All plans are great for somebody. All plans remodeling existing space have some issues. All people don't weight issues in the same way. In the end, I didn't think I could add anything to the designs but clearance commentary and I'm sorry if it felt personal. I mostly quote nkba.org for clearances. In spite of the fact they want to sell cabinets, they have the best all around guidelines to me. Much of what we argue about on here is personal opinion and each and everyone of us believes we are correct in whatever opinions we hold. We all try to get the best kitchen possible for the original poster. This explanation provided by explanations-r-us, a limited company. Maybe we should have known but we didn't. For the original poster.... I couldn't see a good way to get all the stuff you want into that space... You "should have" wider aisles than you do have. When the aisles are right, the seating evaporates. The stairs dump a passerby into the middle of the island instead of routing people beside it. The dining room seems in an awkward location - it's kinda hard to get to when the island is occupied. All the work-a-day spaces are behind the island (have routing through the northeast passage). I keep seeing little johnny-or-jonette doing homework at the island and getting hit in the head with a passing laundry basket. There's a lot of space in the house already that's designated toward special purposes. I confess that I would rather have the dining room, home office and kitchen be combined and forget about having multiple areas that seat 4-5-6 cause it makes my brain hurt. So, I asked about the floor plan thinking that maybe those stairs could move someplace else or be smaller or something else could happen in the room design? Maybe the original kitchen could be kitchen and the wall between it and the original dining room could come down? And also wondering if home office could be in "more foyer". However, you seem pretty happy with your design. So I decided to shut up.

All -- thank you so much! If I could send you virtual Gift Cards to the restaurant of your choice, I'd send at least a $100 for a decent meal and couple of drinks :) (Sigh, I know I'm too cheap, been in New England for too long.... ok fine, make that $200 for a really nice meal). Your feedback was hugely appreciated and ever so timely. I took today off work and worked on the plan (said differently, wasted the WHOLE day), and have submitted it to the cabinet shop/company I am working with. Once I have their plans, I will post. Changes today -- aisle widths have been a concern to me. I reworked my island layout (see below), which includes current widths. I also trotted up to the attic and measured my faithful old round table and chairs (to be used in b'fast area, and before you ask -- I like the table, it has a lot of family history, and hopefully will refinish it :) ). Based on how we would sit in the old kitchen, and how we will sit in the new, we sit facing out the window. We have a nice, long sloping lawn (before, used to look at birds a few feet away at bird feeders, we will miss that). I have always love the idea of a command center--i.e., you're prepping away in front of your guests, so this does appeal very much to me. From Drop Box While not optimal between desk and island, I believe it's something we can live with. Marcolo -- Thanks so much for chiming in, I hoped you would! Long hike to pantry -- good point. Will consider other locations for this. Fridge clearance - point take. (Half day spent on reviewing panel fridges) Fridge swapped. Drawers - I take your point re 1 shallow, 2 deep. However, one of my goals for the new kitchen is organization - I love idea of home for creme caramel cups, for example -- why I liked the idea of more, shallow. Remembering that you can compartmentalize a larger space... will take longer to sink in. Cabinet over fridge to be pulled forward, definitely. Angled corner cabinet -- another point taken. Wait for drawings from cabinet co. In the meantime, please ignore ugly jog in countertop (s/w not cooperating). Enough storage for flatware/dish/glass -- definitely unsure about this. I think I measured loosely and thought I'd be fine - but right now, in temporary kitchen, I'm storing things on top of chairrails, so... have lost track. I've added a cabinet to the left, and both are configured for a 4" drawer, and then two ~8 " drawers. Yes to the MW drawer. Brianadarnell - good questions/comments, all. THANKS! Straight upper cabinet wall, check:) Swapped fridge and went the (virtual) pricey route of the built in Liebherr. Regarding beverage fridge -- DH has asked for only 1 thing in the remodel; a beverage fridge in the island for his -um- malt beverages. Unfortunately, hampered by the requirement to provide seating on the island for our two kids and three neighbor friends, I lose out on being able to place essential items such as warming drawers, and unfortunately, even more important items such as - um - redundant malt cooling storage facilities. To accommodate DH, I am placing the overflow malt beverage storage unit as close as possible to his work zone (read GARAGE/OUTSIDE). As this unit may need to contain beverages of a non-malt nature (read - wine), rest assured that this unit is capable of cooling appropriately. Also, there is also primary location of fridge, for 'overflow' storage. The pantry/laundry room will be open to the kitchen (no doors); there will be sorting drawers for the laundry (scroll up to see picture); when laundry is brought in and dumped on floor / countertops, it should be sorted right away. (Currently, we open the door to the basement, and toss down.... rather nice!). The range wall is an outer wall, the garage (to the right of the kitchen). This is the room through which we will normally enter and exit. There will be a mudroom, with coat storage and storage space for the hockey bags :) -- beyond that is the 'fire room'; we're in New England and keep a fire going here in the wood burning stove for most of the winter (Oct - April; it's a long period). Large storage for big pots and pans - hopefully, most of these will go below 48" cooktop; current plan is 4 drawers; 2 on top, 2 below. Hi Houseful -- as always, thanks for your input. You're right about the M/W, have moved to the right of the ovens. The plan is for pull-out laundry bins (to the left of the washing machine); laundry is dumped on the floor or C/T and then sorted into 1 of 4 bins (whites, colors, darks, delicates). So, hopefully, laundry won't ever sit out. Rachel -- Wall is gone, LOVE the idea of symmetry/tiling right side. Thanks! bmorepanic -- you get the Platinum Gift Card; please select the meal/venue/virtual Gift Card of your choice! I spent the day reviewing your aisle notes/recommendations; they were so very helpful. While not perfect, my plans have been improved due to your input. Good catch on the angled wall in the pantry; another casualty of the original plan vs. reality.... I've adjusted the island towards the stove per your 36" suggestion. Your advice re. larger cabinet size is appreciated and will be reviewed carefully. My only comment is that if you have tons of space in a new kitchen (egad, you should see my former (combined) baking station/coffee station/dish cleaning/prep area/library,etc. -- all crammed above a 24" cabinet) - then there might truly be a place for everything.... On my plan, when 'pullouts' are designated, I plan a handle which can be tugged to pull out the cabinet (vs. open cabinet, then pull out). I'm obviously not calling this the right thing. Thanks, I do very much agree that the double motion should be avoided. Good points on the opening issues. Double ovens will receive 1" filler to the left. Would appreciate any feedback on items in final drawings which don't seem to be paying attention to this. You have a knack for really understanding a picture. Thank you for the comment regarding pulling out the hood as well. This, I hadn't yet considered. Designov - would like to see your layout; hope you are able to post. Fridge wall removed (I'm pretty sure it is not load bearing; DH dbl checking). I don't think I have room to put DW to the left of clean-up sink; will keep in mind. We are getting cabinets from Conestoga. They offer an RTA cabinet and GORGEOUS doors. Onus definitely on you to make sure quote is accurate. I have received quotes from Lowes/Kraftmaid cabinets (6 visits over past 2 years), as well as Omega/Dynasty and alternate Kraftmaid dealer. I really love the door styles available and feel if you put in the work, you can get a terrific product at a lower price than the big box stores. Computerklutz - would love to see your kitchen/progress as well, please do post pictures once your counter tops are in. (Fingers crossed between now and then that all goes well!). After reading your post and others, I spent a good deal of time reviewing fridge's. Thank you for the heads up. Also -- regarding the microwave -- did you put in a MW drawer at a lower level or a regular MW? From what I've read, people seem to like the MW drawer... but since I have an unopened MW drawer in the basement, I would very much appreciate your feedback! Best regards to DH.

You have a good space with a lot of floorspace to work with! Here's an idea. As you an see in the Zone map below, this layout allows you to have several people working in the kitchen at one time. Other notes: All perimeter counters are 28.5" deep. The extra 3" adds workspace and allows you to have deeper upper cabinets. All perimeter cabinets are 27" deep, if you can get them. If not, then pull them out approx 3" from the wall. Note the DW is not 27" deep - but with the extra inches behind it, it provides more space for water lines, etc. All uppers are 15" deep. The refrigerator is on the perimeter and near the Morning Room. It is next to the Prep Zones and the Cooking Zone - where you will need it the most. Is the Morning Room going to be used for table space? Or, will it be a "sitting room"? It appears to have benches and shelving, so can't tell what it will be used for. Cleanup Zone: The Cleanup Zone is on the "bottom" wall It is separated from the Prep and Cooking Zones so that you can have someone cleaning up and/or loading/unloading the DW while others are prepping and cooking. It includes a Dish Hutch with a 15-inch deep upper cabinet that goes to the counter. The extra depth will accommodate dinner plates and, perhaps platters. Dish Hutches hold a lot of dishes - in many cases they can hold all your everyday dishes and glasses. The DW is situated such that it will not be an obstacle to traffic entering the kitchen from the bottom or leaving the DR from the kitchen end Prep Zones & Baking Center: The primary Prep Zone is in the island. It has plenty of workspace as well as a water source. The secondary prep zones flank the cooktop. Probably the most useful space for a secondary Prep Zone is "below"/to the right of the cooktop. The primary Prep Zone has over 4 feet of workspace on one side of the sink and around 20 inches on the other side so you have some landing space. The larger secondary Prep Zone has over 6.5 feet of workspace. The sink on the island is situated so that it can be used for filling/emptying pots. I left the ovens on the lower wall b/c it's better not to directly block a doorway with a hot oven door if you can help it - and you can. Do you bake? If so , the 6.5 feet to the right of the cooktop could be your Baking Center. It has plenty of counter space for rolling dough, etc. as well as space for the pans/cookie sheets to be right there. The "Baking Center" is also near the ovens - so it will be easy to b/w the Baking Center & the ovens. The primary Prep Zone contains the trash pullout. The trash pullout is also across from the Cooking Zone. The trash pullout is easily accessible from the island Prep Zone, the Cooking Zone, and the Baking Center/secondary Prep Zone. Cooking Zone & Right Wall: The Cooking Zone is across from the primary...

I don't know how helpful this will be as our kitchens are quite different but here it is. It's been tweaked a small bit since this diagram but pretty close to how things are shaping up in real life.. The fridge is in the lower left corner in a niche. It faces the short L of cabinets on the left and opens into that aisle. That's our only slight bottleneck but it hasn't been a problem. People aren't in the fridge long and that's not a super high traffic pathway. I'm pressed for time so I can't help you with a search but there have been discussions here where pictures taken from Houzz have been posted with counters running in front of windows that drop lower than the counter height. Even sinks. There are ways to do it that still allow window access and that can look quite striking and make a good focal point. You might search around and see if you can find them. Not really sure what words would work best to find them though. It seems like that last plan would work if you get rid of the beloved Hoosier. Wouldn't that leave walking around room to get to the table past the fridge? If you go with that plan, I would build a wall around the fridge to make it look built-in.