It sounds like you have given this a great amount of thought, so you are truly one of us, lol...
I do not see anything about your design that jumps out at me as wrong, as it all makes sense to me.
Maybe someone else can find a flaw, but I think it sounds like a well planned space.

The 21" cupboard, 30" opening that contains a door, the pantry, the cl and the ref, bookshelves and seat in front of the french door... I'm thinking it might be better to open up from the hall door a little, cut the cupboard and/or smallen the pantry - 30" is a pretty good choke point - particularly if groceries come in that door.

I'm also thinking that a perch near the bookshelf might not work at all because the french doors will be very small to have a loose stool in their pathway. And the percher has no way to lend a hand (no available counter).

The chair might be better on the dining room side of the island. Trim the island a little shorter (6") to have a large enough space to get by the stool. Have an overhang on the counter and place the hang out stool down there - out of the way of super-prep, but yet able to work on the island.

Some minor suggestions:

Can you not have the dw next to the sink? The 6" and 12" on either side of it will be small to use for anything useful. Or did you consider moving it to the other side of the sink? Closer to the dish storage, but more crowded aisle...

Is there a reason you want the front of the pantry angled? If you keep the shelves in an L (get rid of the narrow shelves on the right) it looks like you have room for a doorway if you just make it straight across from the front of the fridge, and then you can make that closet a little bigger...Wider and not angled in back.

I actually would pull the island back/shorten it so that it's not in front of the doorway...So the path from the hallway to the French door is straighter and so that there is more room in front of the fridge than the 42". A single door on a 36" fridge will fill that whole space.

Overall, well thought out and nicely drawn. It makes it so nice to view and evaluate.

Sounds like a beautiful old house- post some pictures!

And it sounds like you've done your homework, too- thinking through those details like you have and imagining what you'll need at hand in every step of the way will help immensely toward a design that will service your home for the next 120 years.

One thing to think about is a "drop zone" adjacent to the refrigerator. The NKBA has specific guidelines around this (get their reference book from your local library), but it's roughly that the area should be big enough to set a turkey/gallon of milk/tray of chilling confections/whatever and should be directly adjacent to the refrigerator. They do allow for a drop zone to exist across from the refrigerator, but I would have two concerns with that in your proposal: first, there is a prep sink right where the drop zone would be, so the remaining space for your drop zone will be quite small; second, 42" may be too far away for a drop zone, and it's passing through a heavily used walkway.

So where to put the fridge if not there? That's a tougher question. You've got a very generous counter/baking area (and an island which serves roughly the same purpose), so one option would be to put it in the corner.

Another thing to think about is having a window above the sink. Not enough people think about this detail, but it just makes a kitchen feel right. In addition to having a nice, natural look, you spend a lot of time in front of the sink and it will make your time there feel a little more comfortable and less constrained.

In your case it would be fairly straightforward to get a window above the sink- just switch around the functions of the east and west cabinets.

Oh, golly, golly, I'm so thrilled that you all have taken the trouble to read my tome and offer comments! Thank you, dianalo, rhome and bmorepanic!

I really appreciate the suggestions and will give all of them some thought because that is exactly what I was hoping to get: fresh eyes that haven't been over and over the same old thinking, as I have by now.

A few quick thoughts:

rhome: It's a good point about the small size of the counter to left of the sink (between DW and sink). I gave it that space just as elbow room in case I do have the DW elevated above the counter. Without that space, I thought it would make it feel like you were doing dishes with the sink nearly touching a wall because of the vertical side of the raised DW cab. I am definitely not wedded to it, nor to the little 6" space on the other side of the DW. That's probably going to evaporate, anyway, (except for an inch or to of framing to keep the DW door from being slap against the wall) because the room is about 2.5 inches out of square in that corner. Odds are on that I either a) won't have any DW or b) will have it at normal counter height merely to use as an expensive dish drying rack.

I plan to set up the finalized "test" kitchen, and work it, live with all appliances and water installed, before we go too much further along. It'll be ugly as Hell, but I've lived with inconvenient and ugly for years. So getting it down to just one annoyance in the name of making sure I've got it right seems like a good trade-off.

Since both rhome and bmorepanic have identified issues about the corner pantry area, that obviously needs more thought. The 30" door is fairly fixed in position; it can't move south (it may be possible to move it north) because this is a timber-framed building and its southern edge is right against an unmoveable framing member. That's what the small box with an X in it signifies. (Note the similar one on the opposite side behind the range; that one controls the placement of the stove vent hood.)

I thought the diagonal step-in gave me more storage space than truncating it by running it straight across. The little closet is just a niche to store the fire extinguisher and emergency supplies. My current fridge probably won't last too many more years and then I thought a FD model would give me more useable space in front, which is why I'm planning for a larger appliance in that space from the start.

bmorepanic's mention of the grocery-to-house pathway brings me to an admission about one of the driving forces of my plan. The grocery arrival path is actually through the sitting room door at the top of the drawing.

One of my biggest issues with this house is the traffic flow from the outside to inside. It's a direct collision of three things: a)I live in a region of the country where no matter how formal the house, nobody except dead people in coffins ever uses the front door of farmhouses; b) even if I could manage to change this deeply-ingrained cultural pattern, the classical "front" Greek Revival facade of my house - complete with double door flanked by side and transom lights and appropriately dressed with columns and pilasters - is inaccessible to anyone who arrives by car; and c) it makes me ab-so-lute-ly nuts not to have a distinct, graduated, intimacy progression from outside to inside. This is the one thing (perhaps even more than the non-functional kitchen) which is at the root of this upheaval. I figure since I can't change either the people or the surroundings, the one thing I can change is the pathway they follow.

So I've decided to alter the room functions to match my sensibilities; when people approach the house (by the inevitable backdoor entrance) they will find themselves, whether they like it or not, in my public reception rooms, leading to my formal rooms (sitting room, office, etc.). Buried deeper within the house are the rooms I consider more private, like the kitchen.

It goes against the modern grain, I know, but to me kitchens are personal workspaces, truly the "heart of my private home", which is not something that I like to share with visitors. And definitely not where I want to entertain casual visitors from the census taker to local politicians stumping for votes to the man who comes to see me about the fencing. Right now the kitchen is the first space inside the house. Meh!

It's not like I want to show off to my visitors or them feel uncomfortable - even my "formal" sitting room is very low key and approachable, and relaxed. But I so much want - and need - that step-wise gradation of intimacy, that I'll do anything to get it. I have gone and back and forth and back again weighing this. But in the end I have decided that if I can arrange my rooms to satisfy how I like and still leave the structure largely changed (because it is so old and I don't want to make structural changes), I'm willing to make some sacrifices: such as I'll have to bring the groceries in through the sitting room (actually the current kitchen) to get to my new kitchen. The additional the distance is only about about 6 feet longer (immaterial at a farm where the cars are stored in barns at least fifty feet away, not in attached garages), and it's unlikely it will be embarassing to us to haul the groceries through the sitting room, since we'll be the only ones present while hauling!

I will put some more thought into the corner step-in area and see how it can be improved. Your observations are very useful to my planning. I truly appreciate the time and trouble you have taken. I'll post some updated sketches in this thread rather start a new one.

May I also say thank you for your kind words about my amateur drawings. I have struggled to the point of tears trying to use computer room planning software. And because so many people who ask for advice have mastered this, until now, I have been too abashed by my lack of skill to post without a computer drawing.

Back soon, with another version(s) of the corner pantry area. Anybody else want to put in their two cents?

Nancy

jm_seattle, thank you for your thoughtful observationss.

I have struggled with that landing zone issue, because it seems really important to me, as well. Since I am going to give that area more attention, I'll be revisiting it. I, too, am unsatisfied with my current (compromise/lesser of two unsatisfactorinesses) design where the landing zone is across the aisle and also entrained with the prep sink, even an undermounted one.

I do think the fridge needs to be at the upper end of room, near other storage, rather than the more conventional placing closer to the dining room. We don't tend to go back and forth between table and fridge, especially not during meals, possibly because we are just two adults and our meals are calmer(?).

Unfortunately, I can't figure out how to have the sink on a window wall, as I have only one exterior wall, the one occupied by the 48" range. And I must have the range on an outside wall for direct ventilation. The sink wall is an interior wall along the wide center hall of the building. While I admire the idea of having a window over the sink, it's not something that moves me a great deal. I think I will much prefer having a window over my baking/prep counter as that's where I think I'll spend the most time. I also don't have children that I need to keep an eye on outside, either. Having the sink on an interior wall also protects the plumbing from frost in my severe climate (and in a completely uninsulated house.)

I'm going back to the drawing board to work on the storage/refrigerator area, so I'll keep your landing zone suggestions in mind. Thank you for taking the time to comment!

Nancy

Call me crazy, but this is what I would consider:
1. Slide the island toward the DR as suggested earlier.
2. Put the main sink in the island situated so you would be able to look out the window.
3. Dishwasher would also move along with.
Reasons: Unless you are going to have a special faucet over the cooktop, having a standard size sink adjacent to the cooktop would help facilitate filling pots and such. You would be able to look out the window when doing dishes.

4. I would move the prep sink over to the west-wall counter probably toward the end closest to the dining room. Have a disposal installed (if you are into that sort of thing. This way, if you have a helper cleaning up and you're busy at the main sink, then they can use the prep sink and still not be too far from the DW to load it.

5. Move the refrig over to the other end of that same counter.
6. Install a pocket door if possible between the Kitchen and the Sitting Room.
Reasons for 5 and 6: This would give you landing space both on the island or the adjacent counter without having to take too many steps. You would then be able to expand your pantry or add a small table with chair for your kitchen company where the refrig was.

7. Refrig can either be a true counter-depth or you could false-wall the west wall just enough so you could create an alcove to accommodate a standard refrig turning it into a counter-depth. Then you could make that run of cabs/countertop just a little bit deeper to maximize the space.

I hope I made sense and the typos aren't to fierce. I didn't realize how late it was. :)

Pepper

"Odds are on that I either a) won't have any DW or b) will have it at normal counter height merely to use as an expensive dish drying rack."

I think it would be a serious mistake NOT to install a dishwasher. You have the space for it and it makes one of the most boring tasks in the kitchen a breeze. Once you have lived with a dishwasher you will use it and not just as an 'expensive dish drying rack'. Just my 0.2 cts.

It does appear that you have given this layout great thought.

Based on the way you use your kitchen (or want to use it), I think your layout will work. The only suggestion I have is to consider moving the prep sink down...either a couple of feet (to have approx 24" on the end) or all the way down to the DR end. Why? Because this will give you needed landing space for the refrigerator as well as the pantry. The NKBA says landing space in front up to 48" away is sufficient....and your aisle is only 42"...most of their recommendations are pretty good. The prep sink will still be close enough to the range to use to fill/empty pots, etc. It's also plenty big enough for the task....although I might consider one that's 17" square or so instead of 15" (mine is 15-3/4" square and it's a little small, especially when you try to fit both hands, food, and a faucet in the sink space...inside & above.

As to the pantry...I'll be honest, I like the corner pantry for something "different" in my kitchen, so I wonder if you would as well. If you decide to straighten it out...be aware you may not be able to have as deep a closet as you'd like b/c you need room for the pantry door + door frame on both sides. The angled wall gives you more room for them and allows you to have a door there at all. Even a 24" door needs at least 30" (I seem to recall we needed more than that for some reason...more like 33" maybe?)

Dishwasher...even if you don't want one now, you might in the future. I like the idea of raising the DW, especially for "aging in place" considerations. I think the NKBA recommends 12" to 18" b/w a raised counter and the sink...so you have the right idea w/the bit of counter b/w the sink & DW. Even if you have 6" b/w the wall & DW, you might be able to put a 6" cabinet b/w them for a pullout....unless the DR door trim gets in the way...then you'll need filler at that end anyway.

Just a note that the cleanup sink & DW would not work in the island as you don't really have enough island depth for them...your current setup works best, I think.

I like the idea of a "perch" on the DR end of the island and I agree w/BmorePanic about the stool in the corner in front of the French Doors.

Aisles...One thing, "standard" counter depths are 25.5" over a 24" deep cabinet, not 24". So that will make a difference in your aisles. In your case...

13'8" = 164"
164" - 25.5" sink wall - 42" aisle - 42" aisle - 30" range counter = 24.5" left for the island.

Plus, the back kitchen depth appears to be 5" less...and that may impact your aisle on the end where the 21" deep cabinet & range are.

If you are planning inset cabinets, you could reduce the counter overhang to 1/2" or so to give you 25.5" for the island. (Doors & Drawer fronts on inset cabinets are flush with the cabinet box; they don't stick out another 1" or so past the cabinet box.) The overhang helps direct any spills away from the cabinet fronts & doors/drawer fronts and thereby protects the finish (stain or paint)...for this reason, I do not recommend a 0" overhang.

HTH!

BTW...I grew up in "farm country" and, like your area, no one ever used the front door...even if you had to go around to get to the back door...so, I understand! (And, like you, no one had garages...cars were either outside or in a barn!)

Combining some of the thoughts above (with apologies if I misinterpreted what anyone said). It was finished before buehl posted her suggestions, so keep that in mind.

This moves the range out of the "traffic" aisle, moving prep and cook to the other side of the room. It shows a "not" corner pantry, with a narrow, tall cabinet on the outside of it.

I increased the blank spacing here and there to allow for door casings and the actual depth of thin new construction walls.
{{gwi:1966355}}

I like the raised dishwasher. Of course, like everyone else, I have no idea of the way this room actually looks or which way the joists run so ymmv.

My thanks to all who have taken the trouble to look over my preliminary plan and offer comments. I made a list of each suggestion and now am going back to the drawing board (literally, given my non-existent tech skills).

Having read every one of these help-me-with-my-design threads for the past few months, I see that the key to maximising this wonderful opportunity for "cloud" designing is to not reject any idea out of hand, even if it seems to veer off. So I'm playing around with each one to see where it takes me. Already, I've made some improvements to my first design, and more will come, I'm sure.

I didn't want anybody who took the time to reply to think that my silence meant that I didn't appreciate their effort. I hope to have a new version of the plan ready for another round of comments in a few days.

Nancy