Post the proposed layout as a 2D.

Looks like fridge door hits kitchen door.

Here is is...cropped a bit...

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I'm thinking of a standard depth french door fridge. WE have one currently and we all really like it. I could be talked into something else, but the counter depth ones worry me b/c of food storage space.

I do think I'd prefer to switch the ovens and the fridge, to get the fridge closer to the island, for landing space.

Here is a link that might be useful: my photo album

fridge door blocking pantry.

where is trash?

no landing zone for fridge.

where is microwave?

Thanks honeysucklevine, for your thoughts so far. I've tried to do the plan with an island, but can't figure out how to put in the countertop? Anyway, I'm thinking it'll look like this, with a 12" overhang toward the sink wall and the family room wall. Posts on the corners near the sink? Anyway, island layout is rudimentary, but will have garbage pullout in it as well as shelf for undercounter microwave--nothing fancy since we rarely use it.

I like the fridge landing zone on the island across from it, b/c the french doors cut off access to the 2 sides anyway.

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I'm pretty hopeless at this design stuff...I'm learning though.

I am considering putting the double oven stack in the corner, along the sink wall, and leaving a space in front of it before starting the oven wall run of cabinets (like mfhoop's does). I'd love to stay away from corner cabinets of any sort, but will use them if they make more sense.

Ok, naptime is over...will check back in this evening...

Thanks again!

Here is a link that might be useful: mfhoop's kitchen

How exciting to have a blank slate!

My first reaction is that with 4 kids you will want a much bigger mudroom. I'd take the passthrough pantry cabinets to the DR and swap them to the other side of the DR door. If that makes the hallway at left too long and closed in, you could make that a half wall. (Or do it more like the second picture.) Then the mudroom can come out further. I'd swap the door swing so you can have the whole bottom wall for cubbies and most of the left wall for hooks and a bench.

I haven't taken a look at the rest of the layout; like I said that's just my initial reaction.

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Hi Home4all6,

I usually post as MichiganRachel, but couldn't log on for some reason (a problem many people seem to be having).

We are nearing the end of a project somewhat similar to yours. We started out with a home with a very similar layout to yours, down to the powder room in the exact same place. The only differences in ours was that the original rooms were all a little bit smaller and our garage was on teh left side of the house (as you look at it standing in front). We did a BIG addition and are using the old living room as our dining room, the old dining room as our office, and we made the old kitchen into our laundry, powder room, and coat closet.

I am NOT one of the kitchen layout experts, however I do TOTALLY agree with Chicagoans that you should consider a bigger mudroom. With 4 kids, you will need it as you get older. I have 3 kids ages 9, 7, and 4 and the need for places for shoes, boots, backpacks, soccer stuff, hats, mittens, etc. is immense! I sacrificed in my kitchen size to have a big mudroom with a separate mud bath (1/2 bath). I feel like this room will help me keep my sanity. There is room for all the kids to put on their stuff without getting in each others' way.

I'm including a copy of my house plans (the addition is big, but not as big as it looks - we had to knock down and rebuild the garage). I am also including a picture of my mudroom. We move in in 3 and I CAN'T WAIT for my mudroom!

View into my pantry and mud bath. You may not have space for 2 powder rooms, but with the kids I would highly recommend putting your powder room near the side door so your kids don't track dirt through the house everytime they come in from outside to use the bathroom!

I hope this maybe gives you some ideas!

Rachel

Rachel, thanks for the input and photos & floorplan. I'll take a closer look tonight. You are right about needing more space, I'm sure. In our current home, we have no mudroom, and our common entry is a small landing on the basement stairs that goes up 4 more stairs to the kitchen, so it's just a nightmare, with coats, boots, shoes, backpacks, snowpants, hats, gloves, baby blankets/buntings, diaper bags, umbrellas, raincoats, shin guards, soccerballs, etc....Sooo, just the idea of ANY type of mudroom thrills me. But I'm sure bigger will be better :)

I'm trying to stick to as small of a footprint as possible, and have read up on Susan Susanka's books (which I LOVED, btw...) on recommendation from GW, so I'm trying for smaller, very functional spaces. But we'll see...

Here is my latest revision...double ovens in the corner...butler's pantry moved over and mudroom BIGGER :)

I am working with an architect--we've met and walked through the space, but that's all so far, so I really don't know what''s possible or not...

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tweaked your plan a bit ... let me know any changes that you desire ...

the island is 4' x 8' (things get lost!)

I highly recommend enlarging the window over the kitchen sink. I LOVE MINE!!! It is one of the first things people comment on when they enter my kitchen. The builder tried to talk me out of this detail. He kept saying, "That will make the cabinets smaller. Are you sure you want that?" Yes, it makes such a difference, especially in my north facing kitchen.

Wow, your kitchen layout is very similar to mine! I'm not completely done, but it works beautifully so far. Something you may want to consider is putting drawers under your cooktop rather than cabinets. I put very deep pot drawers down there for pan storage and they are wonderful.
As a matter of fact, ALL of my lowers are drawers, except for under the sinks. I have found that to be absolutely terrific.

Another suggestion is that you allow more than a 12 inch overhang on your island for seating. 12 inches may work when the kids are small, but it's tight for bigger kids and adults. I left 16 inches, and I get compliments all the time about how comfortable it is to sit at my island because of the extra space. People tend to hang out in the kitchen, so it was a priority for me to make sure that the comfort level was high.

You will notice that my prep sink is on the other end of the island. This is totally subjective, but I like it there becase it's a bit closer to the dishwasher. When I'm cooking fast and furious, I toss prep dishes, cutting boards, etc. into the prep sink as I go. It's nice to be able to grab them out and pop them into my dishwasher, which is exactly where your dishwasher is. Just a thought. Oh, and don't skimp on prep sink size. It's wonderful to have a sink big enough to wash the turkey in at Thanksgiving! I also put a slide out garbage in the prep area and use it constantly. Mine fit under the sink, which works well for me. And reminds me that I'd promised someone a picture, eeks...

I have 42 inches between the island and the cooktop (induction) and I find that it's a nice space--just a step from where I like to prep to the pans. Again, that's just my preference and you may find it too small if you have lots of people hanging around the cooktop. Usually, it's just me there, because I placed the fridge and everything else that the kids/hubs would need outside of my space. :-)

Happy Planning!

Cj
My kitchen layout:

SummerfieldDesigns, thanks for the plan! Wow! It looks lovely and makes me excited to have a real plan, although it's just an idea, still. I'm not sure about the switch of the butler's pantry and mudroom. I was thinking of the mudroom as more "utilitarian" while the butler's pantry would be more of a "pretty" space. So now my kids will have to pass through pretty to get to the utilitarian part--not sure about that :) But I DO like ow you opened it for easier access to the powder room, which was suggested by a PP.

As for the kitchen layout, I will take a closer look. Not sure about the fridge's placement (I'm assuming those are the fridge freezer towers?)

I'm still on the fence about a prep sink at all. I've never had one, nor does ANYONE I know, so it's hard for me to see the benefit. Yes, I've read ll about them here on GW :)

As for space usage, I think my kids will come in and out from playing through the back of the house somehow, more so than from the side (mudroom) entrance. That will be the get home spot, but the playing will be done in the big backyard, for the most part.

scrapbookheaven, I do love the idea of bigger windows to the back.. Right now in my current house, I have huge windows to my backyard from every room , and I just love it! I love being able to see the kids playing, and all the light it allows in! That back wall of my house will be south facing, though, so the sunlight could get to be too much? What do you think?

cj47, thanks for sharing! Yes, one thing I've learned on GW is base drawers all around :) I WILL do that for sure, just not sure how to change the program I am using to all drawers instead of cabinets. SO I've left it for now, to block out the space itself. And 16 " overhang--good call! I also like how your other 2 stools are on the lower side of your island, not in the sink aisle. But I DO like in jbrodie's kitchen how that entrance end of her island is a bit raised, to hide clutter (which I have too much of, I'm afraid!) But having stools on 2 sides seems more conversation-friendly that all lined up on one side....

oh, so much to think about :) thanks for any and all suggestions, ideas, feedback. so many great minds here...

::sigh::

well, this whole big project is done for now.

we are not going to move to this house for now. we are going to update and then rent it out or sell it. We are staying put. DH's company has made it too hard for him to walk away right now. As they say, "The best laid plans..."

So, on to Plan B...

Thanks for any and all input and brain power. I'll still be lurking and planning...

Because if we are staying in THIS house for 3+ more years, we WILL redo this kitchen :) And the kitchen there will need some love in order to make it have some appeal to a buyer...

So, back to the drawing boards...