30" is a nice width for storing large items in drawers, and that seems the best place for the microwave to me. I would leave the counter open underneath, as it works well for a landing/work spot. I have my microwave in the bottom shelf of an upper cabinet between my fridge and stove and love it. Besides losing the landing spot under the microwave, it doesn't seem that you have enough counter that I'd want to give it up to a cabinet that comes down to the counter.

Quick take while cookies bake...move the 15" trash to the other side of the sink to have more separation b/w range & sink as well as make the trash pullout more accessible to the prep area b/w the sink & range.

Personally, I would not have a cabinet down to the counter for a variety of reasons...

(1) You don't have much counter space as it is, and you'd be eliminating too much.

(2) That counter is the landing space for the refrigerator

(3) Drawers or doors at counter level mean you have to be sure the narrow counter area in front is always open (to be able to open the door/drawer).

What's going on in the left corner? Does it open in the other side? (It looks like there's a knob on that side.) If so, good idea! If not, consider it!

There's a kitchen layout thread going on right now that is very similar to your kitchen. I think many (if not most) of the comments on that thread apply to your kitchen as well.

HTH!

Here is a link that might be useful: Thread: workspace by sink

Ditto Buehl's remarks. Pretty much point by point.

(When will I learn to scroll and read before thinking and starting to write in my head, LOL!)

Thanks for the quick replies!

Drawer base is 38"(Hard to read on sketch) so do you think that will be ok... not sure if 2 drawers on top row might be better. If I made drawers less wide, not sure what I could do with the 6-8 inches- maybe a small wine rack?

Yes, there is door on back of peninsula and we will have slide outs built in there. That blind corner is like the Bermuda Triangle now-things go in never to be seen again....

Upper cabs will be 42" high and I don't know if cab to the left of range hood would look better w/ three 15" doors (not so massive)? I'm also thinking about having the upper cabs be 14" deep after reading about that here. Any disadvantages to that? May also do glass on uppers to left of microwave which is where most of dishes are stored now.

I currently have a similar layout with shorter cabs and an otr microwave, so I feel this is updating things, but basic layout has worked for 17 years. Just needs updating! Refrigerator will be recessed a few inches into wall and GC came up with pillar idea to build out the wall a bit and make it look more built in.

There will also be a built in 42" wide hutch with cabs/drawer below and glass doors above in the eating area which will give me more storage space, and window seat along the back wall with storage inside for items that are used infrequently.
I really excited to start!

Thanks again for so generously sharing your thoughts!

I misread, and thought the 38" was 30". Not that you should cut it up, but in our last kitchen we had 6" we didn't know what to do with, and almost just filled it with a blank. Instead, we made a narrow cabinet for our step stool. It was one of my favorite conveniences of the remodel. 2 drawers on the top could look nicer...or if it's possible for you and you want to keep the width, you could have it look like 2, but still be one.

I would go with the 14" deep upper cabinets. I don't know of any downside (except the initial expense, of course).

I prefer upper cabinet doors that are 15" wide or narrower. Like you're saying, wider ends up looking pretty heavy.

I, personally, wouldn't put glass doors to the left of the micro, because of those cabs being pretty close to the stove. I'd be afraid of having to clean a thin layer of grease off of them. Others wouldn't agree, but I guard against pain-in-the-neck cleaning issues. Maybe if you used opaque glass that would help.

Best wishes!

I agree with you (and rhome410) about going to 3 15" doors on the left of the range, in terms of appearance it is the only thing that seems off visually in your layout. It depends on how you intend to use it but 2 19" drawers on the top may be more useful - you will probably end up using organizers to split it up anyway or as one large drawer it could become one of those catch all spaces where your always rifling through it look for that something in particular (which of course is always way off on a corner hidden by something else). I think you will like having the 38" wide deep drawers but again it depends what you are planning to put in them.

I will go with the three 15's on the upper left and now just need to decide about the microwave cabinet. Though I love the look of cabinet to the counter, I can see where I would be sacrificing that landing space and it doesn't make sense. I guess I just don't want the microwave to look too prominant.

Rhome, what kind of microwave do you have and did you use a trim kit? I checked out the where is your microwave thread and particularly liked one cabinet with the garage type door...but I also think that just having it open might be more convenient since we do use it fairly often

Also, do you have a picture of the step stool cabinet and what kind of step stool do you have? I think I will need one with these higher cabinets.

I have a Panasonic microwave...Just a countertop model put in the shelf and no, I didn't bother with a trim kit. I will try to find a photo and post it below. I don't think I have a photo of the step stool cabinet. It was just the whole height of the base cabinet with a slab door. The step stool is just a 2-step fold up one we got at the local hardware store..Nothing fancy.

OK, here's the only photo I can find right now that shows the stepstool cabinet at all. It's that narrow door just to the right of the dishwasher.

And here are photos showing our current microwave:

If you're looking for a step stool, I just got one that folds up to 1 1/2" thick and fits in a regular height base cab. I got rid of my soffits and put cabs up to the ceiling so I need the step stool to reach the back of the very top shelf.

Here is a link that might be useful: narrow folding step stool

Rhome, thanks for the pics- your kitchen is lovely!
laxsupermom, thanks for the stool suggestion- it is perfect and the price is right: )
I am amazed at what a great resource you all are!