It's a little hard for me to read the small print, but I love the space on both sides of your range in the first plan. Your fridge is far from your range. Would you consider putting fridge drawers near your range?

what if on that side wall you did(starting south and moving up) a 30/36" frig, 30" oven/micro, 30/36" freezer. I really like the double island layout. Reminds me of momto4kids' layout. I would probably make that prep sink alot bigger so you could clean pots in there. I don't think you'd want to be carrying them all the way to the clean up sink. You definitely have the space there.

Do you have a separate pantry area? I'm not sure how the exact #'s work out, but maybe you could do a pantry on the frig/freezer wall I suggested.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mom to 4 Kids

Can you move the range/cooktop onto the island -- would take some reconfiguring, but as is I think you'd be walking all over to get to various appliances. I think having the separate fridge and freezer on each end would be confusing. This is a tough one.

FWIW...I have frig and freezer columns and they are going to be separated. Not even on the same wall. RMkitchen also has her frig/freezer columns separated on either side of a doorway. I don't think it will be confusing.

Thanks for the responses. We do have a pantry which is nor pictured. Would def consider fridge or freezer drawers

I would suggest swapping the 48" frig and the ovens putting the frig closer to the cooktop. It would look like two towers to me to have them flank the range.

I'm going to have a different viewpoint. I think the amount of counter on each side of the range, especially with the island right across, is excessive in the plan with the 48" fridge. (I don't like counter that doesn't get used/isn't where it is needed, because it just collects stuff, or is just more to wipe dust off of. Every space should serve a purpose.) And that fridge is TOO far away from the prep sink and range. I would like to see 30-36" on either side of the range. If you'll really prep on the island, I think the 24" is doable.

thanks for the good points. it is a tough call.

right now we are leaning toward going with separate units on each side of the range for looks and since hope that the counter space on each side of the range will be enough. we also plan on using the island for prep.

the wall where the proposed 48" fridge will be cabinets and counter space without any addtional ovens except for a mw maybe.

we also plan on moving the veg sink to a corner of the island

I misunderstood the original post. I remember he had 24" before with fridge and freezer on each side, so I thought he was saying that Plan 1 had 36" on each side of the range. Silly me. I think 36" is great, that's how much I'll have too.

I like plan 2 better with the fridge and freezer on either side of the range. It places everything you need to cook or bake in that area of the kitchen. Functionally I think the 2' counters would work especially with that big island directly across, but visually I think the 3' fridge and freezer are too wide. With the 3" wide fridge and freezer and 4' range, the 2' counters are going to look tiny. If you can get away with 30" wide fridge and freezer that would give you 30" counter which would look more proportional.

I like plan 1, but with the frig and ovens swapped. That creates separate work zones for cook and baker and keeps the frig and freezer where children grabbing drinks or popsicles stay out of the cooks way.

I'm no expert, but just wanted to chime in and say that I would love to work in your plan 2 kitchen, with the fridge and freezer flanking the cooktop.

You've got the prep sink right there (agree that you should make it larger), plenty of counter space surrounding the stove, a large exxpanse of island to utilize, and the cooking zone is away from the cleaning zone...really nice.

My only two ?s/comments are: where's the microwave? and could you put a beverage center fridge in an undercabinet closer to the living areas.

(PS: I typed this yesterday, life interferred with GardenWeb, and I didn't hit the submit button...so I realize I'm a little late with my input but figured I must be meant to post since it waited on my computer for me for over 12 hours! : ) )

Best of luck! It's going to be beautiful!

Sandy

I agree with mom2lilenj - the 24" counter looks proportionately too small. 48" fridge is too far from prep/cooking zone. What about 30" fridge and freezers, and one (or two) fridge/freezer drawers nearer the outside island. I'm assuming there's another casual eating area in that direction...?