I have 2 worries for you. One that your kitchenet is so far from your ovens and I think you showed us photos of baking projects in action on it.

Second, if people are at the stools, it's going to be very tight for anyone else to enter the kitchen or get to the dining area.

Oh my cotehele, totally redesign? Forgive me but I forget where you last left off. What was it about that design that you needed to totally redo?

By the way I love the location and size of your pantry and the symmetry of your windows. That's going to look very nice from the outside.

Is that Google SketchUp? Where did you get the cabinets and pendant light fixtures? I'm messing around with SketchUp myself and looking for more options.

I would move the sink to the right (so it is centered under the window) and lose the corner cabinet. You will have a "blind corner" but there are some great shelf options for those.

From one angle, it looks like the cabs are a foot or so below the molding, and then in the others, they look flush. I like the flush myself, or you could do a nice stacked cabinet up there. Could you put a single cab to the left of the hood?

i like how open it is now, but your fridge seems pretty far removed from your dining/sitting areas. could you maybe swap it with your kitchenette.

or maybe you should just lose the napanese kitchenette thing altogether.

(kidding!)

The wall with the hood and hutch feels a little unbalanced to me. Kinda heavy. I know this sounds like a crazy idea but I almost want to see the top hutch maybe staggered in height some. I don't know if there's enough width on it; but I'm wondering how it would look if part of it was the same height as the Japanese cabinet? I know you'd lose some storage. I dunno... maybe that wouldnt' work at all!

Rhome, thanks! I am always glad when you look at a plan. You see the practical, task-oriented gaffes. The stools shouldnt be in the way. DH will eat a very quick breakfast there on weekdays, and I may pull out a stool and sit down for a long and boring task. Other than that, they wonÂt be used. I am at the stove when rolls and biscuits are in an oven. Just a few steps to check on those fattening carbs. :-D Bread - IÂm typically not in the kitchen during baking. Cookies and the occasional chocolate lave cakes would be the only things that take more fussing. IÂve seen several pictures of an induction cooktop covered with something to make it usable counter space where racks of cookies can cool.

Mom2lilenj-If you remembered the previous kitchen plans, IÂd say you spend way too much time on GW! To backtrack, there was a huge two-sided island with two sinks. Every time I looked at the washing-up sink, IÂd get creeped out imagining my back to the hall and front door. Weird, I know. People have seen ghosts in our house; although I donÂt know what to think about that, just in case they are there, I donÂt want one sneaking up from behind-haha! Posts separated the kitchen and DR. A steel beam and center post is more expensive than removing part of the existing wall. Too much $$. The upper left corner (using the entire BR closet) was pantry, baking and washing-up. $$ again to cut through the outside wall of the house and create a closet in the existing garage. And along the outside wall was the cooktop. DH didnÂt like the clerestory windows the length of the kitchen. With windows, the cooktop didnÂt work on that wall. I like the low windows and symmetry, too. The house is on a 3 ft. crawlspace, so there is not a good ground-level view of the yard. Window boxes will be nice, and if we can do some kind of awning over the windows, it will help with the HOT western sun. (That is what I donÂt like about our existing west windows-the blinds are down all afternoon and early evening.)

snert-the design program is Home Designer Deluxe from BHHG. It has limitations, but does more than I know how to achieve. It is easy to use and good for conceptual drawings. Centering the sink under the windows keeps the symmetry; it would look very nice that way. The 4 ft. of prep space would be two 2 ft. chunks. I would be SO frustrated trying to prep with no counter space. You are so on target about the blind corner. This is a beverage and breakfast hutch. The toaster, bread, tea, coffee, cups, glasses, mugsÂyou get the idea, go in the deep corner upper cabs with a refrigerator in the angled base cabinet. There will be some unused space at the very back, though. The ceilings are 10 ft. Lighted stacked cabs would be lovely. Currently there is (was-I took it out!) a 1 ft. soffit and the ceiling was lowered 1 ft. If it looks OK, IÂd do the 8 ft. cabinets Âthose pesky $$ again! I have to use a ladder to reach the upper two shelves of the 44 cabs. Stacked would be more unreachable. A wall cab left of the hood is an Âalternate depending on how the budget is holding out.

Ed-yeah, weÂve gotta walk a ways or be very organized before we sit down to eat. Swapping the kitchenet and the fridge wouldnÂt work. The kitchenet is wider than the fridge, so the ovens wouldnÂt fit. It also has a 32ÂÂ work surface height that is continued in the 4 ft. prep space. Swapping the fridge would almost cut the work surface run in half. YouÂd just chuck the family heirloom altogether ;-p I canÂt do that; I love it. ;-D

I think you are right, it is heavy on the south wall. Hmmmmm... I'll have to think about that while I'm making supper.

Youd just chuck the family heirloom altogether ;-p I cant do that; I love it. ;-D

nah...i was just joking. i've been following your threads and i know that you're basically designing your whole kitchen around that thing. which is, i think, a very cool thing to do.

Don't center the sink if it means a nice view out will be obstructed by the center frame of the window.

Oh, yes I remember now. I agree with you about moving the sink location, I remember thinking I wouldn't want my back to the hall and any sink mess in full view. But I understood that you wanted a nice view while at the sink.

I'm not sure you need the sink in the latest setup, but it might be handy for an extra sink. To balance the tall cabinets to the Napanee you could put a piece of art above the hutch. I agree that for large projects having the oven further from the Napanee might be less convenient. But mostly, having the breakfast area right in the middle of your work zone, I think would cause collisions. I really liked the uc fridge, etc closer to the dining area like you had in previous versions.

For some strange reason I have fun playing with your kitchen (probably because it isn't my money, LOL, and I love old houses). Well, anyway here is an idea to get the Kitchenet closer to the ovens.

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The table could be a drop leaf table to give a bit more room for larger projects. The pet center could have tilt out bins for the food with room for dog dishes in front and a shelf for the cat (so the dogs don't eat the catfood) and a cabinet above for misc. Also if the stepback hutch is too much money for now, you could put the micro on top of the uc fridge and a little table next to it with a coffee pot, and there you have a budget breakfast center, not terribly pretty, but functional until more funds are available. Once funds are available, it wouldn't have to match the kitchen since it's located in another room.

Hey Mom2lilenj, you couldn't sleep last night either? Haha! The symmetry of the wall cabs on the outside wall in your plan gave me another idea. I love it, if I do say so myself ;-p Thanks! Several kitchens I love have a stand alone cooktop, several others have the symmetry on the outside wall, and others have mixed finishes. All those design and functional elements are in this last (do you believe it?) plan.

Thanks for the ideas:
Ed, there is a another napanee-like hutch, just for you!
remodelfla-the staggered hood
snert- the centered window & stacked cabinets
rhome-the stool is in the corner, probably with a plant on it- ha!

The architect is coming for lunch today and the final consult-we can't afford any more!

Hope you all like it!

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THANK YOU ALL!!

Just a minor change-thanks to rhome and mom:

Switch the Napanee Kitchenet and the hutch (moved baking down by cooktop and ovens).

Move UC fridge into cab by sink (next to DR).

Dishes, glassware, flatware along with drinks stuff and toaster in the hutch.

I like that back wall! It is all 32" high counters right? And with the Kitchenet swapped with the uc fridge, I think it would work very well! Gives a nice unfitted look!

But how are you going to put cabinets above the Napanee, are you going to try to find cabinets that match the same style? You'll have to make sure the cabinet maker pays attention to those details. I think it could look lovely, but may require a bit more thought to get the new cabinets to blend nicely.

If you use the microwave for things that go straight to the dining table, IMHO, I think the microwave would work better in the uc fridge hutch. Otherwise it's fine where it is. I only mention that because I think 4' french doors to the hall would look awsome, LOL. You've got landing space behind you when getting stuff out of the fridge.

Another idea for above the cooktop would be a large metal hood, kind of edwardian looking wide curved hood, but that would be rather pricey.

Sorry, maybe it's just me, but I don't like the stove standing off like that in the last rendering. Also, what are you using the UC fridge for? It made sense to have it near the prep sink, as it was above, if you're keeping cooking related items in it.

mom2lilenj, Thanks! It does look unfitted, had not thought of it that way. The white cab-hutch and the white cabs above the hutch and kitchenet will most likely be custom made. Thanks for the caution to pay attention to the details. The custom hood mommadaddapaige has is to die for. I'd love to do something like that. Unfortunately, it's the budget again ;( The MW melts butter, cooks fresh and frozen veggies, heats tea and is the only cooking appliance DH knows how to use. It will be most handy by the fridge and the hall (and upstairs) - where DH goes with his food and hot tea when he is home alone.

rhome, sorry about the look of the cooktop. It's a done deal now. The architect was here and we finalized everything for the last set of drawings. The stacked upper cupboards on each side of the hood are even with the top of the hood and they will hold stereo speakers. Many months ago, now, I was trying to get a beverage and breakfast hutch with an UC fridge. The white cupboard on the right is such a hutch. I think the UC fridge being close will work with juice, soda pop, milk, cream, yogurt, etc. They will both be near the DR for easy access without walking through the kitchen.

Rhome, is this better?

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Yes, it is!

Mom2lilenj-I think the ovens will stack next to the fridge. There is room for wider hall doors, and a more open view from the washing up sink. I'm not sure. Does the wall took crammed with wood?

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Congrats on finalizing the design with the architect! I like the look of the flat top cabinets above the stove better too. It seems to go with the rest of the style of your kitchen better. You can decide what if anything to put on the wall to the right of the cooktop once everything is in. A small pot rack might be nice too.

And I have to say...I do like those french doors! Not only the view from the sink improves, but the view from down the hall will too. But do what YOU want to do. Because moving the microwave over the oven stack will make the micro a bit less convienent with no landing space directly below (or above) and puts the user in the way for others (probably you) that need to use the oven or go into the pantry.

I like the view and the light to and from the hall. There is a clerestory in the peak of the roof (30 ft. up) that floods the hall with light, and maybe it will brighten the kitchen a little too. I think the double doors are a keeper.

You are right about who will be in the pantry, LOL. No one to compete for space there! Landing space for the ovens are pretty close to the cabinet to the right and the cooktop cabinets. It's better than how things are now, LOL.

Thanks for your help! How is your kitchen coming along? It has been a long time without pictures or an update!

Wow, that clerastory sounds great; what a nice feature!

Dh and his brother put up the wall between the kitchen and dining room and we hired a guy to put up the plaster. He's going to put up plaster board, scratch coat and then smooth coat. Believe it or not he was quite a bit cheaper than the drywall guy. He said the reason is he can do it all in one day. Blueboard goes up and then scratch coat, wait a few hours then smooth coat. It all sets up quickly and there is no sanding, so much less mess, YEAH! He's also going to recoat our dining room and fix some spots. Unfortunately the recoat has to be drywall compound because the walls were painted and he said you can't put hardcoat plaster over painted wall, well you can with a special additive, but it won't adhere well. So when he does that we will have quite a bit of mess.

In the mean time, I'm buckling down on getting my master's thesis done. I want to graduate this year and be done with it!

The construction is making great progress; every picture I've seen the wall is down to the studs. Walls will be such a nice change. The kitchen will feel like a room! You can paint and decorate some. Avoiding plaster dust, yeah!

I didn't know (or didn't remember) you are in graduate school. Are you an education major? (That is in the back of my mind.) Wow, so much stress and so many demands on your time with two little girls, a mostly DIY kitchen remodel and studying! You will be in my thoughts and prayers. Finishing a thesis is tough! About 10 days before the end of the semester, I remember slumping to the bedroom floor and crying when my committee chair drug his feet and I was sure I couldn't graduate. I finally talked to him, and he didn't realize the effect he was having. He got going and I DID graduate on time. Best wishes to you!!

The wall you see to the studs will eventualy come out. It is the wall from our new kitchen (house's original kitchen location) to our current kitchen. We are going to complete the new kitchen before we tear out the current one and open up the wall. So unfortunately that wall will be there a while, LOL. The wall that went up is on the other side of the room. I'm really looking forward to having a finished dining room. I love my dining room and since we eat EVERY meal there it's rather important.

10 days before graduation! That sounds VERY stressful, hopefully my committee members don't do that to me, I might lose it. And yes, I have questioned my sanity more than once in trying to do it all. Actually, I'm currently a design engineer and am going for my master's in electrical engineering. In all honesty, I want the degree fininshed more than my kitchen. It disrupts so much!

Electrical engineering is a long way from education - at least it began with the letter 'e', LOL! I actually told you about my experience to give you hope that no matter how bleak it seems, you can get done. Good luck!