houssaon I'm not too crazy about the microwave in the wall next to the refrigerator. You could have a microwave with a venting system over the cooktop. If the range were moved over a bit there would be enough space for a conventional refrigerator. Then the wall would be all cabinets (unless you need a second oven.)

The end result is the mirror image of the first layout. It really is one of the best!

olldbobbi What's behind the wall behind the fridge? Can you carve out some space there to recess the fridge?

I don't mind the microwave on the same wall, but if it bothers you and you want to put it over the stove, allow me to be the voice of experience and say be absolutely certain you will have at least 30" of clearance between the bottom of the microwave/fan and the top of your range. Very important! That might sound like an easy thing, but these combo units are HUGE. Be sure to measure.

They're showing a white hood in the pic you love, so I would stick with that for the one you substitute.

Gorgeous kitchen, by the way! Great choice!

cassmyth Thanks for the suggestions! Unfortunately, the stairs to the basement are behind the wall with the fridge, pantry cabinet and wall oven/microwave. So the wall can't be moved back, but maybe I could build out the wall a little bit so the fridge is recessed? And just to clarify, yes the wall oven is a second oven (in addition to the range).

Deborah Butler, Brickwood Builders Do you have space in a garage or elsewhere for a second refrigerator so that you could use a counterdepth in the kitchen?

We're not fans of microwave/hood combinations over a range and would never use one over a gas range or cooktop. They are inefficient and they tend to block access to view items on back burners. If you lower them to improve efficiency, they can melt on the bottom. Range vents are one of the more important appliance choices. We continually run into underpowered ventilation systems that drive consumers crazy. You don't have to have the cabinet with the insert as pictured, you can use a good stainless steel hood but make sure it has sufficient cfm to do some good. We have used Kitchenaid , Best by Broan and Zephyr hoods and all have performed well.

Dytecture Just want to clarify, none of these pictures are your kitchen? Can you attached what your space looks like currently, better with a floor plan with dimension so we can see the potentials.

PoshHaus Maybe better to alter shopping habits to visit grocery more often.

cassmyth We're building a house and the kitchen in the second and third pictures is the same size as ours - same window placement and entries as well. I'll see if I can hunt up a floor plan I can upload. The measurements are 16' x 15', but there is no wall between the kitchen and the family room (the angle from which the pictures are taken).

Just to clarify, I want to put the microwave over the wall oven (like in the third picture). And a regular hood over the range. If I go with a hood over the range, should it be stainless? And if I leave the fridge in the placement seen in the first picture, will it be less noticeable if it's not counter depth? But then I'm not sure what would look best on the other wall besides the wall oven/micro combination (since the fridge would be on the end of the other wall). Pantry cabinet? Cabinets with countertop? Can you tell I'm really confused? :)

feeny Since a built in isn't in your budget, and your only objection to a counter depth fridge is a fear there won't be enough storage, let me suggest that you really spend some time looking at a good quality counter depth fridge model in the store and imagine how you would transfer what is currently in your fridge into it. I was absolutely expecting to give up space when we bought a counter depth fridge, but I have been very pleasantly surprised by how well designed the space is. It is SO much more efficiently laid out to make use of every last inch than my old full depth model. And no more reaching to get things buried at the back and finding they've gone bad because I've forgotten about them with so much stuffed in front. Everything is laid out for easy access. Now, we aren't quite a household of six, but I really do urge you to look into it carefully before dismissing the possibility.

olldbobbi Refrigerators have to be the most poorly designed appliance in the kitchen. At least the insides of them, anyway. I'd kill to have a counter depth fridge.

Parrish Construction I totally agree with feeny. This is a major piece of equipment. Don't skimp on it. If you insist on a 30in deep frig, then you can pull the cabinets forward 6 inches on that wall, if you can afford the loss of floor space, so the frig looks built-in. You still have to have custom end panels made, and you'll have 6 inches of wasted space behind the cabinets all along that wall, unless you have custom 30-inch deep cabinets made. In that case it would be cheaper to just buy a more expensive refrigerator.

memo3 You could have the refrigerator space built to accommodate a counter depth fridge in the future and for now have a narrow pull out pantry built to fit the extra width until you can make the purchase. That would make great storage for spices next to the stove and extra canned goods too. If you place the fridge where it is in picture one, it won't be that noticeable to anyone but you. For the stove hood it would be so simple to build one yourself with furniture grade plywood (a three sided box). Choose your hood to allow for enough space to slide a plywood panel in on each side of it and retro fit the box in over the front of the hood, good measurements are all it would take. Then add some nice rope trim or similar to decorate the top portion, add some corbels and have the installers make a cornice piece that matches the rest of the cornice in the room into a shelf. Color match a cabinet door and paint or stain it to match or use a contrasting color to make it a little more showy than the rest of the cabinets. As far as the long wall of pantry space goes...I do not care to have the microwave anywhere that does not have a counter top right below it. Too many times I and others have tried to pull a very hot dish out and had there not been that bit of counter to slide it out onto, there would have been burned fingers or a very big mess on the floor, but maybe that's just me and my kids, lol. If you don't want to have the entire wall with built in cabinets you might consider placing a desk on the end or in the center of the wall to break things up a bit. I would personally put a book case over it for my cook books. Be sure to have a phone jack installed, maybe a cell phone recharging center, and have a drawer to slide your lap top into when not in use. You could also incorporate a TV into the wall, if you like that sort of thing. Make sure you have good lighting placed over the desk as well. Enjoy your new kitchen!

Dytecture Yes, a floor plan would be more helpful :)

yorkiesgem I sympathize Cassmyth because PoshHaus doesn't realize that with the size family I had when the kids were younger, we needed 4 gallons of milk just to get through one days needs. Breakfast was at least 2 1/3 dozen eggs with 2 1/2 pounds of bacon with several loaves of bread for toast for ONE Sunday breakfast! Shopping more often wasn't an option then, and today with gas prices I wouldn't want to shop every 2 to 3 days. In case anyone is wondering, none of us are large people. I'm 5'4" and weigh 114 pounds. It wasn't a need for huge eaters, it was just to feed what was necessary lol.

I hated the stares from people asking if we were shopping for several months and my dang kids responded, "nope, this is only weekly shopping". Kids felt they were on KP Duty peeling 10 to 15 pounds of potatoes enough for one meal!

So with all this in mind of my prior days, today has only increased the need since grown married kids come with our grandchildren. My pots are huge compared to what other families need. It takes 2 jumbo stock pots just for stew. So I agree with Parrish Construction on larger base cabinets but I also agree with Dytecture on actual photos of your space. I think between these 2 gentlemen, they can help design an area where several [not all base] 30" base cabinets are blended with the standard sized base. Great kitchen designs don't "always" have all base cabinets flush. Some can be stepped back while others extend forward adding more eye appeal. By considering this possibility, you'll not only increase storage and accommodate larger pots but also be able to use those base cabinets to help create a "built in" with the type of fridge you really need.

Last but not least, I've heard more females scream for more space but hardly ever hear complaints about too much. This site is great because it has so many experts so maybe you could ask a Realtor how well or poorly this extra storage space in base cabinets will impact selling the home later.