In Option 3, the sink and stove are too close together, and when the DW is open, it will block access to the whole run of cabinets to the right of the fridge.

I like Option 7 better, but the dw location is still a problem, because if it needs to be open while someone cooks, the door will actually run into the cook...They'll try to occupy the same space. If you don't feel the need for the bar seating, I might eliminate the peninsula, shift the sink a bit to the left, and move the dw to the other side of the sink.

I think you could help yourself by drawing the plan to scale on something like graph paper, because right now the 30" oven is wider than the 36" fridge, and the dw, and maybe the sink are drawn wide, also.

You know, you could have an L-shaped kitchen, with an island, if you didn't put cabinets on that back wall. It might be a little tight, but 11'5" should give you enough space for a small island with stools.

This would also leave more room for the table and chairs in the dining room. I'm not sure you have space to get past the stools, to go outside, when someone is sitting there, in option 7. It looks pretty tight in the current photo.

Putting everything on graph paper would really help. If you look at kitchen option 3, switching the fridge and the stove, so the fridge is at the end closest to the dining area and the stove is centered on the wall to the bathroom, but leaving the sink and DW as is, which would give you a good work triangle and a nice island for prep and stools.

Depending on how much you like an open kitchen, and expense, you might take down the kitchen/living room wall, or at least open it up with some support posts (it's probably load bearing).

This would bring a lot more light into both spaces, let you talk to people in the living room and make the whole space feel much larger. I'm guessing you have a family room downstairs...for TV, games, etc. Just a thought :)

Here is a ''different'' layout.

This kitchen doesn't have much walking-around space. Instead, it has two aisles, one for cooking and prep, the other for washing up and prep.
- The main prep zone is the central peninsula. The prep sink is meant to be usable from either side, so that multiple people can prep.
- The cooking zone is close to the wall ovens as well as the prep sink. I am not sure if the rangetop would be better at the end of the counter, closer to the exterior wall.
- The washing-up zone is shielded from the dining area with a raised bar.
- The refrigerator is handy to the dining area.
- I didn't draw in any uppers or think through what gets stored where, microwave location, etc.

- Problem but fixable: the aisles are only 36'' assuming 25'' deep counters for cooking zone and washing up zone and 28'' deep central prep counter. If the boundary between kitchen and dining areas is flexible, the aisles could be wider.
- Problem or feature: the aisles are dead-ends. I actually like this because the cooking and prep don't take place in traffic, assuming your dinner guests aren't total nimrods they should stay out of your way. But not everyone cares that much about this aspect.
- Problem or feature: the design is odd. I sort of like the progression of short-medium-long counters as viewed from the dining area. But it is odd.

I had to guess at some dimensions. I'm not sure that pinch point by the wall ovens actually exists.

Viewed from dining area:

Top view:

You've probably been looking at other posts, but this one is really nice and was started by a gal that also wanted a U-shape kitchen and is now thinking about an island.

With a small child, and possibly another later on, an open kitchen makes a lot of sense. If you don't want to take down the wall between the kitchen and living room, maybe a half wall between two posts? Just a thought :)

The other thing to consider with option 7, with no island and no counter space on the back wall, you have no "landing space" by the oven or fridge. This might make it difficult, with small children eventually trying to "help" in the kitchen.

John- Interesting idea, but it has some dead end spaces, which might be difficult, when moving around in the kitchen.

Here is a link that might be useful: Link to island kitchens open to dining

Thank you for all the responses and I'm sorry for the late reply.

rhome410: Yeah I will try to draw it. Since my designer drew all the options, I thought they would be to scale. I have talked to her and she has fixed them. Sorry about that. Good catch on the DW. I have already talked to my designer to fix that. In the updated layout, we are going to remove the peninsular.

johnliu, very interesting idea. Sure it's different!! But my wife doesn't like it. She thinks it doesn't flow smoothly. To me, it looks like a kitchen classroom :)

lavender_lass, thanks for the idea!!! Originally we were considering opening up a window on that wall but we never thought about putting an island there. If we do that, do you think we will not have enough tall cabinets?

Again, thanks in advance.

Actually, I was thinking about putting a half wall with posts, where the kitchen wall is now, then an island in the middle of the kitchen. You probably could put the island, where the half wall would be, if there's enough room in the living room. Definitely something to discuss with your designer. In fact, I've seen kitchens, where there's a bigger island, where the half wall would be...and a smaller "landing" island in the middle. So many choices :)

I think opening up your space, especially with small children, would be a really good idea. I've seen similar floor plans with this concept, and it works out very well. Everything looks larger and brighter. I'm guessing you have a nice sized family room down the half flight of stairs? That would free up your living room for more of a conversation/seating area (maybe a nice flat screen TV over the fireplace?) and some nice toy storage built in on either side of the fireplace, with room for books, DVDs etc. Also, maybe think ottoman, rather than coffee table, until the kid(s) get a little older :)

This makes a great family space when the kids are young (to keep an eye on them, while you're working in the kitchen) and it makes a great adult space, when the kids get older and you move them down to the family room! LOL

For now, the family room could be TV..even more of an adult space if you like...or bigger toys and playroom. Depends on what other rooms you have and what your situation is at the present time. I love a house that has flexible spaces and can grow with your family.

I am NOT a kitchen designer (don't even have software) but I hope these ideas have helped. Once you get an idea of what walls you want to open up and what you want to do with the space...there are MANY talented people here, who can draw up some beautiful plans for you!

Thank you so much lavender_lass.

We have tried to move the fridge to the corner but there is just not enough space to have the sink-dw-fridge together (we can not move the sink to the left because we can not have the front door, kitchen opening, and the sink lined up, bad fengshui). So the best case for us is to have the fridge against that wall and have tall cabinets there. At least we will still have the 8' feet wide windows.

Thank you all again.

Here is what our plan looks like now:

I actually really like this plan! What are you going to use for finishes? Any "special items" planned for your kitchen? Rhome is a great one for adding coffee bars and baking centers, etc. Your range location also opens up the possibility of making that space a real focal point, from the dining room.

On the fridge wall, have you thought about a pantry or broom closet on one side of the fridge, with a "landing space" on the other? Maybe a counter with glass doors above, for wine glasses, tea cups, or other special display items, on the dining room side of the fridge? The reason I ask, is that you don't have a space near the fridge to set down juices and other items, without walking over to the sink or stove area.

For storage, do you have a larger pantry or laundry area downstairs? Some people like to have everything in the kitchen, but you're working with limited space. If you have an area for additional storage (large items not used very often) that will free up more space for everyday items in the kitchen...and give you room for "special" features, like a display cabinet or a fancy hood over the range :)

Where does the single door in the dining room go? Do you have a porch or another room on that side? Just curious...

Oh, one other question. Is the hall bath going to be used for the kids' rooms? If so, you might want to replace the walk-in shower with a tub/shower combo. Also, if you don't mind, what are the dimensions on your master bedroom and bath? I am probably overstepping here, but it looks like you have a lot of space at the foot of the bed, and the toilet is kind of centered between the tub and shower. Has your designer provided any drawings of the rooms with a picture of each wall. For instance...how will it look, when you're standing in front of the double sinks? What is your view from the tub? You have some nice space there and I think you could set up something that emphasizes the sinks and tub (your pretty areas) and still leaves plenty of room for the toilet and large shower. Maybe some way that the toilet is not between the tub and the shower. (I've seen that before in a bathroom and it wasn't a great look). Again, sorry if I've moved way beyond the point of your original question :)