Wonderful improvement and great floor! Could you post a floorplan so we might see the possible options?

Here is a quick and basic floor plan.

Just a quick note the wall that is across from the fridge cant be used because there is a door there

http://i28.tinypic.com/jv6gxi.jpg

If you hang the pots & pans there, you will re-introduce a barrier that will again close off the kitchen. Granted it won't be a "solid" wall, but it will be enough that it will give the same effect.

Anyone trying to visit w/someone at the breakfast bar from the kitchen will probably find the pots & pans are blocking their view and have to either dodge around them or duck down to look under.

This would be similar to having cabinets hanging over the breakfast bar.

In addition, there's a very real possibility that anyone sitting at the bar, especially if it's a raised bar (not really recommended), will have the pots & pans either in their face or close enough that it will feel like they're in their face.

Why don't you measure your longest pot/pan and hang a piece of cardboard across the entire length of the opening from the ceiling to where the longest pot would hang (make it a solid piece, not just a strip). Don't forget to include the depth of the beam + hooks when you measure the piece. Then, sit at the bar to see how it "feels"...sit for more than a moment. Also, sit at the bar and try to visit w/someone working in the kitchen and someone standing next to the bar (on the kitchen side) to see how that feels.

If you're only talking about 3 or 4 pots & pans & they're space out pretty far apart, it will probably be OK, but if there are many more that, I would hesitate to do it.

Regarding the Super Susan, that's where we stored all our pots & pans in our old kitchen and it worked very well. Both Super Susans and Lazy Susans (w/a pole down the center) hold a lot! Yes, I do like our pot & pan drawers under our cooktop...but that's b/c we now have plenty of storage in our kitchen. If I was short on storage I would probably still use a Susan of some sort (I would have to nix the Pet Center, but if I had to, I would.)

There seems to be a "jog" in the wall next to the refrigerator...is there anything there? Even if there's a door or window, is there room around it to hang pots & pans. It's a little far from your range, but it might work. I still think the susan would be better, but if you like to have your pots/pans hanging out and could really use the storage it would free up, then it's a viable option.

Can't use the jog its a exterior door to the hall way (gotta love condos)

I will probably use the super susan to do it. if we can get all the pot/pans in there we will still have added allot of cabinet space for other things.

BTW....what size/type refrigerator are you planning? Counter-depth? Standard depth? SxS? Bottom Freezer w/FD? Other?

How wide, tall, & deep is the refrigerator alcove? Is it at least 36" wide if the alcove is no more deeper than 24" or so? If it's deeper than 24" or so, is it at least 42" deep? Is it at least 72" high>?

I'm asking b/c...

(1) I want to be sure you have enough room to open the refrigerator door(s) fully. If the alcove is so deep that it's deeper than the refrigerator's carcass/box, then you will need some filler b/w the wall & refrigerator to allow the door(s) to open fully (well past 90 degrees). In this situation, 4" to 6" is probably enough. You could install a 4" broom closet b/w the wall & refrigerator if you need extra space. (It doesn't have to be a broom closet...it could have peg board to allow you to hang various things.)

(2) Refrigerators are starting to standardize on a 36" width & 72" height so you should plan for the future. It's getting more & more difficult to find a refrigerator narrower & shorter than 36"x72".

Finally, is the cabinet above the refrigerator full-depth? If you aren't already doing so, have the room, & it's not too late, I recommend "building in" the refrigerator. It looks more finished when it's built-in. To build-in the refrigerator, put a 3/4" or so finished end panel on the side of the refrigerator that is not against the wall. The panel should be as deep as the refrigerator carcass/box sticks out from the back wall. Then, b/w the wall and end panel above the refrigerator, mount either a full-depth "over the refrigerator cabinet" or pull a standard-depth cabinet forward so it looks full-depth.

Here is a link that might be useful: 4'' Broom Closet from Ikeafans

We also stored our pots and pans in the super susan before our remodel and it held them all quite easily. I must say, you were brave to buy your condo with that kitchen! Your new one looks great so far and I LOVE the floor.

As long as you don't plan on keeping too many of them up there, and also, as long as the bar is counter height and the pots are above eye level, I think you could probably get away with hanging your favorites over the bar. Compromises must be made with smallish kitchens, and it'd be sort of like pendants. Different for me than upper cabinets, because of the ability to see through and they're not 12" deep. But it's good advice, for sure, to try to mock it up and see what you think.

I am the last person on Earth anyone would want chiming in about function/storage/layouts but I LOVE that floor!

Okay, I'll take a shot anyway.... I think pot racks are almost always charming but much less so when you have to bob and weave to carry on a conversation from the other side of it. Of course, you can always hang it a bit high to avoid that.
Do you happen to have any available wall space at all? I'm thinking about one of those flat against the wall pot racks with a shelf above it, like this but smaller:

[eclectic kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/eclectic-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2104)

Or like this

[traditional kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by san francisco architect Burton Architecture

I love this idea

[home design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/home-design-ideas-phbr0-bp~)

Great job so far!

Sadly we can not make the fridge built in. The appliances in the condo were about 30 years old. Everything was bought for us upon closing last year. the fridge is a Maytag MBF1958WEB its 66 15/16 inches tall and 29 5/8 wide. with the new kitchen we made space for a 35 inch fridge for the future but this one was brand new with the plastic still on it when we moved in, its not a bad little fridge.

The fridge does come out form the cabinets but even if we wanted to make it look built in I think the kitchen is to narrow for that.

The pot rack on the wall I don't think is going to work because the only open wall will now only be where the door need space to open so no go there. I do like the idea of hanging maybe 4 pans above the bar and the rest in the Susan for more space and a little bit of fashion touch.

As for the little broom closet what a great idea but we also don't have space for that. I think our kitchen may be 13 feet long by 7 feet wide. We have been making die with what we can in such a small kitchen. We bought the condo for about 60k under the appraised value and being young (Im 25 my wife is 23) we think we got a great deal. Better to own then rent!

We have a feeling a lot of people were scared away by the bad kitchen and avocado green bathroom (our next project).

will post more pics of the kitchen on Friday when the breakfast bar will be all finished and the granite is installed. On tap for next week is the backslash with our twist to it.

I'll keep you all up to date.

I think you must have a typo..... All new fridges are 36 inches wide not 35 inches wide. In our old kitchen, there was only 35 or so inches of space left for fridg. When the fridg died, we were limited by the space. We could NOT fit a standard 36 inch refridgerator. We had to buy a rather ugly frig to tie us over for 10 years!

your right its 36

Is there any way to put storage under the breakfast bar rather than just a pony wall?

Ooh, I like houseful's idea! It looks like your pony wall hasn't been built yet. You could even do open shelves for them to save on cabinetry costs. If that doesn't work... I had planned for pot/pan storage elsewhere but in the end it didn't work out (drawers, inset style, too shallow) so mine are on my Susan which is almost right next to the stove. Works well. The advantage of open shelves is not having to open a door to get a heavy pot out. If you do use the Susan, make sure the door is hinged so that it opens on the stove side. (Mine is hinged to open away from the stove because I had planned to use that space otherwise; a minor inconvenience, but something to keep in mind.)