I can't see the plans well enough. I can only get them tiny and some of the lines are so light they disappear.

The one comment I have from what you wrote: I can't imagine putting a sink where you feel the need to add a counter insert...I would always need to the sink and have the workspace at the same time, since it's when you're busy that you need both. I would also be irritated finding a place for the insert, and forgetting to move it until I had a pot of hot water that needed to be emptied into the sink NOW. Maybe that's just me, though.

Sorry -- I have uploaded the plans again and did not shrink them as before so hopefully they will be easier to view.

Here you go (just copy/paste right into your message the line under the picture that (kinda) starts with ">a href=..."

{{!gwi}}

Can you give us dimensions? Not sure that the island can fit 3 on that curved part. Is that a pantry under stairs on the right?

A prep sink usually works best between the fridge and stove if you're going to use it for actual prep, not just as a potfiller with a drain...So it depends on whether that's actually all you want it for. I like that my prep sink is multipurpose, and putting it in your island could give you that.

The dishwashers will conflict when open, and completely block the path to the fridge from the stove. Some people here insist they never have the dw open during cooking, but I don't like to limit options and possibilities. If I can get someone to clean up while I cook, I am all for it.

Thank you celticmoon!

The kitchen is 16' (south wall) x 15'
The island is 5x5
The door at the bottom right goes into the planned pantry area (now a mini-laundry room) that deadends in the door to the powder room.
The swing doors in the upper right open into the basement stairs.

Right now, you're gonna stand in that corner between the sink and the stove doing your prep with your back to everyone on the island. If you put a prep sink between the cooktop and wall ovens, you'll still stand at the corner to do your prep and you'll never use the prep sink for anything at all. Putting a small prep sink on the island actually makes it work as prep space and a social hang out spot.

Your cleanup zone is really wrong with the second DW at the island. Both DW's need to be next to the sink, which needs to be uncoupled from any relationship to the window. Move the sink down towards the fridge enough to put the DW on each side and put your dishware storage nearby. The cleanup sink might make more sense under the other window and the cooktop on the fridge wall with a prep sink on the island--if you've got to have the cleanup sink under a window. That does leave the ovens a bit far from the cooking zone, but I wouldn't want to swap the fridge and ovens because it looks like the fridge has better snacking access where it is.

THat island looks too wide for the clearances it seems to show, but without dimensions and some more labeling, it's hard to tell what needs to change where.

I really appreciate these opinions.

My thought about prep activities is to primarily use the island -- either the side opposite the cooktop or the side opposite the sink. That is my current m.o., I spend my prep time at the peninsula and then move prepared food next to the cooktop for the actual cooking. Having a view of the tv while prepping is one of my priorities, as well as of course visiting with guests.

I definitely agree that having a d/w on either side of the sink would be ideal. If we move the sink we'll lose some upper cabinets though and maybe it will look a little strange not to have the sink under the window?

I can see why the prep sink is usually in the island. I have been set on having the island as a dry zone but maybe I should rethink that concept.

Mime actually preparing something for dinner.

The way your layout functions, you're gonna take those chicken breasts out of the refrigerator and put them in the sink to rinse, turn to throw away the packaging, turn back and wash your hands, and then grab a saute pan from under your cooktop to put on with some olive oil in it that you grab from one of the uppers by the cooktop. Oops, you forgot the garlic, so back to the fridge to grab the jar of already minced and some ginger to grate. Grab the grater from a drawer next to the cooktop, grate the ginger into the olive oil and grab a measuring spoon from another drawer to put a half teaspoon of minced garlic from the jar into the pan. Go back to dish storage area and grab a plate and go to the sink and move the chicken to the plate. Wash your hands again. Pat it dry with some paper towels and turn to the trash to throw them away. Grab some tongs and move the chicken from the plate to the saute pan. Turn to put the items in the sink to wash, or in the DW to wash. Go back to the fridge to get the zuchinni out of the produce drawer and again to the sink to rinse it off. Grab a cutting board and a knife from another cabinet, move the zuchinni to it and slice the zuchinni. Etc.

In that scenario, you're gonna either be standing in that corner, or you're gonna add a BUNCH of twisting, turning, and extra steps (and dripping water on the floor!) to your movements by going back and forth from the island to the sink and back again. People have a built in economy of movement. We'll take the shortcut across the grass every time instead of walking around to use the sidewalk. You're gonna take the path of least resistance, which is to stand in the corner for the prep. Putting a water source on the island makes most of that activity actually make sense to take place on the island.

I am still working out my feelings towards a sink in the island (right now I feel like you and like the uninterrupted line), but I do have to chime in about your cabinets. Bring them to the ceiling :) Without a soffit, they are dust catchers and I don't like the look anyway. We will have 10 foot ceilings and will be bringing them to the ceiling in there, even if all we do is glass front, lighted display on top. Think of all the rarely used things you could store there - christmas plates, margarita glasses, irish coffee mugs, popover pan (all the stuff I have boxed up in a closet now :)

{{!gwi}}

I feel this is a win some/lose some design. I think the prep sink and clean up sink w/dws could be traded. The pantry/ref/ovens could be in any appealing order (being mindful of the ref/oven door contention issue).