One thing that jumped out at me is the placement of your dishwasher. You may not have alternative options, but I have a dishwasher in a corner like that right now, and I absolutely HATE it. I have to put dishes away in upper cabinets in the corner and, it's very difficult for my 5'4" self to reach. I am so looking forward to being able to stand on either side in the new kitchen.

I also don't know about having your fridge door opening right into the entry from the dining room. We'll actually have that same situation in our new kitchen, but we have about a 6 foot opening. Do you have little ones who might run headlong into the open door?

Will your kitchen be open to the great room at all, or are there upper cabs all along that wall?

Is there a window somewhere?

Looks like you're off to a good start! :o)

Immediate observations/comments:

-36" is pretty tight for opening and accessing the fridge door.

-I think I'd want to swap the dw and sink, so you have counter on both sides of the sink, and would provide a landing space for veggies and such from the fridge. Maybe move both to the righthand wall and leave the peninsula free for prep? Also a cleaner look from the other room?

-To give you more room on the stove wall, I would do a pantry like Vicnsb is doing. It would give you 12" more counter on the stove run and you'd lose 12" or a little more on the back side of the room.

Here is a link that might be useful: Vicnsb's layout and inspiration pantry

It looks like the sink wall may be open w/seating...is that true? What's the overhang? With the sink there it should probably be at least 18" to avoid splashing.

I think I would rearrange a few things to better protect the cooking area and to give you more room around the sink and range.

Your kitchen is open to the great room or not?

I have a "G" kitchen that opens up to my DR and LR. It's a little smaller than yours. I am really happy with it. My sink is in the center of the U because of a window that we did not want to move. Take a look just as an FYI. If you've seen it already, sorry to bore you!

Barb

Here is a link that might be useful: Barb's Kitchen and Layout

worldmom asks "Do you have little ones who might run headlong into the open door?"
I've got two tall teen sons, and a very tall 11-year old son. So that's not an issue. FYI, We've purchased a new "french door refrig."

Will your kitchen be open to the great room at all, or are there upper cabs all along that wall?
Not open--Upper cabs are planned.

My contractor wants me to keep as many cabinets as possible. I'm planning for cabinets that go up to the ceiling. We have 8' ceilings.

Is there a window somewhere?
Not in the kitchen, but the area is shared with the dining which has a 12' wall of bayed windows, plus you'll be able to see part of the Great Room which has two 4'x5' windows plus a windowed door outside. (see photo below)

rhome410 says, "I think I'd want to swap the dw and sink"
I'm with you all the way on this one.
Really liked the pantry you posted. Unfortunately the corner pantry is already framed in, so I'll be sticking with that part of the floor plan.

buehl says, "It looks like the sink wall may be open w/seating...is that true?
Yes, the sink wall is open with seating and faces the 12'x12' windowed dining area.

What's the overhang? With the sink there it should probably be at least 18" to avoid splashing."
Not sure what overhang is...
Thanks so much for taking the time and drawing up a plan.
Love your suggestions.

bmorepanic asks, "Your kitchen is open to the great room or not?"
Not really. You'll be able to see the back side of the great room from the peninsula side of the kitchen.

I'll try to post a photo:
{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful:

OK...back to the drawing board!

(I'm waiting for them to fix my work computer so I'm taking a break here!)

I think the tight entry width will be confining. No one will be able to pass in or out when the frig door is open. We also have the frig in a similar location but with 5' of clearance to the opposite counter. I find a perimeter frig very helpful for folks to grab something w/o coming all the way into the workspace, but not if there's not enough pathway. Teenagers like to stand and muse in front of the frig!

Also echo the corner DW concern--what are your time-and-motion plans for unloading the DW? I really like either cabs or drawers right next to DW, or on a pivot point nearby.

Is your space too small for a large pantry? What about shortening the refrig wall in Buehl's plan. Put a smaller pantry on the end that opens on the side with pullout drawers; not sure about the width of the pantry. Then put the refrig. This would open up the space between the peninsula and pantry/refrig. Good luck! Can't wait to see your progress.

Barb

I don't understand how you just got a drawing from a contractor but already have things framed in place and cannot make changes -- especially when you are asking for comments as if this is still being planned. I generally ignore such posts, but I have seen it a number of times and feel the need to express how frustrating that is.

What is it you might be able to change or what do you really want comments on?

lascatx - if you're frustrated imagine how I feel.
The outer walls have been framed for about a month.
I just got the kitchen plan from the contractor about 9:00 p.m. last night, 01/22.
I told the contractor I wanted a corner pantry before we began the build. Earlier this week, the pantry was framed in without having a kitchen floor plan approved. ugh!

I can't change the pantry walls or the three kitchen perimeter walls, but I can move everything else around.

I can put the sink, frig, range, etc. where ever I decide. I just need to decide so the plumber and electrician can do their job.
Believe me the last two days have been very frustrating. Before this week, I thought everything was smooth sailing and this building stuff was a breeze.

If this helps, we did go with one of the most respected contractors in the area. Never heard one bad word about him, except that he could be slow.

Okay - I totally agree with everyone about the frig. It definitely should be moved.
I also do not like the sink at the end of the cabinet. Totally impractical. When you come in from the garage there is no counter space to place groceries, etc. because the sink is on one end and the frig on the other.

How about a corner sink and put the dishwasher in the middle of the peninsula? Anyone ever done that?

How about moving the frig next to the corner pantry? But then where should I put the range?

If this helps--I'm planning on ceiling height cabinets, and a cabinet niche for the microwave(no over the range microwave), and a standard size range (no double ovens).

Barb - your kitchen is beautiful! Love the backsplash, granite--everything! Especially the ingenious pantry shelves you have surrounding the frig--amazing.
If I had a window, I would definitely put my sink there, but since this is an interior kitchen--it isn't an option.
I am saving your photos for reference to show the contractor. We see him again on Saturday (crossing my fingers)

No, I don't think the Refrigerator should be moved b/c you don't want it in the "heart" of the kitchen...you want it on the periphery where family/guests can access it w/o interrupting the cooking. Instead, I would shorten the peninsula by 12" making it 6' long...still room for 3 stools...and making the opening 48".

The location is really not the issue, it's the aisle b/w the refrigerator & the end of the peninsula.

I actually have a similar setup with only a 33" aisle (long story) and while it's not ideal, it does work OK...BUT, I have three entrances to the kitchen...the FR has a 48" doorway & the Foyer a 36". The kitchen is open to the DR w/a peninsula and that's where the 33" opening b/w the peninsula & refrigerator is.

Yes, a corner sink or even a corner range would work, but remember they take a lot of space. A 30" range, for example, takes almost 48" of wall space on each wall. A decent-sized sink will take at least 42", if not more.

Are the walls sheetrocked? If not, it's easy to change framing IF you really want to change the pantry set-up. Even if sheetrocked, it's better to fix it now than always wish...

Buehl - thanks for all the info. I love hearing from the voice of experience.
And I had no idea that corner sinks, ranges, etc. take up so much space.
If I'm concerned about having enough cabinet space, then corner units don't sound like the best option.

My sister's putting in a 33" undermount sink in a 36" diagonal front corner cabinet. I think they may have had to do some trimming off the top of the sides of the box to make it work...that was the plan if needed, but I haven't heard if it was necessary. Just have to remember that doing it that way gives you only a 12" opening (frameless) to access under the sink.

Rhome410 - nothing has been sheetrocked yet. Waiting for the plumbing and electrical to be done first.
I will mention it to the contractor hopefully tomorrow, but I really think he'll say "that'll cost you more money".
This week that has been repeated to me over and over and over.....

If he went ahead and built the pantry without a kitchen plan finished and signed off, I think there might be some negotiating room? If not, you have to decide whether the savings is worth a 2nd choice layout...if it will be that.

Spent an hour or so with the contractor this morning--mostly in the kitchen.
He asked if he could switch the pantry from the left side to the right due to some ceiling issues with the stairs and landing on the opposite side of the kitchen wall.
He's absorbing the cost to move it!

Also talked about Vicnsb's pantry layout.
We marked it out on the floor.
After comparing each layout, I decided the original one seemed to hold more and would be easier to access for our family's needs.

Still trying to work everything out in my head. I'd really like to keep the sink and dishwasher in the peninsula and put the refrigerator on one side wall and the stove on the other closest to the sink.

I'm meeting with the cabinetmaker on Monday afternoon.
If anyone else has any other ideas, I'd love to hear them before making my final decision.