Please help me improve this layout. My BH and I have been in this house since Aug 08. The house, a ranch, is about 30-yrs-old, with a view from every window. We plan to live here for about 10 years. We will both be working in the kitchen, and we'd like additional seating aroudn the island for entertaining.

The first of a zillion plans included a peninsula, this plan an island. My desire is a cook top in the island and built in oven/microwave, but the cook top in the island may make the work triangle too congested. Also, I'm not keen on the down draft exhaust as IÂm not sure I want to give up the cabinet space. Not sure about a ceiling exhaust hood.

Currently, the frig sits along the east wall that will be removed to open the entry to the dining area. The sink is centered under the window for the view.

The under the counter microwave is again not my first choice, but I donÂt want it over the range or on the counter top either. My goal is to keep it close to the CD frig. The UCM is a 27" cab.

The 18" pantry was an after thought, someplace to store those monster cereal boxes, as cereal is a staple.

The groceries are brought in from garage/laundry room/outside entrance, which has a sliding pocket door. Extra storage is not a concern, as the laundry room has more.

My cabinets will be custom, but my draft paper is not, so I sized as close as I could. My concern with this plan is the distance from the stove to the frig.

Every waking moment, at home and work, IÂm thinking about this kitchen. I start from scratch just about every other day. IÂm going on kitchen over load. My BH is not interested in the layout, so I have been on my own, except now have you. Thank you for posting.

{{!gwi}}