If you are at or nearing "retirement" age (height shrinking age) and are building new kitchen cabinets, you might want to at least consider shorter base cabinets and lower hung overhead cabinets and even utilize a drop in stove to adjust the height of its cooking surface as well. I suggest this because my 95 year old mom has shrunk from 5'6" to less than 5' in height.

Just lovely, too. I see you have your sink and cooktop on the same side. Currently mine are planned to be opposite each other. Do you th8nk the distance would be too far with a potmofmwater for pasta? Guidelines i have read go with same side better for aging/handicap considerations

Suezbell great suggestions, thank you.

Same side is definitely the way to go. This way, I have my water source next to my prep area, which is next to the rangetop. I cannot imagine lifting a pot of boiling water, and having to carry it across the aisle, to dump it into the sink. That’s an accident waiting to happen. Even just prepping veggies, or whatever, carrying stuff from one side of the kitchen to the other, is going to be a messy proposition.

Darbuka, thank you. I have just made a note to switch the ovens and the cooktop

Between now and the time you truly need it, you might be on the lookout for a small sturdy rolling cart/cabinet you can use for moving heavy items from one countertop to the other -- one that can be parked in the adjoining dining room or look for one to which you could add the wheels. That way you could still put the sink on the exterior wall by a window and the stove within the opposite row of countertops.

Suezbell, great minds... i have one that for now will live in the pantry. 🙏

Keep this mantra in mind...ice, water, stone, fire. That is, your fridge should be steps away from the sink, the sink next to the prep space (stone), which should be next to the stove (fire). That setup makes for an efficient working kitchen.

Giving credit, where credit is due...kudos to Marcolo, who first came up with the idea on this forum.

Btw, since you’re designing from scratch...we put a smaller sink opposite the cooktop (in between the double ovens and fridge. This way, a second cook can be prepping at the same time, with no chance of getting in the way of the other cook.

We will have a ‘butler pantry’ at the top end of the galley, opposite end from dining area. Separated from main kitchen space by walkway from guest bedroom/bathroom. This will have a smaller sink in it to accommodate additional prep area as well as serve the coffee/tea bar we will have there. Now i have to ask a question about your ovens. Top is micro/convection and a separate unit? I am seriously considering this as double oven is used so rarely.

And... is that soapstone? If so, how is it working for you? I could live very nicely in your kitchen :)

I think that is too wide if you do need to move things that are heavy.....however as a senior do you really need to cook that much at one time?..

Thank you, MJ. The ovens are Miele. The top is a combi steam oven (CSO), and the bottom is regular/convection. Awesome appliances.

Yes, we have soapstone counters, Belvedere, one of the hard varieties. We love them! Soapstone doesn’t stain or etch. As such, it does not need to be sealed. It’s anti-microbial. After four years, we’ve got not one chip or scratch, not even around the under mount sink, where pots knock into it, at times. Also, soapstone, because of its unique properties, is not prone to thermal shock, like other stones. You can put hot pans, pots, or plates straight from the microwave, on it, without fear of cracking.

There are some great articles about agin in place if you google that. BTW I am a senior we entertain a lot and I run a catering biz from my home so yes seniors cook too.

The absolute minimum distance between the two sides would be 6' and that would barely accommodate the turning radius for a wheelchair. If you have the luxury to change measurements, I would go for 7'.

I would suggest you use as many drawers as possible; drawers bring items to you, no crawling into the cabinet to find something. I would also consider dishwasher drawers for the same reason; if that isn't possible, raise the height of the dishwasher and put a drawer under it for dishwasher supplies.

My MIL had granite countertops in her previous home, which she did not like, they were always cold. She has Corian this time and is somewhat happier, but says she wished she'd gone with Formica as they would be warmer. She does love the drawers we replaced for her.

For aging in place, try to keep the primary work zones & appliances on the same wall and, as Darbuka mentioned, use the "Ice.Water.Stone.Fire" mantra to guide you:

• Ice -- Refrigerator
• Water -- sink, prep or cleanup
• Stone -- workspace
• Fire -- cooktop or range

So, arrange the following on the same side:

Refrigerator + 42" of counterspace + sink + DW + 24" counter & storage (if possible)

As you age, you will find not just carrying, but also lifting heavy objects such as a pot full of water more difficult. So if you can arrange your Kitchen such that you can slide pots/pans along the counter rather than lifting to carry to the other side or even to a cart, you will be better off.

I'm planning my retirement home and my Kitchen will do just that. While my refrigerator will not be along the same run, it will be across the end of the peninsula with at least 48" (hoping for 51" to 54") so I can take things out, place them on the peninsula, and move to the prep sink just to the left of the peninsula without having to lift things again. So, I'll be able to slide to the prep sink (with plenty of work area on both sides), then to the range/cooktop, and, finally, to the Cleanup Zone. The Cleanup Zone will be on the other side of the range/cooktop so that I can slide things over to that, if necessary. Basically, I will have a "U" with the refrigerator, extra wall oven, and "Gluten Zone" across from the base of the "U".

I will not have an island b/c they become obstacles if someday one of us ends up needing a walker or wheelchair. The peninsula and legs of the "U" will help protect the primary work zones from traffic without being an obstacle.