People tear out ranges on islands like you have it. Why? Because it's dangerous. Where do you put things on the sides?

Post a 2D plan of the kitchen because this is not workable and it looks like you might not even have enough aisle space.

Oh no no no. You really don't want that. Forget the island and put the range on the wall where the picture frame is. Let the sitters sit at the table. Or better yet, post some measurements and see what else people can come up with.

Fori has good ideas. I agree--a floorplan w/ measurements would help us to help you. ;)

In terms of space, it's recommended you have 42" around all side of the island; some people do 48". It can vary. i.e. 42" on some sides, and 48" on the sides that gets a lot of traffic.

With your table, you'll want to allow enough room for people to pull out chairs. I don't remember the recommendations--maybe 2' on each side with a chair, beyond the size of the table. Maybe swap the oval table for something in the window corners, a little nook.

Thank you for your advice. Here are measurements for reference. Also - the opening to the foyer is currently only 42" wide. (the layout below is showing a 6' wide opening). Our plan was to open up the wall like the design below. But if it's better to keep the wall longer and put more cabinets/counter there, we can do that too. No work has begun. Just trying to decide on layout first.

Don't put the cooktop on the island. It is a hazard for pot handles that are turned into the walkways. There is lots of pros and cons having the cooktop on the island, but you don't have enough space around it to have the handles turned safely.

Get rid of the seating around the island and put the whole thing on the wall where the picture is.

Too bad you cannot eliminate the outside door and put it where the window is. 32" is not enough space to get into the fridge and have island space. The 26" is not enough for the walkway. Your spaces are too small.

You need to find a certified kitchen designer to help you. I think you are in over your head.

What does your kitchen look like now? What are you moving. What is your budget?

Hi, we are working with a certified kitchen designer. This is what they came up with and I was not sure about it. I have gotten multiple designers to draw things out and they all look similar. And they're all high end designers. So not sure why the space is not being designed correctly. I'm not doing this myself so I don't think I can be in over my head when I have professionals doing it for me. Just thought I'd post and get some thoughts. This is not at all what the current kitchen looks like. We would like the sink to stay in the same place. Everything else can be moved...

@girl_wonder lower left is the opening to the foyer. the dashed lines are from the design program. I think showing distance between walk ways possibly? not completely sure

The biggest thing that triggered the kitchen remodel in my current house was the cooktop in the island. I hated that thing, and only made it 6 months, when it was slated to be demoed around the 2-year mark.

I don't think your kitchen is big enough for an island.

very good to know. appreciate it!

If that is what the CKD came up with, I would be furious.

Plan for another meeting and point out these defects and faults. Then get a decent plan!!!

Can you get your money back and hire a different CKD? FWIW, stores that sell cabinets have design services.

BTW, I’m not clear on the design of this room in relation to the house. So at lower left is the foyer (from the front door). So...you enter the house, turn right, and then it’s this kitchen. And then there’s a back/side door? What’s the thought behind opening up the entrance from the foyer? Is there another room on the opposite side of the foyer, like the living room, and you want an open feel looking from the kitchen table?

Exactly. When you enter the front door, in front of you is a staircase to the second floor. To the left is a living room that is completely open. To the right there is a door into the dining room/kitchen. We want to take the door off and open it up into a larger cased opening so that side of the house is not so closed off.

Are the dashed lines for a coved ceiling or soffit?

David, are you sure your designer is NKBA certified?

Here are the NKBA guidelines:

http://ocean.otr.usm.edu/~w135249/pdf/id140/NKBA%20Kitchen%20Planning.pdf

Your kitchen design breaks so many of these rules (especially the rules on landing zones and work aisles) that you should be able to send these guidelines to your KD and demand a refund. Then I would seriously use your bad design to interview new designers. Any good one (certified or not) should be able to quickly point out these issues and will likely be able to come up with a way better design.

It is great that you are here doing your homework... finding the right layout can be difficult but it is worth it.

If possible consider moving inside door or recessing fridge and pantry into wall to give more space.

Stove should have landing space on both sides.

I would not want stove in middle of all the walk through ways.

The current design needs a redesign.

'High End Kitchen Designers', what does that mean? Design has to follow FUNCTION in a kitchen. Lose the island all together. Joanna Gaines has done the world no service putting one in every kitchen she does like they are NEEDED. Most of the time, they are not.

I’m at a loss. This was created by a CKD? Are you sure? If so, it just reinforces my decision to disconnect myself from an organization that I belonged to for almost 20 years.

Are you sure it’s not just a kitchen cabinet salesperson? The layout posted says “wine rack to be built by HD.” HD=Home Depot?

“I have gotten multiple designers to draw things out and they all look similar.” Have you paid all of these people to design your kitchen? If not, they are salesmen.

I bet a cabinet salesperson is who you think is a KD they are not one and the same .This layout is not workable there is IMO no room for an island Post a detailed floor plan of the empty space with all the measurements windows. doors etc. Then let some of us KDs see what we can come up with.

Horrible and unsafe design. Stop working with whatever "kitchen designer" made this. Can we see a whole floor plan of the home?

I'm probably echoing what others have said, but here are my thoughts:

- You have too much cabinetry and not enough walking space in this kitchen. The island is at maximum-maximum size. You want that breathing space.

- No to an island on the far end-end of the island. You need work space on both sides of the cooktop.

- The wall with the refrigerator seems "heavy" on the side with the fridge and "light" on the side with the shelves.

- Do you really need a table and stools only feet apart from one another?

Don't put the cooktop on the island. It is a hazard for pot handles that are turned into the walkways.

To be argumentative, why are pot handles more dangerous on an island than on a wall-based cabinet? The handles could be positioned carelessly from either location.

I don't think your kitchen is big enough for an island.

No one like to hear this, but -- yeah. Consider a G-shaped kitchen with a peninsula instead.

Your kitchen design breaks so many of these rules (especially the rules on landing zones and work aisles)

Agreed, and those rules aren't opinions or open to "but this is how I cook" arguments. We can argue about the value of pot fillers or pantries, but numbers don't lie.

'High End Kitchen Designers', what does that mean? Design has to follow FUNCTION in a kitchen.

Yeah, "high end" means the designer's putting in custom cabinets, marble countertops, fancy appliances ... function means the layout works, and good function costs no more than bad.

Just to clarify a few things:

- where does the doorway to the left of sink go to?

- the exterior door - is this a commonly used entrance for your family (do you need shoe/coat storage nearby?)

- is this the only dining space in the house?

- how many people live & cook in your house?

Can you post how the kitchen relates to the rest of the house? We can help.

Unfortunately at 135" you definitely don't have room for an island with seating. An island with seating needs a depth of at least 40.5".

135" - 25.5" (perimeter cabinets) = 109.5"

109.5" - 42" (aisle width for a 1 butt kitchen = 67.5"

67.5" - 36" (space needed on non working side of island) = 31.5".

And having a cooktop on the island the way it's set up in the plan is just plain dangerous and unworkable. Where do you put the things you're needing to put into your pots? What do you do with the stuff in the pots once you take it off the cooktop? Where do you lay a mixing spoon down? Do you see why this plan won't work?

Honestly I can't even believe the measurements your designer gave you. 32" wide aisle for the working side isn't even to code in many jurisdictions. 36" is the absolute minimum and in reality that is way too tight.

And then to only have 26" aisle on the side with seating?

Do yourself a favor and pick up some boxes and lay them out alongside one of your walls with the measurements that this "designer" gave you and you'll see that there is no way it would work or be comfortable