Rely on the advice of your architect. The kitchen designer does not understand the space.

Your GC will be able to customize those where there won’t be no dust issue.

"...My question is - Is having tall cabinets out in the middle of a space, not connected to the ceiling weird? And will it look silly if the skylights above (which will be central to the apex of the ceiling and the length of the open plan space) are not lined up with those cabinets?..."

Yes.

And yes.

A well designed, custom home is integrated and harmonious on both the inside and outside. As you currently have it, the KD doesn't care about or understand either the outside or inside.

Good luck on your project!

I would bring the island out more to align with the skylight then bring in the pantry and place a counter depth fridge and a pantry behind fridge

Btw, if this is the design the KD came up with, it's also poor design functionally in terms of working in the kitchen

Terrible kitchen design. Ditch that designer.

You can also tell your KD plants on top of cabinets went out a long time ago. Usually architects are not good at kitchen design but IMO this one might be better than the KD. I agree those tall cabineys close that space righ in. I would not do anything tall on that side

I don't like the KD design either. I'd like to see what the architect's design looked like for comparison.

I agree this is not a good layout. The fridge next to the half wall looks like it will create problems. I looked at a house with a similarly placed fridge and you couldn't even open it all of the way.

Hutchae84, this is what the OP stated.

Hi all, I am about to extend and build a new kitchen and the designer has given me a set of drawings for our proposed kitchen that I was really happy with, as it has heaps of storage, but the architect is trying to tell me its not a great design because the tall cabinets that sit on the end of the peninsular bench are under a raked ceiling.

Yes it’s not a good layout but it can be fixed.?First of all we don’t know how high this cathedral/vaulted ceiling any way and the the skylight will only be surrounding the perimeter of the island.

Sorry...but the photo looks to me like an architectural design and a kitchen design divorced from one another, with each attempting to stand alone and ignore the other...

imstillchloecat I want to squeeze in two tall cupboards that sit back to back, so that one is next to the fridge and will be for food storage, and the other will face out into the living area and be storage for other items. the peninsular bench will move along to accommodate. This was the original plan from the KD, I just don't have a copy of the drawing that I could post. But it would mean the tall cupboards do sit more under the skylights.

Thanks everyone for your input, will try to explain further...

Here's what the Architect proposed. The KD changed it to a galley kitchen and gave back the space taken up by the Walk in Pantry to make a space for a study. Which suits our needs as I want to watch the kids on the computer and help with their homework while I am cooking in the kitchen.

KD took out the corner cupboards proposed by the architect to save money on cabinetry, and added in the tall cupboards so that we kept enough storage space that we lost from taking out the walk in pantry. I know I need to compromise somewhere, but if the aesthetics of the KD's kitchen works, I can keep my storage.

Architect's kitchen and original WIP with dimensions

Arrchitect's Kitchen showing where it is in relation to skylights

Section of ceiling.

Claire Larece - I also thought of placing the cabinets back against the study wall. The KD wasn't against this, she's suggesting I wait and see how I feel once the walls go up and can stand in the space. It would mean we reduce the size of the island bench, and I'm guessing it still won't be central to the skylight, but it may be the best compromise. I worry about placement of the three work areas though - not sure if fridge would go against study wall or exterior wall.

Cheers all.

You would be willing to place your sink and dishwasher in island

I'd rather not have sink and dishwasher in island. :)

You’ve boxed yourself into a corner with preferences and architecture. Something is going to have to change. Either the House gets a different design, or you change some of your wants in order to get needs. But that kitchen is horrible.

Incorporate the pantry into the kitchen itself.

Besides the way the cupboards are sitting - why is the kitchen horrible? I can't fix what I don't understand.

A few tweaks to the architect's plan is all that is really needed. Lose the double door to the pantry, and recess the fridge there. I don't know why you need so much tall storage with the pantry, but there is a tall storage cabinet next to the fridge. The clean up zone is separated from the prep zone, and you have a hutch cabinet to the counter to store all of your dishes in. It's right there at the pass through to gather up the exterior dirty dishes as well. I'd personally add a second DW to the zone.

The prep zone is nice and tight, with the addition of a prep sink to the island, which remains centered underneath the skylight. I'd investigate lighting for the evenings over the island. Perhaps a cable rail system?

Less Cabinets = Better Flow, you want a beautiful kitchen not a storage room.

I like the architect's plan because of the symmetry with the ceiling and entire living space. You can also add storage to the seating side of the island for things you don't access daily. Being able to walk around the island is also great for flow when you have guests (or being able to quickly check the kiddos' computer screen.) I also like Cook's Kitchen suggestion of the prep sink, especially if you have more than one person in the kitchen working (possibly your kiddos). We had two Dishwashers when our kids were in the house and it was fantastic!! The DW wasn't that much more than the cabinet.

In order to get the layout you want I would have part of the cathedralvaulted ceiling squared off at top instead.

Listen to The Cook's Kitchen! :-)