You will want the pantry cooler. Enclosing it will make it warmer than the kitchen. I would move it to the new pantry wall. If it will be in the way there, there are other options like installing a toe-kick heater.

My pantry shelves are 18 inches deep, 55 inches wide and about 13 inches apart (existing when we moved in). There were four shelves here. My husband added a shelf 3 inches below one of the existing shelves that I use for large tray storage (love it!). The top shelf has 20 inches of clearance and the floor has 24 inches of clearance. We recently moved our wine fridge into the pantry floor after my dh added an outlet for it (love that change too!). I added platinum Elfa Door and wall baskets to the back of each double door that I use to store all my "fancy" serving bowls, platters and large dishes. I use plastic desktop file boxes sideways on the shelves to "corral" like items. I use a chalk pen to label the bins. That keeps my pantry looking organized but I can just toss things in the bins. The bins are 13 inches deep, 7 inches wide and 10 inches high. I also use plastic canisters for flours, sugars and other baking supplies. Forgot to say that our pantry is 21 inches deep. I think you would lose too much storage with 12 inch shelves! Unless storage isn't an issue. This post was edited by karen_je on Sun, Jan 13, 13 at 9:43

There is a way to get that reach-in pantry and save a LOT of $. Instead of having it built out of your cabinetry line, have that area sheetrocked in just the same as if a coat closet was being built there. Then put in adjustable shelves and put in sliding doors painted to match your walls. Or stain the sliding doors to match your cabinetry. Or, if the aisle is wide enough, you could just put on the same type of doors you're putting on your coat closet with the double-doors that open out. Although I don't think that's as convenient. With a slider, the doors could be left open while you're working without obstructing the aisle. Or you could get the type of hinges where you can recess the doors when they are open although these are likely a bit more expensive. I was thinking about the plan I gave you and wanted to mention something else. You could move the prep sink to the wall next to the fridge and then have a lot longer expanse of prep counter. And, of course, you could also prep on the island as you have tons of space there. Since your island is so large, I would definitely invest in a larger sink there. Probably 36". That way one person could be doing some clean-up while someone else uses the other side of that large sink to prep. Many of us will be envious that you have two expansive prep areas to choose from. I just want to emphasize that you have a good space to work with and there is no reason to crowd your space so I would definitely have at least 48" aisles. You might even consider making them a bit wider. Wide aisles make a space feel bigger and allow for more people working in the kitchen at the same time without crowding each other. Even a big kitchen can feel tiny if the aisles are too narrow for comfort. The NKBA suggests minimum of 48" aisles for multiple-worker kitchens. I'm an oddball who likes aisles wider than most. Mine will be more like 60". However, many people like around 50-52". The best way to know what suits you is to use boxes or whatever to mock up the island and place the boxes at various aisle widths. And then wrangle some family or friends to do pretend cooking in the space where someone is cooking, someone else is cleaning up, and someone else is prepping, or some-such other scenario. I realize this is a new build and you might not have that space available to do this in but you could do it anywhere. You're simply testing aisle widths. You could do it wherever you're living now by using furniture to stand-in for the perimeter counter and island.

i have to agree that some of the personal attacks and screaming in some of these posts on this thread has been uncalled for. Opinions can be strong, and they can provoke some strong responses. But, personal attacks are unacceptable. Sometimes it is difficult to draw a straight line between a strongly worded opinion and personal attack when the opinion is seen as denunciation, but there should be some attempt to make that delineation. People who post here are inviting opinions and advice from strangers on the world wide web.. There will be misstatements and misinterpretations,differing versions of the truth, and, sometimes there will be too much said, too strongly. There will almost always be someone who feels that their toes have been stomped on, no matter what. That is unavoidable. But, there are no spitballs or flaming arrows allowed! Get a grip! All this was to be about was kitchen storage containers!! Glass, or plastic? By the way, I too have some of those old fashioned covered dishes such as pyrex. I have a darling nested set of very pretty colors and nice looking glass lids. I treasure them and really enjoy using them! They were given to me from the kitchen of an elderly lady who's family cared not for them. Enough said here about this--- moving on. I feel quite certain that someone is awaiting my opinion of how to place their sofa. I am sure I can muster an opinion for them and let them know exactly what I think they are doing all wrong. (insert muffled laughter here)