I would probably do the same style shaker in a different color. How high are you planning to go with the built ins - counter or bench height?

Can you show us the floor layout in 2d please? I'm not following your verbal description because I'm a visual person.

Also where is your cooktop in relation to your dishwasher?

Kristen - Counter height. It's about 12 inches below the window so it'll allow for display of pictures or other objects on top. If we did open bookshelves I may go a little higher.

Cpartist - see below floor plan.

The floor plan does not match the elevation, but regardless keep the marshmallows in the wall cabinet to the right of the dishwasher.

I would do shaker cabinets on the fireplace in a stained wood instead of white.

Mark Bischak, you’re right. The architect drew plans for the kitchen which changed when we worked with the cabinet maker. Fortunately I did that very early on and was able to shift the window during framing to center the window and make the cabinets symmetrical.

What’s with the marshmallow comment?

I thought about staining wood cabinets by the fireplace but plan to do a white mantle so I’m not sure that would work.

You're doing a craftsman style fireplace, so do craftsman built ins with glass doors.

25-best-ideas-about-craftsman-style-interiors-on-californian-bungalow-fireplaces · More Info

BTW: I would turn your island 90 degrees so the prep sink is opposite the cooktop and not the other sink, otherwise you'll be carrying food stuff back and forth and back again from sink to prep to cooktop, etc.

If pull the prep sink out of the island all together. Why do you need 2 sinks in such close proximity.

Here is what I'd do.

Turn the island 90 degrees so you have lots of prep space facing the cooktop. Move the prep sink in from the corner at least 18" so you have landing space for stuff taken out of the fridge before washing.

Here is why I suggested turning the island 90 degrees. When we cook we take food out of the fridge and pantry, bring it to the sink to wash, then prep next to the sink. Once we're finished prepping we bring it to the cooktop to cook the food.

I indicated the steps using arrows. Red for taking food out of the pantry and fridge and bringing it to the sink to wash.

Blue for moving it from sink to counter to prep.

Green for moving it from counter to stove to cook.

Notice how you're crossing needlessly back and forth in your layout versus the smoother transitions from one to the other in my suggested change? And how carrying the prepped food to the stove is a shorter distance?

First yours:

I like CPArtist's rotated island... but I might suggest another modification: swapping the fridge and the range. This way the fridge isn't "buried" in the kitchen nor is any one walking past the range or a potentially open DW to access it.

Also, depending on the envisioned use of the beverage fridge, might be more suitable to have it out (maybe in the island) vs tucked away in the pantry hallway

Lastly, I would seriously consider a larger prep sink... the temptation is to go small-ish so as to not interrupt the counter space too much, but if it's too small, it's useless (splashy + nothing fits)

Thanks for all the feedback...

cpartist - I like the white kitchen with the wood stained fireplace. That's definitely something to consider. I think I need to wait till the cabinets are in and I can see the floor to determine stain. Plus we have some walnut accents in the kitchen.

groveraxle - I also like this option with glass front cabinets. I could keep with the white but not worry about the style matching/not matching.

As for the island layout, I considered turning it early on in the process. However, I decided on the way we have it because most of the seating won't have it's back to the family room but instead to the side. The cabinets are all sitting in my house waiting to be installed so too late to change. However, good points about the prep sink and although it's not drawn this way, we are doing a round prep sink with the faucet in the corner so that way it's easily accessible from either side of the island.

damiarain - We moved the beverage fridge to the china cabinet area outside the kitchen and across from the dining room. I realized it would be harder to access by the pantry and I'd have more people walking through between range and fridge.

As for the island layout, I considered turning it early on in the process. However, I decided on the way we have it because most of the seating won't have it's back to the family room but instead to the side. The cabinets are all sitting in my house waiting to be installed so too late to change.

It would not be too late to change the island orientation since I didn't change the size of the island at all. I just turned it.

I would highly recommend it for the reason I suggested. Frankly I don't think it's a big deal when sitting and eating, or doing anything else at the counter that one needs to look into the family room. And this way the folks sitting at the island are not looking at the cleanup sink and dirty dishes either. They're looking at the cook prepping or doing their magic at the stove.

I do however think that having a good flow to the workspace is so much better than having one that is even a little bit off. I say that from lots and lots of experience.

Well I really wish I had posted this sooner, we’re at the point of no return on rotating the island. I just spent a half hour last night standing in the home and it feels awkward. I think rotated would have been better. Hopefully, once we have the counter stools in and it’s all finished we’ll be happy. We did a ceiling feature that I absolutely love but it mirrors the island so if I rotated the island it would look goofy.

Here’s an in progress picture:

@seitzsar - my set up is somewhat similar and I love the suggestions of cpartist. I have enough time to make this change and I'm seriously considering it. May I ask what your ceiling feature will be? I have some "saved cypress" from our cabin demo that I'm thinking of doing something with....

It's not too late but it would mean redoing and a change order. I personally don't understand the idea of the feature and think it takes away from that gorgeous island.

And if you cook a lot, I'd think function is a lot more important.

Also why are their no pot lights along your cooking wall? You need pot lights to bathe the counters where you work. The lights once again look more like form over function.

Wow, cpartistis definitely right about needing to rotate your island for functionality AND for looks/balance. Much better to have it facing your stovetop and nice range hood.

I think a visual division between family room and kitchen is needed to help define the spaces in open floorplans.

From your photo, it really doesn't look too late to make the change now. (I don't see plumbing or counters, etc. installed yet, right?) It might cost you a little now, but could save years of frustration from a poorly functioning space.