I'm sorry, maybe the views are skewed - do both plans have chairs pulled up to the cooktop with almost no space around the cooktop as buffer? If so, then I vote "no" to both plans. Perhaps have your prep area there instead so people sitting in the chairs can keep you company (without being splattered by things cooking), or even help you prep. If possible, move the cooktop to a wall. Your exhaust hood will also be less expensive and more effective that way.

Also, are posts structural? Can the plumbing/cooktop be moved?

Posts are structural but cooktop and plumbing can be moved.

1- Open the design

2- Open the design

hopefully those work. the island opens to dining room, so flexible dimensions there except for those pesky posts. also bar stools aren't completely necessary since we have the dining table-- we have them now but they just serve as coat storage :). thank you!

Can you sketch a floor plan with the surrounding rooms? I think there's gotta be something better. I see similar problems with both options. I wouldn't want the cooktop and sink across such a wide aisle or the sink and fridge so close together. The walkway between the peninsula and the L looks pretty tight.

If you can share more details of the space, we can help

Please sketch a 2D plan of the kitchen including the surrounding spaces and how they relate.

How much space behind the range/cooktop for separation to the seating. I personally have no problem with the cooktop in a peninsula if it has adequate ventilation but I don't know that I would combine it with seating that close to it.

It seems as if a U-shaped kitchen might work better in this space.

All - I pulled some pictures from when we bought the house that I think give better context. You can see the kitchen and the dining area that it opens to. We've updated furnishings and colors in the dining area but that's it.

Leave the layout alone. It’s fine as it is.

Sophie - does that mean you'd keep appliances where they are? I was hoping to move the sink off the island because I want to make the island all one level, and don't want water splashing all over it.

I'm not a layout guru, so I'll leave those replies to the pros. But in your layouts, you're swapping the sink for the stove. Worst case with a sink is someone gets wet, but worst case with a stove top is someone gets burned. I usually see the stove in more protected areas to minimize the chances of injury. In my opinion, seating across from the sink is not ideal, but seating across from a stove is a disaster waiting to happen.

I also agree that a sink in a peninsula is better than a cooktop there. That’s what I would have done in a new design.

Your kitchen is hard for a couple of reasons: it’s got traffic going straight through it, and it’s too big to be a galley, but too small for much reorganization. Unless you’re willing to do a big renovation (like removing walls, switching rooms, etc) that would be big bucks, I think the layout you have is about the best option there is.

For a mid-priced renovation, removing the French doors does open up a lot of possibilities. They seem redundant, since there are doors in the dining room as well. Turn those into windows, and you’ve given yourself a whole lot more options.

Hi Kelly, I am not a kitchen designer, but Sophie is and I totally agree with her. I don’t see what you’re gaining by changing the layout. If you’re going to put the range in the penninsula you need at least 24” in back of it to add seating. It’s not just about the cooktop being hot, but the splatters and spills that inevitably come with cooking. Even with induction cooking the pots and pans are hot.

If you put the sink on the perimeter all prep, cooking, and cleanup will be done facing the wall. This may or may not bother you more than having a sink on the peninsula. It is unlikely you would rinse produce, haul it to the island, and then bring it back to the perimeter for cooking. This is really about how you prefer to function in the kitchen.

The other thing is that replacing in kind will save a lot of money and you can put that extra budget into nicer finishes or the next project - because we all know there is always another one on the horizon!!! Good luck!!

Yes, I prefer your existing layout to the new options. I don't think you can improve much without addressing the french doors or the load-bearing posts.

You could add a prep sink under the window next to the range and leave the rest of the layout as is.