The basic layout of the zones is OK, given the limitations. You will need to budget for a built in fridge. And even then the clearances will be very very tight. Too tight actually. A peninsula would be much better. And you wouldn’t need a 10K refrigerator to barely make it work.

The cabinet design is really really horrible. It’s done by someone who has zero understanding of cabinetry or remodeling. And who has no sense of proportion or balance or color. Hire a real Kitchen Designer. And don’t do cheepchinesecrapola crapinets.

If that round table is your only dining space, this is a big time money loser. The kitchen is too large proportionately to have such a small dining space. Spending 100K to only seat 4 means you need to start over.

I agree with Sophie Wheeler about the peninsula, but it looks as if you have a standard fridge recessed into the wall, which should be fine.

NKBA guidelines--read about clearances.

The zones are good, but as Sophie pointed out the island and fridge space is too tight. You don't seem to have any pantry space either. Also, no open shelves near a stove unless you enjoy items covered in grease!

I know you're an experienced DIYer and an engineer, but kitchen design is something that even I as a home builder don't really attempt to do. There are so many small things that the average person just doesn't think of or consider. I think you should hire a certified KD to help you out.

Do you have a floor plan for the space as it is now? Also can you share a plan that shows how the rest of the house (ie the giant living room, your family’s main entrance, etc) relate to the kitchen (can be just a rough sketch)

Hi, Pat

Neither of your linked floorplans have dimensions, but by adding up cabinet widths, etc. I come up with 11-1/2 feet wide approximately from the sink wall to the refrigerator wall. You seem to be allowing 36" of aisle space between the sink and island. If I assume your island is 36" wide, you have just 42" between island and refrigerator wall. Factoring in the refrigerator doors and handles, you will really only have about 36" between the refrigerator and the island countertop. Add a stool in that space, and it is going to be very, very tight for seating on that end of the island. Would you even be able to stand in front of the refrigerator and open the freezer drawer with that third stool?

Another thing I noticed is the traffic pattern through the laundry room. I'm assuming the garage is over there, and that would be the daily route in/out. Thinking about carrying groceries and whatnot, wouldn't it make more sense to create a straight path through laundry/mud room? Maybe there an obstacle not shown on the drawing that makes it infeasible?

Anyway, those are my thoughts...

Thanks all for the comments so far. I've attached our current floor plan as it is today and the overall plan with what I've been toying with.

Level of refinement is pretty low, including colors, fixtures, etc. Besides that's my wife's area of expertise! I'm just getting overall flow and functionality down. Really looking at cabinet/appliance layout right now. As you can see, I'm pretty limited on possibilities and because of a sloping lot, the main waste water drain precludes placing laundry into the basement. The refrigerator is just a freestanding unit that will be recessed into a new wall. (Yes, I've had structural review my framing and they are happy).

zmith, your measurements are pretty close, I might have to look at losing the seating and taking the island width back to 25-26 inches.

Pantry space would be served by the "nook" labeled closet, not ideal, but I was looking for solutions with fairly limited width constraints as the wall in the center of the house is load bearing. Also phase 2 or 3 would include a wrap around porch for outside access to the laundry/mudroom via steps from backyard and walking around from the front.

Current: The 'closet' in the kitchen is where laundry is right now.... yea.

Planned:

Pat, did you consider putting the laundry/mud room where the breakfast room is? Now that I see your whole floor plan, it seems like a more practical location. That would free up the dining room for a kitchen expansion. Or you could just keep it as dining space.

^^Exactly. And this is why posting the context is so important.

Yup, would consider, but would cut off the family room (fireplace, etc) which is currently completely open to the kitchen and close that in. I assume you are talking about where I have the 4 person round table? Again, I know context is hard to grasp without walking into a space!

If that were my house, and I had "two" living rooms, the living room area currently would be where I would have the tv, couch, table/chairs for games what have you, and the area marked family room, I would have as a big dining area that seats a bunch. I wouldn't mess w/seating a couple people at the island, and then four over here at a little table, and then some more in the other room. Myself, I'd take the seating away from the island so it wasn't so wide, and have a better space around it, and I could make it longer if that were a good idea, (or maybe do a peninsula instead?) not having that little four seater table. The seating would be just all chopped up between the island, the little table and then the dining area, and I don't care for that.

Are you willing to change the kitchen windows?

The proposed kitchen is not good. The island is a barrier between fridge and sink. You want to be able to go from fridge to sink to stove easily, in that order.

Are you able to take out that recessed fridge wall completely?

Would you be able to put the door to the garage into the foyer, or is that a stair landing?

stair landing unfortunately to upstairs and stairs below there to the basement, so the only wall into the house from the garage is the one where the current door is.

Wow, Mamagoose! That would be a Houzz-worthy laundry room!

Pat, here's another thought, what about moving the powder room to the corner instead of the laundry? Would you need a toilet to be conveniently accessed from outside more often than the laundry? You could then have a large pantry in the old powder room space. I personally would try to avoid creating a traffic path through your kitchen as in your proposed plan. But only you can decide what will work best for the way you use your home.

Hi! We lived in a house with laundry between family and kitchen - it was open about 6' and I was like - WHY? It was is sort of open but not -- just a weird large walk space that was wasteful. 1. Can you knock into that living to kitchen wall (or willing to get the expense. I bet that is structural). 2. Are you free to move this kitchen anywhere in that first floor. 3. Thoughts of the overall needs of the first floor. For example I would not have a living room and family room...

As the plan exists I do not see the round table nor island working as it is too tight. However that living is 19 *14. I would make that living room smaller and make it more cozy with no access to the kitchen and use as office or sitting area. The other section would be laundry. But I see a dining table in that living so maybe make that just a dining room. Sorry I sketch on paper so that will follow.

So As you can see... A classic G kitchen. I would move the window over to the sink as I value a generous prep space between the stove and sink (I like 5 feet or more personally). If you want counter seating I can only see 3 sitting there. This allows you to have a nice size dining table. Take out the counter and you can even have a larger table. Office area. Yep that weird space could be a spot for credenza / built in. Or a closet (but I choose not to put it there as many jurisdictions would consider that then a bedroom and maybe there would be issues about size of room, glass for egress, and effect on taxes). I guess it could be a small dining area and open that wall up and put a butlers. Good luck!

At 11'11" you don't really have enough space for island seating in the orientation you're planning. If you cant fit laundry upstairs as mentioned upthread, you should look at making the family room a utilitarian space as suggested by mama goose. Please don't make the rest of the main level layout awkward just to preserve a family room.

You don't need three eating areas. Leave the living room a living room, the dining can become part of a kitchen with island and you can turn the breakfast nook/kitchen into the dining room with a nice patio door to the back yard.

Here's a layout that puts a closet, laundry room and hobby room/office in the present family room so you can keep a nice kitchen/dining/living layout in the main part of the house.

benjesbride, I was trying to work around the existing slider, but I like the location of your laundry area. I would try to turn the island: