Can you post a floor plan showing the kitchen?

Here is our original floor plan that we are NOT doing, which is why I didn’t post on my initial post. We just decided today so I do not have the most current plan.

Be careful with a 6ft across island - it is difficult to reach the middle to clean and most slabs do not come that large so you are dealing with seams. 42" is not really enough in front of the ref. That should be about 48 ". I'm not a fan of seating on front of the ref. so definitely do the end seating if you turn it and make it 5ft across instead of the 6.

Have you had your design put in the computer yet? 3D renderings are really the only way for you to truly see how this is going to look. You certainly aren't lacking for storage or countertop so it is just about what looks better in the space.

I like the island in your inspiration photo - much more social seating...

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The existing layout is poor. I'd post the plan in the kitchen forum if it's not too late -- cabinets already ordered?

Poor layout because your island is a barrier between fridge and sink

Cabinets have not been ordered. And the kitchen floor plan layout is not what we are doing, I explained in my first post that we plan on switching the island to face the windows instead of the stove, which will still give 54” walkway space on each side, even with a 9x6 island. This is why I did not post the kitchen floor plan on my first post, since we just decided today to switch the island around and don’t have the updated floor plan.

I can see where flipping it gives you more walkway space. But looking in at the kitchen it looks "off" with how the range looks to me. And if you do intend to do seating, you just nixed your walkways again.

If you look at your inspiration photo you will see that the chairs are butting up against one another....there is not enough legroom there to actually have people seated in all the stools at the same time.

My island width is 6’ 10” and here is how the chairs look with adequate legroom.

I just saw that additionally you want 3 stools on the short side of the island as well....that just won’t work with 2 stools on the ends. Here is my set up that shows legroom that actually works.

It will be REALLY hard to find a counter that you can do 6x9. You will have a lot of seams. I have a 50"x50" island for seating - and I could not want to have to reach much more than that. (Granted I may have short T Rex arms - but I don't think so)

Most granites / quartz / quartzite slate max out at about 5' - and some pretty pretty ones are smaller (of course...)

I hate island seating. An island should provide a "landing zone" for things taken from the stove/sink/refrigerator and groceries being brought in and put away. Have a nice big table for eating - it's far more comfortable for everyone, and invites conversation. Islands remind me of the lunch counter at Woolworths.

How much distance is required between island and peripheral countertops depends on how one uses the kitchen. If children are allowed to "graze" between meals and while someone is preparing a meal, then having the refrigerator and the microwave out of the immediate cooking are, will be useful. If two people are cooking at the same time - both using the stove at the same time - then space between the stove and the island is crucial. But does this actually happen?

I have an enclosed kitchen that is 11x15, wall-to-wall. It has 3 door openings in it. The outside wall is made up of a door to the outside and a huge bay window over the sink. I can't have an actual built-in island - there is not enough space. So I bought an Ikea island cart that is quite narrow - the cart is approx 17" deep and 48" long. It's perfect! It is the perfect landing zone for multiple things. It has two shelves under two drawers (drawers open to both sides and are very useful for oddities). The shelves hold my most used recipe notebook (50+ years of clipped recipes and family recipes as well), a small bamboo holder for dog meds, their snoods, dog bath towels to dry them when it is raining (like today!), and a wicker basket for potatoes and shallots. Keeps all that stuff off my countertops.

Most of the time it's just me in this kitchen and it works very well for me. But several times a year, I host family dinners and due to my age/health, I need family members helping me in the kitchen. I can actually have two other people in the kitchen - one at the sink and one at a counter on the other side of the island cart, and another going back and forth from the DR, either serving or removing plates. No one is saying "excuse me" or dancing to avoid confrontation. Each person has a zone and it works so very, very wells

Think about how you use YOUR kitchen! All this talk about the island being a barrier to the sink. Well, maybe it is and maybe it isn't. I take things out of the refrigerator and put them on the island. Only a few things require washing in the sink as I wash things that need washing before putting them away in the refrigerator (not berries - should be washed right before serving). I would never want someone else cooking at the stove the same time as I was - it one does, then a 48" stove would be advisable. I don't allow my grandchildren to be in my kitchen grazing while I'm preparing food - they can wait to eat when the meal is ready. If they're in there, they are helping me, but my refrigerator and microwave are not in my stove/prep area anyway. This allows the person at the opposite countertop to get salad/dessert fixings out of the refrigerator and finish the preparation.

Rules for kitchens must always take into account how one uses ones own kitchen. Chefs know this and that's why their home kitchen rarely look like ours do! Can't remember where I saw it, but just this week, saw a famous chef's home kitchen - all stainless and just 36" between the stove and the island. Clearly, this works for him!

Have you considered a table?

Two sets of legs cannot occupy the same space when it cones to the corners of island seating. It seems that you are set on a U-shape which is limiting the size of your island to achieve adequate aisle widths and achieve the number of seats at the island.

You could easily fit in what is on your perimeter into an L-design (move the fridge next to the dishwasher) which will give you a longer island with more realistic space for seating. If you are going to put the short side parallel to the cooktop, consider a design that provides toe space on all sides so it is comfortable to work at no matter the side.

As drawn, your island is a barrier island without a prep sink. If the fridge moves, it is no longer a barrier island.

I agree. Stop trying to design a passageway in front of the refrigerator; it doesn't belong in the passageway. Just move it to one end or the other of the L-shaped kitchen counter. Then design the island you want but avoid chairs across the isle from an appliance.

Its getting close... 3 seats across the 6 ft end will be snug . I would suggest moving the ref to the left, making the island 9 x 5, doing 2 seats on the end and 2 seats on the side...

It will be nice to see this 3d so you can see how it is visually...

That will work if you have included two under-counter drawer-type refrigerators near the sink and keep the beer in the big refrigerator on the far side of the kitchen or if you hire an assistant or a cook.

Sarah - if you want legs on your island, keep in mind that they will cut into the space available for seating.

Quick calculation:

72" wide island

- 2 x 1.5" overhang

- 2 x 4" legs

= 61" left for seating

... I think this would be a bit too tight for three seats.