Consider this renamed "Kitchen Layout Help Please :))

Nice plan and I like your dish storage...that's going to look pretty from the dining room.

As for the layout, I would think about switching the fridge with the oven/microwave. It will shorten the distance between the fridge and the stove...and still give you a nice baking area.

Have you thought about a prep sink on the island? It might work really well with this plan, since you could wash veggies out of the fridge, cut them up on the island, toss them in a dish on the stove...and still have the main sink for clean up and a second work area.

Are you planning on putting anything on either side of the stove hood? Maybe hanging some pots, or putting up some more open shelves? Just an idea...I always need more storage, no matter how much I plan :)

I like your plan a lot. Are you planning overhangs on both sides of the island (breakfast nook and dining room sides) for 3+1 seating?

I have only two comments. First, I'd put water in the island for sure. Having only one single sink will make for a contentious area when you have a lot of teens or a group of young ones over. Even if you don't use the island for prep, the second sink would be a godsend when someone wants to wash their hands, rinse a cup, empty a dog or cat bowl, dump out the last remnants of a juice glass before putting in the in DW, add water for a microwave snack, fill a coffee pot, etc, etc, when you are using your main sink.

The other thing I wonder is if you really need that single upper to the left of the stove. It looks like an orphan, being the only upper in your space, and I think it tends to unbalance the nice clean look you have going.

But great kitchen overall! I really like it.

Yep, I'd put a prep sink in cabinet #19.

I think the fridge is OK to the outside, if you have the prep sink....Otherwise, I'd move it to the right.

I'd like to see your range more behind the island so the prep space is directly across and more useful/efficient...So would strongly consider swapping the drawer unit and range. But I know that would foul up your wall plans.

I'm not one of the layout gurus around here, but I think it looks like a great kitchen! You have a lot of space.

As an aside, I'm also in the suburbs of Detroit. Do you mind me asking where you are?

Thanks to all for your time!

here's a new mock up:
{{!gwi}}

Lavenderlass: I thought about the prep sink, but could not figure out where to put it...

taggie: 1) Yes to the question about two sides for seating. 2) The orphan was there for my olive oil and spices and I'm so used to them to the upper left of my cooktop, I had trouble parting, but as it turns out, it was adopted by a nice family, so I have no guilt feelings. I changed the base to the left of the stove into a pullout half pantry to accomodate my olive oil. You are absolutely correct about the look I'm after.

rhome410: Thanks for locating my prep sink! There is now a 36" sink base across from the pantry. I moved the cooking area over a bit to try and keep the wall balanced.

michiganrachel: I'd prefer not to be specific about location other than close suburb. I love your kitchen so far, you have some really great ideas, and amazing taste! I looked at Holiday cabinets at a showroom up near pontiac that also has downsview, and you'll end up with a gorgeous high quality place!!

The "high cabinet" run is still a debacle to me, not sure what should be on the outside/inside. I though of the fridge on the outside only because people always seem to be in the fridge in my house, and that would keep it easily accessible and avoid crossing my path when I'm deep in food prep. Despite this, I find the pantry in an awkward position. I do like the oven on the end because I want a close landing space, but again, I'm not sure, and any other thoughts would be appreciated.

I like your prep sink location and moving the range over looks good, too :)

Maybe I missed this, but what is the white cabinet, on the other side of the oven?

Could you switch the fridge and oven, put the countertop space (white cabinet area) between them, and then put the pantry at the end (where the white cabinet is now)?

This would give you the fridge placed between your work area and a snack/baking area. The microwave, prep sink and fridge are another work area...and keeps the teens out of your path. The pantry often stores snacks, chips, etc. so that would be handy there, as well. Would this work for you?

I love your new plan! For me it would be perfect as is.

You'll probably spend a lot of time at cabinet 18 as you wash and prep things. Personally I'd rather have the ovens behind me there and not the fridge (and the traffic that brings with it, at least in my family). I tend to make only one or two trips to the fridge and get everything I need for prep at once so having it at the perimeter would be a non-issue for me.

But only you can really answer which order will work best for your family. Over the next few days try to really pay attention to how you cook, and how the rest of your family accesses the fridge and pantry while you're doing so. That will probably give you the answer that will work best for your family.

Ooops, I also meant to say that if you wanted to keep olive oil handy you might think about putting a niche behind your stove similar to the one in the link below.

You could buy a fancy bottle for your olive oil and have it make a statement. :-)

Here is a link that might be useful:

You want to be a little careful with having a bank of cabinets down to the counter - specially one 60" long. because all the doors sweep across the small counter area, you can't efficiently get things out of those cabinets or put things. The unit doors themselves will block access to nearby counters. So, it looks pretty, but its a pita.

Generally, its recommended to put a drawer at the bottom - like a charging station or menu holder or junk drawer to raise the height of the doors giving you have someplace to sit things down that are going into or out of the cabinets. Other alternatives would be the ikea lift door cabinets or those metal tambour door cabinets (but they are odd sizes) or a 9" perfect laid on its side.

{{!gwi}}

lavenderlass: white cabinet at the end of the fridge wall is a "message center" which I hope does not become an all purpose junk center. I originally wanted a desk, but with all the counter seating, and a family room, I decided it wasn't really needed. I moved the pantry to the end and I do like it better there, thanks. DH likes the oven/MW near the other cooking area, and I like the way the fridge looks cozy between the two high cabinets.

taggie: I do love the appearance of a niche, but not the thought of reaching over the stove and cleaning the grease residue in the niche, I still like the idea of having a fancy olive oil bottle... you think I can get that even if no niche ;)? I think you are right about me ending up at the prep sink most often. I can't believe how much better it is with an extra sink, it really gives me a separate clean up area which I am looking forward to having. Now someone else can clean while I cook!

bmorepanic: you bring up an excellent point about the cabinet bank that I didn't think through. I see it taking the place of dining room furniture - buffet with a hutch, where the setup would be similar. There will be molding under the lower wall cabinet to keep it off the countertop. I anticipate keeping those nice rarely used items there, such as fancy serving platters that are now boxed away in the basement since 2003 cuz there's no place for them in my 9x11 kitchen... Regularly used dishes will be kept on the window end of the island in drawers with inserts. I will consider the horizontal cabinet idea, but I think this will also need more clearance, but will go back to the showroom and check.

Thanks for all of the great input.