I'm no layout guru, but your refrigerator and range seem awfully close to me. Would you consider moving the refrigerator to the other side of the U? That would give you a better landing space for both appliances I think.

I was thinking the same thing. In my other house, the fridge and range were in a similar setup. I felt claustrophobic while cooking and had to move it right away.

Actually, they are across the room from each other as it is now. HATE it!! Hoping to open the wall across from the range and make that a peninsula open to the living room. Right now the kitchen is completely closed off from the living room. And if I were to leave that wall closed and run the counters in a U with the fridge on that opposite wall it seems to make the kitchen feel closed and claustrophobic to me. Let me see if I can find a pic from the realtor when we looked at buying the house:

Here are some pics from when we were looking at the house:

I really want to open the wall where you see the fridge in this pic. Make a peninsula that is open to the LR on the other side of the wall.

You could still open the wall to the living room - looks like a pretty small door now.

AnnKH - I am big into symmetry so I agree with same size cabs. But I have been having arguments with IKEA software. I am using that to get a visual but will actually draft out the exact dimensions before beginning to make my cut-list and build. I have listed out every drawer and what will go where. ;) Because of the gas range, I am hesitant about uppers by the range top. If I could figure out a way, I would forego any uppers but necessity prevails....

Maybe a pass through and a wider (than current) opening to the LR?

Actually, the counters on the sink wall will be deeper also. Looking at having them at least 28" deep due to adding insulation to the concrete walls. Right now the contents of the cabs get pretty cold in the winter. And, I personally like deeper countertops. We are both tall so reaching is not a problem. The uppers will realistically be more than 12" or 15" but I felt so confined by the software. (sings) give me space, lots of space, lots of beautiful space...don't fence me in.

AnnKH, that is the plan. We just added a big picture window in the LR and sliding doors that give awesome light and view. I want to share that with the kitchen.

I would open it up into that other bedroom, and make a keeping room!

You are below the minimum recommended distance between the refrigerator and the range. I would find it very difficult to work in that space.

Springroz - it is only a 2BR-1Ba house. To open into that bedroom would make it a 1 bedroom. No can do. But, how fabulous if I could!! Then I could make a kitchen like I left behind....

Can you make the peninsula an island and move the refrigerator to that end of the sink run?

CRL - yes....that is a concern I have. I have played with so many options on both IKEA and with cardboard mockups that I am dizzy..... This was the best option I could come up with when I turned to the GW pros!! I could go with up to an 15" on each side of the range, or I can do 12" or less on the right side of the range and then do 18" on the fridge side of the range.

I do have some other floor plans I was fiddling with. One was with the range in the corner that was intriguing. I can't post them until tomorrow from the desktop computer. That layout does give lots more space between the range & fridge. Thank you so much for your help and fresh eyes!!

I just want to say, I'm super excited for your new adventure. I'm envisioning a little house in rural eastern California with dramatic views of the eastern Sierra Nevada!!

Sena01 - that is about the direction I'm thinking except for the fridge there. It is really a monolith blocking my view and my interaction with the LR.

Here are some of the other basic arrangements I have been pondering.

First, here is a mock up of my current space with only a 36" doorway to LR:

and, here is an option I was playing with that has the range in the corner. I've read the pros/cons of a corner range and am fully willing to forego the cab space in the range corner to have the opposite wall completely opened up.

I think your latest "range by fridge" option is much better than the one in your OP. I thought you were limited with 12" cabs around the range because of the heater under the window and that's why I suggested moving the fridge to the LR wall. But if you can have a wider cab b/w the range and the fridge, then I think it's better than having the fridge on the LR side where it would be very far from the range (and also block your view). Although this arrangement doesn't follow ice-water-stone-fire principle since there's no obstacle b/w the sink and the fridge I think it will be fine.

I'm not sure about the corner range option. Since you plan to have deeper counters/insulation, the sink and the range may end quite close to each other in this option.

RJKNSF - thank you for your sweet thoughts! No, not the beautiful Calif mountains. We're actually in the mountains of west Texas. Most people don't know we have mountains here, but we do. It is high desert but very similar in look and feel to the Calif mountains. The house is on a property surrounded by 10k+ acres of uninhabited land. It is truly an adventure. I can make my own little jewel box out of this place - makes me happy!!

I don't have any experience with a corner range, but thought I would bump this up for you.

Is it possible to have the fridge a bit closer to the gas heater? Maybe it's possible to build a stub wall to the right of the gas heater, covered with fire retardant material like brick or stone, and then well insulate the stub wall, so the fridge could be moved closer to the heater without getting heated up?

If that's at all possible, I would build the stub wall next to the window as I think those inches gained would make a big difference in your kitchen.

Of course, without dimensions, it's possible that it doesn't gain you any space at all. Hard to tell. Just an idea I thought I'd throw out if it helps.

I like your plans with the open peninsula for baking. If it all fits, I like the one with the range on the wall rather than in the corner. It gives you a bit more prep space in the precious sink-to-range stretch which is most likely going to be your main prep area.

I would be inclined to have a work table in the middle of your wide-U. Something movable, not too big as you don't want it blocking the workflow and you will want to keep your aisles wide. But it could be super-handy for plopping things from the fridge, using as a secondary prep area, moving things out of your main prep and baking spaces to clear the work areas, etc.

Your new life sounds amazing! I don't think I'd like a 3-hour round-trip drive to a grocery store but, wow, I'm envying your solitude and views. But it would be worth it....I'd just have to be more careful with creating my shopping lists. :)

Funkycamper - the heater is actually a ventless LP heater stove that looks like a little woodburning stove. It's actually quite cute and VERY efficient. They are designed so that you can put your hand on the top, back, and sides without it burning you The heat is all directed out the front. We have 2 of these as our only heat source for the 1500sqft house and we have only ever turned them up to 2.5 out of 5 on the dial when the temps were in single digits. So, yes, I do think that I can go much closer than I had in my original drawing.

I was originally trying to keep the fridge closer to the range to keep aisles clear for walking around the dining table but actually, realize that will not be a problem to move it closer to the heater.

I like the idea of a smaller work table on casters.

I am getting more excited about the baking peninsula. I put a 2'x4'x30"tall stainless laundry table where the peninsula will be to "try" it out. I find I am using it all the time for prep and baking. This morning I baked the cupcakes for tomorrow's Sweet Sunday at Church. So, I am more and more convinced that I will love a peninsula.

I have so much cardboard and blue painters tape all over that it looks like some kids club house. Ha! Some cabinets we have to move cardboard structures to access them, but that's what it takes. It has really helped clarify what I don't want. My poor MrMan just sighs when I get up at night to come in the kitchen and move cardboards around so I can see it with fresh eyes in the morning.

The grocery drive is something that does require planning. We are getting better at it. I'm still having to learn to cook in high altitude - that has been a circus!

Thank you so much!!

Here's a pic of the little heater. Ignore the floors. They were very speckled, very brown, very worn out, very ugly tiles that I couldn't stand. I couldn't ever tell if they were clean so I painted them white to tide me over until we can put in the wood floors.

Cute stove! Since it doesn't get hot on the sides, you can probably move the fridge closer than you have been showing in your drawings. Of course, you will want to look at the booklet that comes with the stove or contact the manufacturer to be sure you stay in compliance.

I'm so glad you're doing mock-ups. I think that's the best way to really be sure. And your temporary peninsula sounds great!

I'm sorry I don't have anything specific to add other than to say, if I haven't yet, that I much prefer the range not in the corner. If you have a small work table in the kitchen, you can use that to set things right out of the fridge. You don't need a lot of counter between fridge and range. You do want as much work counter as possible between sink and range. That's your prime prep area. So the range in the corner takes away some of your prep space. Also, think about people standing and the space they take up. If the range is in the corner and someone is prepping while someone else is working at the range, they will be quite tight together, without good clearance between each other for standing, moving arms, etc.

All in all, I think you're on the right track. If you haven't done so yet, please find the post titled "New to Kitchens - Read Me First". It's usually on one of the first pages of this forum. It has a lot of links in it to good stuff that might be helpful.

Also, google "Starcraft's 31 Illustrated Rules of Kitchen Design". This is another excellent resource. Basically, it gives you the NKBA's recommended guidelines for clearances for safety and workflow in illustrations to make it easy to understand and ensure you follow. For example, I never remember exactly what the recommended minimum counter is on each side of the range. I think it's something like 15-18". But you will want to look that up so that you have sufficient space between range and fridge. You don't need more than the minimum in that spot as you won't really be using that for a work counter but you don't want any less than recommended either.

Last point. The best storage is use-in-place storage. People who have taken the time to figure out just what they want to do in which place in the kitchen, and then measure their items to get proper drawer sizes to store those items where they need it, typically are the most happy with their kitchens.

Oh, another last point. Drawers. All your lowers should be drawers. So much more accessible and they can actually store more than lower cabinets, even those with roll-out shelves.

See how moving the range down gives you a much nicer prep area! And the table gives you a decent secondary prep area. With your baking center, you're in good shape.