Oh, here is the whole house plan. Note that it shows Option 1, even though we are leaning toward Option 2.

Also note that the architect shows the dining table "out in the open," while it is likely to be up against the south wall (same as the sink and refrig) most of the time.

Again, thank you.

Can you recess the fridge into the closet, move the cooktop across the aisle, and use one of the new MW convection oven drawers?(Item #6 on the list.)

You could also use a side-loading pantry next to the fridge, to make up for pantry space lost by moving the cooktop to the exterior wall.

I would put the remaining wall oven a few inches lower, for easier access.

I like your option 2, and I don’t think the refrigerator will cause much of a block as your opening to dining are is quite wide. As you say, it is in perfect location for your guests to access both from the dining are as well as the living area without getting in the way of the prep space. Love the whole flow of the home. Best of luck with your Reno, and kudos to your ‘aging in place’ plans!

I like the frig by the dining; it’ll better balance that wall. I’m concerned that two tall cabinets next to the pantry (what is the story with the pantry?) will still be overwhelming. Can pantry move next to frig over by the dining room?

Mama Goose -- thank you not only for the suggestions but also for the time and drawing! 1. Yes, I certainly can recess the refrig into that closet. And, a shallow pantry to the side of the refrig would make sense for canned and boxed items.

The primary downside would be losing one of the ovens, but I might be able to put the Combi Steam oven undercounter where you suggested putting the micro/convection oven (there are some old threads about people doing that), as long as the plumbing lines to the sink would still work. And if I bought a smaller microwave, it could simply be on the counter somewhere, especially with the 30" deep counters on the sink side of the kitchen.

I really do want a full-sized convection oven for baking purposes. [Slightly off topic: Miele makes a good convection oven with "moisture plus" but it really just injects steam at the start and does not replace a true Combi Steam oven. AND, it is not side opening, whch seems to make so much sense for aging in place.]

So, while I've listed a nubmer of "yes, but ..." comments, your ideas are making me go back to the drawing board to consider what other configurrations might work. I DO like putting the cooktop on the outside wall for shorter vent runs. The proximity of cooktop and sink might not be all that bad.

So, again, thank you!

Lydcrafts -- I very much appreciate your comments! Thank you for the perspective about things being just fine. You are quite right that there is a lot of openness, so after a week or two, I probably would not even "see" the refrigerator as blocking views. Plus, there could be the downside of it blocking the view of any messes around the sink!

I may be in the minority, but I like the first elevation better. If you like to cook and bake, having a full sized fridge is pretty necessary. There's no reason you couldn't lower the stacked ovens and just have a shallower drawer at the bottom.

Emilyam819 -- thank you for the comments about "balance." Given how everything is open to everything else, that is an important consideration.

About the pantry: it is an attempt to give me storage similar to what I have now, but in a way that works in a very open space. Right now I have a baking pantry off the kitchen that has a 5' long Metro wire shelving unit on one wall for baking pans, cookie sheets,small appliances, and some dishes. The other wall has a long lower-height countertop for making bread and cookies. I really like the open shelving that lets me see where everything is and provides easy access. Thus, this pantry is really just a version of that Metro shelving wall but with a door!

We could move the pantry to the other end, beside the refrig, and then move everything else down, so that the ovens are where the pantry is now. The concern there is that the ovens would be the "first view" when walking in the front door; right now the view is the pantry doors, which are deliberately not cabinet-like in design. The workflow may be better with the pantry near the ovens and cooktop, but could be just fine with the pantry in the other location.

Again, thank you for the question, comments and suggestion.

I like your second version of the sink wall. Having the fridge close to the table is always a good plan. Except I’d move the dishwasher to the other side of the sink, get it out of the area between sink, prep prep, and cooktop.

Sabrina Alfin Interiors -- Good point about a larger refrigerator. Currently I do have a 36" wide one, but it's in a very different setting and size house. So have been pretending it is only 30" wide and seeing if I could live with that. I think I can, as it will just be me living in the house. My sister, however, is on your side!

Annette Holbrook(z7a) -- Though I am right handed, for some reason I like a DW to the left of the sink. That said, you make a very good point about that location getting in the way of sink/prep/cooktop. This old dog may have to learn a new trick! Thanks for this thought and for the confirmation that the refrig location will be ok.