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The answer to "best use" is probably a prep sink. Your fridge is a mile away. I'm picturing you suddenly realizing you need a little parsley from the fridge, running to get it, smacking into the island, washing it into the sink, realizing the wee space between sink and stove is all full of the stuff you're cooking, flipping around to the island to chop, and finally slamming the parsley into your saute pan.

Prep sink.

Have you tried switching the Fridge and the wall ovens? It is still at the periphery of the work zone, so I think people would walk the straight shot down the main aisle rather than around the island to get to it.

The ovens, which get less use, and when in use get opened/closed less often could go where the fridge is.

And, I agree with the prep sink.

I wasn't sure if getting stuff out of the wall oven would be a safety issue (relatively high traffic aisle, hot stuff from oven) But yes, my first configuration had the 2 switched... the other thought was kids are in and out of the fridge - if it's on the outside, they are less in the kitchen.

yes, that is a very good potential switch though.

my other thought - I was wondering about the counter around the sink - do I need that 6in pull out? I was just trying to give myself even a touch of counter there - but if it isn't too odd to have the sink right up next to a raised counter, I can move that 6 inches to the space between sink and cooktop. (also could shrink sink base a touch too, but want/need big bowl so don't shrink too much, probably single)

in a kitchen this size (on the small side of medium), do you think the sacrifice of storage is worth the benefits of a prep sink? I'm imagining my conversation with dh, explaining to him that I need an extra sink just across the aisle from the minibathtub I have :-P

How often is the oven door open when people are coming in and out of the house? I realize safety should be a concern, but people should be intelligent enough to stay out of the way at certain times, right?

I would get one 18" pullout and put it by the range and get rid of the 6" pullout. I think it would look better too than all different sizes.

You may not need the prep sink if you move the fridge but there are benefits to even a smallish one, particularly with a large single bowl as the only other one. The prep sink doesn't have to be particularly big or deep, and there can still be plenty of storage around it.

I hear ya. it is a pretty busy aisle though... it's not just the garage back there... hubby's home office, aka "man cave," pantry, mudroom (laundry and afterschool dumping ground), and then the garage. But I do believe you may have already convinced me. :-)

Why can't you fit the cooktop on the island? It looks like you're not putting stools on the opposite side, so that would be my first choice. A little half wall/backsplash, behind the cooktop, should contain splatters. Maybe with a pot rack, over the island?

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Then, you could put a huge window over the sink...I like herbs too! The fridge and oven changing places is a great idea and it gives you space for a microwave (on a shelf or under the upper cabinets) between the fridge and the sink wall.

The ovens could use a little more landing/prep space, so it might be nice to move the dining room doors closer to the basement stairs. Maybe a smaller desk/storage area there?

Just a thought...sorry if it's not the direction you want to go. There are so many possible arrangements, I'm sure you'll find something perfect for you and your family :)

cooktop in island - everything I was reading was saying a min of 12 inches behind cooktop, making a 36 wide island. The most I can squeeze is a 33 island. Wasn't sure I wanted a bi-level island. someone walking by could bump the inevitable clutter on the top and it would tumble onto the cooktop...

I just remembered my first version of this layout had the fridge on the short wall where the dbl oven is currently shown... and then the double oven + small pantry was on the left side of the dining rm wall, hutch on the right side. (opposite what shows now). this was swapped cuz the oven seemed really far away from cooktop there, the wall is less deep there (exactly 24 in, compared to 27 on the other side)... but there would be the landing space right across from it.

Do you think the dbl oven would be too far away if it was placed on the dining room wall... and swapped with the configuration now (L-R: skinny pantry, double oven, then DR entrance, hutch)

Why does the oven need to be close to the cooktop?

One quick thought: have you looked in person at the 36" CD fridges yet? I've got four kids, 3-10 as well, oddly enough. We felt we needed the space of a full depth. Of course, we already drink about six gallons of milk a week, and my boys aren't even into their teen years yet. Your habits and needs may differ, but be sure to check out such refrigerators before you commit to a layout that will require that size.

Law- I'm no expert, but I think you need that room behind the cooktop, if you want to have stools. A perimeter counter is only 2' deep and the range is fine. If you put a backsplash (maybe 6" higher behind the range) I think your island would be fine. It's not bi-level, so much as a cooktop, with backsplash.

What I like is the way your main work area would be so easy to work in. The fridge and sink would be easy to reach from the range (and the big window over the sink would let in so much light).

The ovens, over on the dining room wall should be fine. Just make sure you have plenty of landing space next to them. You need a place for prep and to take out hot pans. I like the oven on the right side (closer to the fridge) and the dining room doors more to the left. I love to bake, but I don't think the ovens would be too far from 'the action' as long as you have a nice counter space on one side.

I think you have plenty of space to put in a beautiful, functional kitchen. The banquette space is wonderful! Have fun with your plan :)

Definitely considering a CD fridge. will probably stash the fridge I have now somewhere else (garage? rearranged mudroom?) for that extra storage.

oven and cooktop proximity - I have several things I make that start on the cooktop and end in the oven. so that's why I was thinking of them as a pair to be fairly close together. but I guess it's not that bad to walk a few more steps to transfer. (just getting out of my box thinking ;-) )

cooktop island - will right this info down to review. but after I drew it out for dh, he fell in love with that sink/range wall... he liked the looks, the niche which would have artistic tile work... the hood...

definitely want as large a window as possible... more light... and pretty view (we back to the woods)

Lawjedi, I would definitely *not* put the ovens in the path of a high trafficked hallway. Accident waiting to happen. They are better where they are.
Personally, if it were me, I wouldn't expend good space in a prep sink either - I don't think. Rather, I'd put in an undercounter fridge in part of that 48" area you are waiting to find good use for and have core prep stuff in there. Perhaps.
And then have a 30" or 36" cabinet there (+ 18" / 12").

Overall, IMO you are lacking decent storage to my mind. I suppose the 27" cab next to the ovens and the 2 30"-ers next to the dining will suffice for you in addition to whatever is in the island?

Also, I agree with you - sink next to raised surface is not fun. Pal has a good point about making for bigger storage (converting the 12"-er into an 18"er) but I wouldn't want a sink next to a wall. Make the 6" next to sink into a covey for cutting boards etc. Very handy.
But as counter, it is a bit of a waste except for getting you away from the raised area. Hopefully, the part of the counter above the DW will be useful and useable in some way.

Lawjedi, If you plan on stashing the current fridge somewhere else, you may be able to switch refrigerator and double ovens (which I think is a good swap). I am picturing sodas, waters, juice, etc going in the secondary ref which would probably eliminate much of the "kid traffic to the ref" that causing you to hesitate on switching the ovens and the new ref. just a thought...

I agree with mindstorm. I would definitely not put the ovens in a high traffic area. Yes the door is only open for a short period of time, but if my kids were skidding around a corner in stockinged feet, I'd hope they were going to smack into an open refrigerator door vs an open oven door. palimpsest knows a lot about design, but I'm not sure how much he knows about children between 3-10(or maybe it's just my overactive kids.) Plus if you ever start something on the cooktop and finish it in the oven, that would be a long haul with a sizzling hot pan.

I'd like to see a prep sink on the island. Overall I like this plan.

I think it has to be one or the other. The plan is good with fridge and ovens in current location With addition of prep sink. (And I am not in the almost always prep sink camp).

Without the prep sink I think the fridge needs to be closer or the island shorter so as to be less in the way on the working end. (I would get rid of the stool end first).

While I did not bear any of these children, I was around 5 who spent lots of time in the same house, (every weekend,,,months in the summer) including two extremely hyper boys who broke everything--one of whom has run the gamut from Ritalin to rehab, the other who made Phi Beta Kappa--and never once was there a close call at the oven or range. I agree keep it out of the traffic pattern if you can, but on the other hand its not an open hearth with a rotating spit.

As a mom, I'm with LAX and Mindstorm, plan as is, but add a prep sink to improve functionality.

My kitchen is very similar, and I wish I could put a fridge where you have yours. Unfortunately, I have no wall space along there: my hall, basement and DR doors are all right next to each other in that space. One of the primary reasons we are remodeling is to get our fridge closer where we actually cook. It is currently inn a space similar to the nook next to your basement stairs, and the island is too much of a barrier to it. For us, we are using a range and putting the fridge where your ovens are - as Palimpset suggests. You have the space to do otherwise and the desire for wall ovens, so I think it will work out fine.

Law- I understand about wanting the cooktop and ovens close together! It is much easier, than hauling hot pans around the kitchen (and dodging kids in the process LOL).

Here's another idea. If you're using a CD fridge, why not take advantage of that depth and put it closer to your work area? I put the fridge next to the door to the deck (close to the table and easy for kids to grab drinks).

You still have the beautiful bump out window (for light and herbs) with the sink centered underneath. I put the dishwasher between the fridge and sink, but others might like it better on the other side. Whatever you decide, have you thought of DW drawers, rather than a raised DW? It gives you the standard countertop height, but a quick load can be put in the top drawer. If bending over is a problem, maybe a DW drawer on either side of your sink, with the trash moved to the island?

The cooktop is now on the other wall, facing the kitchen table, where you can really see the backsplash and decorative elements.

The ovens are on the wall to the dining room, with a nice countertop/landing space, next to them. I left your pull-out, since it brings the oven doors over to a better area, not right in the doorway. The doors to the dining room are moved over a bit, and the desk/storage area is smaller, but still there.

On the island, you could put a prep sink, if you like, or use it more for a work area. It's really up to you. Same thing with the microwave. You could put one in the island, but with younger kids, you might want the kind that locks.

For me, I also have back trouble at times (so literally feel your pain) so I'm planning to have one oven with the cooktop (or range) and one raised oven with the microwave over it. I have this oven/microwave set up now...and I really like it.

Hope this gives you some more ideas for your kitchen! Oh, and sorry this is kind of rough...still getting used to paint, but hopefully you get the idea :)

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Hope I didn't come off as snarky, palimpsest. Not my intention. My question is: on those weekends with those 5 children, where there were no close calls with an oven or range, were those appliances in a heavily trafficked hallway?

I've never had a close call with the open oven door, because it's at the base of a U and there is no through traffic, but I have had to take my ADHD DS1 to the emergency room/walk-in clinic on 4 separate occasions for bleeding head wounds when he ran into a wall, a door, and 2 separate tables(one a kitchen table when he was head high to a kitchen table, one a pub table a few years later.) When you shave his head down you can see the little bald spots(2 of them) where the scars are. He was lucky to have the other 2 scars partially hidden just under his eyebrow and in the crease of his eyelid. As much fun as it is to be separated from your bleeding child in order to reassure a counselor that you are not beating your child, I can only imagine what a joy it would be when the child's face is burnt.

Sorry for the sidebar, everyone. Back to the layout, really the only thing I'd add is a prep sink and a set of drawers in that 48".

Thank you so much for all everyone's input! I really appreciate the thought that goes into evaluating various layouts and looking at the potential problems. What might be one person's favorite feature, may have another counting the days until the remodel. But seeing it from everyone's perspective helps me to figure out how it will work in my house.

From y'all's feedback, I think I can safely say this layout is going to work - but I ought to consider which oven/frig placement will work best for us. And if the fridge stays on the dining wall, the prep sink would serve well.

As far as having enough storage, I will go back and look at my current kitchen and make sure I can still store everything I need to - but I also have a large walk-in pantry right next to the kitchen (down the garage hall). I will be shrinking that pantry to gain 15 inches in the kitchen, but when I sketched it out, it didn't make a huge diffence in storage.

Once again, THANK YOU!

(& my name is Colleen :-). lawjedi (lawyer and star wars geek) was my hubby's email and I've used it for so many years now, it's easier to remember for password logins than all the different variations I've put for other things.)

Not really Lax, I get snarky about it sometimes myself, though I am all for safety, but sometimes I think people want the best of a centrally located kitchen *and a kitchen behind a double locked door. I've always thought kids were pretty intelligent and knew when to stay out of the way:)

Those ovens are in the front corner of the kitchen which at the intersection of the front hallway, a side hallway and the path to the eating area and dining room. (and next to an island that is 27 deep that can be cooked on from both sides, no less.) :-o

So, it always has been an accident waiting to happen.:) I think it depends on the househould and how things are used.

That said, I have designed mostly dead end (actually all dead end) kitchens that do *not have traffic patterns through them at all, with the range at the back...its just worked out that way. So, I am no expert on planning open plan kitchens in a practical sense.