The cabinetry flanking the cooktop is the same size. Pictures would help.

I'm so sorry to hear of your troubles! But I don't understand why the countertops are being installed tomorrow when you're not happy with the way the cabinets look. Why aren't you putting the brakes on? Are you the boss, or is the builder the boss?

Short of ripping the whole thing out and starting over the only other thought that comes to mind is something my parents pointed out: The kitchen in the house we're getting ready to build is supposed to have a similar layout to yours. I am having placement issues with the double ovens & fridge primarily because the rangetop and hood are supposed to be centered and the main focal point (like yours). After many frustrating hours trying to make the kitchen layout work, I asked for help from my parents who just built their custom house a couple years ago (they designed the house and GC'd it themselves). They also have a similar kitchen layout to yours and mine. Dad pointed out that their rangetop and hood aren't centered--they're offset about 12 inches from the island and opening into the family room. I had never really noticed it and we're over there all the time! Mom said she had stressed over the offset placement during the whole build, but now that they're in, she doesn't even notice it and it doesn't bother her (and let me tell you, she is a symmetry freak). So I guesss what I'm saying is that it may seem like a big thing now, but in the long run after you're in and using it, you may not notice it (or at least not as much). Good luck to you!

The builder is the boss :) No honestly, they are moving to meet a deadline - my family of 5 is going to be homeless in 2 weeks. And I thought I was over-reacting, but once I pointed it out to my DH he is going nuts....It is only going to get worse once the 48 inch SS hood goes in. I attached more pic

Here is a link that might be useful: Rdas Kitchen

I don't think it looks bad. If the hood really bothered you, you could send it back and get a pair of 3" fillers and a 42" hood - the 48" one is a little large but only by 6 inches. You don't need the hood for the countertops.

I think it looks its worse right now there isn't any other finishes yet. After you add the counters, backsplash and your stuff, it'll be fine.

Is the island on top of the flooring or is the flooring installed around it? The aisles are nice, but could be narrower on one end if you wanted to scoot or lengthen/add to the island a bit so that it's more in front of the stove.

Based on the drawing, the range is centered on the wall. It's the island that's throwing off the symmetry. I think it will look fine once it's all finished.

The only thing you could change easily is to make the island smaller but I think then you'd have a new concern, an island that looks too small for the space!

What appears to have happened is this. The back run of counters is fairly well balanced on the back wall.

The cabinetry on the oven/fridge wall is partly in front of this, and as a result the island is centered between the base cabinets but not with the back elevation.

One way or the other something is going to end up not centered in that design unless the fridge/oven area was recessed or moved back. (Or the range off center on the back wall so it is centered on the island)

I like the back elevation, it is nicely balanced...I am not sure it will look bad when it is done.

Though it probably wouldn't have been my first choice, I'm not bothered by it at all. A bonus to the offcentering is that someone can work at the stove someone else can be at the island at the same time. I really sort of like it....

I think it looks fine. My island isn't centered on my cooktop either. I worried that it would bother me, but it really doesn't.

I think the back wall looks nicely balanced. My island is off center, but I think it will be fine.

Honestly, I think it looks better this way than if it were all centered. This way it has some character. It may look more "perfect" if centered, but I don't think that's necessarily a good thing. Too much symmetry is boring - like walking into a furniture store and buying all matching furniture. This layout will allow you to balance the room in a better way. I'm picturing a big kitchenaid mixer to the right of the range - or a massive fruit bowl on the right side of the island. Personally, I would have a much harder time accessorizing if it were all centered.

BTW, it is a stunning kitchen.

Everything looks worse when it's rough. To be honest, it bothered me more in the drawing than it does in the photos. You're going to be looking at so many other things by the time it is all in. I think it will be fine.

But you are the one who has to decide whether you are looking at pin heads now and will be okay later or if you will always be looking at this one pin head. If this is really going to drive you crazy and you don't think it's the emotion of rushing to complete a house, move and all that on top of the normal driving yourself crazy over every detail when building a kitchen -- then I'd not let one ounce of stone be fixed onto those cabinets. Maybe you can have them bring in the island top and just lay it in place. Then picture your appliances in and a few things on the counters.... Are you seeing a kitchen yet? Or just what you see as an un-centered range?

I agree -- the range is centered on the wall, but with the fridge in front of part of that wall, the island didn't center to the same place.

I'd be afraid that you could do more harm than good is you start hacking it up. You could turn the island 90 degrees, but then you have even wider aisles and lose function opposite the range -- unless you can make at least the top wider.

If there is flooring under the island? I can't tell how long it is but if there is flooring can you turn the island lengthwise and center the end on the range?

Thank you all so much for your thoughts...I think the thought that this may add a little character. Maybe I am so in the 'thick of it" that I am overreacting, but I think it is going to look a bit crazy once we put in a SS hood and 2 pendants (which will add even more symmetry). In the end if it really bothers me -- I can go with a wood hood that will blend a bit better? It just kills me that this is where I am! Thanks again for talking me off the ledge!

honestly.....I don't think it looks bad at all. It's not the back wall, it's the island. perhaps you could shorten it a bit to make it look more centered? But if it were my kitchen, I would not bother with it. It looks just fine!

I am a total rookie here but I agree with ccoombs - it is the island throwing it off. I would leave the wall cabinets alone and do something with the island if you felt like you just couldn't stand it. The cabinets are beautiful by the way and I think it will be fine when the appliances and countertops are in.

Poor Rdas. You're definitely so in the thick of it that you're overreacting. We've all been there to some degree or other. It really is not at all bad, just not the way you intended, and after this period of suffering through you'll end up wondering what you were so excited about. Actually, it's going to be a beautiful kitchen.

P.S., I do agree any change would probably best be addressed through the island if the floor goes under. In that case it's something that could be changed at any time if you still wished. Another possibility to at least check out might be the sight lines into the kitchen. A view can often be improved simply by shifting/widening/narrowing the doorway that creates it.

I don't think it is as bad as you think either, I think it is very aesthetic. Once you get it all in place you will not notice at all. IF it helps at all, mine is not centered either to my island.
Perhaps tone down the range backsplash for a more subdued look. The granite can have movement/ drama at the opposite end( near sink) to draw eye that way.

Thanks everyone. Yes, the floor goes under the island...there is no way to change the view in unless I make the entry more narrow, which would bother me more. It just kills me that the main view into our kitchen is off kilter. I think this is one of the character flaws I will have to accept, but I think it will consistently drive me nuts! Thanks all!

what is the cabinet to the right of the refrigerator being used for?

I'm not an expert at the amount of space that you need for isles, but could you have the top of the island cantilever out to the left a bit, perhaps 12 inches, looking like an intended spot for a stool or two at the island? Would this be enough room for the doors to the left to open? The island would look more centered.

I suppose you could add a bigger overhang to the island on the one side to try to balance it visually, with a couple of saddle stools underneath, but that would cut down your nice big aisle there. I'd rather keep the wide aisle, myself.

I would bet that once you get your countertops and accessories in place you won't notice it as much. It's going to be a really nice kitchen, those cabinets and the molding are beautiful!

Just want to share a picture of a friend's kitchen who has this same "issue" - it is gorgeous. And I didn't even notice the offcenteredness in hers until I read your thread and then went back and looked at her pics.

Here is a link that might be useful:

als6w,
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE PICTURE. It does help to see it 'in real life'. For now we are taking the wait and see approach -- we're installing everything and then all meeting to see how we feel about the layout -- which is code for "let's wait until this lunatic calms down" Granite goes in today and appliances next week -- I am keeping my fingers crossed that I am overreacting! Thank you again for the picture -- it does help!

MAHLGOLD - to the right of the fridge is a tall cabinet that sits on teh counter (not sure what they are called) and underneath is a beverage fridge. Any ideas?

Thanks!

I don't have a solution and I don't think it looks bad... I just wnated to point out that I agree with you - it IS the back wall that is off centered. The picture of the plan makes it look "balanced" and the range centered but it is not. The 183" that is notated on the backwall stops at the front of the corner. It looks to me that the counter along that wall actually runs 207" when you add the 24" for the cabinets around the corner. When you factor this in, the stove should have been moved over 12" to be centered on the wall and with the island.

Again, I don't think it looks bad to be off-centered, but if it bothers you I understand and I would do something about it.

my thought was if you were able to remove that cabinet, you could then add to the island. I was thinking a narrower and shallower cabinet that might still allow adequate clearance for the refrigerator. Sort of like you pushed a furniture piece up against the island. could be bookcase looking. it would be below counter height. I've seen this look numerous times but can't come across a pic at the moment.

other thought, can that wall of cabs with the frig drawers, frig and oven be moved down, doorway widened and island expanded?

One of the simplest ways to minimize the appearance of the offset, if it bothers you after all is said and done, would be to forego the pendants over the island and use a recessed or flush fixture.

Breathe...

I have a similar layout where my island (with cooktop and focal point copper hood) is not centered in front of my sink and window on the wall behind, OR with the wall-of-windows opposite. I tried for WEEKS (on paper) to find a way to line them up before finally admitting that the functional sacrifices that 8" move would necessitate just weren't worth it!

So we built off-center. And I rationalized it by saying the only way they'd actually look 'off center' is if you were standing right in the center line of one looking straight at the other - and THEN got picky! I figured that most of the time, you'd be standing or working slightly over to one side or the other, and the eye would assume they were centered and it was just the angle of the viewer.

And that's exactly how it plays out in real life.

So breathe! Don't worry, and if in doubt, take another look at the gorgeous kitchen Als6w posted. Many, MANY of the kitchens we see in real life are off-center or asymmetrical, and we just don't see it.

MT house,

You're right -- I cannot imagine that this person is a KD - there was NO reason to offset it. That is what kills me -- if there was a reason I would be okay, but it was just him not doing his job well in my opinion (and me not catching it)

I see a reason to not have it centered. You have a straighter shot from the range to the main fridge. You have more breathing room between the sink and range for lots of convienient prep space. And if you can't center then lining it up to the side of the island is a nice look too.

Like sweeby, if I centered my cooktop and hood, the workspace wasn't going to work the way I needed it to. My KD wanted to center it for symmetry, but she didn't argue the function. No one has ever commented on it -- other than the KD who walked in and said it didn't look bad as she had feared.

Kitchen are functional spaces, and when you get your appliances in, I think you will see that you look at them that way. And as you use it, I think you will find that the comment about having one person at the range and one at the cooktop working better will be true.

I would look at the pendants in front of the hood before you think about changing them for recessed. You may find that the vertical lines break both the stainless piece you are concerned about and create a feeling of balance against that split horizontal line.

I will just add that despite all the advice and opinions you have gotten - you should go with your gut. If the offcenteredness will drive you bonkers and you know it - fix it!

I actually prefer the off center. It seems a little weird to me to have it centered if I step back and really look. That said, I often see people put the stove in the center on a wall for a totally different reason. Many stoves are on a short wall so they get centered just to get a decent ctop on each side.

I don't think it'll look bad either... it looks like it was planned - to line up the range w/ the left end of the island.

it gives you easier access to the fridge and lots of room to the right for prep. you'll have plenty of room to prepare stuff!

if the hood looks to big tho - make them put in a smaller one w/fillers on each side.

and if it were me - i'd tell the builder (when done) that his demand to use his KD will cause you not to recommend him to any friends etc. maybe next time he'll rethink that.