To post a picture of your layout...use the code in the box labeled "HTML Code" under the picture in PhotoBucket. Simply copy it and paste it into the Message box. You will see your picture when you preview the message.

Repeat for each picture you wish to post in a message.

Note: For layout help it's best to post/embed the layout picture in the message rather than a link...I think you'll get more responses w/a picture. However, don't make it too big. Try to keep each picture size no more than 450x450 (400x400 is better if it's legible at that size).

To post a link to a specific picture, do one of two things:

(Option 1) Copy the code from the "Direct Link" box under the picture in PhotoBucket and paste it into the "Optional Link URL:" box. Then, type a text description in the "Name of the Link:" box. When you preview the message, the link will appear. (To test it, click on it. Use your browser's back button to get back to the previewed message.)

(Option 2) Copy the following into your Message box:
DescriptionReplace the "http://www.XXX/"; with the link from the "Direct Link" box under the picture in PhotoBucket. Then, replace the "Description" with a text description of the link. When you preview the message, the link will appear. (To test it, click on it. Use your browser's back button to get back to the previewed message.)

If you have multiple links, then the 2nd option is the way to go. The 1st option only allows you to post one link.

To post a link to your album in PhotoBucket, go to the album and copy the URL from the address line in your browser and paste it in the "Optional Link URL:" box. Then, type in a text description in the "Name of the Link:" box. Again, when you preview the message, the link will appear.

thanks! let me try it. yeah it worked!!!!!

Pantry....how deep are your shelves? Personally, I'd go either another foot deeper or 18" shallower. I had a 6'x3' pantry in my old kitchen and it had a lot of wasted space that became a clutter magnet! It had 18" deep shelves along the back wall and everything got lost on them! I found stuff that had expired years ago when the pantry was demo'd! Yes we had room on the side walls to hang a broom on one side and a spice rack + battery rack on the other, but the floor space in front seemed to attract anything that my family didn't know where to put right away or didn't want to put away!

If you go a foot deeper, it becomes a step-in pantry and you can put shelves on at least 2 walls, 3 if you don't need wall space for a broom or mop. I would then do one of two things for the front wall & shelves:

(1) make the front wall 12" on each side of the door and put in a regular 2' door. Then, I'd put in 9" deep shelves on the side and 15" deep shelves along the back wall...no deeper as any deeper and things get lost!

(2) make the front wall 18" on one side, then a 2' door, then 6" on the other side of the door. I would then put 15" shelves on the side with the longer front wall and 12" deep along the back wall. Hang broom/mop or spice rack/etc. on the side wall next to the 6" front wall piece.

If you go 18" shallower, it becomes a reach-in pantry. I would put 12" or 15" deep shelves along the back wall.

Sink Wall: I would move the DW to the other side of the sink and put in an 18" trash pullout where the DW is now. Then, make the 12" drawer base on the right an 18" drawer base.

Right now, the DW will be in the way of anyone using the cooktop (and vice versa!)

The trash pullout will be convenient to both the sink while cleaning up and the cooktop workspace while cooking. If you can afford to lose the cabinet space, I would also consider putting a 12" trash pullout either on the peninsula or next to the DW on the left side of the sink. That would give you easy access to a trash can from the peninsula while prepping/baking/etc. This is my one really big regret I have in my kitchen...only one trash pullout next to the sink. I have to cross the kitchen while prepping or cooking to get to the trash pullout. So far, I haven't been able to come up w/a workaround for the problem. (I also wish I had put a GD in the prep sink, but that's a much, much smaller regret...and I might still do it someday.)

Sink: Are you going with a single bowl or double bowl sink? If double, I recommend a 1-1/2 configuration. I.e., a large bowl on one side and a smaller bowl on the other side. That would give you the advantage of having a bowl that's probably big enough for cookie sheets, roasting pans, etc. while maintaining the advantage of two bowls...one clear while the other has dirty dishes stacked in it, one to soak things in while the other is used to rinse or wash, separate wash & rinse bowls when you handwash dishes, one bowl for prepping while the other is used for cleaning up or hand washing.

Cooktop: 30" is probably fine if you plan to stay a small family. But, if you plan on having more children, I think I would upgrade to the 36". If nothing else, it gives you more room for the pot & pan handles...and for keeping the handles "inside" so toddlers can't reach them!

Hood: I think the style you pick depends on the overall style of your kitchen. One thing, though, if you have a hood that has sides down to the counter w/spice & oil storage, the sides take a lot of room away from the counter...and you don't have much room there. You will have little landing space or workspace. I think, too, that style hood would overwhelm the overall small space on that wall. I think a nice decorative hood would look nice there (depending on your kitchen style), but keep it smaller scale to fit the space.

Refrigerator: Be sure you have enough filler b/w the oven(s) and the refrigerator to allow the door on that side to open fully...including wide enough to remove any baskets/drawers that are in it (if there are baskets/drawers).

Peninsula: I like the 7' length. As long as you have 48" b/w the edge of the counter on the peninsula and the door handles of the refrigerator, I think you're fine. 42" would even be OK...but I wouldn't go any less than 42". The longer peninsula will make a great area for baking cookies! Lots of space for making dough, rolling it out, cookie cutter space, as well as cookie sheet space! And it's so very convenient to the ovens!

Is there going to be seating at the peninsula? If so, try for a 15" overhang...plenty of space for teen & adult legs as well as increasing that expanse of workspace for baking projects, homework, science projects, crafts, dyeing Easter eggs, wrapping gifts, etc. Keep it all one level to keep it useful...two levels pretty much eliminate the expanse of workspace advantage.

Lights: I have no comments since I don't know what's "best"! That's one area I haven't learned enough about yet to advise anyone! Except to say, be sure you have plenty of light!

Pantry update: I just realized it was 4'6", not 4'. (Yes, you said it in your post but for some reason I read 4') Anyway, that gives you 6 more inches to work with for the width. I suggest either making the door in both my options 30" instead of 24" or making the front wall 3" deeper on each side of the door.

thanks on the pantry, I'll have to draw it both ways you mentioned so I can get a visualize b/c right now my head is spining trying to picture it.

I understand what your saying about dishwasher but there wouldn't be anyone cooking while putting dishes away or visa versa. I usually do both although DH doesn't mind pitching in. I'm right handed and find it akward to have DW on the left but will think it over. The trash in previous home was under the sink b/c there is only 2 1/2 of us so we didn't have much.

sink-I'm going with larger/deeper single bowl, I don't like the double.

cooktop- as of now we don't plan to have any more kids but anything can change. if we did it would only be one more. I really like the thought of larger area to keep handles away from little ones.

hood-- I agree that the 2nd style hood would take up more space and probably wouldn't be worth it. I hadn't thought about the style being too much for the space, great point!

fridge--it's fully intergrated but I will be sure cabinet people look at that.

peninsula--7' probably is better since I don't have much counter space or island. I don't plan to do seating b/c the breakfast area is right there and there will be dining table there which should be plenty of seating.

thanks again for the suggestions/ideas!

Peninsula: If there will be no seating, then consider at least making it 30" deep. That would give you a 6" overhang on the breakfast nook side. You could either leave it as an overhang or put in 6" deep shelves. If you can afford the space in the breakfast nook, then consider making the peninsula 36" deep w/12" deep cabinets facing the breakfast nook. You could use those cabinets for items used only in the breakfast nook (placemats, table cloths, napkins, etc.). Or, you could do a combination of 12" deep cabinets & 12" deep shelves. The shelves could hold your cookbooks, knick-knacks, etc.

Refrigerator: If it's a true built-in, then I think you'll be OK with door opening space.

ooh. I like the idea of wider peninsula especially for cookbooks and stuff or maybe supplies for my son to color/draw. The breakfast area is 13' wide like the kitchen and 10' in length. The table will be square that can open up to rectangle with leaf if needed. Do you think that will be enough room for 36" wide peninsula?

Dishwasher: Maybe right now there's no conflict b/w DW & cooktop use, but what about as your child gets older...do you plan to have him/her help you in the kitchen? Is the DW always unloaded immediately and do you always wait to load it when all cooking is done? I.e., will you have someone coming into the kitchen while you're cooking who will open the DW to get out a clean glass? will someone be putting some things in the DW while you're cooking?

When you have a family, I think it's a mistake to think of your kitchen as a one-person kitchen, which is what you're saying right now. Please, think ahead...assume you will have at least one helper in a very few years...make your kitchen at least a 2-person kitchen! (Children love to help in the kitchen...at least before they're teens! Even then, many teens love to cook...both girls and boys! So be sure your kitchen is functional for the future!)

As to left vs right handedness...from my experience w/the DW on both sides, it just takes a few days to get used to whatever side it's on. I'm right handed and when I moved out of my townhouse w/the DW on the left into our current home that had it on the right, I thought the right side was awkward at first! But I quickly adapted in a couple of weeks and now I think nothing of the location (almost 14 years later!). In our new kitchen, we were originally going to put the DW on the left, but it would have blocked the peninsula aisle so we didn't do it.

DW placement is better dictated by two things:
#1 traffic flow/work flow

...and...

#2 dish storage placement. #2 is generally adaptable to whatever location #1 dictates.

In your case, on the left side you have quite a bit of upper cabinet storage for glasses & dishes as well as close proximity to the peninsula for flatware storage. Both of which are also convenient to the breakfast nook.

Trash Pullout: Do you also recycle? An 18" trash pullout has room for two bins...one for trash & one for recyclables. Many people who have moved from under-sink trash to a trash pullout will tell you how much better it is. Personally, I've never liked under-sink trash, but that's my personal feeling. Another thing to consider is that if you get a large deep sink, you may no longer be able to fit a decent sized trash bin under the sink. Yet something else to consider is that as your child grows up, there will be more trash (strange, I know, but that's what I've found!) so you may need room for more trash! Please think seriously about a pullout trash.

In the end, though, this is your kitchen. Design it the way you think will work best for your family...now and in the future. We just point out options and the reasons behind our options. I learned so much here when designing & installing my kitchen...things I had never thought of!

Good luck!

My pantry is 4 ft wide by 3 1/2 ft deep. It works great for me, and I don't think being 6" shallower would diminish it, especially since yours is that much wider, which is where I'd rather have the 6". I have 16" shelves on the back and 12" on one side. This gives me only one corner, which is not very efficient to use, because that does get deep (so better than putting the shelves in a U-shape and getting 2 corners per shelf), and also leaves one side wall for hanging a broom or whatever. The floor space is about right for standing in, and for storing an extra bag of dog food or wheat when necessary.

I didn't read through everything else, but agree with Buehl about putting the dishwasher on the left side of the sink near where the best dish storage is.

My pantry (I also have a photo showing the floor space, if that would help.):

I think the two main differences b/w RHome410's functional 3-1/2' deep pantry and my dysfunctional 3' deep may be (1) the very functional bins and containers she's using and (2) the existence of side shelves.

Oh, and maybe the depth of the shelves and the type of shelves. My old pantry had wire shelves...in addition to losing things in the back, most things did not stand up straight w/o propping them against each other or fiddling w/their location.