The double doors are the current pantry, which is 24" deep (cannot step in). The mini-hall space to the left of it extends further back than the depth of the pantry, so there will still be a drywall corner even turning that into the long 16'6" wall of cabinets (as the plan currently calls for).

We love the look/idea of the long wall of cabinets/countertop, but that could just be an overcorrection from what we currently have.

The plan now is to have built in pantry cabinets either surrounding or to the right of the fridge. (18 and 18 on either side, or a single 36).

You did a nice job with your post. Can you add a sketch (handwritten not to scale is totally fine) showing the kitchen in relation to all the spaces around it?

Is the breakfast nook on the back of the house?

Does the powder room get used a lot? It's very central to the whole first floor and doesn't look very private. I'm wondering if Bedroom 2's bath can be configured to be accessible from the hall. Without the powder, the possibilities for your kitchen really open up.

Because it isn't private, the powder room is really only used by the kids (who have not yet developed a strong desire for privacy while using the bathroom). The plumbing for the powder room sink is currently in the way of where the supports for the new i-beam will come down, so it will be affected by this move. I jokingly asked my husband about moving the powder room the other day, but I wasn't seeing how to do that without losing it entirely. Maybe there is a way that I am not seeing. I can provide more details specs of other areas if that would be more useful than text descriptions.

The second bedroom is a guest bedroom (we've had guests 2x in almost 3 years, both for short stays), but also used as an office. So stealing from that bathroom is tempting. However, the little hall area that leads into the 2 bedrooms is angled, then goes into a closet (with ductwork), and the shower is on the other side of that wall. So trying to access the bathroom without entering the bedroom would require *significant* changes (even if we wanted to do away with that closet, there isn't enough space for a door in the hallway).

This is where project creep can get crazy, but I'm just brainstorming with you.

I'm wondering if a wide back hall with coat hooks from the laundry directly to the 2nd bath could be created by stealing some space from the master and the kitchen. and you could square up the entrance to the primary suite and the bathroom. So many angles in your house!

A reach-in pantry and fridge would probably be best in the space where the powder presently is.

I do love the idea of the pantry being where the powder room is, if only because of the crude jokes I would forever be making to my husband about where the groceries are being put away. (We watched an episode of 'This Old House' where an attached outhouse was converted into a pantry and I couldn't stop giggling).

Anyway.

I love the ideas, totally open to hearing them, even if some are a bit crazy! There are so many things I wish I could change, but it just wouldn't be financially responsible (but at the same rate, it isn't a good idea to spend 6 figures on this remodel and end up with something that is a stinker). So if there is enough bang for the buck (like we feel removing the wall we are currently removing is) then maybe it can and should happen.

We really do have a lot of angles and corners. Pushing back the wall to be fully flat (digging into the master closet and master bedroom) is definitely too much scope creep for this. With the remaining angle, does that make the "back hallway" too awkward? With the hallway there, is there still enough room for an island that can fit

The hallway to the bedrooms requires 2 doors (door into master, door into guest bedroom - then there is door to bathroom that doesn't have room currently, but also doesn't when it is a square area).

I was kinda wondering about stealing some of the master closet (the larger back one, as we don't really use that one much- it is full of stuff, but we do not go in there regularly) for the mud room- or potentially for a powder room? We spend a lot of time in our garage (it is setup as a large workshop), so having a convenient bathroom would be nice. Or for kids coming in from outside who may or may not take off shoes. But it would be a very tight fit and we'd lose some of the "mudroom" space (it is a small room, our implementation of a mudroom is a shoe storage rack with a bunch of coat hooks for backpacks and jackets over top). There's also a triangle closet (because why not more angles!?) in the mudroom/laundry on the same wall as the master closet (the other side is an angled wall in the master bathroom that has my mirror/vanity on it).

I would agree that brainstorming on the Powder Room might be beneficial not only to the Kitchen layout, but the flow of the house. An existing plan is better than proposed for exploring all opportunities, something like this:

I already proposed stealing the closet along the kitchen wall for walk-in pantry or powder room and my husband was not at all on board. It's the closet we both use daily. I'm not sure I could convince him to give that up (maybe if the layout were really awesome he would feel that it was an acceptable trade off).

Thank you for the updated plan with current layout. It was around 1am for me when I was scratching together the hand drawn one. I can get a better layout of the existing plan done later tonight!

I was just wondering about part of the 2nd closet for a PR.

I did see 2 Master closets, and it would be a good bet for us interneters that if you want to remodel your 90s kitchen, the 90s Master bath is not far behind with the step-up jacuzzi tub and brass fixtures. You could even plan for a better Mudroom/Laundry you feel is cramped. It doesn't mean you have to build it now, but it can be planned for.

Your husband is probably thinking of project creep on the wallet. Think about if you are spending $90K on the kitchen, all those days dealing with microwave dinners & takeout, dirty floors, all the cuts to the new floor tile and mitered casings, just the human capital put into the kitchen. Would you want a compromised kitchen if there are other things you'd like to fix about the house anyway that can affect the kitchen?

The previous owners already updated the master bathroom, so it doesn't feel dated (no brass). The layout isn't perfect, but it isn't screaming for help either. Nice heated floors, updated tile and fixtures, white cabinets, granite, updated shower structure. It's pretty low on the list of things we want fixed. (Thankfully)

My husband doesn't want to walk through the bathroom to get his biking and warm weather clothes (both of which take up a huge amount of space and live in that closet, as do mine). He does go in this closet multiple times per day. He's been pretty open minded about most changes, so I'm trying not to push for changes that make him too unhappy. (He's also doing a lot of the work himself, he redid our last master bathroom in the previous house). That said, if it's worth it he would probably change to being on board. That other closet is definitely the preferred one to steal from since we rarely even open that door.

What are the overall dimensions of the kitchen/ lower ceiling area excluding the bay area? I'm looking for the length of the red and blue lines below...

Blue 19'8". Red 18'.

I drew up a suggestion, but when I overlay it on your drawing it's not fitting. Hmm. Is the lower ceiling area 18' from the master bed to the family room or is it 18' from that back wall to powder room entrance wall?

Ack, sorry, miscommunication on my end. The corrected measurement for the red line is 16' 4". (The previous measurement goes all the way back to the other wall by the door)

No worries :-)

After some discussion (and making some more progress with the removal of the load bearing wall/new beam) and discussing what it would mean to move the powder room, we have determined that is not in the cards for us right now/for this project. (As much as I would like a more private powder room, there isn't really a good replacement that doesn't involve HUGE project creep that we just can't do at this time).

Have you thought about rotating the island and eliminating the breakfast nook table? It would make a better kitchen work flow and probably force you to make better use of your formal dining area.

And these changes, because you don’t need so much counter space by the stove, and you can fit in a drink/snack bar.

I've tried out having the island go the other direction in the rendering software, but it felt wrong. It seems like a very large/awkward expanse between the kitchen and living area. 

My husband prefers no doors to open and block the opening between kitchen and formal dining/master. Which is why we avoided the pantry in that very spot in the designs. We have the microwave there in our current kitchen and we have noticed just that cause traffic jams. But he's also open to exploring the changes and if that's the tradeoff we have to make for the overall benefit of the layout, so be it.

I'm still worried I'm seeing this wrong or thinking about it wrong. I have no attachment to keeping a full table in that nook. And they aren't bay windows, it is fully framed/straight walls.

And luckily we did fall in love with a range yesterday, so we definitely don't have to worry about having a space for a wall oven. (Fulgor Milano Sofia induction range in 36" 😍)

We really liked the suggestion for the drink area to live on its own, so we tried out moving things around to accommodate that. My husband says this is now his favorite plan, thus far. We have a small 18" drop zone for charging/junk drawer/kids stuff. 36" of pantry. 30" on either side of the 36" range. A 6' wall for drinks (espresso, etc). Space for a 36" base cabinet with drawers (for plates/bowls) that is just around the corner from the dishwasher/across from pantry and fridge.

It isn't perfect, but it has some details that we are really loving.

We both agreed that ideally the island would be oriented in this direction, but that it doesn't feel right in our house. Especially the large expanse between island and family room, that could technically fit a small table and chairs, but we both felt it would be awkward (it would be directly under the ceiling height change, and partially visible to the front door).

The downside of this plan is the awkward work triangle, combined with the sink sharing the aisle with non-cooks trying to serve themselves their drinks and snacks.

Here, you have a great work triangle and aren’t sharing the space with non-cooks. I don’t think you’d have that much space between the back of the island and the couch. You might pull the couch back toward the island and/or add a sofa table. Also, you might want the work aisle to be more than 4 feet, and you have the space to push the island toward the living room. My stove aisle is 42” and I have to stand to the side to use the oven, and the refrigerator is not also in that aisle. Remember that even counter depth models stick out several inches.

Since last posting, we have expanded the opening from the kitchen to the dining room to roughly 48" (not just on paper, this wall has already been changed). Even in our current kitchen design, this feels so much better. It isn't completely open, but it no longer feels like a cramped bottleneck.

@emilyam819 your suggestions have been SO helpful and our current kitchen design is looking very similar to what you have posted below. Except the fridge is with the pantry and the range (with surrounding cabinets) moves down (the range and sink are now across from each other, but the aisle is wide so my hope is it isn't too close). Visually it looks very nice (IMO).

I'm also thinking I'd like to bump up to either a 42" or 48" sink, especially if I can get my husband on board with a Rachiele custom sink.

I'm curious if you had a reason for keeping the fridge on the left/pantry on the right, or if having them both to the right (especially now that the opening into dining is 48" instead of 30"). Thanks!

Glad you found my suggestions helpful. I was trying to place the fridge where it would be convenient to the cook but also convenient for someone to grab a drink without getting in the way of the cook. Also convenient for unloading groceries coming in from mudroom. So, it’s best not to bury a fridge in the kitchen. But it depends where non-cooks will be coming from. Also it is a moot point if you are doing a drink bar. Are you?

We will no longer have a second sink (lost when we widened the opening), but we still plan to have all our alcohol stored in the uppers that are across from the pantry (and fridge). It is farther from the garage/mudroom, but there's a single place to drop groceries now (whether fridge or pantry). And kids getting snacks/drinks can do so without passing through the work zone/near the stove/sink.

I'm questioning if a second faucet at the sink would be a good idea. When we are both in the kitchen it seems like we are often waiting for the other to be done at the sink. But there also aren't that many times when we are both actively working in the kitchen.

Note: I'm not sure how to get a faucet to render with this sink, but obviously there should be one (or two) at the island sink.

@Sophia, what software are you using? Very cool!

@Jen g https://www.homedesignersoftware.com/products/home-designer-suite/ Chief Architect's Home Designer Suite 2023. I've been very happy with it.

After months of stressing, we made some pretty big changes to the plans since my last post. Most significantly, we straightened out the wall that had the 45degree angle that was causing a lot of layout strife and made room for a small walk-in pantry. Also, the sink was moved from the island to an interior wall (no window) - I'm not entirely sure if I want open shelves above it or just sconces and a mirror/piece of art. The refrigerator is also now going to be a 42" build in (panel ready), so we have more space in the walkway.

I've been trying to balance so many of the layout concerns I've read online with the reality of our layout (all of the work areas are also walkways through the kitchen) and the reality of how we use our kitchen (we eat in it every day, but we don't use our range every day - microwave or a little countertop oven get most use. We go through lots of dishes and frequently clean things at the sink).

For the longest time we had the sink in the island, but with the seats there (the intention is room for 6 seats, but truly comfortable room for 4 or 5- because who wants to sit in a middle seat?). I absolutely do not want a straight line of seats, so the seating on 2 sides is very important to us. I also didn't want all of the sink items (paper towels, soaps, drying dishes) to be taking up space on the island).

I wanted a pullout pantry for kids snacks/cereal/etc so it was a little more convenient than the walk-in pantry (that we will have a door for, although it isn't represented in the plan currently), but that was going to be next to the refrigerator but I gave that up to have a little more space on either side of the range (it seems to feel more balanced this way).

Your stove is in a bad spot because it's in a pathway.

Keep your fridge where it is.

Put the dishwasher and cleanup sink on the wall with the stove.

Move the stove to the wall where the sink is now and put an 18" prep sink on the island. Then you'll have a functional layout.

I would also move the microwave to next to the fridge since I find I take stuff out of the fridge and then use the microwave. Of course regarding that, YMMV.

I've tried variations on this before and tried making the same argument about range placement, but my husband strongly prefers the other plan (because of how we use our kitchen).

I'm not convinced about the prep sink in the island, if only because the current plan is to have a sink in the butler's pantry/coffee bar area (we drink a ton of coffee/espresso every day, so convenience is important there). Where in the island would the prep sink make sense not not be too close to the existing main sink (which is a 45" workstation sink, already purchased and sitting in our "staging" area).

On a side note, I removed all of the lights from the plan as I'm trying to figure out exact light locations, so the renderings are a bit dark/dingy looking.

Just here to say I'm glad I'm not the only one working through plans for nearly a year! It's a really big move and of course you want to make it right. I love how your last renderings have come out!

Just throwing out something thinking of how you want to use your kitchen: Have you considered on the wall with the coffeemaker, starting from the left side: refrigerator, cabinet, sink, continued cabinetry including coffee station. Then your sink is convenient to your coffeemaker and you could choose to eliminate that little sink. You could designate the drawers below the coffeemaker as the snack and cereal zone. The microwave is just across the aisle from the fridge. It seems like everyday command central is on that top wall.

Yes! You are a good planner....looks like about a year since your first post. I hope you get a great kitchen for your effort...........but won't the kids be off to college by then? Yes, I'm just being goofy.

@Jenny I tried out a few variations of your idea.

My biggest concern with this style is that the area going into our mudroom/laundry room would be cramped again (like it used to be) with the fridge in that space instead of countertop. So I tried the small junk drawer/landing zone to the left of the fridge. The sink is not centered on the walkway that has the range here, it is further over to the right (I haven't decided how I feel about that/if I care).

What if you moved your entry from the mudroom to where that painting is on the wall? Does it get jammed up because they stop at the refrigerator? If they walk past the sink to the heart of the kitchen to raid the refrigerator I wonder if it will be even worse.

I've thrown that idea out there before, but with the way our mudroom/laundry room is situated, it would be a bit chaotic on the other side. I'm not sure if there's a reasonable way to make it work. (The opposite side of the painting is a corner laundry room sink right next to the washer/dryer - which cannot be stacked due to a window, and the walkway would be awkward if not). Behind the door on the right wall is a tiny and irregularly shaped coat closet. It would also appear that a lot of those walls, included the angled wall, are load bearing.

These angled walls are such a pain!

Rather than create the drop zone (i.e. clutter magnet) on the side of the fridge, why not shorten the entire cabinet run on that wall to give you more breathing room when you come in the mudroom door. Do you have space inside the mudroom itself to create that landing zone function there?

also I agree with others your planning ability is amazing!

The mudroom is unfortunately small and the only drop zone is the the sink, so not somewhere you would actually want kids setting down anything. (Not that it stops them)

Yes, it's difficult because I'm realistic that the clutter will be set down somewhere. We always have school papers and laptops and whatnot, so at least keeping it contained could be useful. But my husband disliked that version, anyway. He did have me talk through the idea someone here had to move the doorway, but with the plumbing and tight layout, it just isn't really doable (not without losing the sink, but he uses that a lot for garage activity cleanup and I don't want any of that in a sink where food items would be).