krabbypatty: Glad you're finding that your plan is workable. We do like our kitchen--we spent $ on the "infrastructure" in order to get the space--a high priority. A goal was to not have to say "excuse me" in my own kitchen. Each of the vital areas--sinks, breadboards (cutting boards, range--have two exits from them so that no one is trapped there, with the possible exception of the most used cutting board/breadboard which is in the crotch of the peninsula side of the U. The "sandwich station" pullout next to the refrigerator has proved to be a really wise idea. There we cut tomatoes, butter toast, open and cut cheese, pour milk into cereal, serve ice cream, plunk grocery bags. We're really enjoying the freedom to spread out. The dehydrator's been resident on the countertop for 2 months yet we still could do other activities. (It goes into storage pretty soon, as soon as storage closet gets shelves and a door.) Recently two couples joined us for dinner. I went to one corner and zoomed up some blender salad dressing. Went to another corner and pulled out materials for popovers and heaved them into the oven. Two women and I all messed with veg peeling and cutting on the peninsula and built two casseroles and a salad. DH puttered around with two marinated Alaskan salmon and headed to the grill on the deck and bothered no one. Various adult beverages were served in appropriate glasses at the top of the G and yet I could continue working and orchestrating, uninterrupted. Used dishes began to pile up but it didn't matter. Our flatware box was open and ready on the peninsula all through the dining room meal and was consulted twice. Afterwards,well meaning helpers began messing with the dishwasher and I didn't care. __ Drake the Lab claims to run the place. We've developed a new command: "lobby!"so he will leave the G and go to the very spacious T between the two corridor halls and take his blinkin' dog chews or whatever with him. He loves to carry about wood hunks or plastic pop bottles. Also a nested pair of large black plastic flower pots, one inside the other, a clumsy toy that has survived for 3 months without being torn apart. Needless to say, I'm concerned for the future of the oak floor, but hey, DH chose it and he installed it and Drake is HIS dog. Buehl: Not sure if I've ever seen your kitchen. Thanks for the photos and the description of the scouts in the kitchen. That brings back fond memories. Good of you to work with these kids. Many children today don't much exposure to real cooking. Or proper understanding of eating with others. Sounds like your well-planned islandless kitchen is up to all kinds of adventures.

My kitchen is not too dissimilar in size to yours (a little wider), and I have a square corner cabinet (with the susan inside). I use that as my "baking corner," so for me and my needs having an angled door would not have worked. I store some l-a-r-g-e things in there so I appreciate having the larger area (with the "double" fold door) to reach in and take out. I do not have the best photo of just that door so we'll have to improvise: it's the door on the far left and the door on the far right So you can perhaps see that having an angled door would have cut off a lot of my "hip" space when working in that area. For what will you be using that cabinet, that corner, that countertop?

My proposed layout is very similar to the first plan here, except the sink is on the exterior wall instead of the peninsula. I won't have a butler's pantry - or any other kind of pantry, alas. In a small kitchen such as mine, I see very little reason to have a prep sink even without the Stages sink. The vast majority of our prep will still happen at the sink - and between the sink and range. I really want the expanse of peninsula counter to be freed up for seating, the illusion of space and an uninterrupted surface for putting out food and drinks and whatever else. Meanwhile, other posters seem to be noting that the Stages doesn't work as well on a cabinet run with uppers and is best for islands and open peninsulas and such. So, for Mrspete, that part seems to work well, while it has me all but ruling out a Stages. Many folks have also cautioned against the sink and range being on opposite sides of the aisle - for safety reasons as well as the convenience of the counter between the sink and range as an important prep and staging zone. When the issue of a range on a window has come up, people have commented consistently that grease and grime does not seem to be attracted to the window and it's at least as easy to clean as tile. My aunt has a backsplash window behind her range - and zero complaints. She loves it - and has now implemented it again in her newest house. However, that being said, I like the range on the bottom of the U just fine - and it avoids the problems with the range and sink being on opposite sides of the aisle. I'm going that route - and I am leaning towards not using uppers on that small wall. My big anxiety there is how to center the range on the wall - or give the illusion of it being centered, given I have a bump out to deal with on the right side. I do like the proposed turning of the fridge with the larger pantry behind it, though. Assuming the plan can be tweaked like that, it seems like there's a lot of value in doing it.

Not your most pressing issue, but I had a comment on your possible sink set up. I have the Stages 45 with a single faucet and find that to be all I want. This might change if we normally had 2 people wanting to use the water at the sink at the same time, but that's rare. I don't know what your plans for the island are, but I thought I'd show you this because we think it's one of our more brilliant ideas. The dishes and silverware move from the DW to the drawers in one easy move! The drawers next to the dishes have measuring cups and spoons, carrot peeler, cheese grater, etc. in the top drawer and mixing bowls and such in the middle one. No more running around stretching and bending to put stuff away!