What about sink and DW under the other window and cooktop where the DW is.

Worth a try! We’ll post an image if we think it’s reasonable

Thanks for the suggestion

Another option if you have not considered it is to get rid of one window. I would put it in the middle of that wall. Good lighting could compensate for the loss of a window and it would make a perfect work triangle.

Really don’t want to lose a window but thanks!

Your kitchen does not have an overhead hood vent over the cook top which vents to the outside.

That is very important.

Your cooktop should be located where you can have a hood vent that vents to the outside, ideally without too many bends.

That is most important, more than esthetic concerns.

A floorplan would be useful if you want suggestions beyond the two options you are already working with (or even to opine on those options, really!).

Are you using custom cabinetry? If not, price it out. It expands options considerably and isn't always more expensive.

Loobab, we actually would have a vent to the outside with either design. A bend in the one with the cooktop next to the fridge but, as I said, it’s a small kitchen so not too far to go to get to the outside.

Any feedback on the general aesthetics? We are working with a builder so he’ll be able to price it out and veto things for us but looking for feedback on how it looks and if 18” cabinets and drawers are useless on the wall by the window. Thanks!

Not to throw everything off but...have you thought about moving the oven/range wall to where your sink is now and eliminating that window? But...since you lost a window...making the other window much larger and putting the sink there? That would still give you some great light and have a really nice triangle with a great focal wall. Also - what size are the drawers under the window? they look really a bit strange/too wide.

If your windows are still changeable, here's a few options with either a cooktop beneath a fixed window or flanked with windows. With the size of your cooktop a downdraft might be sufficient. I would also consider a range instead of two separate appliances.

This thread may be helpful.

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/1207813/range-hood-in-front-of-window-great-idea-or-terrible-idea

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Thanks, @wilson853. We actually played around with that idea but we're a bit worried changing/adding windows is going to get costly, and it doesn't deliver quite as much light to the room. This is surprising since we'd be adding a window but it does seem darker in the room. We might run it by our builder but not sure we can afford it. I should add that this is the only layout that would allow for a range due to a stairway to the basement being on the other side of the fridge wall (limits the usability of the lower cabinets on fridge wall). That's why the other layouts have a separate cooktop and oven.

Thanks for the feedback, @Margaret Carroll Interiors. The drawers are about 38 inches wide. We're planning on using them to store our pots and pans. We were going for a hutch sort of look if we're going to end up with a wall of base cabinets and drawers. We tried to align them with the window.

Rather than suggest new ideas (which are still welcome, I suppose), does anyone have a preference over the two designs we originally submitted? Bueller? :)

Both of your original layout proposals have such significant deficits to a well functioning work space that I'd bet most of the experienced people here are convinced that there *must* be better options to consider.

Ok. Thanks, @Carrie B. Care to contribute? Would love to hear your ideas.

Tanya - you'll get feedback from folks who know way more than I do. The suggestions above (any of them!) would give you a *much* better kitchen.

@Carrie B Ok.

You could put the sink in the corner between the windows. That would free up a run of counter for your cooktop while keeping those nice windows.

As far as the original two “choices” both are not ideal. one crammed next to fridge the other oddly in a corner. you have the space there to put it on the window wall. i would pay the extra to adjust the windows. it will be worth it in the grand scheme of years to come with a kitchen that is the most most important room in a house.

I have to say, my favorite option BY FAR is the range flanked by 2 windows. But if I HAD to choose between the original two, probably the corner cooktop.

The last rendering that you posted is by far the most functional, balanced and aesthetically pleasing. There’s no need to crowd your cooktop next to the refrigerator or into a corner when you have the space to spread out and give yourself elbow room.
The run next to the refrigerator is the perfect spot for your MW, toaster and coffee pot.
We remodeled to eliminate the angles in our 1993 kitchen and added a triple window. You will definitely get more light with two windows on that wall.

As Fori suggested post a plan with dimensions so people can provide advice. As others have noted both of the current plans are less than ideal, there has to be a better solution.

Thanks. Did you see the image with the two windows flanking the stove, @HALLETT & Co? I’ll try to get plans posted later.

Tanya, i think the corner cooktop option would be the better of the two original plans because you'd have a small landing space on the right side of the cooktop.

LOVE the two windows with cooktop in the middle and if you HAVE TO choose the corner option makes more sense. I think if you price this out with your builder you may find the extra window would be about the same money as the corner cooktop. Corner anything but especially a cooktop is a lot of labour to get things fitted just right.

I LOVE the cooktop between the two windows. That would be my choice without a doubt.

Option 3, stove flanked by two windows. Yes, moving a window and adding one is costly, but as said corner anything is expensive. Also, you will save by getting a range instead of a separate cooktop and oven. It puts the oven in a much better position rather than under the bar.

Option 3. It gives you a very functional and esthetically beautiful kitchen. I would spend the money and scrimp and save elsewhere in a heartbeat if I had to. For example, if I had X amount of money saved up in the budget towards new appliances or a fancy backsplash tile, I would rather wait on one or several of those things verses settling for a crappy layout. Those things can be added later as you save up more $, but the layout is a done deal.

There are quite a few things that I would find really dysfunctional and/or just plain annoying working in the first two layouts. I would kick myself daily if I purposely chose to drive myself crazy! 😖

I like your last plan (range between two windows). I'm sure someone above has mentioned turning all those lower cabinets into drawers? Also, don't assume it's cheaper to get a range versus a cooktop and separate oven. I am looking at Wolf induction range/cooktop/oven. The 36" range is $12K. A 36" cooktop and 30" separate wall oven together are $8K. YMMV.

It sounds like the overall winner is the range between two windows. Thanks for the feedback, especially those that offered suggestions. We're waiting to hear from our builder and will keep you all posted if this idea seems feasible. Thanks again!