There is a ton you can do but so much depends on your family, how you cook, age of kids, budget (etc). Do you need/use/want a formal dining room or could that wall be opend up? Are you budgetting for all new appliances? We would love to help but need more info

That is a nice space - interesting kidney shape, reasonably roomy, lots of great light. I expect the forum will have fun with this. (You might too, even.)

Can you tell us more about what you want, like, dislike, and are trying to fix? Do you find too many people trying to cook at once in the available space? Too many people just trying to mill around with wineglasses in their idle hands? Not enough counter space for big baking project? Too few burners? Nowhere to put dishes? Trying to yell a conversation around the corner, from the sink to the breakfast table?

Essentially, what is wrong with this kitchen - for you and your family? (Other than the single oven.)

To help the diagnosis, you might read the ''New to . . .'' thread as there are some ''self-tests'' that are quite useful.

In the meantime, linked below is another kitchen with a kidney shape and a lot of light, which blends the cooking function into the seating area. (That kitchen has a unique style which sent the thread in some interesting directions, but ignore that.)

Here is a link that might be useful: Another Kidney Shaped Kitchen

wow:really love the windows above sink and door with windows adjacent in dinette area. The views and light make a great, inviting feature. You can concentrate on the looks primarily..is that what you think? Swap the oak cabinets?? Do you have a look in mind?

I'm curious as well about what you don't like. If it's just cosmetic update and the desire for a second oven, that easy within your existing layout. I don't know that I would be quick to give up my laundry room. I think your space is great with lots of wonderful light and inviting outdoor view.

johnliu, that was a fascinating link I had not seen.

Sorry, guess y'all can't read my mind! haha

The house was built in the 80's...on concrete slab (if that matters) Our children are grown. They, our grandchildren and our friends visit often. Just had a family get together with 25 people and guess where everyone wanted to be? DH and I often try to work around the cooktop at the same time and the set-up is not good for that.

I love the sink wall and being able to look out into the
yard. Never quite liked the look of the oven/refrigerator wall for some reason and don't like being able to see the refrigerator from the living room (is that dumb or what?)

Wish an island would work instead of the pennisula for better flow in the room. People do sit there to eat and to visit and I like that aspect.

I love to bake but there just doesn't seem to be much counter/prep space. The wall separating the kitchen and the smallish dining room is load bearing but I have no objection to opening it up.

The garage is large enough to bump the laundry area out.

I will get new appliances but the gas cooktop is fairly new and I like it.

I like the pantry but it could be moved.

Hate, hate, hate the floors which run from the front door through the kitchen area.

Probably the furrdowns should go but I kinda like the idea of putting fake doors there like I've seen some of you do. Of course, more storage space would be nice.

I guess updating would be easy enough, but I feel it would also be a good time to make other changes. I just cannot figure out what and how to do it.

We are very casual people and I cannot really identify my "style". I like French Country. I love the idea of white cabinets, black countertops, wood floors and maybe some brick behind the stove (like Paula Deen's,) but DH likes wood and thinks I will be sorry to have painted cabinets.

Whew!! That's all I can think of right now. I would be grateful for any suggestions.

Thanks, that helps a lot.

Your biggest gripe seems to be the floors. I totally agree, and would replace them with wood in a heartbeat. On slab, you're pretty much stuck with engineered though I know one quality installer that is comfortable doing solid glue down with proper water treatment. I don't know that I'd chance it, but talk with several of your local companies since you're interested in wood. I'd try to persuade DH to enjoy wood below and let you enjoy white cabinets above. I warn you, if you have to have those tiles chiseled out you will be eating grit between your teeth for a bit. Ask me how I know, but it will be worth it!

Unless you plan to forego the formal DR, I don't see much purpose in installing a header and opening that wall.

Moving your WD to the garage is great, but you must not be in a place with extreme heat or humidity or must have or plan to have a conditioned space.
Let's go with the option of taking over the laundry and incorporating that into the kitchen just as an option.

First thought that comes to mind is you can use the rear wall for your DO and refrigerator so you avoid the aggravation of seeing your RF from the LR. I'm sure others will play around with the floorplan to provide an island and possibly keep the peninsula as clear working space. If you can relocate the cooktop to the island, it will allow you and DH to be on opposite sides to work your culinary magic.

That's a start, but it's late so I'm off to bed. Happy planning!

I can see an L shaped kitchen using the sink wall and long 13 ft wall...then design an island (with cooktop on it?) in that open area. With a slightly smaller island, can still have the table with chairs at the nook end. Or eliminate the table, construct a much larger island with a curvilinear end section,[near those windows] that has seating.I would aim to change the angled peninsula feature....doesn't do justice to your great space.

abundantblessings, I hear you about chiseling up the tile...know it will be a huge mess! Incorporating the laundry room is probably a good option. Herbflavor, I don't quite understand your island with a curvilinear end section idea but it sounds interesting. johnliu, thanks for the kitchen link. It's a little too cluttered for me, but I'm sure it works for the owner.

What is in the corner space behind the pantry and behind the utility room? Can it also be taken into the kitchen?
If you were to take out the utility room and the pantry would your space then be about 23' x 21'?
Do you still want a dedicated eating area with table and chairs in the kitchen area? Sounds like you might need it with family dinners and if so how many seats. Do you want island seating as well?
When you have family dinners are others trying to cook as well and so would a prep sink be useful? Would it be useful anyway?
Does the gas hook-up have to stay where it is or can it be moved?
Where do you want to be prepping on a daily basis and for family dinners.
We have large family dinners (25-30) and it was important for me to be in the middle of everything rather than away from the action. That drove our entire floorplan and the installation of a prep sink.
Can the soffits and sunshine ceiling light be removed? Just asking on that!

Since you're open to a total gut, I wonder if you'd be open to bring part of the covered porch inside? If you extended the kitchen over to about where you have the 6'4" measurement mark on the porch, it would open up many more possibilities for your layout, with island seating and a very nice flow. Just an idea...

"you must be out of your mind" is probably the first thing that will occur to you.

Its very expensive - one wall that might be structural, moving the laundry and the porch exterior wall as holligator suggested. Add on the plumbing costs for the laundry and for a prep sink, and its getting up there!

The drawing is not well to scale either. Insult to injury that. The space ends up being about 15' x 23'.

This drawing separates cleanup and cooking within a very open kitchen. I added another window just like your existing window and you should be able to see out both. One thing to consider in this or any island design is that you will spend most of your time facing the island instead of the cleanup sink. This design keeps your window views from two sides of the island and you work facing your company a good deal of the time.

You could connect up the counters on the north window wall if you wanted to - it would yield more storage. Looking out your windows, the views inspired an very open feeling kitchen - if it were for me, I would consider increasing the vertical size of the windows by growing them downwards. If you cook out back a lot, one could become a door.

The dining room arrangement is just for fun - you could easily keep your existing furniture and probably its layout. Taking down the wall gives you a way to run a very long table on those occasions where you want to seat a crowd.

So treat as a collection of ideas rather than a finished layout. Sketched to scale - some of the runs can end up being longer than they appear.

Also wanted to mention that because the space ends up being 15' wide, it needs more care than I can do in a sketch about sizing the island and in calculating how much seating you can have and where it would be. This is partly because three sides have work surfaces and partly because you may need "stub walls" here or there.

Depending on your feelings about aisles, you could have 25" on all three sides for cabinets, 36" between range/island, 42" between fridge run/island and 42" behind cleanup sink leaving an island counter that is about 46" deep and anything up to about 12 feet wide - much bigger than the little guy drawn. If you don't normally do dishes while entertaining, you could reduce the depth of the island, but widen the cleanup aisle and place seating on that side.

holligator, I had thought about enclosing the porch but am afraid it will mess up the looks of the back of the house since the porch goes all across the back. When I get home tonight I'll take a picture to show you what I mean. Maybe you will have an idea about how to do it.
blfenton, the space behind the pantry is our heating unit and hot water tank in the garage. I don't think all that can be moved. I had thought about using the approx. 5' of the utility even with the back of the pantry for the kitchen but don't know if that would really accomplish anything. What do you think?
And, yes, the lighting must go. I do like to have the eating area and since most of the time it's just the two of us, four chairs is fine. If an island can be configured, I'd like seating there, too. The gas hookup can be moved I believe. I like everybody around when I'm cooking, but don't like them in the way...if that makes sense. I think a prep area would be useful but I've never had one so can't say for sure.
The irregular shape of the space is what just stumps me! I believe my problem is that I've looked at this for so long that I can't really see anything different. I know all the great minds here will have some fresh and unique ideas.
thanks...Rae

bemorepanic, WOW...I will try to "digest" and get back with you...

bemorepanic, that's a wonderful solution but may be more costly than they want to spend. I'd wait for onerae's response, but I'm curious why you didn't move the laundry instead of pushing out the wall as I'd think that would be far less expensive. I don't know where onerae was planning to install the WD, but I would think it would be directly on the opposite wall so minimal plumbing expense. If you're just escaping the heat and don't mind playing around with the irregular floor plan, I'd love to see your creativity at work again.

Here's another for you to consider:

{{gwi:1937156}}

This plan is not drawn to scale so I provided measurements as best as I could (had to guess in a few places). Measurements are counter to counter, assuming a 1.5" overhang, not cabinet to cabinet. Red boxes are upper cabinets. The thick red line in the laundry room above the sink is a clothes pole for your drip dry.

I moved two walls - pantry and laundry room - but otherwise I didn't bump into any adjoining spaces, which should save you money. You will incur plumbing costs, which can add up on a slab floor, but I kept the new locations close to current plumbing lines to keep costs down. You'll also incur costs for moving the gas line and venting since I moved the cook top to the opposite wall.

So let me walk you through this, starting at the laundry room.

I reduced the width of your laundry room by about half and moved the door entry to open at the corner. This lay-out will only work if you go with stacking front load W/D. That said, you could make it work with side by sides but you lose functional space. Here's how that would play out. Move the door to the bottom of the wall, next to the garage. From left to right: 30" cab w/ sink, washer, dryer. You'd need 7'2" of interior space at a minimum (depends on width of machines). btw, I have stacking front load W/D and *love* them. So much easier on my back to do laundry and much more space efficient. Check depth of new machines to make sure I allowed enough space to stand in front of them. Some of the largest machines can be as much as 36" deep. If you went with a pocket door instead of a swing door, you wouldn't have to worry about being hit by a swinging door when standing at the machines.

Stealing space from the laundry room allowed me to move the pantry, tucking it behind the fridge, which gets it out of view from the LR. I allowed 30" of space for the pantry doorway, 40" for fridge cab, 30" for oven cab. That allowed me to put a 36" corner Susan in the corner. You will likely need to adjust these dimensions based on cab construction (face frame vs. frameless) requirements.

The space between the ovens and the cook top makes an ideal baking center. You could even add an appliance garage for your mixer and other items next to the ovens. That's one way to use up an otherwise

You can add a MW on a shelf above the counter between cook top and ovens or opt for a MW drawer in the island.

The cook top is roughly centered on the back wall, making it a feature of your kitchen with plenty of prep areas - to the left, right and on the island - for when company comes over.

I kept your sink wall as is since you enjoy looking out into your garden.

The island is 38.5" wide at the narrow end, 40.5" wide at the overhang. Its length varies depending on how much aisle space you want. 42" will likely be sufficient for you two but you may wish for 48" aisles when you have company. 42" aisles at each end of the island net you a 90" long island; 48" aisles result in a 78" long island. At either size, you'll only have room for 2 seats at the island (allow minimum of 24" width per seat). The little (poorly drawn) jog in the counter is to allow for sufficient overhang - 15" - for legs. Without this, you'd only have 13", which could work but is less than recommended for seats at 36" high counters.

One last thing. You could steal even more space from the laundry room if you went with a closet-type installation as opposed to a laundry room. This really reduces your drip dry space and storage, though, so you'd have to decide if that's worth the trade-off.

Wow, very interesting...I'll need to digest this. I'm curious why you moved the dishwasher to the left of the sink?

thanks,
Rae

So that, when opened, it doesn't block access to cabinets as it does now in its current location. If you're okay with not centering the sink under the bank of windows, you could shift the sink towards the range wall, which would allow wider drawers to the left of the DW to house silverware and dishes. Glasses and mugs could go in the cabinet above the DW. That way all the items you need for setting the table are in one location and fairly close to the table.

I forgot to add that cabinet dimensions for fridge and ovens will also depend on appliance specs. Some 30" ovens can go in 30" cabinets but other manufacturers spec wider cabinets.

When you wrote that the laundry could move into the garage, did you mean that the laundry room wall could jut into the garage or that you'd move the laundry room - or just the W/D sans room - into the garage? That's not quite clear to me. If you can move the wall, usurping some garage space, you'd have more options for laundry room lay-out even while giving up another 1' of space to the pantry/fridge/oven wall. One idea: stacking W/D on bottom wall and a long run of cabs, counter and sink in the top corner on the long wall against the pantry.

btw, your use of "digest" is totally appropriate for reviewing kitchen plan proposals. ;-)

I like the ideas you've gotten so far, but if you want to do less adding on...maybe just redesign the pantry and try something like this. If you want to open the dining room up more to the kitchen, maybe try something like the peninsula with a couple of stools. If not, end the counter at the wall and put a small table and chairs, in front of the windows. Less table space, but much more counter space.

Here you have the clean up (main) sink and dishwasher where they are now and the 36" cooktop goes on the other wall, with double ovens at the end. Then the larger corner pantry. On the wall, opposite the big windows, the fridge, microwave (undercounter?) and prep sink.

When I saw your kitchen, I thought of this remodel by Candice Olson. This is a Youtube link to a short version (just before and after) of that kitchen. You may open up your kitchen to the dining room (not family room) but the main thing is the way Candice wraps the counters around the space. I also like her message board on the side of the fridge and the focal point cooktop and hood. Hope this gives you some ideas :)

{{gwi:1937157}}

Here is a link that might be useful: Candice Olson kitchen remodel

I like Lisa's mock-up and addresses most of your stated wishes for an island, relocated RF, Do and a switch on the cooktop will give you a wonderful long prep run where she has the cooktop. I'd place the cooktop on the island because I like to cook looking out and don't quite understand why looking at the wall makes others happy. I also think the island location will help with you and DH working at the same time as that has been a problem for you.

Removing the fluorescent box is a given. Dimmable recessed lighting will give wonderful light, along with under and upper cabinet lighting.

Stackables in the laundry are fine as you can get full-size these days, but I'd not reduce to a closet. Lived with that in a condo and while far preferable to the trek to common area laundry, but you really want space to sort and fold.

I was going to suggest something similar to lisa's, but instead of reconfiguring the utility room, simply square off the pantry and put the fridge next to it with a bit of landing space.

LL, bumping the pantry into that alcove is a great idea but when blfenton asked about that possibility earlier, the OP replied, "...the space behind the pantry is our heating unit and hot water tank in the garage. I don't think all that can be moved." That would be a costly relocation (a friend looked into this for her remodel).

marcolo, I thought about squaring off the pantry. Wonder if we're on the same wavelength. Do you mean at the left side, making it a big square with the fridge facing the window - which would reduce the island length by at least 2 feet (and one seat)? Or do you mean square it off at the right side, reducing pantry size with the fridge facing the DR? Or are you talking about a G configuration, no peninsula, no island? Where would you put the ovens?

Abundantblessings, you're right, the island is long enough to put the cook top there. There would be 21" to 27" on each side of a 36" cook top. However, I'm hesitant because there's only 15" between cook top and anyone seated at the counter. Plates and glasses would be butted up against the cook top. But if the overhang were stretched from 15" to 24" ... well, that is a possibility. Would you move the prep sink to the perimeter or ditch it altogether? It's a long walk from fridge to sink plus the island ends up being a barrier island.

onerae, if placing the cook top on the island interests you, factor in more $$ for island venting - it's more expensive than perimeter venting.

I'd prefer having a deeper walk-in pantry as it works better so would opt not to square it off.

To gain a little more distance from the island cooktop, you could bow out the seating but that defeats onerae & DH using it at the same time when necessary. I have an island cooktop with marcolo's dreaded stadium peninsula housing the main sink.

Onerae anticipated people chatting while the cooks are whipping up large family meals. In reality, I think by the time meals are served the cooking is usually done so the risk of hot splashes should be mitigated. A baby grand island shape would solve that problem and promote conversation amongst diners. The bow of the grand would be approximately in front of the pantry door with the cooktop near what's shown as the prep sink. The cooktop needs only 5" or so clearance on the sink side. While I love to entertain and consider that in my plans, I design my kitchen for my everyday enjoyment. Onerae will have to decide if she wants to look toward the nook and provide for DH simultaneously with an island cooktop or keep the cooktop facing the wall.

I'm not big on prep sinks but a good spot if she wants one is on the return from the DO/RF about where the top of the white-out T.

lisa, are you sure the squared pantry with a fridge next to it shortens the island that much? You've obviously put more work into guesstimating the unmarked measurements.

Marcolo, if I'm doing the math correctly, yes. I estimate that the kitchen from sink wall to laundry wall is 202". To get this figure, I added 6'4" (the sink wall bump out should be the same measurement as the covered porch measurement) to 10'6" (nook dimension). Subtract 166" (13'10", the dimension of the right wall) from that and you get 36", which is how far the corner pantry extends into the kitchen. So actually, squaring the corner off and putting the fridge to its left would take more than 2' from the island. The island would end up measuring 42" with 48" aisles and 54" with 42" aisles. (abundantblessings, by squared off, we mean making the pantry 6' by 5' not 6' x 2')

abundantblessings, I don't follow what you mean by "you could bow out the seating but that defeats onerae & DH using it at the same time when necessary." Do you mean using the island cook top from both sides? That does not allow for the minimum clearances recommended by NKBA. And I disagree that 5" is enough clearance on one side (it's also less than NKBA's clearance recs). There is too much chance that a pot handle would hang over the counter edge and get bumped. The OP wrote that this kitchen fills up with many people so I think adequate safety clearances around a cook top is a good idea.

Additionally, onerae mentioned grandkids. I assume they'll want to sit at the island. I remember when my kids and their cousins were little and sat in the bar stools at my mom's peninsula. Let me rephrase that; they didn't sit, they knelt on the stools and leaned way over the counter to better see what grandma was doing. 15" does not allow enough safety clearance between little ones and hot pots, IMO.

btw, more time is spent prepping for a meal than cooking it so having prep space on the island would allow for more interaction with company than prepping on the perimeter counter would.

Somewhere along the way I seem to have missed marcolo's comments about "dreaded stadium peninsula." I've no idea what this is.

Lisa, many thanks for your explanations. In situ, things vary from standards, but I totally agree it's a worthy goal to adhere whenever possible. By bowing I meant create a simple arched or bowed front as onerae complained about the current setup when she and DH work together. If she meant he's at the sink, that's one thing, but I thought she meant both cooking. For some that's a benefit in favor of cooktop island placement, but those islands are without seating unless you have a creative baby grand or some odd shape that removes the seats from the immediate cooktop area. I also think cooking styles vary as some may prep longer and some may simmer, stir, saute etc a lot while cooking. I'm the latter, though I also prep looking out. I like to look out, interact, watch tv, see nature etc while I'm at the stove. Others don't.

I hesitate to speak for marcolo, but since I used the term I think the stadium seating marcolo dislikes is raised bar straight line seating. I totally agree with him that that setup is not conducive to dinner conversation, and Lord knows we need to promote healthy family interaction. To achieve this, it's helpful to design an island or peninsula so that people can sit across from each other, see facial expressions and interact. This is especially important for those considering removing the family table and just going with fixed cabinetry seating. I my case, I have a formal DR and kitchen nook dining table, so the raised bar seating accomplishes a couple of my goals: hiding the mess until clean up as I don't like looking at a less than pristine kitchen but usually don't clean up before dinner unless we have company, and it keeps people out of my working space as I prefer cooking without assistance.

Understand about the squared off pantry. I wasn't sure if it referred to the original layout. You've been very helpful with providing assistance to many GWers. Thanks!

I am really liking lisa_a's layout. If it wouldn't be to expensive with the plumbing on the slab, I would suggest moving the prep sink to the other end of the island so that triangle would be shortened up and water is more accessible to that end of the kitchen. I would also add a window to the right and left of the cooktop, which is a really nice look and alleviates a "wall of cabinets" feeling. I would do anything to avoid being limited to a stacked W/D, so in the utility room I'd cramp them both on that right wall even if it means you end up with a dead corner, or would separate them to the ends of each counter run and locate the sink in the middle somewhere.

Lisa_a, for the laundry room, I meant an extension of the room could be built in the garage as we do have the space there. I would prefer to have a little more space than a closet for the laundry room.

I'll have to think about whether to have the cooktop on the wall or the island, and consider some of the costs as well. (Actually, when we cook DH and I stand side by side...he's using one side of the cooktop and I'm using the other...or I'm reaching over him...haha.) I had to laugh when you mentioned grandkids sitting on their knees on the bar stools because that's exactly what mine do!

Plus, Marcolo, I know DH and I need to get all our dimensions correct.

Lavender lass,I really like the Candice Olsen link...some really unique ideas there. I've got to look at your drawing a little more, but don't believe the pantry will work as drawn in the furnace spot...unless I'm looking at it wrong. I kinda like opening up the dining room...and you are suggesting that area for the table and chairs, right? It is a little redundant having a table in the dining room and one on the next wall in the kitchen, I guess. Also, notice you drew on the door to the back porch. What is your idea for that?

Abundantblessings, I've got to draw out the baby grand idea...I can't get it pictured in my brain!

Bemorepanic, you probably "shot me out of the water" what with moving windows, etc., but still some interesting ideas there.

It was raining last evening (halleluiah!!) so I couldn't take any pictures of the back of our house. I'll do that this weekend as someone might have a wonderful idea on how to enclose part of the porch and still maintain the integrity of the house.

Sorry y'all, I don't understand the stadium peninsula either.

I am overwhelmed and humbled with everyone's willingness to help a total stranger. The options you have given me are FABULOUS! You can't imagine how excited I am to have some fresh ideas. This weekend I will do more "digesting", but right now if I don't get to work I won't be able to afford to do anything!!!hahaha....

thanks...Rae

You're welcome, abundantblessings. ;-) And thanks for explaining stadium seating. I agree, seats in a row are not conducive to conversation although I don't think two seats are as big an issue as multiple seats.

Oh, good idea, tracie.erin to add windows on each side of the cook top. I love that look.

I'm not sure there's a way to go with side by side W/D and have a sink in a 6' x 6' laundry room. I did try that scenario but I couldn't get the numbers to work without giving up sufficient room for someone to stand near the machines or sink. Now if the room can be pushed into the garage 2' or more feet, that's another story. W/D could be on one wall, sink and drip dry space on the opposite wall, with the door centered on the wall from the hallway.

Oh, wait, I figured out a way to do side by side W/D with sink but it would require bumping a sink alcove into the pantry, eating into pantry space. Not the best solution, IMO.

Sorry I didn't do better with explaining.

You can design an eating counter to be table height or bar stool height. I think the straight line bar stool height is what is referred to as marcolo's objection. It makes those seated at the counter look ahead not at each other and peer down into the area below. Definitely not as good for personal interaction if that's the only seating option for dining.

A more ideal arrangement would be to structure your seating options, either height IMO, so people look at and talk with each other while eating, not sitting in a stadium so to speak. As I said above, the bar seating works in my space for my needs as it's not really used for eating, but I totally agree with marcolo's point.

Glad you got rain!

"Glad you got rain!" I got rain? Our summer has been cooler and rainier than usual (I'm in the PNW) but we haven't had rain lately. I think you might have me confused with someone else. ;-)

Hi Lisa, you probably crossposted with oneraie's response. Expanded stadium explanation and comment was directed to onerae to celebrate her rain as evidently she's either in drought or scorcher land.

In her last note she referred to the possibility of the laundry extending into the garage. I interpret that to mean just a bump out from the existing room, but I may be wrong. I can't know her priorities, but I'd be inclined to see where the budget fell in the main house and then decide on the laundry configuration. Given constraints, I'd opt for your full size stackables which many high to med brands can provide and keep the sink. Front loading stackables today can be great, especially if the washer has the pull down over the door. I think it's actually is easier on the back of an average or taller height person to have a top stacked dryer to load and unload. Optimally, I would not prefer a laundry closet, but could easily live with a small, workable space. But in the grand scheme, even a closet laundry works, and I happily enjoyed having one in a high-rise.

Enjoy the beautiful PNW!

You're right, abundant, I did cross-post with onerae so I missed her comments. Mystery solved. ;-)

Onerae, initially I thought you wrote that you wanted to keep the wall between DR and kitchen but now it sounds like you're open to opening that up. That gives you more possibilities but you'd need to think about seating. Will you want all counter seating for casual day-to-day eating? Or would you want a table and chairs - or possibly a banquette? How many seats would you need for day to day and how many for formal/family gatherings? We can throw ideas out but unless we know what your wishes and needs are, we'd be wasting your time and ours.

Thanks for clarifying how the laundry room can work! Bumping that wall into the garage certainly will make it easier to give you a nicely proportioned laundry room.

Onerae- Sorry, I missed the part about not being able to change the pantry layout.

Here's one more idea, with the utility room bumped into the garage. This would give you room for the fridge and double ovens, recessed into the back wall. I kept the pantry 'as is' but took out the peninsula and made a much bigger island.

I think you're right, if you open up the kitchen to the dining room, you don't really need two tables, next to each other. This way you have plenty of room for clean up and cooking, in the original kitchen space. The big island could be used for prep and baking...I think that would be fun with the grandkids. This way you can see outdoors, when you're working at the island and still have easy access to the porch.

The prep sink will make it easier to prep on the island and the microwave could go in several places. Do you use it mostly, near the fridge? I'd think about an undercounter microwave and decide if you want it between the fridge and oven, or in the island.

The cooktop will be a great focal point and there's plenty of room to have two people cooking. If you think the fridge is too far away, you can always switch it with the ovens, but I just placed it closest to the living room/porch.

I'm glad you like the Candice Olson link...and with a big island, you could do the two tone look she has in that kitchen. It might be fun to jazz things up a bit, in your new space :)

{{gwi:1937158}}