Do you like to bend over a lot to use the microwave?

How far along are y'all in the design process? Have you broken ground yet?

How does the kitchen relate to the rest of the house? No room works in isolation.

My current kitchen has the sink across an aisle from my range like this layout and I HATE it! Moving a pot of boiling water across the walkway always makes me nervous with my kids and dog running around.

The fridge door is not going to open against the wall. You need several inches between the fridge and the wall.

House is framed and roof is on. Sink has to stay where it is bc the floor plumbing is in, but I see your concern about that. There are a few inches between the fridge and the wall of the walk in pantry.

I'll post a pic of the main floor...

I've never had a knee level microwave before! all new to me. do you have one?

added photos..
thanks everyone for the input! this is great

Can you put your microwave where the wine bottle storage is?

What would you change?

[....]

House is framed and roof is on.

Since you're this far along, I don't think I'd change anything. :-) Changes will probably be fairly costly, not to mention the stress involved. Being first time builders, view this house as your "first pancake" -- The first one is the one where you learn if the pan is too hot/not hot enough, if the batter is too thin/thick, etc.

For the next house, get a window into the kitchen (and build a house that's only 1-2 rooms deep, including porches/garages). :-D Enjoy this one while you have it!

it's a "microwave drawer" btw.. doesn't look like it in the photo

I would add windows on either side of the cooktop and I'd make all lower cabinets drawers.

No angled upper corner cabinet.

Ditch the 9" wide cabinet on the island. It's useless. Instead move the dishwasher to the right side of the sink and move it to the end of the island. Then to the left of the sink add an 18"trash drawer. Then to the end of the island add a dish drawer cabinet. Keep your everyday dishes in that.

Ditch all the uppers except 2 21" wide uppers on either side of the cooktop. Instead add two windows as shown in white. You need light in the kitchen! Then make your lower cabinets wider and drawers. You won't regret it.

Have the upper cabinet to the left of the ovens die into the wall.

You never want the sink directly behind the cooktop. Makes it harder to move things back and forth. Pivoting 180 degrees is dangerous. This avoids that.

It also gets the dishwasher out of your prep zone.

thanks for your comments... we are right handed people, shouldn't we have the dishwasher to the left of our sink?? The lower door cabinets open to roll out drawers. That thin 9"cabinet is for baking sheets, cutting boards so they say. is that a waste of space?

unfortunately for your design, which was very thoughtful by the way, our house is framed and no windows can go by the cooktop (see 1st floor layout, the garage is back there). I'm hoping light isnt too much of an issue, we have 10 foot ceilings and huge windows in the cathedral-ceiling breakfast nook.

we are right handed people, shouldn't we have the dishwasher to the left of our sink??

I've never heard of this reasoning before, lol. I'm a righty and my husband is a lefty, and I don't think we have ever given a second thought as to which side of the sink the dishwasher was on, as long as I could load it up without bumping his rear end while he cooks. :-D (So, as CPartist said, out of the prep/cooking zone.)

thanks for your comments... we are right handed people, shouldn't we have the dishwasher to the left of our sink??

No you have the dishwasher on whichever side works better functionally for the kitchen and in this case it's the right side. You don't want the dishwasher in the prep zone.

The lower door cabinets open to roll out drawers.

So then you have to do two motions plus rollouts hold less. Get all drawers. Trust me on that one.

That thin 9"cabinet is for baking sheets, cutting boards so they say. is that a waste of space?

Yes, Put the baking sheets, etc in the cabinet above your ovens. See below to see mine above my ovens.

unfortunately for your design, which was very thoughtful by the way, our house is framed and no windows can go by the cooktop (see 1st floor layout, the garage is back there).

Oops, I missed that. Make the upper corner cabinet a reach in.

I'm hoping light isnt too much of an issue, we have 10 foot ceilings and huge windows in the cathedral-ceiling breakfast nook.

What direction does the breakfast nook face?

Another opinion: I love my thin roll-out lower cabinet for cookie trays and cutting boards. My GC wanted to put those up above somewhere (can’t remember where at this point! ha) — but I’m short and it’s really nice having them easily accessible. Imwiiod jot want to lose this.

^^^ I'm short too and have no problem reaching mine. I'd rather keep all lower cabinets for storage.

photo attached

I am hoping to have the cabinet like in the above photo next to the glass cabinet on the left side of the drawing. thoughts?

@cpartist But are you 4'11" short?? ;) For my next kitchen (husband rolls his eyes VERY LOUDLY) I want those toe-kick stepstools and maybe a library ladder. :D I need a step stool to get into all my uppers, and they are normal-person height.

@cpartist But are you 4'11" short?? ;) For my next kitchen (husband rolls his eyes VERY LOUDLY) I want those toe-kick stepstools and maybe a library ladder. :D I need a step stool to get into all my uppers, and they are normal-person height.

lol

My mom and I discussed those toe kick step stools and library ladders a few years ago. (We're shorties, too... I'm not much over 5' and she's an inch shorter than I am.) I decided to heck with it all, I'll just eliminate uppers altogether. I am too dang tired of lugging a step stool around!!!

And you know, I'll only shrink the older I get, so, yeah. Darn upper cabinets. :-D

I agree with most of cpartist's suggestions. Cabinet storage needs are personal. Take stock of what your needs are and plan accordingly. Do consider drawers for both cabinets flanking the range. With the dishwasher on the right side of the sink, dish storage could be to the left of your range. This would be particularly convenient for your beverage station.

We have a base pull out that stores our baking sheets and pizza pans. I love it. Our cutting boards are in a top drawer on our island where we prep.

At just barely 5ft tall I made sure almost everything in my kitchen that gets used on a daily basis is in the lower base drawers, first shelf or very front of 2nd shelf of upper cabinets. Rarely do I have to get a chair to climb. When we first moved in our sugar and flour and other baking supplies were put in the cabinet above the fridge by my DH. This is where we kept it in our previous house. It drove me nuts so I rearranged some things and now its where I can reach it without a chair. DH is 6ft tall and forgets how short I actually am.

My brother and SIL are building a house and they are putting in 2 of those integrated step stools. They both are only a few inches taller than me.

OP why those thin cabinets on either side of the cooktop? I would get rid of them and give yourself wider drawers on each side.

We had a very similar layout in our last house and loved it! Zero issues with having the stove across from the sink, it was very convenient and I have 2 kids, they never got in the way. Maybe do a pot filler over the range to eliminate carrying a heavy pot one way.

I had the microwave above the range but LOVE the new drawer microwaves at that height. I love the beverage center/wine area on the end!

A few things... consider more drawers in base cabinets (for better storage AND looks) and look into the extra cost of having the cabinets go to the ceiling - it changes the whole look.

I am hoping to have the cabinet like in the above photo next to the glass cabinet on the left side of the drawing. thoughts?

Never break up a run of counters with a tall cabinet. Switch the glass cabinet and put the tall cabinet on the end of the run

BTW: I have something similar. First pic is doors closed and second is doors open.

Honestly, he won't find it much different. In fact I'm right handed and prefer mine to the right.

@cpartist But are you 4'11" short?? ;) For my next kitchen (husband rolls his eyes VERY LOUDLY) I want those toe-kick stepstools and maybe a library ladder. :D I need a step stool to get into all my uppers, and they are normal-person height.

No, I'm just under 5'3" so yes I can understand your very real need to have them lower. And yes, you need those toe-kick step stools. I understand though what it's like to be your height though because my stepdaughter is your height.

OP why those thin cabinets on either side of the cooktop? I would get rid of them and give yourself wider drawers on each side.

Agree.

Maybe do a pot filler over the range to eliminate carrying a heavy pot one way.

I never understood that since carrying it from sink to stove is carrying cold water but carrying it from stove to sink is carrying a boiling hot pot with boiling hot contents.

and look into the extra cost of having the cabinets go to the ceiling - it changes the whole look.

Agree if for no other reason than not having it get mucky up there.

"I never understood that since carrying it from sink to stove is carrying cold water but carrying it from stove to sink is carrying a boiling hot pot with boiling hot contents."

That's not the reason, it's much easier to dump a pot into the sink/strainer with two hands. Holding a large pot that has 2 handles on either side and trying to shut off the water when it's done filling isn't as easy.

Keep the spice cabinets on either side of the stove (if that's what they are)... game changer! All my spices, oils, breadcrumbs, flour, sugar and seasonings are kept there.

Think of all the little tasks performed in the kitchen, like removing the tableware from the dishwasher and putting them away in the drawer right next to the dishwasher . . . oops.

Do the cabinets that have a label that ends in "butt" make the kitchen look big??

Are you using a 33 inch fridge next to the pantry? Is the pantry deeper as shown in the whole house layout? How wide and how deep is your pantry? Does the fridge stand proud of the pantry walls so you will be able to open the fridge doors and access the drawers for cleaning?

I like what Cpart did with your island. I have had dishwashers on the left of my sink in 3 houses. The last one, the sink was on the right. No problem.

We had plenty of light in my kitchen from the breakfast room windows which were taller than normal due to the cathedral ceiling we had.

I store some of my cutting boards under my sink for quick access.

I did not like my spice pullout in my last house. It was okay, but not as handy as I thought it would be, but it used some wasted space.

I would put in a spice drawer next to the stove. I love my space drawer. Mine is 21 inches and I would love it to be 30 inches!

I wonder if the dishwasher should be closest to the dining room? Where is the dining room?

I'm 6'-2". Just looking at the location of the microwave makes my back hurt.

That's not the reason, it's much easier to dump a pot into the sink/strainer with two hands. Holding a large pot that has 2 handles on either side and trying to shut off the water when it's done filling isn't as easy.

When I fill a large pot, I place it in the bottom of the sink and then fill it. I don't hold it!

Stay tuned for a new design coming our way from our kitchen designers... Great suggestions!!

The 2 small pull outs to the left and right of the stove are for spices, utensils, oils, vinegar etc.

I'm 5'7 and my husband is 5'10 so a microwave drawer below might not be bad but who knows?! first time for us.. I'm thinking now what my kids will try to put in it when I'm not looking :(

Mark, was that an architect joke about large butts that I'm not getting?

I would go with drawers instead of the narrow pullouts on either side. Most people prefer the drawers.

I think you'll be fine with the mw drawer.

First thought: An L+ island is hard to get wrong; it's a shape that works well for most houses, and you only have to deal with one corner.

Other thoughts:

- Looking at the image, take the cabinets to the ceiling. It's a neater, calmer look. I hate the snaggle-tooth look with some cabinets higher than the others.

- How often do you drink wine? I don't care for that dedicated wine cabinet.

- The fridge-under-counter ... you need glassware to be stored nearby, and I don't see a place for it. I'd suggest flip-flopping the dishwasher so it'd be nearer the beverage center.

- Where's your garbage can?

The fridge door is not going to open against the wall. You need several inches between the fridge and the wall.

I currently live with this problem. It's not a world-ending thing, but if you have the option to avoid it ... yeah, avoid it.

Can you put your microwave where the wine bottle storage is?

I like this idea.

How much do you use your microwave? I use mine only rarely, and I'm considering putting a very small one in the microwave.

For the next house, get a window into the kitchen (and build a house that's only 1-2 rooms deep, including porches/garages). :-D Enjoy this one while you have it!

Yes, good advice. Natural light is a big deal.

Ditch the 9" wide cabinet on the island. It's useless.

Agree. Rather than have a 9" cabinet, I'd widen the drawers a bit.

thanks for your comments... we are right handed people, shouldn't we have the dishwasher to the left of our sink??

Handedness doesn't matter a bit. What does matter is that you place your dishwasher as near as possible to where you'll store your glassware and your silverware ... of all your tableware, they're the smallest /most-used items ... so you want them to place them near the dishwasher for easy clean-up.

As for your husband, if you didn't talk about left-vs-right dishwashers, I bet he'd never note it.

Ditch the roll outs and go with all drawers.

Yes.

But are you 4'11" short?? ;)

I am 4'11" short. I'm going with this option: https://hideawaysolutions.com/ 

I'm also placing my upper cabinets LOWER than most people do. I decided this years ago when we rented a cabin at the lake (by chance, it was a handicapped-friendly cabin), and I LOVED the cabinets. Didn't take me long to figure out why: they were low enough for me to reach!

updated design.
changes made: moved the pocket door large cabinet to the end.
got rid of the wine storage.
moved dishwasher to the right of the sink out of the way of the prep area.
added pull out drawers under cooktop.
baking sheet and board storage above double ovens.

looked into having cabinets go all the way to the top but our ceiling heights are different due to a bulkhead (see photo).

thanks for your ideas, it was much appreciated.

I would still make a few small changes but what you have looks 100x better for functionality, etc. Good job.

I would change all the lowers on the cooking side to drawers. You will never regret having drawers. Trust me on that one. LOL. I'm personally not a fan of those narrow pullouts on either side of the cooktop. You can't get nearly as much in as you'd like.

I would still consider getting rid of all the uppers except one on either side of the hood on the uppers and put in some windows. Otherwise your kitchen will be dark with no direct light.

If you decide not to do that, then I'd just let the cabinets on that wall die into the wall on the right and only have upper cabinets where you have the oven and fridge. Otherwise I'd just make it open wall.

Here's your cooktop wall with all drawers.

I still can't tell from your latest pics the answers to Karenb's questions above, and these are important:

Is the pantry deeper as shown in the whole house layout? How wide and how deep is your pantry? Does the fridge stand proud of the pantry walls so you will be able to open the fridge doors and access the drawers for cleaning?

Please get the specs for your intended fridge and see how much space is needed to open the doors fully (see below) and be very clear with your builder / cabinet person / kitchen designer exactly how deep that wall next to the fridge will be and how much room you'll have. Get it in writing. I'm sticky about this because I lived for years with a fridge next to a wall and even with ~3 inches clearance I had to pull the fridge way out and angle it to remove the drawers completely. It didn't have a water line (no icemaker), and if it did, I wouldn't have been able to pull it out far enough.

one more thought: would you consider changing the door in your breakfast room to a French slider? They're pretty, and it wouldn't take up valuable floor space the way a regular door swing does.

we have a slider in the breakfast room, design may not show that change.

I need to shop for my appliances sooner rather than later I suppose!

No I have a two can pullout next to my prep sink.

I don't think I can do without the storage those uppers will give me.

I thought the same thing before I got all my drawers including my dishes. And with your big pantry, you'll need even less uppers.

Do yourself a favor and before you go further, inventory every single thing you have and figure out where in the new kitchen you'll put them. I bet you'll realize you don't need as many uppers as you think because drawers hold so much more.

I just measured at the house. our pantry comes out 27" from the back wall. normal counter depth refrigerators are 29" so it will clear the wall and be able to open fully.

the wall cabinet look long at 48", I would suggest glass door on top, glass door 12"+wooden door 36"