Do you not want a walk-in pantry at all, or you want one your daughter can access?

I worry about the location of the range in this plan because of it being pretty much in the entry pathway to the room. Also the fridge to sink path is blocked by the island. I think that going round and round that island will become a pain.

Please tell us what you would like to have for your kitchen, especially what's needed for your daughter to have the use of it you want. I think there should be a better way to arrange things than what it shows in the plan.

What are the dimensions of the pantry and how deep are the planned shelves? If you kept the Pantry but went with shelves that were not as deep, would that give your daughter room to access it? I think continuing the cabinets along that wall if I am reading it correctly, decreases the space by a foot because base cabinets are 24" deep, and the current pantry only uses 12 inch deep shelves. Is that correct? Would she have enough room to maneuver in the pantry as it is planned now? By the way, I would kill for a pantry, so I wouldn't be looking for a way to get rid of it! :)

I would definitely rethink the kitchen layout. How big is the Island? Maybe put the sink and DW in the island and leave the other counter for extra eating/prep space. Even if it was in the island, you could still put the sink and dw on the side of the island that would have you facing the Morning room when you are standing there and not have your back to the rest of the family. I would grow to hate that arrangement and having the Island between myself and the sink and dw while I am trying to prep and cook. If you are going to have a good sized prep sink with a Garbage Disposal, if you use one a lot like I do, it might not be so bad. But I know I would end up putting dirty stuff like mixing bowls and spoons, peelers, and even pans on the island while I cook and then going around and putting them into the dishwasher later. It would just make keeping the kitchen reasonably clean while I cook a little harder. When I want to be cleaning and cutting vegetables and putting them in the pan I am cooking with on the stove, I need some kind of sink nearby and handy.

Sue

Thanks for responding.

I really don't want the walk-in pantry. Mainly because Lauren would never be able to get in there. I figure a roll out cabinet pantry or two should do the trick since I don't have a large family anyhow. I would rather have the extra cabinet space. And I'm sorry I failed to mention this in my first post, but the island won't be a problem because I'm leaving it out of the plan, again, because Lauren+wheelchair+me in the kitchen would make it very tough to maneuver. Her wheelchair pretty well fills an almost 3 foot space with just a few inches to spare on either side.

I've supplied a layout of the changes I'm thinking of to my kitchen. It's not a very good copy though, and because I used photobooth to take the shot, it's a reverse image. But you'll get the general idea of that 45 degree slant I was talking about if you compare it to the blueprint link.

http://www.houseoftheweek.com/exec/action/plans/browsemode/details/filter/BathCntLst.2%3bBedCntLst.3%3bFlrCntLst.1%3bGSCntLst.2%3bSQFTMin.2500/hspos/hownet/page/5/planid/6461/section/homeplans?pvs=tot.eNqzNAEAAKgAbg%3d%3d

In the new pic (URL below), I have moved the refrigerator, the 36" cooktop and the wall ovens. The space in the original blueprint where the cooktop was going to go I was thinking of using for a desk height area for Lauren's work space. In our last kitchen she had a desk area. We covered the opening with two base cabinet doors held together with a piano hinge to avoid sag. Closed it looked like the rest of the base cabinets. It worked very well aesthetically. However, I know there's probably some design flaw that I'm missing, so I welcome your ideas and comments.

The only other things I'd like to include for Lauren's convenience are an undercounter refrigerator. I'd love to replace the DW with two dishdrawers by centering the sink and putting one dishdrawer on either end of the angled island. Suggestions?

I'll try to get a clearer picture tomorrow so dimensions are visible.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Plan #2

I would also suggest a MW drawer...also so Lauren has easy access.

If you split up the DW Drawers, I suggest dish storage be either in the angled island on either side of the sink or under the DW Drawer--but under the DW would make it difficult to put things away w/o having to first stage them on the counter. I don't know about glasses.

I suggest, if you haven't already done so, think about/plan for storage of everything you want to store in the kitchen. I assume all would be accessible by Lauren as well as the rest of your family. Hmmm...you might also consider somehow rigging a remote switch for the vent hood over the cooktop.

Have you had a universal access design expert review the design? I suspect s/he would also have some suggestions. I know that you've been living with it, but sometimes we don't see things that others (especially design specialists) might.

I am not an expert in design and I have no experience in designing for universal access....but I hope I've added something to the discussion!

Good luck!

Thanks buehl.

What about drawers for lower cabinets, aren't they better than a regular cabinet? The other thing I have to consider is where on the plan to put my wall ovens. If anyone has any suggestions, please speak up. I was thinking of doing them on the 45 degree angled wall by Lauren's desk area (see Link).

My husband just informed me that this could change the trusses which we're getting ready to order, so now I'm feeling pressure. AGH!

And you're right, buehl, living with the handicap does help when I'm thinking through things, but I also need to be fair to myself because this is my kitchen. When Lauren is on her own, I have to be the one to live with the decisions I make now. Meaning: not everything can be down low for her, because the day is coming when bending over will be a PITB for me!

And you're right again about missing things. In our last house when we were designing Lauren's bathroom, we almost forgot to include space to accomodate turning radius of her wheelchair when she opens and closes a regular bathroom door.

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen Plan #2

If you're also planning for the future when she's out & on her own, then you might want to reconsider the pantry. A walk-in pantry is great storage for all manner of things...from food to small appliances to utility items...all set at whatever level you want (and, "modular"). If the door is 3' wide, Lauren should be able to get in to it and, for now, you could store most things w/in her reach. Then, later, you can store things w/in your reach.

I would also not limit myself to an undercounter refrigerator. At the very least, be sure to leave a place to put a regular refrigerator later. Leaning over to get things out of a refrigerator drawer may become an issue for you later (light items, like yogurts or butter will be fine, but heavier items like milk or juice will probably be easier if they're at chest-height or slightly lower for you). You may want to compromise and get one or two refrigerator drawers and store things most often used/needed by Lauren and everything else in a regular refrigerator. OR, you might consider getting a top-freezer refrigerator so most, if not all, items in the refrigerated section are reachable by Lauren and then maybe a freezer drawer or two to store things Lauren might want & then store the less-used items in the top freezer.

Dishwasher Drawers--I don't think you can go wrong w/these....they're even better for young, non-disabled folks!

The same w/wall ovens...easier for everyone than an oven in a stove.

MW drawer...I don't know. We're getting our first one. It would definitely be better for Lauren but I don't know how it will be for you as you age. I've entered the 50+ group and I'm hoping I don't regret getting a drawer that I'll have to lift items from rather than just take out from chest-height.

Cooktop...controls on the side or in the front (if no small children around) would work best for everyone, I think. No reaching across a hot cooktop or hot food.

Lauren's desk/workplace would probably also make a great future baking center if the counters are slightly lower.

Just some thoughts! HTH!