Is the dining room at the bottom of the plan? Why can't you close it off in either case?

After gazing at them, I'm pretty sure I much prefer the old plan.

Yes, the dining room is on the bottom. The reason why the dining room can't be closed off more in the old design is the island is already made (it is however moveable) and to make a 5' or 6' wide doorway to take french doors the clearance from doorway edge to island would be 2'. Which I think is too tight, also the island can't be moved toward with breakfast nook without giving up the butcher block. There might be another way that I'm thinking of.

In the old plan, couldn't you always make the 5' or 6' wide doorway smaller, to be able to fit the french doors. If smaller, could they swing into the DR? Or....maybe you could do pocket doors instead.

In the new one, there is no counter space at all next to the frig or the ovens. When taking something out of the oven, you'll have to turn and put things on the island, unless there's counter space on the hoosier hutch? Would the doors on the hutch have to be open for counter space there?

I;m with Rhome, I like the first one better. I like the bigger island and the separation of the clean up and cooking zones on either side of the island.

The pie safe looks better placed in that corner than the clean up area. Looks like you're trying to squeeze it in.

Good luck!!! I keep changing my plans as well.

The plan shows 30" between island and doorway, so I thought with the Fr doors swinging toward the dining room (as shown) you could make that work. Doors would also be inset a bit from the wall, so you'd gain a few inches there. If you go ahead and place the island 30" (+ door inset) from the dining room wall/doorway, how much room do you have at the refrig end, including butcher block? Will you still have the room it shows?

I also thought that maybe you'd do like I do and have the doors open most of the time you're in the kitchen. If they're closed only while you're sitting at a meal, it won't matter if the island's a little close.

But if you do keep them closed, and have a minimal aisle (30" or more), I thought it would also probably work, since the traffic would most often go around the fridge end of the island, except to get to the pie safe.

Thank you both for your input!

Yes there is counter space on the hoosier hutch. It is an old cabinet that was used as an all purpose baking center. It has a 27"x42" enameled pull-out counter. Without the the counter pulled out 15" is exposed.

Rhome, thank you for the comment, right after I posted explaining why I can't close off the doorway, I thought of a way to do it, LOL. Here it is.
{{!gwi}}

Also, I remeasured the island to wall, if the island were to stay where it is and I closed the doorway to 6', the island to edge of door way would be 29" not 24" like I said earlier. That's with the doors opening into the dining room. Still seems too tight.

Thank you both for your input!

I think we cross-posted. ;-)

If you could scootch it down just a few inches, I think it could work, as I said. It all depends, though, on where the butcher block and Hoosier will suit your functional needs best.

rhome, missed you post before I sent mine. You maybe right that 30" probably would be OK for clearance. It's the size of a small door. I was still thinking 42" would make for comfortable clearance around the island. But it might be a livable compromise. I guess my biggest issue with the old design is the fridge location. That hallway has the most traffic with it being the main hallway going from the living room, bathroom, upstairs, and the kitchen. Also the main entryway for family and friends will be the sliding glass doors in the breakfast nook. The other thing that I didn't really like, but figured I could live with it was the cleanup sink won't have much natural light. Not really a big deal, but with it next to the side window the sink gets natural light and a nice view of the garden.

Do you spend a lot of time at the sink, and when it's light out? It bothered me the way it was away from the window wall and looking like it was shoved there in the new plan. It's not at all convenient to the breakfast nook for cleanup.

Refrig location: If it was the range we were talking about, I would want it moved. We tried to get it out of there before, but it didn't seem to work. It's not like it's an appliance you stand in front of for extended periods, or need to get to in a rush, like you might need to get to something in the oven or at the stove to prevent overcooking. The upside: At least others can access it easily without getting in your cooking area!

I agree rhome that none of the issues I have with the old design are big problems. No kitchen is perfect, I was just trying to see if I could reduce the old plan's anoyances and if the new plans anoyances were any better.

See this is the problem with doing it DIY and taking a long time there is too much time to think, LOL.

One thing that may change things is when the engineer takes a look at the two posts you see separating the nook with the kitchen and finds the posts can be taken out. There is another post located just left of the fridge (old design). The posts where used to frame out a window and what used to be the kitchen entry door. I would LOVE to take those out and put a matching angle brace on the right of the nook/kitchen separation.

"See this is the problem with doing it DIY and taking a long time there is too much time to think, LOL.

Sometimes that's good, and sometimes it's not... :-) I can very much relate. My kitchen is almost finished and I'm still wondering about change or 'how it should have been.' I hope that when it's all finished I'll be able to relax my kitchen-designing mind and just enjoy it!

I haven't much perception looking at someone else's plans because I cannot imagine how you move through cooking or baking. I can imagine the few pieces that you have posted pics. Looking at the revised plan...Will the island not have the marble sink? The pantry would be really nice. Are you using the Hoosier Hutch for baking by the ovens? It seems a better place away from the range for your girls to use. They could reach the work top easily. I think the sink would be nice near a window, too. It does look like there are shorter runs of countertop, though.

Rhome, you've got a wonderful kitchen, I'm sure you'll be very happy with it once you get used to all that space. I'm probably going to going through some growing pains with my kitchen. Right now I can reach everything without moving, LOL.

cotehele thanks for checking out my layout!
Similar to how your using your Kitchenet, I will be using the hoosier as my baking supply area. And with it right by the ovens, it'll be handy. Good point about my girls keeping away from the stove to bake and having a lower area available. And yes, if we go with the sink by the window I won't be putting in the prep sink. DH really likes not putting that in because we won't have to cut the beautiful marble and floor and the plumbing will be simplier.

With the test run of baking pies, I found out that the island is a very nice size. Big enough to spread out, but not too big that it becomes an obstacle to walk around. My mom has a 36"x36" island and to me it's too small.

Well, I tried out the smaller doorway by moving chairs around to give the correct clearances and it's too ackward. I think the problem is you have to go around the island to get into the kitchen. I've got my laptop setup in the dining room until I get an office (who knows when THAT will happen, LOL) and a couple times I've clipped my hip on the island. However having the french doors centered on the wall rather than off to the side does look better from the dining room.

As far as cooking dinner goes, typically I get the "meat" from the freezer pop it in the microwave to defrost then gather all the ingredients that I need in one spot. I try to clean and put things away as I go. The little one helps with the salad and the big one helps on the stove. DH sometimes pitches in if there is room. Then both DD's set the table. Clean up usually goes, everyone brings their plate back into the kitchen then only the little DD sticks around to help cleanup. They're still little so we always have leftovers.