I would put the trash pull-out to the left of the sink, under the primary prep space, and put the beverage center on the end, but turned to face the DR, so that anyone accessing it does not need to enter the prep zone. Dishes can then be kept in drawers where the trash pull-out was located.

Actually, I'd probably flip the whole layout, so that the fridge and primary prep are near the pantry, and DW and dish storage are closer to the DR. Groceries brought in through the garage entry will be closer to the fridge, too, for easier loading.

This version has the sink offset from the cooktop, but if you need it to be centered on the cooktop, dishes could be stored across the aisle, in drawers beside the oven cabinet. You could, instead, offset the faucet to the sink, but have it centered on the cooktop.

I drew the pantry door wider, so that when you need to open the fridge door to remove the crispers for cleaning, you can open the pantry door for more door swing space.

Good ideas Mama G... When my architect laid the kitchen out, he put the fridge and ovens where they are now. I had him change them to how you have them, but then he made the point that if you needed to get something from the fridge while eating, its a long walk from the table to the fridge. And with two kids under 5, one always wants something from the fridge. So he won.

But, if I were to put the beverage center on the end of the island towards the dining room, and have it facing out towards the living room, I can put small supplies of stuff that we would commonly need during meals in there, and it would be even more convenient. And I do like the idea of the door handle on the fridge being able to swing into the opening of the pantry(I anticipate the barn door being open most of the time anyway) in case we need to open the fridge doors wider to pull out a big drawer in there. Plus its easier to put groceries away.

I do disagree on where the trash pullout should go though, because right now in our current kitchen the trash pullout is in the middle of the primary prep zone, and it sucks, because your busy working there and someone always wants you to move so they can throw something away.

So, if I put the beverage center on the end of the island and have it facing the living room, having it essentially come out and occupy one of the end seating positions, I should have room for at least a 12" deep cabinet on the back side of it that I could use to store dishes, right next to the dishwasher. Or should I bump out the bev center abit more, say 10" to 12", giving the island a slight "L" shape, and allow for a full depth base cabinet behind it? Overhang on the rest of the island where the seating area will be is 14".

How about these changes?

I agree with Anglophilia. When they were in elementary school, my kids did homework on the kitchen table; by middle school, they did homework in their bedrooms. We had a desktop PC in the family room, out of the main traffic area, but within monitoring distance (and when both kids were in high school, we had 2 desktops). Now we have a plethora of laptops, and no desktop computers (the kids took them off to college).

Located just in from the mudroom, your "study desk" is a natural drop zone. You can plan for it to be to used it as such - or you can spend the next 15 years trying to keep it from being one. I don't think it's the best place for a PC.

I really like having seating at the end of my long island, we have a 12" countertop overhang on the short end and its been fine. The other thing is I would probably want direct access to the laundry room from the kitchen. Maybe you could make the pantry a pass-thru?

The ref. is a challenge any time ii is positioned next to a wall. Depending on the model you are buying, the door swing is critical. at 90 degree opening a lot of ref interior drawers are blocked and can only be opened halfway because they hit the organizers on the door. While I understand the position conversation - function needs to override that or find a ref that is good when opening a door against the wall. I am not a fan of the sink in the center of the island - you have this great counter space, then you break it in 2, plus if someone is cooking and someone is doing some dishes you are now back to back and will inevitably bump fannies! I do agree with the conversations about the bev. rev - either at the end or facing out from the kitchen. The other thing to consider is what material are you doing for your island top?? This is showing a 122" island if that is a cabinet dimension then there will be about 124" top. Many materials don't come that large with out you having a seam... You may want to look into that and then reconfigure accordingly...

The desk is completely personal - I have folks tearing them out and others adding them in! Especially if there isn't a home office...I don't particularly care for the mock up in your picture - it needs something more - and don't put in too much of a seating space - 2 kids won't sit there at the same time...Do a google search of " desks in the kitchen" and you will see great inspiration photos for that area!

Looks like a great space to cook and entertain!

Good luck!

I like having the trash pull-out under the primary prep area, because it's so convenient to open the bin and swipe all the debris directly into it, but we all have slightly different styles.

I would urge you not to design the kitchen around your small children, because you will probably be cooking in the kitchen long after they are old enough to get up and serve themselves, and also after they are old enough to help in the kitchen. Having the fridge in the tight triangle between the pantry, range and sink, and close to where the groceries come in, will save you many steps over the years, compared to getting the milk at meal times.

Turning the beverage fridge to face the LR is a great idea, BTW.

The reason I suggested putting the DW and dish storage on the left side of the island (left, as you are facing the sink) is so that a helper can unload the DW or gather dishes to set the table, or island, without crossing into your prep zone on the right side of the island. The cook and helper are represented by the tan ovals. If you put the DW to the left , with dish storage in drawers across the aisle, you could put the kids' cups and dishes on the shelves on the end (where I originally had the plan labeled cookbooks). That way, the kids can help with setting the table, or getting/putting away their own dishes.

So, this plan puts the beverage fridge on the other end, with a 15" trash pull-out which opens toward the pantry, making it easier for someone else to access the trash while you are prepping, but you can still brush crumbs and debris into the open bin from the prep counter. The wider expanse of counter to the right of the sink will make a good drop zone to load groceries to the fridge and pantry.

Even if the architect wins, and you keep the fridge in the top corner, you'll still have a pretty good plan if you flip the island layout--the dishes will just be on the opposite end from the DR, and the fridge an pantry will be split. (Second plan.)

Mama G, what do you think about making the island into a slight "L" shape, where the beverage center occupies the bottom of the L?

I am definitely going to swap the ovens and the fridge, and move the pantry door abit closer to the fridge so the left door can swing into the opening for the pantry door.

As long as you have sufficient floor space for clearance around the L, I think it will be fine, and if the L is at the bottom of the island (pantry end), it will provide more landing space for incoming groceries.

ETA, I found this pic, which is similar, but flipped--the L looks a little longer than the space you'd need for a beverage fridge:

Images--L-shaped islands

First of all, congrats on your new home for your young family - what a great space in which to grow! Good input from others. I saw your plan, read your intake (very good BTW) and then couldn't help but jump in with some concept thoughts. I start with an overall traffic & zone flow. I have to say, the basic bones of the galley lay-out that you have is my all-time go-to favorite, hands down. In terms of the tweaks to that listed below, there are some examples in my project photos & plans if that helps. Hope you (and your architect) don't mind, here are some thoughts:

- Entrance: Mudroom/Laundry combo - Straighter path from garage to kitchen, groceries, coats, backpacks, mail, drop spot, etc. (won't be tempted to drop onto kitchen side). Easy entrance/exit to the home is a biggie for all ages.

- Cooking zone: Cooktop, ovens & micro drawer. Good micro ergonomics for kids & adults & not visually intrusive. Side entry, out of the way but handy. (You can see a photo & plan of this lay-out on my site.)

- Clean-up zone: Sink (I'd recommend something like a 36" Kohler Prolific, multi-person dream), DW, trash. Trash could be adjacent to DW or on the side. Then, it can be left open during prep & clean-up & close to garage for garbage/recycle take-out. Again, straight shot.

- Food zone: Frig/pantry are always best together if possible so you can do inventory for shopping, meal prep & putting away groceries in one area - perishables & non-perishables. I hear what you're saying about frig/table proximity.

- Eating zone: Combining an "L-shape" idea, I do this "T-shape" at times to avoid diner-style seating, ability to face each other & talk with the cooks without feeling like you're "in the sink" as much. Homework or lap tops can be in close proximity but not in the mess zone. I would predict 90% of eating could/would take place here, so frig proximity is now close to the eating area, as well. Not everyone has the room to do this but you do. It could be 30, 36 or 42"h. Dish storage can be on the back for kids to access & help. I always ask if you plate up food or serve family style at the table. This is also nice for guest buffet.

- Tall cabinet/misc/storage zone: You have a great opportunity to use this workhorse wall area for wonderfully flexible uses. This can also change as the kids get older. Now, more food, toys, hidden message center & later, could switch to flower vases or a bar, whatever. I like to design for family growth & changes as you evolve. (I'm also an Aging In Place Specialist.) See the list of possibilities on the plan & an example of this in a photo below. 15" dp is ideal to find things easily & can choose to do the tip-down secretary doors (now you see it, now you don't)...or not.

- Walk-in pantry: I know, I know this must've been a shocker to see its potential elimination. Believe it or not, I've removed walk-in pantries & replaced with reach-in pantries on my last 6 jobs & clients love it. After living with both, they all concur - quicker access, better use of floor space (not being spent for void/standing space), same or less expense, same or more storage than walk-in, do the math. This also enlarges the island. There are ways to deal with a counter seam, if necessary. Believe me, this is a national & international trend for the same reasons listed.

Hope I didn't overstep boundaries too much. Also, sorry for this very quick rough sketch. I couldn't stop. The plans jump out for me &, especially for the family entry & a kitchen lay-out, they're such important bones to a house. Obviously, some concepts can be mixed, matched or ignored. Again, congrats on your new home, Mike. Rule #1: Envision your family living in it, having fun & the process will be an equally fun flow!

Interesting layout Rhonda, thank you! I like how when you enter from the garage, there is a straight entry into the house along the long side wall. Not sure about the T on the island though. I don't know exactly how we will place furniture in that area, and it might limit placement abit.

I do have a few issues with the design... Access to the powder room now seems odd, like there is just a dead end at the end of a hallway, resulting in wasted space. Almost feel like I should just enlarge the room and make it a full bath. Or maybe rotate it 90 degrees, but that still leaves an odd square...

The area that is now the laundry room/mudroom/pantry overflow will be completely interior, and not have any natural light. And if I keep the window on the left as you come in the garage door, that is going to take valuable hanging space away from the mudroom. I would need to take that window out as I want 4 open locker style divider sections in that area.

In my current plan, the door between the laundry room and mudroom will have a reed glass panel, to allow indirect light from the laundry room to light the mudroom.

Aesthetically, I do like your design better. But I feel that the pantry would not have enough room for our food and appliances, and it would cut the laundry room off from any natural light. The dryer would also have a slightly longer vent run to the outside, which I was trying to keep as short as possible to increase efficiency.

I'd shift the patio door to the left or ... to the right wall in dining zone/room. You can use the end of living room for quieter conversation/better furniture placement if the patio door is changed. If you free up the upper right corner in living room you could do a small wet bar, if the furniture placement topic doesn't grab you. Wet bar over there might relieve the kitchen a bit....reduce pantry size ...move island down to widen passage between kitchen and dining zone....and folks from deck or dining or living zone can get things at wet bar...foot traffic is then split at deck use season and other times.