Also, we could make the main sink smaller, if we no longer need to have multiple people crowded around it :)

I remember you! I say go for it.

Forgot to mention the other reason I wanted a 2nd sink!

We have a little tiny bathroom with 1 small sink, and we are always going to the kitchen to brush our teeth, etc., when the bathroom is crowded. The bathroom is just on the other side of the hall from the kitchen, opposite the angled kitchen door, so the proposed 2nd kitchen sink would be very close to the bathroom, and could double as a 2nd bathroom sink.

First, the inclusion of a prep sink isn't based on kitchen size, it's based on the kitchen's design - does it make the workflow better? Does the design work without the prep sink?

In your case...

Strictly speaking, you don't need the sink b/c it's too far from the range to be used as a prep sink plus it's in a doorway.

However, if you think you have a use for it, then OK. The amount of counter/ workspace is a bit limited (only ~30"), but it could work as a secondary workspace.

Do you have a pantry elsewhere? If not, you might consider, instead, of putting in a reach-in pantry. It would provide a lot of storage for food and other items. Then, one of the 15" pantry pullouts could be repurposed to a 15" utility pullout for broom, mop, etc. (with at least one outlet in it for charging a vacuum cleaner or other item).

You could also eliminate the pullouts (broom, etc., could be hung on the side walls of the pantry) and put in 30" or so of counterspace next to the refrigerator.

Or, close off the DR doorway - you will very quickly adapt to the change - just b/c you're used to doing things one way doesn't mean that it cannot be made better or that people cannot change. The other DR doorway is very close to the Kitchen, so it should not be an issue.

If you did close off the DR doorway, many other options open up!

However, if you're set on this layout, then the addition of a 2nd sink and the uses you have planned for it may make up for the loss of storage space - only you can decide that.

It's been a really long time since we have had or used a microwave. What did you have in mind, though?

buehl, I don't have another pantry outside the kitchen unless you count the basement, which is just downstairs from the kitchen. We could put a pantry shelf with some cans and things down there. We use the wall of the basement stairs (on the other side of the fridge wall in the picture) as a utility area to hang brooms, etc. and that works for us, so we don't need those things in the kitchen.

The 24x15 pantry on the end of the fridge in the picture is supposed to be a reach in pantry (opening on the 24" side). But I tried taking it out and putting regular counter space with drawers next to the fridge as you suggested and I think it is promising. With only 24" this counter space is not a lot, but it is plenty of space for a toaster etc., or I guess we could put the microwave there as jmarino19 mentioned :) I would have to extend that wall by 5", however that still maintains 42" aisle width between the fridge wall and range. I would also reduce the pullout pantry behind the fridge to 12".

Also here is what I imagine for the short wall with small sink

And here is the fridge wall with a microwave in it, for jmarino19 :) I lowered the bottom of the upper cabinet to 15" above the counter, so the shelf above the MW would still be reachable. I don't have much experience with microwaves.... is it something we need?

If a microwave isn't part of your life right now, you don't need to add a built-in one with this remodel.

Thanks benjesbride :) I guess that if we decided we wanted a MW later we could just get a small one and put it in the cabinet like that. It seems like a logical place to put one.

I agree w benjesbride. Don't add something you don't need. But, it is nice knowing that you can add it if your needs change.

I love the idea of a second sink. Please let us know if you end up doing it!

I also have a small kitchen (~11.5' x 14.5') and worked hard on the design to fit in a 2nd sink for all the reasons you mentioned (plus getting the coffee station away from the cleanup area). I think in a small space with 2 cooks, it will make the space function more like a larger space... but we'll see once it's done!

I would definitely want that sink. It will keep people who are going to the fridge to make drinks, dump ice, rinse out a cup, get water, etc., out of your main zone. Good luck.

fabulatrice - I like your kitchen and it has potential. You have good counter space but lack storage so I would definitely not add a second sink. You can install a full double sink into the 36" sink base cabinet that should be more than you need. Moreover, you probably don't want to have someone else working while you there so creating an additional work space with the sink will cause added traffic. Keep in mind the kitchen is one of the most hazardous places in a household so you want to be safe and reduce the traffic.

A few ideas worth exploring:

1. Use 12" base cabinets on the short wall. The 24" base cabinets stick into the doorway so it interferes with the traffic people enter.

2. Use standard depth refrigerator. It looks like you have some room in front of that wall. Yo will find more selection and better deals in standard depth refrigerators. This option is more feasible if you go with the 12" deep cabinets across as described above. This would allow you to use deeper pull out tall pantries.

3. Use a tall pantry on the short wall instead of base and wall cabinets. You have plenty of counter top space in the work area. You can save the cost of the small counter, wrap it into the pantry and gain more storage.

4. Tall wall cabinets: looks like you have a decent ceiling height. Use 36" or even 42" wall cabinets if you can. the tall cabinets will make the space bigger. Moreover, the small top cabinets are pretty but useless for storage. Upgrading to taller cabinets is much less expensive than buying the small ones on the top. I would rather invest in a nice prominent crown molding.

Good luck.

Thanks for your thoughts Pintsizekitchen!

For our family, we need the counter space, since when we are cooking a meal, more often than not there are 2-3 people involved. My husband usually helps with dinner, or at least one of the kids (and I try to encourage the kids to be involved as much as possible). Then when one kid is helping, the other kid can get jealous if they are not helping too, so I have to set both of them up with jobs at the same time. Even when the kids are not home, my husband and I help each other in the kitchen because it's more pleasant that way.

Also we need the full depth drawers underneath the counter. We are all short and it is more comfortable for us to use drawers as much as possible. In order to reach higher than the 2nd shelf in the wall cabinets, I have to get out the step stool. So the 3rd shelf is where I hide the cookies!

Pantry storage is actually not as much of a priority for us than it is for many families, since our grocery store is literally across the street from our house :-)

I like the second sink idea but make sure the size of the sink you buy is really usable, some of the prep sinks are just too small and an 18" cabinet is limiting. If you usually put a pot or other item in the sink when prepping make sure it will fit in the new one and that the disposal can fit below....

I think it is great that in addition to the meal you make the cooking a family event. This is how our son ended up backing his own pastries at 8.

If you keep the second sink your layout looks just fine and teh counter depth refrigerator is the way to go. Practigal made a good point with the sink base cabinet size. 18" is very tight so if you can go with the next size up, 21" it will give you much more selection and likely better deals. Kohler's 'Strive' is 15"x15'x9" (K-5287-NA) fits into an 18" base cabinet, but it is somewhat pricey. It seems you have some room on teh left next to the 30" drawer base cabinet so you can slide over 3" or use a smaller 27" DB cabinet.
You are well on track to build a beautiful and practical kitchen so good luck. Cheers

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Yes I was looking at the small Kohler Strive 15", small Blanco Precision 16", or Ticor S805 which are all 13" interior width (the Kohler says 13 1/4). Also the small Blanco Precis which is silgranit is 12 1/2 interior. But there are also a bunch of Kohler ** and Ticor sinks that say they require 20" or 21" base but look like they would actually fit into 18". I know I need to look into this a little more!

Our current kitchen sink is a double bowl, where the interior of each bowl is about 13 1/2 W x 14 1/2 L when measured at its widest/longest points, and it's rounded inside like the Ticor sink. So the 13" interior width of these small sinks doesn't seem super small to me, as long as I don't have to use the prep sink to wash large items like cookie sheets :)

** Kohler Undertone K-3336-NA, K-3331-NA, K-3163-NA, K-3164-NA

Edit to add:

This one looks nice, is one of the biggest sinks for 18" cabinet and it's also inexpensive :) Ruvati RVM4110. Interior 13 3/4" x 16 1/8" which is bigger than our current kitchen sink bowls, I think we would be totally happy with that.

Also, we all have pretty small hands... if I buy gloves usually the women's small size is too big, and I look for an XS size or a large youth size. My husband's hands are pretty small for his size (and he's not a very big person, about 5'6"). Of course the kids have small hands :)

Yes I would add the sink for all of the reasons you mentioned. Nice access to the fridge for a beverage area.

That last, as Emiliyam says, a beverage center, plus. Our fridge shares its wall with tall shallow pantry storage and a niche are that holds coffeemaker, tea supplies, microwave and toaster. You did mention a toaster, so you have that. No MW. Coffeemaker? Cereal, lunch, snack center?

With all the people working in your kitchen it's interesting to learn that this workplace is unused. Could it be less appealing because it's away from the natural light by the windows? And Mom? In any case, with all the activity in your kitchen, I'd regard that as a special challenge. Sink, toaster, and maybe store the cookies there? :)

hamamelis, we don't have a coffeemaker but we do have a vitamix that gets a lot of use making smoothies.

As for the question about why that workplace is unused... well, here is a picture of the kitchen as it currently is, and some lengthy observations about our behavior in the kitchen... you don't need to read all this :-)

The red areas are theoretically available for prep, but in practice, people tend to move to the dining room table (which is not far away) when the preferred (blue) areas are unavailable. The workspace on the short wall is the top of the ikea "varde" that has a large butcher block top. (by the way, these three large drawers are the most useful part of the whole kitchen, holding all of our frequently used plates and bowls, cups and glasses, and most of our pots and pans.)

In practice, the most preferred and busiest area is the 18" bit of counter to the left of the stove. This area is so busy because it's on the direct path between sink and stove. We also use the left half of the stove... we have a cutting board that we put over the left 2 burners. And we also extend this area with a very small kitchen cart (not pictured) that we put on the other side of the 18" counter. The area to the right of the stove mostly gets used as a landing area and also is cluttered with bottles of oil, kitchen utensils, and a big knife block.

The areas next to the sink also get a lot of use, however no one likes to use the area in the corner of the sink wall. It is on the other side of the dishwasher from the sink, and we are always opening the dishwasher, creating an obstacle between the sink and the corner. Also, the light isn't as good there, because the kitchen doesn't have undercounter lighting, and the electrical outlet in that corner doesn't work.

So, we hoped that the area on top of the "varde" would make a nice prep space, however no one uses it either. I think there are a lot of factors...the drawers are always being opened because practically all our stuff is there, so if you try to work there, you're always being interrupted by people opening drawers, and there is nowhere else to stand there; there is no task lighting (there are no outlets on that wall at all); people don't seem to like working on top of the butcher block surface; and finally it's farther away from the fridge than any of the blue areas (except the dining room table) and in order to get to the fridge, you have to cross all the traffic between the sink and stove.

Noticing that we didn't like using this area for prep, we put a small bookcase on top of it, about 10" deep, and that is where we put our most frequently used pantry items, particularly things like snacks and cereal, because no one likes to use the upper cabinets. This puts these pantry items at a level where kids can easily reach. It reduces the depth of the countertop area in front of the bookcase/pantry to about 15", but this isn't a problem because it's mostly used for snacks, and assembling food on plates when there's something to serve.

But those are all just problems with the current kitchen... I am sure that the new kitchen will work much better, thanks to the lovely people here who helped with the design :)