper towels, bottles, etc and then under the stairs pullouts for cans, and smaller items. Plus if you do the majority of drawers, you'll find you have lots of extra storage. Also are you planning on having uppers?

cpartist - yes uppers only one the wall facing the living room is what I am planning. I didn't really care to much for the pantry in the other corner either. I know you poo pooed my last bedroom plan because of the 5 doors but if I did that then my laundry area will be larger and I can add pantry storage there for my stock pile and keep a smaller pull out pantry in the kitchen for everyday items.

funckycamper - that plan could also work but the only downside is I lose the sink under the window. Thank you for your input.

I've been playing in a program and I drew up a few different configurations. Let me know what y'all like and don't. Thanks

I'm just wondering whether you're going to have a built-in fridge, because if you're planning on a full-size fridge, or even a non-built-in counter-depth fridge, it will stick out into the kitchen, which might help you decide where to place it,

We'll most likely go with a counter depth fridge or regular size. I want a french door unit but husbands wants side by side.

Don't do the side by side, especially in counter depth. I had one and hated it. You can't fit anything in it.

No to side by side by side as Debbie said and don't put it against a wall, you will not be able to open the door all the way by a wall.

ok I will take notes. does anyone have an opinion on which layout would be best

I like cpartist's second sketch, with the pullout pantry, fridge, double ovens on the left, and a prep sink on the island. Then do something like this under the stairs:

I understand your feelings about "losing" the storage of the corner pantry. I had the same issues when I was designing my U0shaped kitchen, and trying to maximize the use of the corners. I eventually came to the realization that efficient use of space makes up for "using every available inch". I ended up closing off one corner, and putting drawers on each side - I lost the corner space, but I make much, much better use of the space on each side of the corner, it was a much better solution for me.

In your case, you can make better use of the kitchen space by eliminating a corner altogether.

Oh, and I also vote for a french door fridge.

regarding where to eat meals. I am concerned with all the layouts as they relate to dining options. In the sample plan, there is a small kitchen table area. In the current plan, kitchen table area went away and the dining room is pretty far away, so the reality of carrying things back and forth seems dim. Please look at making the seating at the island less café style, with 2 on an end and 2 on the great room side, so you can see each other and actually have a conversation while you enjoy your time together sharing a meal.

Really - do you want to be balancing dinner plates and water glasses on a couch all the time? It doesn't sound enjoyable and it makes me a bit sad thinking about it.

Yikes! I spaced out that was a wall with a window. I'm never one for wanting to close off windows. Sorry. Go with cpartist's second plan and those great under-stair pantry drawers. I'm so glad AnnKH found photos so you can see how much great, accessible storage they would give you.

Here are some other ideas for under stair pantries.

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Wow. Those pull outs are amazing! Makes me want to add a back stairway just to get them! HA

When I first looked at your plan, I assumed the stairs were to the lower level? If they go up, what's upstairs since you already have 3 bedrooms on the main level? "Under" stair pullouts will not work if it is indeed the stairs go to the lower level.

The stairs go up to the kids game room/living area mostly over the garage and attic. I'm going to go with cpartist concept. The order of appliances will be D/O, Fridge, Stove, sink and D/W. I really like the idea of the pull outs under the stairs.

Joyce- I wish the stairs when down. I would love to have a basement but South Texas water table is way to high and we would end up with an underground swimming pool! LOL

Oh and Nightowl no need to feel SAD for us. We are very a happy family. We don't live like the clevers of the 50's. Life is hectic and most time we all eat at different times and others yes we sit on the couch and eat dinner while laughing and carrying on conversations with each other. Like I said we are very casual. Now when we have people over it's either the dining room table or outside.

It is what it is!

I wanted to thank everyone for your input! It was much appreciated!

Sabrinatx - as long as you have considered other island seating arrangements it's all good. There are options that aren't all in a row. They just don't get photographed as much because most plans include at least a small kitchen table if a dining room is not directly adjacent. At least think about resale. Regardless, I hope your build goes well.

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Thank you for that Nightowl. Actually the island will most likely be curved. It doesn't get a real design until I meet with the kitchen designers and I actually like the first island you posted. I've also seen some with a bench and narrow table placed in front of the island.

I'm not sure if this was mentioned already but I would recommend against having double wall ovens right next to the refrigerator. Someone opening the refrigerator door while the oven door is already open - just one time - will leave you with a nice sized dent in your refrigerator. This I know from experience :(

The order of appliances will be D/O, Fridge, Stove, sink and D/W. I really like the idea of the pull outs under the stairs.

Personally I'd make the order of the appliances, Fridge, D/O, stove, sink and D/W. The reason I'd personally have the fridge first and the D/O second is to have a landing space next to the D/O for putting down hot dishes. Otherwise if the ovens are first, it means having to turn around to the island counter to put down hot dishes.

If you prefer the oven on the end, then maybe arrange for a 15" counter on the left of the ovens on the end of the counter run so you do have a landing area.

I'll contradict, CPArtist: in two homes I've had the oven across from an island/peninsula as well as next to a landing pad counter, and we always use the island. Maybe it's the way we stand, but when we take things out it's a continuous motion to the island. Placing on the counter next to it requires a step backwards and getting around the side of the oven.

Also, we are in and out of the Fridge many times a day, and several times peer meal, the oven only a couple of times at occasional mealtimes.

A narrow bank of drawers and cabinets next to the oven is nice for the oven mitts, trivets, skewers etc for testing done ness, thermometers, cooling racks, basters. Good idea.

Which goes to show you, that you need to figure out how you work in your kitchen and then create the flow that works for you. :)

Update!!!! After rereading this tread and taking into account how we live I've come up with a plan that I think will work, finally!

Nightowl, I took what you said about cafe seating and I think this will work and your were right (hanging my head in shame)

My island is 8ft in lenght. My husband sat down and talk about it. Instead of a cooktop we're going to go with a slide in/drop in range and add a single wall over in the island. This will give me more counter space for prepping and unclutter the kitchen. We'll then move the fridge down a bit and add a pantry next to it. Also we are going to add another smaller pull out pantry under the stairs. I've also rework the laundry room and made a back pantry for stuff we over stock but don't use right away.

I think this is it and I'm really excited about it now.

Where will you keep your dishes? Maybe DishDrawers in the island so they are close to the DW? Otherwise you are walking across the sink to put them away.

dishes will go up in the upper cabinets

What is the thing that looks like a DW in the island?

I like the plan but I think you should consider a few tweaks. Since we work ice-water-stone-fire, I would eliminate or move that thing in the island and put your sink closer to that end. You would want a good 18-24" in the corner to be a landing space for items coming out of the fridge, then you move left to wash, then you move left again to your nice, long stretch of prep counter. It's a nice workflow. The way you have it now, you're having to take items from the fridge to the other end of the counter and work backwards. And you don't have a good space for putting the to-be-washed item on one side of the sink and the washed on the other.

If you move the sink down, you can put drawers facing the clean-up sink/DW on the end of the island so you have plenty of drawer space close to the DW for your daily dishes, eating utensils, glasses, etc.

And nice job coming up with the additional pantry area outside the kitchen. It will be great for overflow items. Between that pantry and the under-stair pullouts, you will have a ton of great storage. Very cool.

Oh, a couple more things about the island: What are your aisles widths? Particularly between fridge and the seating on that end of the island. You want there to be enough space for someone to walk behind someone else sitting at the end to access the fridge. I'd try to have at least 44" from the counter edge of the island to the stairway wall.

And really think about the raised counter idea. There have been tons of posts here at GW where people are pulling those out and going to a solid counter-height island with the eating at regular counter height, not bar height. It is so much more comfortable to sit at counter height stools than bar height ones. And the raised bar counter, unless quite a bit wider than you're showing it, is a magnet for spills and breakage if people accidentally scootch a glass or plate too close to the edge. Most people don't feel that the advantage of the bar-height counter for hiding messes is worth the many other disadvantage. There have been a lot of discussions about this issue. You might want to do a search for them and read through before making a final decision.

All in all, your kitchen is really coming together quite nicely. Yay!!

Funky I believe the thing that looks like a DW in the island is her under counter single oven. Then she's planning on a slide in range on the perimeter wall. I like this a lot sabrinatx. I think it will work well for you.

I agree with funky about flipping the prep sink and the oven.

Funckycamper that thing in the island is an oven. We are forgoing a cooktop and double ovens for a slide in range and a single oven located in the island. So you're saying I should switch the oven and the prep sink.

The distance between the sink and island is 40" and the island and the wall is 41".

I have to give credit where it's due. Thanks to the posters on gw that came up with that idea! Very cool indeed and nobody that I know will have this in there house.

The island is actually flat. I was just showing the over hang for the seating. It's not a raise island.

I agree whole heartily! I'm so happy and excited about this kitchen!!

Now off to get master bathroom help!

Thank you cpartist! I couldn't have done this without all of y'alls help!!! Now I have to convince my husband that I need a wolf range! wink wink! haha

I hope the pull out pantry works - so jealous! back to the island.... if you make seating 2 on the end and 2 on the left corner, you could put some amazing dish drawers in that space and I don't think you would miss the extra seat much. It also looks like maybe you have room to make the island with cabinets on the seating side too, to get a little bit of extra storage. Finally, we had an under counter mounted oven in the kitchen we just ripped out - hated it. why exactly do you want the second oven? FWIW - we have a Breville Smart Oven and it is an amazing work horse and can cook chickens and small turkeys as well as toast, etc. Truly a technological marvel in our house. Perhaps if you go that route, it could live in the corner left of the sink?

Happy planning!

The distance between the sink and island is 40" and the island and the wall is 41".

You don't have enough room between. How long is the island? And how wide? I would have a minimum of 42" between sink and island and a minimum of 48" between island and wall if you plan on having a seat there. And that is tight.

I have an under counter oven (Bosch) and have no problem with it. I have roll out shelves in it which makes it easier to pull out the shelves.

re minimum spacing between seating and pantry wall. - It is tight, but not impossible. The area will only be used during meals. There is another way around the island if someone other than the one closest to the frig forgets something. Dishes/flatware easily retrieved by anyone. The space wouldn't be a nonstarter for me, but it would sure be nice to get a few more inches. Can the island be turned? Or squared up?

ETA - on the pantry wall side, the overhang doesn't have to be 15"

I have to agree with Nightowl about the under-counter oven. Why not get a double-oven range? The smaller oven probably fits most things you would cook in an oven. Or get the Breville and mount it to the left of the fridge. Since you have all the pantry space (under stairs and new pantry closet), you don't really need that cabinet as a pantry. Make it a regular lower with counter, and then an upper with a shelf for the Breville. Or a microwave if you do a double-oven range.