Need the sketch! :-)

Sorry! I tried to transfer it from Photobucket, but must have done something wrong! I will try again.

Am trying to send floorplan again. Hope this works. I do not know how to make the image smaller. I can see it when I preview message so I hope it comes thru to the forum.

{{!gwi}}

You can 'resize' on Photobucket...When you choose the image if you roll the cursor across the top, the little menu will come up. When you go into 'edit' to 'resize' choose the preset "Large" size.

But this one is ok for size, I think. I was hoping to see a layout, instead of a mostly blank slate.

It'd be great to see a plan of how things are now with a clear and simple listing of what you dislike and/or want to accomplish. Also a rough idea of any plan you're considering. It's hard for me to start with a blank floorplan and have to scroll back and forth for details within a paragraph.

Not trying to be picky, just trying to make it so people have an easy time looking in and trying to help.

I'm confused about all the switches?

Are the windows high enough for cabinets/counters under?
Do you hope for a U-shape with island? L-shape with island? 2 parallel counters with island in between?
What other rooms are nearby? I assume that's open walls where you have the dotted lines?

Well it pretty much is a blank slate at this point. It is new construction. The windows are about 40" off the floor so counter and backsplash just fit underneath them. The window on the 16' 3" wall is a box window (triple casement) with a 8" window shelf. The switches are the outlets and light switch placements on the walls. I am leaning toward a U-shape with an island with seating, but am open to all suggestions. The sketch is showing a counter coming out from the pantry, but that does not exist so ignore that part of the drawing. Sorry! I am including a plan of the whole area and a layout, but ignore the layout of the kitchen in it. I was going to have a range top with built in ovens, but came across an Aga instead. The ceiling is cathedral with white stained box car siding on it. The flooring is hand scraped oak, 5" random in a medium brown stain. Painted woodwork. Other than that, it is pretty bare at the moment. Hope that helps clarify.

{{!gwi}}

I can't really see the plan very well. Is there something you don't like about it? I would definitely go with a prep sink, similar to what is shown in the plan, in a kitchen this size, just probably located differently. I have my prep sink in the island and it works fine to take prepped and washed food from the island, where I can face others and the windows, etc. and turn to take it to the stove to cook.

You said the range is right now under the window. So does that mean everything is framed, including the pantry?

Were you hoping for seating along the end of the island, or along one side? If you want it on the side, you'd have to keep that aisle free of work zones, so the seaters aren't in the way. If that's the case, I'd put the main sink under the big window. I'd put the fridge right next to the pantry and leave about 2 ft between it and the range.

If, however, you want seating on the end of the island, you could keep the cleanup area as shown...on the left side of the room, with maybe a nice baking area under the big window at the top of the plan. Same plan as before with the fridge.

Everything is framed and finished but waiting for appliances and cabinets. Right now I have the sink under the smaller window, the stove and fridge on the opposite wall and I too was thinking of the baking center under the large window. I was thinking another sink on the island directly across from the stove. The island can only be about 6' or a little less long so should I put the sink in the middle of the island or off to one side? Seating on the island can be whereever it fits. My DH and I will be taking most of our meals there. The pantry is done and stocked. My dilemma is fitting upper cabinets around the perimeter to be balanced. I want a hood over the 60" stove also. The wall with the fridge and the stove is 13' 5" so that does not leave me a lot of room for cabinets between the stove and fridge. The second plan I posted is just to show the kitchen in relation to adjoining areas. Thanks for your imput! Sounds like you are thinking along the same lines that I have been. Now I just need to clean up the plan with cabinet sizes etc.

Let's see...13 1/2' less 3' of fridge and 5' of stove...leaves 5' 5". Means you could have the range next to a corner lazy susan and have 29" between it and the fridge. Puts it facing the aisle, though, instead of the island.

So do you have other ideas about the fridge? If I could've made changes to the pantry, there could've been more room on that wall...

I apologize for the HORRIBLE drawings. I used Photobucket edit, which doesn't allow much, and when you're trying to hurry, the lines get much worse...
What I see as the reasonable option with things as they are...although I'm not sure the peninsula should remain:

What I would've liked to done, again not sure I'd want the peninsula:

The other thing I would've considered at the plan stage was to split the big window into 2 with room enough for the Aga and hood in between...But those are the advantages of kitchen layout at the plan stage that we don't have at this point.

Broke my wrist since last post and it is making life difficult at the moment! I agree with you, the window configuration could have been different. We came across the Aga much later in the process and it was such a good deal that I had to have it. Your layout is pretty much like I had planned. It is nice to know that someone else thinks the same! Since the Aga has a warming plate between the hobs and the fridge, I am thinking I can do a smaller cabinet between the fridge and stove, maybe 14 to 17 inches. I was thinking the island sink on end nearest window or in the middle. I will post a diagram later when I have a little more mobility. You are right-no peninsula. I could move fridge across room and have light switches moved that are there now. That is the only option I see unless I could angle fridge in corner by window. Don't know how that would look and work out for flow though. I am trying to think outside the box. Thanks for your input!

The island sink should usually be between the fridge and the prep/stove area to fit the work path of taking food from fridge-to-sink-to-prep counter-to-stove. I like to have the counter directly across from the stove free for prep, so you have a simple turn to the stove with the prepped items. If you move the sink to the window end, you're doing a lot of walking back and forth. Depends, I guess, on how much you'll use the counter by the window and for what...and if the sink needs to serve you there.

If you put the sink in the center of the island, it splits up the good-sized expanse of work area...making 2 smallish ones. For me, that's not as good.

You have a very good reason for thinking you could get away with less counter between the Aga and the fridge, which will put the Aga more behind the island, which is good.

The counter under the large window will be my baking area. I like working there for mixing, rolling dough etc. as I have a nice view there that overlooks a pretty garden berm. I was thinking the sink on that end of the island for that reason. Also the space to the right of the stove that adjoins the bake area could be used for cutting and dicing as well. Clean in the sink and flip around to counter to cut. I am left handed, so even working at the island with sink to left of me is do-able for cleaning and chopping. All the appliances with this layout are close together and the island not that long so steps would be minimal. I was thinking a clear area on other side of island by fridge for unloading groceries and feeding into pantry and fridge. I don't think I can have an overly huge island here--maybe five or 6 feet long is all if I leave 4 ft. around perimeter. my preference would be to have sink in middle, but you are right, that cuts up my work top too much. How big of a sink do you think I need on this island?

My sink is about 14" x 16" on the inside. I wouldn't want any smaller. Sometimes I wish it was larger for rinsing/washing things like my cast iron skillets that don't go in the dishwasher. But if you're concerned about losing space on the island, I'd probably dedicate an 18" -21" cabinet and get the largest sink that will fit.

With your plans, maybe consider putting the sink on the corner, so you can access it equally from either the stove side or the baking end. That's what we did and we installed the faucet diagonally/at the corner, so neither side is the 'front.'