A quick opinion! I like option #3 but I would switch the cooktop and prep sink and maybe move the prep sink out of the corner and into the north/top end of the peninsula. The prep sink in your layout is too close, IMHO, to the main cleanup sink. W/the prep sink at the top, it's near the refrigerator, cooktop, and what I think is the ovens. I think you should try to make the area w/the cooktop at least 30" or 36" deep since cooktops generally take up most of the 24" space allotted to them in a normal cabinet. The extra 3 to 6 inches gives you more room for cooking. BTW...I agree w/Dave. If you have the cooktop on the island then you should seriously consider an overhead vent. There quite a few on the market designed specifically for islands. Many have a slim profile so they don't take up all the "air space". The bar height counter should be at least 12" deep...15 to 18 inches would be better if you plan to eat at the counter. That's one of the disadvantages of raising the seating area of the counter, you need to be sure it's deep enough for a 12" plate plus beverage glass. I cannot tell dimensions, etc. so I cannot tell aisle clearances....but I would recommend at least 42" b/w the island & the refrigerator...you may have that already. HTH!

I didn't realize you had already purchased the appliances. That definitely affects the lay-out. However, with a slight tweak, my Plan A would still work. As a review, here are my comments about Plan A from your other thread: I moved the fridge next to the DW. It's in a 40" wide cab. I noticed that you marked your fridge in a 42" wide cab; that seems like overkill. You don't need that much face frame and given your small space, it's foolish to give precious inches to it. The 42" aisle is measured from fridge handles (assumed 35" total depth with handles) to island counter edge. I wanted to be sure to give you sufficient aisle room for moving the fridge in and out of the space (hopefully it won't need service but if it does, you'll be glad you didn't scrimp here). I bumped the whole run of counter on the sink wall out to 30" deep so that it is even with the fridge box. That will make it seem less hulking plus the extra counter behind the sink will give the illusion of a bumped-out window as Buehl suggested. The island only has a 13.5" seating overhang, just shy of the recommended 15" but I opted for a shallower overhang to keep the aisle as the recommended 44". You could steal an inch or so from the aisle for seating overhang and be okay. That overhang does *not* include adding panels to the backside of the island. That would eat up roughly another inch of overhang. The island is prep space, homework space, snack space with room for 3 stools. Here's new info that relates to Plan C. The oven is installed below the cook top, like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/petrapics-midcentury-kitchen-orange-county-phvw-vp~580467) [Midcentury Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/midcentury-modern-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2115) by Laguna Niguel Media & Bloggers Lisa Hallett Taylor Alternatively, you could install the oven below the counter next to the cook top like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/open-plan-kitchen-contemporary-kitchen-atlanta-phvw-vp~317986) [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Norcross Architects & Designers Cynthia Karegeannes, Registered Architect You would need to adjust the cab widths on each side of the cook top to make this work. The MW is installed on a shelf below the counter like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/san-benito-traditional-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~710108) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Saratoga General Contractors RemodelWest Or this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-atlanta-phvw-vp~72626) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Roswell General Contractors Innovative Construction Inc. The message centre (you must live in Canada ;-)) is flush with the pantry wall like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/message-center-contemporary-home-office-san-francisco-phvw-vp~54075) [Contemporary Home Office[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-home-office-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_732~s_2103) by San Francisco Architects & Designers Andre Rothblatt Architecture Or this (pretend there are walls, not cabs on either side) [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-with-bold-sophistication-eclectic-kitchen-atlanta-phvw-vp~618207) [Eclectic Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104) by Lawrenceville Kitchen & Bath Designers Designs by BSB Or this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/olentangy-falls--delaware-oh-contemporary-cleveland-phvw-vp~235665) [Contemporary Laundry Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-laundry-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_753~s_2103) by Wooster General Contractors Weaver Custom Homes The printer can go in a cab below the counter, hidden from view until needed. Add charging station space to the message center like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/2006-interior-remodel-traditional-laundry-room-columbus-phvw-vp~2929872) [Traditional Laundry Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-laundry-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_753~s_2107) by Columbus Design-Build Firms Nicholson Builders Put the whole thing behind doors so that any mess is hidden from public view when company comes over. There is not a place to sit at the message center but with island seating just 44" away, there's no need to add seating here, IMO. What I don't like about this plan is the tightness around the banquette: 20" clearance between fridge and table to get to the bench and only a 25" clearance between table edge and fireplace between FR and nook. Even though you still have a 48" opening between fireplace and exterior wall, the banquette table pretty much blocks that walkway. I didn't realize these spaces were this tight until I drew it out and did the math for this plan. I also don't like the lost potential of the empty space between island and fireplace. So I came up with Plan C-1, which addresses both concerns. The perimeter of the kitchen stays the same but the island is longer by 2' and I altered the banquette area. Since the aisle between fireplace and exterior wall is essentially blocked by the table in Plan C, I decided to embrace that hurdle and eliminated that aisle completely by going with a round table banquette set-up that cozies up to the fireplace like this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/oliver-street-traditional-kitchen-vancouver-phvw-vp~474440) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Victoria Architects & Designers The Sky is the Limit Design Or this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/penrose-drive-contemporary-kitchen-salt-lake-city-phvw-vp~3940802) [Contemporary Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2103) by Salt Lake City Real Estate Agents Marvin Jensen @ Windermere Real Estate Or this: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen-addition-traditional-dining-room-minneapolis-phvw-vp~2201386) [Traditional Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2107) by Saint Paul General Contractors Home Tailors Building & Remodeling This is the same idea but without a round table: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/fireplace-with-hearth-and-custom-banquette-mediterranean-dining-room-san-francisco-phvw-vp~848552) [Mediterranean Dining Room[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/mediterranean-dining-room-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_722~s_2109) by Oakland General Contractors Mueller Nicholls Cabinets and Construction You have loads of prep space on the island plus room for 4 seats. At 96" long, I'd be tempted to add a prep sink to it. It would also serve as a handy art project sink when your son is working at the island. Contrary to your proposed plans, Plans C and C-1 give you sufficient aisles, an efficient work zone that follow the logical flow of fridge to sink to oven/cook top, and seating for more than 4 in your kitchen. It would also flow well when you entertain (not just for grown-ups but for kid birthday parties, soccer parties, etc). My plans may not fit your mental image for your kitchen but hopefully you can assess these plans with an open mind.

wow - thanks for all the great responses feisty68 - does it feel dark or cramped or unfriendly in the kitchen? There is a lot of natural light in all the rooms - good point, I don't want to mess that up. chiefy76 - I read your response to DH - he was like - ya' - did I say that? Robotropolis - thanks - I printed your sketch - many thanks for your time to do that. I am trying to envision how that would look with the change in ceiling height going from 12' in the Family room to 9 ' in the nook - I guess there would just still be the 4' top of the wall there. raee - we use every inch of the dining room - often we fill it up with the Sunday lunch bunch - it could stand to be double that size. We eat on the porch as often as we can for the extra space but the dining does get used a lot. Gooster! Yes I have considered closing off the door to the porch - especially when I thought I was going to duplicate your to "die for" kitchen! That is something that will probably happen - depending on the final plan. elizardbethday - I wish, but there is no place to go with the bottom stairs - there is a half bath just behind the kitchen off the laundry room. I have an onsite meeting tomorrow at 2pm to discuss it all - keep it coming. I think I may need to post pictures of the actual rooms. THANK YOU ALL - I want to hear more of your thoughts, you are a bunch of awesomeness!

'm doing something similar to my 1920s house. Right now the kitchen is way too small and by opening up to the dining room we can add an island and entertain like we want to, plus I'm planning to keep the period details in tact like our stained glass window, part of the chair rail, our beautiful crown molding etc. I like the idea proposed of basically having a beam in between so that you can keep some of the detail but not having the 2 openings which I feel like would seem a bit strange. I'm planning to do something similar. Dont listen to everyone who says you own the wrong home, its going to be lovely and will function in a better way for your family. I looked for over 2 years for a 1920's house in my area of FL. Every single home had been remuddled by people like yourself who thought they were making it better. Except what happens is those houses remuddled in the 1970's look like they were remuddled in the 70's and look nothing like the charming houses of the 1920's. Those remuddled in the 80's look like the 80's, those in the 90's look like the 90's...You get the picture. Those of us who love old houses do not want a remuddled house. We want something where ALL the original character of the main rooms (excluding kitchens of course) are intact and rooms haven't been added onto or opened up in such a way that they change the character of the house. It ranks up there with painting beautiful old fir, mahogany, oak woodwork to make it more updated and brighter and it devalues the house because the house no longer fits with what it is. The problem is everyone now wants HGTV but the problem is HGTV is selling product and once the next product is hot, then today's product will look like yesterday's has been.