Good morning, Whidbey. That looks like a very nice home you're building.

Sure, your kitchen's big enough; and unless you only drive into town a few times a year to stock up, there's enough storage. After all, a walk-in adds some more shelving but most of the additional space goes to allowing one to stand inside and enjoy the abundance. But--you're not happy, so that absolutely has to be dealt with.

There's certainly no rule saying you have to have a breakfast nook you don't really want or need, so how about discarding the breakfast-table idea permanently? One thing, though, that area with windows on three sides is prize living space, very expensive to build and much too special to fill in with closets. Out with that idea too.

A couple of possibilities that occur are: Reverse the kitchen L (short bar at top) and slide it up into that nice sunny corner. A kitchen's important enough to justify investing that wonderful space in. Then you could use some of the area freed up at the bottom for your walk-in pantry, and ?

A second would be to make minimal changes to the corner space but take advantage of its special assets by using it as a mini-sunroom-type sitting area (with desk?). It has a really good relation to the kitchen and would be a great place to relax and chat with the cook.

If you did choose to get rid of some of the window and build cabinets in there, though, I'd suggest either just making one or both windows smaller to free up wall space or wrapping them around the outside corner to create a view in that direction. I definitely wouldn't get rid of either window in that little winglet totally, but if you did my choice would have to be losing the larger one. It isn't an idea I like, but I suggest it for consideration because you already have two windows with that view and orientation to sun in the living room and only one window to the side, thus making it a particularly special--it gives your home something it wouldn't have otherwise. And after all, a pretty and enjoyable view can be created outside almost any window.

Is there enough wall space to do a corner pantry on the corner near the covered porch and back wall?

How about a non-traditional breakfast nook. Last year's HGTV dream home had a sitting area by the kitchen. Those windows would look great surrounding comfy seating and a lower coffee height table. How great would it be to have your morning coffee and newspaper surrounded by light and the beauty of your garden? You could even place a few cabinets in the corners to act like end tables and tie the space together for overflow storage like bulk Costco paper towels etc.

Take a deep breath. Hold--1, 2, 3. Now let it out slowly. Breathe.

Your kitchen plans are gorgeous! I LOVE the nook! I think you will too! What a great place to read with a cup of tea or coffee in the morning. I think the light will be great. It will be a great place to look over cookbooks so you will be able to prepare wonderful meals in your new kitchen.

If you want more storage for those items rarely used, put in a bench with under seat storage in the nook.

Sounds like you are second guessing yourself which is normal when things start happening such as building, etc. Did I get this right? Will I like it? What about cost overruns? Can we afford this? Etc!

Again, I think you did a great job on your kitchen. It looks wonderful. I think you will love the nook. Great idea. Up there you need all the light you can get. Congrats on a great kitchen. Can't wait to see it completed. You have to show us pictures along the way!

Thank you so much for your wonderful input! And for the reassurance. :)

I did consider sliding things up into the nook, but thought it might look odd being sort of hidden in a "hole????"

So, you think it's big enough, huh? okaaaaaaay! I'm trusting you guys :)

Just trying to make sure I have enough room for dry food storage and all my dishes/appliances, etc. We have a family of four (maybe five soon) and I love to cook!

I love your home and your nook! You did a great job. Once everythings done, that nook will be a great place to relax and have snacks with the kids. It's going to be one of your favorite places in your home.

The only other suggestion would be to go for a bigger range and then not have the wall oven. The space of the wall oven could be added to the pantry. I am not sure the size of your range. I still think it will be an absolutely beautiful kitchen.

I agree with mustbnuts. Mostly.
Does that make me nuts too?

Get a nice big range and lose the wall oven.
I'd then move the fridge over next to the pantry, and extend the counter towards the nook.

I'd then extend the nook windows towards the floor, and as laxsupermom suggests, place a couple big comfy chairs and a coffee table in there.

Get rid of the ovens and go for a bigger range...

I'm not letting my hubby read that... it's exactly what he said! I would but I am dead-set on my Thermador induction cooktop. I pondered maybe putting a single oven below the cooktop, but the dishwasher door and the oven door would open too closely together.

I don't mind the current layout, I guess. I'm just 2D-challenged. I cannot picture anything unless I can see it in 3D. I had to draw the kitchen in a 3D design program so I could picture what it would look like.

So I'm thinking maybe this is my issue?? Maybe it IS ok.... but I just don't know it yet. :)

I must be nuts too! LOL...

Do you think it would look funny if any part of the counter extended into the nook?

Yes, you could extend the counter top into the nook, but I don't think I would do it. Can you fit two ovens below the cooktop? Or a regular oven and a warming drawer?

You could always move the dishwasher back to the other side. For me that is the preferable side. I wash from right to left, so placement into the dishwasher on the other side is a natural. Shouldn't interfere with your ovens that way.

I still think once it is done, you will absolutely love it! It is going to be a beautiful kitchen.

Just to chime in here, I do think Rosie may be on to something and I have a huge kitchen and still want a walk in pantry! (It's coming, but has to wait for the larger scale project next year).

That being said, we got rid of our nook and I love it. We expanded our kitchen into the nook space and the main sink is now in the nook bay window - lovely! In your plan it wouldn't be a "hole" it would bring beautiful light into a work space!

We eat casual meals - breakfast and lunch at the island and eat most dinners now at the dining room table - novel idea, but it works for us!

Also, mustbnuts is right, it's time for a deep breath because the kitchen you have is a lovely design. So, it may be the right thing.

Good Luck!

mindimoo, do you have pics of that? Would love to see :)

Hi Whidbey,

I'll see what I have here for pictures...my old ones showing prior to construction are on my old pc and not connected to the internet...

but, here is my DH and DDad setting base cabinets where the bay window used to be. The nook windows used to be 5' tall and we replaced with counter height:
{{!gwi}}

This is how it is now, 98% done:
{{!gwi}}

We don't have the door that you have, however, we made the counter depth about 32" deep on that wall so we had room for all the cabinets and then space behind the farm sink.

I think it would work really well in your kitchen, but you will likely need to lose a little off of the end of your island in order to have enough walk around room there....

Good Luck!

mindimoo, I would love to see more pictures of your kitchen from different angles, especially how you tie in the corner by the bay. i have this bay window with angled cabinets into bay and hate it. Looking to remodel with straight cabinet line. Thanks. Love those large windows in kitchen.