I'm sorry, I'm not following the plan and how it relates to the nearby rooms. Also for me the photo is not enlarging so I can see it. Can you post a photo of the plan without the post it on it, and repost the photos to make sure they enlarge so they can be viewed? I think you'll get more answers if you do this.

Does this work better?

I think I chose "small" image when I uploaded the first time... these are "large"... does it work better?

Thanks for the updated photos, they help. I think the concept is good. For the furnace: First you'll want to make sure there is clearance so that you can take out and replace the furnace if it is ever necessary. Unfortunately you can't always assume you'll be able to replace the current furnace with one that's the same size so you probably want a few inches extra just in case. I see the width of the furnace space is 36" on the plan and the door is 32". I know those are rough dimensions so you'll need to plan precisely to make sure it works. You'd want to be very careful what you put on the 90" wall. It might need to be movable to access the furnace.

Adding doors and closing in space around a furnace may be OK but you want to make sure your contractor has reviewed and is in compliance with local building codes. Particularly true if it is a natural gas furnace.

I would put 15" or 18" deep shelves along the 65" wall. For me its a case where 12" shelves are too shallow for small appliances and bulk items but 24" shelves too deep. Something in the middle is just right.

oldbat2be I don't think a pocket door will work, but also I prefer being able to use the back of the door for a spice rack.

Stan Z, good point about future furnace replacement. It's in good shape (we had it inspected recently), but you never know. In the pre-demo layout, there was already two 32" doors between the furnace and main area. The door closest to the furnace is a louvered bifold. The other door was between laundry and wet bar, we've removed that and are putting in a door instead between wet bar and new kitchen, which is along the 90" wall.

You can get a rough idea of the new kitchen layout - it'll go pantry door, then refrigerator, then induction stove top, then wall oven/microwave across the 90" wall. With an island across from it with sink and dishwasher.

But I think you mean keep the pantry side of the 90" wall free, in case we have to remove the furnace in the future? That was my thought as well -- I am thinking just put in hooks there for hanging mops and brooms.

Thanks for the recommendation for the 65" wall. I was thinking deeper shelves on bottom (15-18 inch?) then 12 inch shelves higher up (for canned goods). Or would you go 15-18 inch for all the shelves?

Does anyone know of an online closet/pantry design site where I can play around with the layout? Most of the ones I've found won't allow you to design an odd-shaped pantry like this.

I would be concerned about ventilation--not just because of the furnace but also because of the beverage fridge--they put out a lot of heat/moisture. If you can't do a pocket door, perhaps you could put some type of decorative mesh on the door. I would also install a 220V fan and run it pretty much all the time.

I've used easyclosets.com for four projects - two large walk-in closets and two reach in closets. Highly recommend them. Their program is easy to use and if you run into a problem, their designers are very helpful.

wilson853, thanks for the tip. Here's what I came up with after a few minutes of playing around, though wall 2 height needs to be adjusted as it's shorter (82 inches) than wall 1 (102 inches).

However on both walls I'd prefer to vary the shelf depths from bottom to top, and I don't see that option? I also didn't see any option in the tool to wrap shelves around a corner, which might be wise for wall 2?

Is this the best use of the space? (Bearing in mind the 28" and 43-1/2" should be kept clear for furnace access).

jaimeeap the laundry that's stuffed in there now surely puts out more heat and moisture. I'll ask the GC about ventilation.

The other option was to put the beverage center in the dining room, but I had issues with that plan: 1) With our design we'd have to choose a panel-ready model with very specific measurements which significantly ups the cost while limiting the choices; 2) it'd not be as convenient as you'd have to walk around the table and chairs to access it. I think this would've been fine if it was just for wine, but really what we need is a beverage center for hubby's diet coke habit. He drinks a case a day. That's 24 trips in and around the dining room table and chairs each day....

Having the beverage center in the pantry just makes much more sense, as it'd also be near his stack of coke cases.

I'd love it if he quit his coke habit but that's not going to happen. What's worse is when my mother comes to visit, as she's just as bad... so double the trips to 48 a day and twice the amount of cases that need to be stored in the pantry!

You are wise to remember future furnace access and eventual removal for replacement. May I suggest you make a paper template of the exact dimensions of the furnace case (including any attached nozzles and outlets that aren't removable, then use that paper template to prove to yourself that the old furnace could actually be slid out of its current position, possibly turned, and removed between the counter on wall A and taken through the doorway. I'm wondering, as I look at the dimensions, if your existing furnace could fit through there. The pinch point is the corner of counter A and the end of the 43 1/2" doorway wall. It might slide through there just fine, and it would be great to know that now (in case it doesn't!).

smiling, I'm going to assume it's just fine. I don't think the corner of counter A is a pinch point as it's not any different than the original wet bar that's in there now. If anything, removing the door to the laundry and opening up that wall has provided more room, not less, to maneuver around.

To imagine the "before" take the 24" wall that's between A and B and extend it all the way to the 43-1/2" wall, and put a standard-sized door there. You had to open the door to access the stackable laundry, which was shoved in the corner (B) with back to the 36" wall, making it a serious PITA to do any laundry. That door and wall is gone now, and the laundry is going into the upstairs hallway.

Also what I want to do for wall 1/ A is just put an adjustable shelf above a beverage center, i.e., it doesn't need to be in a cabinet. A counter-height shelf that's wide enough to have a coffee maker sit on it. Then with narrower shelves above for coffee mugs and canned goods etc. If adjustable, I can't see why these shelves couldn't be easily removed in the event that it does prove to be more difficult to maneuver a furnace in and out?

Also if the beverage center is not in a cabinet, that would help with ventilation, right?