Just a first shot for inspiration. It doesn't help any with keeping plumbing in the same location though, but it does make for a larger bathroom. It would be a closet on the east and a closet on the south in the master, but might need an angled door into the bedroom (would depend on actual measurements, size of door, etc.) Bath would open into an area with a large vanity with plenty of storage below. If you did two mirrors, you could even put a window between them. Then would be a pocket door and you would have the toilet and bath in the other area, along with a linen closet for towels/toilet paper, etc. A window could be put above the toilet if desired. Bedroom closet could expand into the green area, or frame it in and add drawers to use as much of it as possible. Could leave space at the top to mount a tv if you need one in the bedroom.

Hi Lisa, OK... yes, my range presently has 15" on the right side and a full counter to the left. That won't change with the new set up and it's fine for me the pantry right now is that far away. It's use is more utility room: party items, crock pot, arts and crafts, kids, bulk items. It's fine for what it is. The food will go into a pantry cabinet to the left of the fridge. French doors that swing out. I will definitely look into that. Thank you. Same with the reg. size door into the mudroom. The KD said something like "most new englanders want their door to open in due to snow, etc. Not much use of the deck during snow storms but we still use the grill. We do have another access though. I agree with the dance hall (hey, an idea!) in front of the french door and hope I can decorate with a comfy chair and table or plants and pictures, etc.. We have a largish family and a pool, always with friends over. The kitchen is where they gather. We have a very close neighborhood too and always have parties and host all the holidays. So I love the idea of having loads of options for seating. I envision having another family over for dinner and parents eating at the island (or the banquette for that matter) kids at the other... As you can see from the existing conditions we have a lot of square, same sized rooms. Our living room (couch, tv) is in the front of the house, the FP room is off the kitchen. Right now there is only a small desk in there and the kids board games. No other furniture. They lay on the floor and play games in there. It's really a glorified hallway to the 3 season porch which gets used constantly, in all seasons (gas fireplace). I plan on putting 2 upholstered chairs and a low round or oval coffee table in front or to the side of the fireplace. Hopefully it will still be a place where the kids can play games. lastly, the seating area of the island is 50x31" so I think we're ok there. At least the KD says we are. The aisle width is 42". The work area is is 60" and the people sitting closest to the work area can spread out in that direction. I will definitely be mocking this up (part of me wants to cut my existing peninsula off to see how it will really work)

Alice, I love your kitchen! The step is very inventive. Did anything need to be done to it to help it support weight? Our microwave in our current house is in the island, but it will be over the counter in the next house and my little one will no longer be able to reach it. I may steal you idea!!! Most of the things you have mentioned, I have already thought of but ruled out for one reason or another. I'll elaborate on my thinking. If I put the prep sink in the snack area then I don't have a view when working there, even though it does make that side of the kitchen more user friendly. If I move the sink to that side of the island then I am in the way of anyone sitting at the counter and in the way of anyone needing to get to the fridge. So I settled on the end of the island closest to the range. Also in another drawing while fine tuning the kitchen, the entry to the pantry was at the end facing the cubbies. I moved it because I thought that the door to the pantry "ruined" the line of sight through the house, since it wouldn't be centered like the bedroom door at the opposite end of that long gallery. I let aesthetics rule over function on that one. Bmorepanic, Thanks for your comments. Some I had thought of, some not. The fridge blocking that main entry has been my biggest concern. In an earlier plan I had moved it to where the range is as you did in your drawing and put the range in the middle of the wall where the fridges currently are. But the range was too far away to be efficient because I actually had to travel around the island much more in my triangle then I do with the fridge on the lower end. Also that wall is too long to make my 36" range be a focal point. I would need at least a 48", which is not in my budget. There is actually a 54" aisle on the island seating side, which while not the idea of 60" is better than 48". The prep sink, is actually in the end of the island facing out the breakfast room windows. It does have the inconvenience of being in the way of the range. Our last four homes have had the open concept with the family room. DH does not like it as the sounds of the kitchen make it difficult to hear the television in the family room. Your drawing above with the arched opening between the two doorways is EXACTLY like our last house except there were only columns separating the two rooms, no wall. In my very first drawing when I first started planning this house, I drew the kitchen almost exactly as you have it, except the size of the pantry didn't change, only the opening moved and I didn't have a prep sink in the wall next to the family room or a window into that room. The problem I had with this drawing is less light into the kitchen area, only room for one dw and I now have the range and main sink butt to butt. There was wonderful symmetry with the two "hutches" at either end of the window wall run, a 24" window over each 33" pot and pan drawer and the range in the middle. But I thought it would be better to have the prep sink back up to the range rather than the main sink. Here is my original drawing.... Rhome, I like your advice on flanking the main sink with the DW's and switching the trash to the island. If I add another 6 inches to the island on the range side and shorten the aisle to 42" then the cabinet facing the fridge would be 21" and I could fit in an 18" square prep sink still on the end with the range facing the view through the breakfast room but on the corner closet to the fridge rather than in the center. Thanks everyone for your comments. Keep them coming......... I'll try to play around with the ideas mentioned above next week and post more drawings. We are headed out of town for the weekend.

> Friends, I really need your help. I want to buy a car. More precisely not only myself. For the whole family. Have you considered hiring an architect? An architect can design and build a car you will love. He will interview your entire family to gather the requirements and will decide the proper car orientation. Your crazy aunt Sally wants a space on both of her sides for her favorite cats - no problem, she will love our new design. Space for your pet hamster - we will provide the wheel. 60 Gallon aquarium in the center for your pet shark - what a great idea. An architect can help you avoid costly car mistakes like: closets with no window, the gas chambers, wardrobe closet at the end of a bathroom. [Sorry could not help it] -Pizdabolka