liriodendron: we are using existing washer & dryer (not stackable) & they are actually in this same space already. We actually use this exact space as a bathroom & laundry room - it's VERY tight! I do like the sink but I don't know if it will make sense for us to keep it. Palimpsest: I did want to put clean-up like you said, in center island but then much of the storage would be in other island (walking around the bend to put away stuff). Also we weren't sure if we could vent the sink in that island. This has been my BIGGEST issue - The sink placement. I've tried to make peace with by thinking about a prep sink that I've never had the pleasure of having before. Chicagoans: We thought we were going semi-custom but now I found out the builder knows someone that does custom & it may fall within the budget. I shall see what we come up with. rhome410: I know I thought about a prep sink there too but I think I'm going with the corner. The bench will be the first thing you see when you walk in the door. The mud area is really a laundry room that I can put hooks in to store backpacks & coats. This is the door we use as our main entrance - no foyer, garage...so I realize this may become a dumping ground for stuff but I figured it may be a good place for the kids to take off shoes & then put in mud area ( yeah right haha - they will be in front of door, right? haha)I think the bench may also balance out the space because there is a floor to ceiling wall when entering house then again by second island. Also the sitting room will have many windows facing our backyard. Thanks for the nice words - I owe the design ideas to the architect.

More thoughts - Sitting around a normal table in normal chairs like normal diners is, to me, preferable to lining up at a bar, perched like birds on tall stools. So, if you only have room for one of those two, you might think about a four-top table in the space between kitchen and dining room. Depends on how much traffic will cross that area - I'm not clear what the various doors lead to - broom closet, or discotheque? If you choose to shrink the island and make it all workspace with a prep sink, perhaps position the sink where people can get to it without entering the main cook/prep/wash zones. Add a microwave nearby - perhaps undercounter in the island, or in-wall by the refrigerator if there is space. This is all about keeping the masses in their place. Let them heat their refrigerated gruel and prepare their weak tea without interfering with the business of making real food. Another place for the refrigerator would be at the end of the main sink counter, where half of the current double-width sliding door is. Now the island won't block the path from main prep zone to refrigerator. But, the aisle between main sink and island will need to be wide enough for one person to get to the refrigerator while another works at that sink and loads the dishwasher. This is a less attractive location, I think, but just wanted to mention it. Wherever you place the refrigerator, I think you might consider a true counter-depth model (26'' deep to the handles) or a typical counter-depth model (28-29'' to the handles) that is recessed into the walls. This will get you more clearance. Aisle width is slightly flexible. I think the 32'' you've drawn between sink counter and island would be inadequate for most people - unless you're all size 2 and ex-submariners. Closer to 40'' will work better. The full 42'' would be nice but may not be absolutely necessary. Between range and island, I think clearance is even more important since you'll be handling large hot things while stooped over a blazing hot open oven. Not a good time to get tipped onto your keester. Can you mock up an island (e.g. from cardboard boxes) and experiment with different aisle widths in your current kitchen? Note counters overhang the cabinets by an inch or so. Also note that drawer dishwashers can take up less room when open to load/unload, because you needn't fully open them just to slide in a dish. You have plenty of space for a very functional, attractive kitchen - heck, you could almost go over to malgold' s house and steal her kitchen, just send her Bluestar range over to me, please - so fine-tuning the layout to your family's cooking and eating needs will surely be time well spent.

Lucky you! Your house is beautiful! If it were mine, I would put a very long dining table behind that long sofa instead of that small round table. Then I would create a long island to leave the 4 feet of walk-through space needed in your kitchen. If possible, I would use the solid wall for tall cabinets to house all small appliances, pantry storage and counter depth refrigerator. On that island, I would put in the sink and 2 dishwashers, plus pull-out trash bin. You can see that gorgeous view while doing cleanup and food prep. In no way would I lose those floor to ceiling windows! Just my humble opinion, but in this case, form trumps function! But I feel the function is there in this plan. You will still have plenty of prep space on the island, plus there is some counter space on either side of the stove. But it would seem that that view is the reason you are building there. I wouldn't compromise on that.

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