It looks like a nice simple plan, and such as it is, I can't fault it. You may want to post with a more specific cabinet layout to get some more feedback on details.

Will there be another entrance to the porch so that guests or the one not cooking won't have to travel through the cooking space to reach that door? I'm hoping so...

This looks like you have plenty of workspace, and probably, storage, where it's needed. The 6 ft aisle would be too wide to be efficient for me. Have you considered 30" deep countertops? Deeper workspace and narrows the aisle a bit...Plus, plus.

Just some small things.

With a ten foot wide kitchen, really look at 30" deep counters. In a ten footer, the galley aisle is six feet wide and I think you'll be happier at five feet wide. The lowers are normally just padded out with lumber - you can do the same for uppers if you want to or the uppers can become a bit deeper. People who have them like them. The pantry would get a little deeper and you can use a regular ref and have it look built-in.

Maybe center the sink window in that wall?

I don't think the alcove is going to work well - it's kinda deep! I don't like crawling over stuff to clean other stuff. So I would prune the entire alcove a bit (make it less deep) or do a smaller curved bench around, say 3/5's of the walls, and use a round table, maybe on casters and with maybe a loose chair.

I'm echo-ing the other posters comment about aisle width. I have 5'8" between opposite counters, and have my stove and sink on opposite sides the same as you have drawn. Every time I go to drain a big pot of pasta or move something drippy from the stove to sink, I wish the distance were a foot closer.

I like your plan a lot, and the banquette with its windows looks like it'll makes that back corner a particularly special, nice place to be. My first thought was also to deepen at least one, or both counters for maximal works pace and to bring them closer together--a very nice thing to be able to do.

And I also agree with restying the banquette for grownups. Perhaps shortening it by the counter and running it right across the back (curving would be very nice). A round table (on wheels of course!), would serve you and your husband and also create an inviting place for guests to relax and chat. I'm imagining it accommodating a couple of pairs of older, stiffening up friends, or someone hobbling over in a long tight skirt when they're back in fashion. :)

In general, I am a fan of galley kitchens, although a long thin G style is good as well (it is basically a galley with a turn.)

Your plan is nice, efficient, and elegant. Anyone who has read my posts knows that I don't give out compliments very often.

A few things that I don't like is that the pantry is outside the real kitchen area, and there is the chance of opening up the fridge and hitting someone walking past; however, I don't think that these characteristics can be alleviated without a major change.

I also don't care for the side windows in the nook, unless they are very high (e.g., 5'), as I don't like windows behind a set, especially a thin nook seat. But if they are to be there, you should have 2 on the right side, with the lower one lined with with the one on the left side. The front window there is fantastic.

Thank you for the comments!

"Will there be another entrance to the porch so that guests or the one not cooking won't have to travel through the cooking space to reach that door? I'm hoping so..."

Well, the front door is just to other side of the pantry a few feet so, yes, I think that would be ok.

"The lowers are normally just padded out with lumber - you can do the same for uppers if you want to or the uppers can become a bit deeper. People who have them like them. The pantry would get a little deeper and you can use a regular ref and have it look built-in."

So, excuse my ignorance on the subject, but this would mean that would be six inches of lumber at the wall, and you would use the same cabinetry and just a six inch deeper countertop on each side? Is it hard to find the countertops that deep or is that pretty standard?

"Maybe center the sink window in that wall?"

Yes I like that, thank you.

"And I also agree with restying the banquette for grownups. Perhaps shortening it by the counter and running it right across the back (curving would be very nice). A round table (on wheels of course!), would serve you and your husband and also create an inviting place for guests to relax and chat. I'm imagining it accommodating a couple of pairs of older, stiffening up friends, or someone hobbling over in a long tight skirt when they're back in fashion. :)"

I am going to have to think about this. Let me say that this is going to be our only dining area, so I wanted to make sure we could fit six people on the off chance that every happened. (We have a very small family and do not "entertain", more than maybe a couple of people). So that being said, I like the idea of curving the seating around the back. Do you think I would be able to do that and still have enough room to seat people if ever necessary (even on the benches and pull up a chair or two if needed)? Hopefully, my friends will not be stiffening up anytime soon, but my parents might be!

"I also don't care for the side windows in the nook, unless they are very high (e.g., 5'), as I don't like windows behind a set, especially a thin nook seat. But if they are to be there, you should have 2 on the right side, with the lower one lined with with the one on the left side. The front window there is fantastic."

OK, I do think I want windows there, but the height/size etc is still all TBD. I will take under advisement.

I appreciate the help. Also, does anyone here or that you know of have Vetrazzo countertops? I think they look amazing in pictures, but have yet to see them in person. I know they must be quite $$.

Also, any ideas for the banquette would be appreciated. I have some guidelines for dimensions, etc. but I'm pretty open for what I want to do with the area.

And last, but not least, I was thinking of no upper cabinets on the sink side to keep it open around the windows. I guess I will just need to measure out how much space I have on the other side vs. what I have now and see if it is enough. Any thoughts on that?

Thanks again.

I was thinking if it would benefit you to place the frig on the other end of the run across from the nook and easy access from the porch.

To help clarify your thoughts on 30" counters. Yes, you just pad it out with lumber and add a panel on the ends to conceal. The countertops are no problem since you typically buy slabs of whatever or have laminate made/cut to fit your space. The only time it would be an issue is with prefab tops.

But I hope you understand that you won't need a solid 6" of lumber...The point is that the cabinets are installed to the floor and end walls 6" out and, in ours, we put a wooden cleat on the wall to support the deeper countertop back at the wall.

I'm thinking more along the lines of a leaf and some extra folding chairs - or even just a set of legs (from a thrift table with a bad top) and a piece of plywood to extend the table into the kitchen.

Getting six people to stand in an area 6x6 is a little challenging - to have them sit and fit a table is way tight. I think you'd be able to have six seats, but will hate it. People will be squashed into a minimal clearance when seated and there's something like a 66% chance that if someone needs to rise during the meal, at least two people will have to get up.

The only thought I have is to inquire about shedding off two feet on the right hand side - so the dining area became 6 x 8 or extend the other side.

If it were mine to do, I'd probably extend out and use up more of the tiny porch to the front. I'd put a real, but small table and chairs in the kitchen and maybe a comfy chair or tiny desk. I'd shop until I found a nice narrow piece or even two to function as baby islands - a flavor of which is shown below, but I'd probably tend more towards an unmatched vintage pair.

Without the desk, I could just fit seating for 12 when I wanted to (leaves are great). Dh and I would enjoy sitting there everyday. Whoever was prepping would be able to look out the windows and you could just see out to the deck from the range.
{{gwi:1927536}}

Here is a link that might be useful: More like this for baby island

Thank you bmorepanic. Just to clarify, I have never actually had six people eat in my house at one time, I'm just thinking of worst case scenario there, and I have been dreaming of a built in banquette for a long time now, so I think I am set on that.

The front porch extends about 6 feet in front of the front windows there, I just didn't show it in the picture crop. Sorry I was unclear about that!

Here I have redone with the 30" countertops and the U-shaped banquette, which I think could seat 5 pretty easily and pull up a chair to the end in a pinch.

I think banquettes are hard to get in and out - except for kids. older, stiffer or disabled (even slightly) have problems with them.

anytime someone needs up, others have to get up to let them out.

Being able to seat at least 6 would be my aim, too, Gooddogs. I'd design for that PLUS making it just as comfortable and inviting for everyday use as I could. I almost suggested a drop-leaf or a table whose leaves slide under instead before but didn't want to throw too much out. We had a couple of friends over just the other night for dinner at the drop-leaf gateleg table in the corner of the living room where we two eat normally; it seats 4 very generously and 6 comfortably.

If they'd brought their out-of-town guests, though, I was going to put on the dog by pulling the big cherry drop-leaf out from against the wall in our library/dining hall. I'm a big fan of their versatility.

Wheels for ease of cleaning.

Wheels? Fantastic! Do they make such an item?

I am sad to say we actually own a small dining room table, but we have eaten there maybe three times in the past 5 years. It just sits there and we eat on the couch...

So this latest version I have posted is 6' deep and 6'3" wide across the back. Does that seem roomy enough? And if I prefer a rectangular or square type of table, how big would you think that should be/expand to if needed?

Good morning. Our old, old pedestle table has its original old skinny wheels still. You can buy modern versions very easiliy on line, or at a big box store and have them mounted. They do add close to 2" in height at the least, so that has to be considered and adjusted for.

I think it'll do snugly but nicely, to me an argument for what I described as "an adult" version. A banquette table typically overlaps the seats by a few inches, of course, since the benches can't be scooched in after sitting down). The big thing to watch out for would be enough depth to the seats so that people could move in and relax without banging their backs on the windowsills.

Since it is fairly tight, for everyday comfort one layout you might consider would be a U seat that stops at the back of the counter, with an everyday table size of roughly 3x3 for the two of you or 3 people on the banquette and one at a chair pulled up. That table could open lengthwise to 3x6, snug but doable for 6 people. If you could curve the seats and table in an oval, it would probably be more accommodating for 6 and also for access.

Have you decided whether you like the idea of deepening one or more of the counters?

Forgot to mention--primary equipment for both our everyday dining spaces these empty-nest days is a TV--had to be included so they could compete with the couch. I also like its company over the fridge while I'm cooking. :)

Thank you Rosie. I get what you are picturing and I like that idea of having it at the back edge of the countertops for everyday use. I could always widen the space a little if need be--I can see I will have to do some careful planning here, but I will have help with that part of it. I was thinking of maybe having a back ledge the to booth part up against the bottom of the windows, maybe a 3-4 inches in depth.

I do like the counter deepening idea a lot, and that still leaves just over 5' of space in between, which I think will be ok. We have a cramped kitchen right now and I want to make sure I have enough room--no more 12 inch clearance between the island and the open dishwasher! I also read it makes it easier to clean behind the sink if there is a little more space back there.

Thank you for the suggestions!