Okay, completely disregard the first floorplan and all the questions that go with it. I am using the second floorplan with few tweeks. The ovens will stay on west side as in the original. I was planning 36 to 42 inches of counter to the north of the frig just for coffee. I was planning a MW and toaster oven by the pantry on sink counter.

The thread on toasters has gotten me rethinking the frig/sink wall. Toasters are messy, but so are coffee grounds. Do I want the coffee pot closer to the sink? The pantry door has to pretty much stay in that general area, but how would layout this whole wall?

Yes, I do plan a prep sink in the island, it just isn't drawn.

Thanks a bunch!

If you are moving the double ovens over by the ref, the left hand counter has "no purpose". Most of what I'm going to say is true of two different counter runs - the one where the double ovens were and the shorter one between the kitchen and dining room. They are two different lengths which might be the determining criteria.

Either can be used to stack up food waiting for service or as small buffet. If either had a drinks ref, it could be a good entertainment bar. Having either contain other small appliances like the toaster and coffee is ok - if - you're ok with them raiding your prep sink to dump/make coffee.

The longer counter makes a good place to leave out one of those big mixers that are a pita to move around out, and be able to use it when you want to. You could plumb a baby sink there just for the coffee - which would have some other use for hand washing, but probably not a great deal.

For toaster convenience - it depends on whether you make the toast, or they make the toast most often and where "they" are when making toast occurs.

Because it would be convenient for me not to have the game room dudes constantly raiding the main ref, I say make the smaller counter a full fledged drinks station - coffee, cups, baby ref, and very many bottles containing wine. The occasional raid of the prep sink I could live with.

I'd do mixer and general baking stuff storage on the longer run, with the toaster and occasional buffets possible for when y'all use the kitchen table and counter.

Good luck choosing!

I'm not a layout person, but I know toast and coffee. It's not something I thought about in planning so both toaster oven and coffee pot are close to one another, not so close either to sink or trash. But if I had thought and planned that way and could only have one, I'd rather have the toaster near a sink because of the crumbs. Coffee pots don't have to be so messy if you're careful. Except that you want to be able to pour out yesterdays dregs before making a fresh pot. Any way you can have both next to a sink? Or a trash can nearby?

The goal of the design was to keep the game room dudes (literally) out of the way of the main kitchen. I was planning an undercounter frig on the west, and I am sorry I forgot to mention it. So I guess I have to find one that also has ice. In fact, I don't really need cabinets under the buffet and could probably fit two small units there.

Right now everyone makes toast using the toaster oven, inlcuding the little kids. We toast on a tiny 14 inch deep counter and then carry the toast to the tiny island behind. I am guessing we would sort of do the same in the new kitchen (moving to the island for butter, etc.), but I don't really know. I do like to carry the oven to the sink every few days and dump the crumbs.

My coffee pot right now is by the island sink which is a 24" single bowl. I use it anyway now to clean large pans and the coffee pot, so that definitely won't bother me. The new island sink will be just as large.

So here are two new possibilities. Once I finalize the general layout, I will get into the cabinet size details including where the trash and MW will go.

I sort of like the way the first one puts the cleanup sink more into the kitchen rather than down that back hallway too much. That's not a deal breaker though.

Also, I pulled the frig away from the corner and can put some skinny built-in cookbook shelves. I can certainly eliminate those.

Does one of these look better than the other?

I really appreciate both of your thoughts!

Longer sink counter:

Counter between pantry and frig

If it would help to see 3D renderings, I can add those later.

I think the second one (with some counter space next to the fridge) will be more functional.

I think you're right. It will look better than having the pantry door right next to the frig.

Sorry. I got interrupted and instead of hitting close, I hit submit without finished my post.

This elevation shows 33 inches for coffee pot/toaster station. If I make the pantry door 24" instead of 28" and eliminate the bookshelf, I can get 36+ for coffee area. Or I can shorten sink run, but I think I need that full 7 feet there.

Would you rather have measurements as is (33 coffee with 28 pantry door and bookshelf) or go for the 36 inch coffee counter space?