Thank you so much sena! It makes a lot of sense what you say about groceries going on that peninsula counter there :)

However, I think it gives me overall less cabinet storage than I have now. It does give me my wall oven and full pantry though! But I think I still prefer to have greater storage in the cabinets, particularly the lower cabinets.

I calculated the cubic feet of storage in each layout. (Probably rather imperfectly, but close enough for comparison). I'm not including the pantry in any of my calculations, nor the cabinets that have little to no storage (trash cabinet, sink cabinet, mixer cabinet, oven in the case of base wall oven). I also only used 20" for height on upper cabs because that's about all that's useful to me.

Kitchen I'm leaving behind: 152 cu. ft. total (123 base + 29 upper)

Layout w/island: 149 cu. ft. total (136 base + 13 upper only along ct wall)

Peninsula: 124 cu. ft. total (88 base + 36 upper)

If you add the pantry into the calculation, I have 32 cu ft now, in layout one because of the added depth and width, I would have 61 cu ft. Leaving the walk-in of course would be more than either.

The more I look at those photos I posted earlier, the more I think I want to minimize the upper cabinets in the room. I'm a natural light junkie, and I think removing at least the uppers on the sink wall might make things feel lighter and brighter. As long as I balance with a shelf or artwork, I think it will work? And considering my storage space would be virtually the same as what I have now, I think I can make it work with uppers only on the ct/range wall. Honestly, I think I could make it work without any uppers on that side of the kitchen since I currently have space for more stuff, but I haven't completed my "inventory" or mapping out where everything would go.

So, I'm still leaning toward island in the middle with shallow cabinets along the fridge wall. And I'll either do no uppers or uppers only along cooktop wall. So, my big questions now are how best to configure the shallow cabinet wall, where to hide the microwave, and whether I go with oven in base of island or with a range. The double-oven range is certainly interesting to consider... I could put the oven in the island, but facing the cooktop since the aisle between ct and island will be bigger than between fridge side and island. But that might make the cabinet front look odd.

Decisions, decisions... and who knows, maybe I will decide a different layout is better! For now though, I'm thinking this one makes the most sense :)

Ok, guys, this one might be *the one* lol. On the other hand, I've been staring at this stuff since I got my kids to bed hours ago...so I may be missing something glaringly obvious :D

I reduced the size of the island back to 30" across and increased the shallow counter side to 22". This gives me 42" aisle on DW side and 41" aisle on fridge side. My thinking is I could put an "appliance garage" style cabinet on top of the counter with just a bit of the countertop showing, and the microwave could live there. (I found this one that's only 13" deep https://tinyurl.com/ybyw5tq7). Above that I could put grown-up water glasses as well. (Still mulling over the idea of eliminating all uppers on the L side of kitchen.) Not sure what would go on the other side with the cabinet on counter, but I like the symmetry of both sides being the same. Maybe I'd put my kitchenaid there instead of doing a mixer lift in the island? Not sure which location makes the most sense. Perhaps coffee/tea stuff would make more sense there than mixer, with coffee mugs above.

Still thinking about placement of oven. I've read probably all of the pro/con threads on wall oven under cooktop vs. range. Personally, I'd far prefer the look of cooktop installed above a wall oven. My only concerns are: 1. will it get too hot/vent at me if using oven at same time as cooktop? and 2. will the oven be significantly lower than it would be in a range? I'm just thinking maybe it really would be smartest to keep the oven (whether in the form of a range or a wall oven) on the inner L where the cooktop is.

Anyway, if you're still here, let me know what you think! (Looking at this I could do the same cabinet sitting on countertop idea without increasing the shallow cabinet beyond the original 18" plan.... it would still allow about 5 inches in front of microwave as well as space to the side.)

Enough of my ramblings now! Thanks again for all the help! I'm open to feedback, but otherwise I'll come back and update once I've decided and/or have a kitchen to share!

Can you find "mid" height cab for the oven?

Something like this.

It can be next to the DW and your plates glasses can be in island drawers. I think the island would be too shallow for a sink. You may end up splashing water on the floor (or maybe I'm a messy cook lol!).

Actually you give me an interesting idea... If I'm going to forgo upper cabinets, I could theoretically put the wall oven in a full height cabinet next to the dishwasher. I wonder though how it would look. Going to have to mock it up tomorrow :)

You know, the only reason I'm considering a sink in island is because so many here have convinced me it's good idea :D I would do the smallest possible one that I could. My thought is it would be for washing fruit/veggies, quick washing hands, rinsing blender (with a pullout sprayer), maybe filling a pot - again with a sprayer, because I don't want it deep enough for anyone to be tempted to put dishes in it! I think splash would be ok. Similar to bathroom vanity sink..?

Fridge and ovens in the pantry, shallow cabs on stair wall. You don't need an island sink since no counter corners cut your work triangle.

Open the design

Thanks benjesbride! Not a bad idea! My only concern is the fridge door might not open all the way if it's that close to wall..? So you are suggesting no seating at island and basically put the pantry cabinet on opposite end?

I think you'll have at least 1 foot between fridge and dining room wall. **eta: I miscalculated. you'll have closer to six inches. You might widen the opening to the dining room to allow the fridge's left-side doors to open fully***

I prefer to have landing space next to or above the oven. It didn't seem safe to have a pantry cabinet between the oven and it's landing space. My thought is that if the fridge and ovens are built in looking on the left, a tall pantry cabinet on the far right--perhaps of equalish width--would look balanced.

I get a bit weird when it comes to cabinets lining up and I much prefer the island edge lining up with the end of the counter to the lelft of the dishwasher. Counter seating is such a personal preference. For me in our house I opted for no counter seating so I could have a bigger table with reasonable walk around space.

I agree @benjesbride, oven needs that landing space. And I too think it looks nicer when counters line up. If only there were a bit more space on that wall! Moving the doorway down might be an option, but then it seems weird to have the fridge door opening into the dining room.

I think it's going to be really helpful to be in the space. (Less than a week - eek!)

At this point I'm actually considering range option. I looked at a couple at the store yesterday, and they are definitely nicer than the ones I remember. And that double oven one is especially tempting. I do use my double oven at least a few times a year, though not enough to make it a priority to have one. I also saw a wall oven under cooktop setup and that might be a good compromise. I just don't want to be standing at cooktop with oven venting at me lol.

Leaning toward putting MW on a shelf in the shallow counter side. And husband is digging the idea of zero uppers on sink/CT sides. Mostly because there's a chance we will diy this kitchen, and he said installing the crown molding was the worst part in current kitchen, so as little of that as possible. But I need to make absolutely sure we don't need any uppers over there and I'm not quite sure yet. Thinking uppers on CT wall might make sense. But he thinks it would look weird with none on sink wall. I think with a cute shelf on left of sink it would balance.

Anyway, I feel like we are getting closer to some decisions!

Well, we're in! Turns out the table might fit in dining room after all. I told hubby I'm willing to try it for a bit, but I think it might work :) we could easily push the head of table closer to window too. Floors and painting are top priority! And I think wainscoting maybe...

I allllmost regret the regular depth fridge. Having the walk-in pantry is so much nicer than the pull-outs I had. The ones we build here will be nicer than those though. One thing I didn't like was they were so narrow...15" wide each I think (or was it 18" hmm, 15 I think). AOh, and the top pullouts were practically useless to small me. lol nd they were split by the fridge. Looked pretty, but I'm really digging being able to see all my food items at a glance! The fridge sticks out so far is comical. I think there's like 26" between the edge of island and fridge door. We expected it since it's planned as a temporary location, but it's definitely motivating me to make design decisions and get started!

Okay, I really like your last gray layout. Things to consider, 1.eliminate the upper cabinet to the right of your cooktop when you are standing in front of it, in favor of a larger range ventahood centered on the cooktop --not having the uppers in the tiny counter space to the right of your stove, will be a very smooth flow into the doorway. You could/might choose, to keep the upper cabinets high to the dining door way as they are over the cooktop? Simpler construction. A wider vent over a 36 inch cooktop is SO NICE!!! ..If you do not, make both upper doors beside your cooktop, hinge away from that cooktop. Doors should open to help the cook, typically, around the stove. 2) The oven close to the sink, makes for a hot dish washer person, and takes some precious countertop that will be needed to make the dish washing and drying process most functional, IMHO... 3)Unless your left handed, you might consider/ like the dishwasher, to the right of the sink, and the trash compactor to the left side, of the sink, because you to have the upper cabinets by that rangetop wall, for ease in emptying dishes and pots and pans.. 4)I don't know what you planned for the island sink, but a sink in the center of an island will not get used as often as a sink on the end of an island. I don't know why? But those who have placed one in the center, as you have it, wish they had it on the end. In your case, you might consider placing it where your barstools are, and than placing 1 or 2 bar stools on each side of the counter, and than the run of lower cabinets to the area across from the cooktop, with storage below. The run of an open counter is sooo nice for many things! It will take less stress off that open end of the bar structurally also, it creates a wall to support it on both sides, and gets access to three sides of that sink. 5) THE Wall oven...NOW, on the opposite wall where you have fridge, insulate that wall cabinet, and place your wall oven, is my first idea. 6)On the opposite end of that frig and oven, by the doorway opposite your bay window, place your microwave and your appliance garage?? .... Now, you have your coffeemaker right across from THE island sink,(if it's where you have bar stools)on the end of the island, and you have your microwave, sharing the same wall to the frig, so whomever is cooking at the range, doesn't have to dance with cooktop area, carrying the food from frig to microwave, and the 2nd sink is right there for veggies, microwave food draining, and the coffeemaker. 7)That leaves you with another nice countertop run, which will come in handy for a variety of purposes, functional or decorative, as needed on that wall opposite your kitchen sink wall.. Even some pretty glass shelf at 5.5 or 6' level, and tiny LED lights installed in the bridge if you liked, above the counter and the lower storage cabinets, that extend from the appliance garage to the wall oven, shining down from the upper cabinets... to highlight some glass or pottery or crystal or seasonal decor..., above what could be a beautiful countertop or finished wood with a glass top over it, to mimic a piece of furniture? Now, that "bridge of upper cabinets", as you have above your cooktop, that could be added is between the frig, wall oven, across to the microwave, appliance garage, & can have glass doors to within 2 feet of the countertop? if you have pretty collectibles or china dishes or pottery or whatever to display. OR you can choose just to have just a couple of shelves, or the same height of shorter storage cabinets as above your cooktop, and than, place one pretty shelf of glass or other material for your coffee mugs & adult glassware and some photo frames or the like, above that counter.. Really that expanse above the counter top can be dressed up or down or casual, whatever you need it to be. Maybe that area should be a dry erase (shower board), or a peg board or a cork board, for your family. It's as casual or as usable, or as decorative as your family needs it to be. I hope you show us the finished project. I love your black table and chairs. It works in your area, because of the bench. It looks like it was made for that area. I bet you are thrilled!! Good luck.

Thank you so much Red Silver! A lot of good ideas for me to think about, again :) I especially like the idea of not having uppers on the cooktop wall because I think it makes a nicer flow from the dining room, as you mentioned. I always disliked the upper in my old kitchen that was on my cooktop wall because you had to walk past it when coming into the kitchen. Hard to explain what I mean, and there wasn't actually any danger of bonking into it, but I always felt like there was. Probably makes no sense lol!

Yep, the table fits much better than I anticipated, which was a welcome surprise!

Regarding the placement of the sink in the island... mama goose mentioned it should not be at the end, but I cannot remember why??? But you are saying, better to put it on an end? I actually PREFER no sink at all because I absolutely loved having a long expanse of countertop (I know you can get cutting boards and such to cover it.) But with the fridge on the other side of the room I can already see from just the few days we've been here, the island is an obstacle. If I have a sink on the other side on that wall or in the island I could go from fridge to sink without an obstacle. I was contemplating the idea of giving up the island (I know! One of my "must haves") but I really do feel the kitchen is too big to not have one.

But you guys, I am having a seriously difficult time now that we are in. I wish we could have waited on ordering a fridge! The regular depth fridge is so big and now I'm left with basically only one option - recess it into the pantry. (OTOH, I'm sure I'd be regretting the counter depth if I'd gotten that instead.) But I am kind of loving the pantry already, and feel disappointed to lose it! I have to just remember that I will have not that much less space, it just isn't as easy to see and access, since it will be lined up front to back instead of side to side.

Well, it is what it is, and we are going to make it work! And I'm also reconsidering the idea of seating at the island. It's really hard to tell with the kitchen covered in boxes and paper, but if I were to end the island where the current one ends (like benjesbride suggested in a recent layout) there would be no space for seating. And I'm not totally sure I need the seating there if I'm going to have seating in the bay window area.

Ahhhh....

Have you considered, putting that refrigerator, on the wall where your cooktop is slated to be? And the microwave appliance garage between the refrigerator and the sink? .... Have you thought than, how the cooktop and built in oven would work nicely, opposite your kitchen sink? That makes a pretty standard triangle of function for a kitchen...... &, if you forego the island sink, and the seating, and eventually the island, you will like not having the dance around that obstacle, and your opposite side cabinets with the FULL SIZE PANTRY retained, built in oven, cooktop can be regular depth, a real bonus to make good use of your dollars there.. {The island makes it hard to manuever if someone with a walker or a wheelchair(my inlaws used both, and spent alot of nights with us as they needed too, us being the 'tween generation)...It would have been miserable for them to have an island, it would have kept them out of the kitchen.} ---------Having a table in the bay window will be pleasant. If you have enough space to store your kitchen goods without any upper cabinets on the refrigerator/microwave/appliance garage and double sink walls L, that is great! You will enjoy having those upper cabinets on the opposite wall your pantry, built in oven and cooktop is on, tho.. People with too much storage closets, accumulate alot of stuff they forget they have. (food included) People with a nice kitchen, have all the room they need, and don't accumulate too much clutter.. People with a small kitchen, get very creative with storing larger kitchen items in garages, hall closets and laundry rooms. It all works somehow. PS...I hope the refrigerator works well on the wall that your cooktop is slated to be on? That would save your pantry!!

Where do you have the fridge right now? Keep in mind that once it's in the pantry, an island shouldn't be an obstacle between the sink and fridge.

It's not safe to have a cooktop on a walkway. Oven? Maybe. Cooktop? Nope.

Thanks you guys!
I also thought about putting the fridge where cooktop is, but then decided cooktop on that walkway wall wouldn't be ideal. But really good thought anyway!


Benjesbride- yep right now the fridge is in original location and we have about 26 or so inches of aisle lol!! When we move it, it's going to feel spacious!
I'm playing with a design now where I increase the aisle between cooktop and island. I actually don't like a huge aisle because it feels too far from cooktop, but it would remove the obstacle between sink and fridge, and I could skip the second prep sink altogether. Stay tuned!

And THIS is why I hate traditional ranges! I haven't even used the range and there's a crumb stuck between range and counter!

And check out this clearance haha!

And though I may go this route yet, this oven is looooow!!

Have you thought about removing the island now and trying out an island-free layout before you renovate?

(EDIT: I didn't see your post benjesbride until I completed my novel ;) It's actually not a bad idea. But let me know what you think of my layouts below! I could keep the pantry if I eliminated the island. I just looooove prepping at an island. Something about not having a wall 2 feet in front of my face and cabinets above my head. I like to be able to see all around the room at what's going on.)

Ok y'all. I'm zero'ing in on a layout. Need to decide and get going! I know you're on the edge of your seats, so I'm sharing :D LOL As always, I would LOVE feedback!

Drew up a blank one with just the walls, so I could just move stuff around. I do this for furniture layout, not sure why I haven't done it sooner for this project. I guess I like drawing a gazillion versions of this kitchen :D

So here's what I'm thinking... if I reduce the island back to 30" wide again, move the island down so that it starts where the fridge ends, I can eliminate the sink in the island because there is no longer any obstacle in my triangle. It's an open space between fridge and sink. (Note: I personally don't like such a large space between cooktop and island, but I think for the clear path to fridge, maybe it would be smarter?)

In either option I lose the walk-in pantry, so I need to look for some great cabinet pantry ideas! Just no getting around it, unless I give up the island. I really like having the space in the middle of the room, with nothing over my head and no wall in front of my face. I do the majority of my prep at the island because it's just more pleasant for me.

Option 1 - regular depth countertop on fridge wall. This would allow me to put in the wall oven (woo hoo!). It would reduce the aisles to 40". Right now the DW side is 36.5" and the fridge side is 26" (LOL, without the ridiculous fridge, just counter to counter it's 38.5"). It doesn't feel bad, even when a couple of us are in there at the same time. So I think at 40" I'd be good with it. I'd have countertop next to the oven for a landing space. I'd probably do the same thing I posted earlier, with a run of countertop and then another floor-to-ceiling on the end to balance out the oven cabinet.

Option 2 - Same thing, except it's a shallow counter area next to fridge, so no wall oven will fit. But it does give a bigger aisle on both sides.

I stacked up some empty boxes to see how it would feel to have the island extended beyond the edge of the countertop on the sink side. I think I like it. But I think it could be a useful island if I stop at the edge of the counter too. Once the rest of the boxes are out, I'm hoping to borrow a small round table to see how it actually feels in the space with the island. I'm leaning toward NO seating at the island. Not entirely sure yet, going to play around with the space a bit.

So, the questions I'm currently asking myself, and you are all free to weigh in!

-Which layout? (or are they both terrible? lol)

-Figure out the details

-No upper cabinets on sink/cooktop walls? If so, can I fit everything I need to fit in drawers, pantry, or in the tall cabinet on fridge wall? Biggest thing is the supplements that I keep in the upper cabinet. Everything else can find homes in drawers.

-Corner super susan or give up corner entirely and do drawer banks. I saw a thread somewhere that said even giving up that corner portion, drawers give more actual storage space, so I'm going to find that thread again and do some calculations. I'd LOVE to have all drawers and skip the corner altogether.

-Which side of island to put the doors/drawers? I'll put our plates/bowls in the drawers to the left of dishwasher, but I'm thinking maybe it makes most sense to have the drawers in the island on the side closer to fridge.

-Where to put mixer and toasters. I'd like to keep toasters hidden behind a door, but with a wall oven, that takes up the space I was thinking I'd put them. Mixer I may forgo the lift and just keep it on the fridge counter. I actually think it's kind of pretty, so if I have enough counterspace I'm not opposed to just keeping it out.

Anyways, so that's where I'm at!

Have you considered (in addition to no island) having deeper than average base cabinets all the way around? So instead of 26" deep counters you'd have 30" deep cabinets. And if you had no uppers around your sink and cooktop you'd avoid that cabinet-in-your-face problem.

I have thought about that! But part of the island appeal is being in center of room where I can see everything going on around me. And I think without the drawers I gain in island I might not have enough storage to give up the uppers. Though I haven't sat down to figure it out yet...

Well, since you plan to use the nook with a table, and I like what you are coming up with, I just wonder, on the drawing board, Might you consider, 1. the balanced look of the U shaped kitchen counter, mirroring the cooktop wall? Counter height, coming off the cabinet that is beside the dishwasher, that might end opposite where the right hand side of your cooktop would be if you were standing looking at it, if not 12 inches shy if that is adaquate for your lower dishes/serveware needs? Just as an open above the countertop, with lower drawers below it that are very nice size, maybe a total of 4, 2 stacks of 2 deep depth drawers--don't let anyone build you drawers with 3 inch sides that pull out from behind DOORS on the lower--- on STURDY rollers, for dishes and whatever else? The area of that counter that faces your nook on the wall, where the drawers are facing the direction of the sink in your photo... could be left accessible from the nook side, 2 shelves below the counter, open shelves for a quick grab stack of trivets, placemats, napkins, or books, knickknacks, games of cards, etc, facing your den, below the counter, just to the right of the black chair you have sitting in the area--whew!???.....I am like you, if I can stand at my "bar" counter...Therefore, leaving the island out by basically attaching it to the exterior wall cabinets at a right angle, standard depth or more lower counter on the wall opposite the sink.. Honestly, tho, you currently have a very pretty kitchen!! I almost cringe at the thought of undoing it, unless you have money to enjoy an updated kitchen.. BTW, I know that 'they' make an item to fill the gap between the range and counter...I don't have it, I have seen it online(maybe Wayfair? or BB&Beyond?). I recommend getting it, if it works for you. I too, HATE the crack of crumbs! LOL......... I think the U shaped, with the wall of counter you have planned for the pantry 'frig wall, would be a very efficient and nice kitchen for any family. The counter "bar", fully shaped U counter would give you a place to put the dishes cleared off the nook table convenient to the dish washer and the dishwasher, be a possible great location at the exterior wall, for your coffee, and toaster oven/toaster, on the wall to the left of your sink, convenient to your nook from both sides.. IF you have a blender, food processor, microwave, it would fit in the area you have planned your appliance garage by your wall oven or the other end of your linear counter you have sketched...you could store or display it where it is most often used. And if you ever have need for an athlete on crutches or a wheelchair, all areas of the kitchen are fully accessible because you do not have the island for ease of negotiating a turn, and you ample places for cook helpers and dishwashers in the kitchen area too. More ideas, that just keep poppin up! LOL Continued good visions are easier on paper before the carpenters arrive, for sure!!

Can you recess the fridge more into the pantry and also have the wall oven/micro next to it?

I'm thinking a 5-6" wide broom pull out next to DR wall, then fridge, and then the wall oven. Fridge recessed 2 feet, oven and pullout about 1 feet, so out of 160" width you have in the kitchen you'll be left with 148" in front of the fridge/oven. In that case I think DR entry can be 42" wide and an open fridge would not totally block the entry. Next to the wall ovens you can have 15 or 18 deep uppers and lowers, and tall pantry cabs.

Thanks Red Silver and sena01!
Yes, I do feel a little tiny bit guilty remodeling the kitchen, since it's really not in bad shape. However, the cabinets are pretty old. I think they probably installed granite and bought some new appliances, and put some hardware on the old cabinets. When we were looking at houses, we would look and then go home to our kitchen, and it was so hard to think of leaving our beautiful space. This particular home put us in a financial position where we could buy it and do some remodeling to make it more "our own" so we went with it :) It doesn't hurt that my husband is very handy and we will be able to cut costs by doing some of it ourselves. It is nothing like the transformation of our last home, which definitely really HAD to be remodeled. This home is move-in ready. But, we love seeing the transformation and I really want a kitchen more similar to what we created before. So, onward we go!

sena01 - unfortunately, I don't think I can recess the fridge any further if I put it on the side closest the door. I'm not sure though. There's an odd bumpout in the pantry that I didn't know was there until we moved in. Just didn't notice it before. We haven't looked into what exactly it is, but it may be some ductwork or something else that can't easily be moved. It shouldn't be a problem for the pantry cabinet I have planned, but definitely too shallow for fridge. Here's a pic.

I've been giving it a lot of thought (obviously) and I actually think it will work fine if I go with the 30" island and regular depth on sink counter and fridge counter with the 54" aisle between cooktop and island to allow full access to fridge from sink. Then I can put a wall oven next to the fridge and continue with the rest of my plan :) Still considering all the details, but I'm getting closer!

PS. sena01 what software do you use for your mockup? It looks great!! I downloaded sketchup but have no idea how to use it, and no time to figure it out at the moment. Ikea is the best I've found, but it's limited to ikea products obviously, and we won't be using them (though we did consider it). Will probably order fully ready-to-go boxes from Barker. Hubby built the boxes last time and it was really time consuming. This time he wants to either hire it out or more likely just buy the cabinets and install them himself.

I use Home Designer

Barker is local to us so When we renovated in 2015 it was my intention to buy their cabinets and support a local company. Someone on GW loved their Barker stained cabinets and she was influential in my choice. Right before we were to submit our order, someone here had a very bad experience with the finish on their painted Barker cabs. To make it worse, Chad got on the Gardenweb thread and his public relations style was disappointing. If you haven't already you might search GW for more information. I saw the recent Barker review thread, but I haven't read it.

Ultimately, we went with Ikea and I"m so very glad we did. You just can't beat buying and taking home good cabinets in the same day. We did an total gut of our house, so I opted for a cheaper Ikea door/drawer front to keep the budget down, but someday I"ll probably swap them out for semi-handmade.

Thanks sena!
And thanks benjesbride! We've ordered from barker a couple times in the past so I know what to expect. Customer service isn't great - you can only communicate via email and turnaround time is slower than molasses lol! My hesitation in going with IKEA is you can't get custom depth etc and my plan had some. Though now that I'm leaning toward doing standard 24" depth on fridge wall I should look again. Thanks for the nudge to do so. I would want to go with semi-handmade doors I think, but my question is - can you order plain boxes or do you just throw the doors out. We did IKEA boxes for our last pantry cabinets and I would want custom this time. I didn't love the drawers. Basically last time we bought a few IKEA components, all barker drawer and door fronts, barker drawers, and hubby built the majority of the boxes himself. He does NOT want to do that again lol! So we were thinking barker would be our best bet since we can get just what we want but still cheaper than big box store doing it all or other company doing it all. He has no problem installing everything, just doesn't want to build it all from scratch :)

Im on my phone so I can't see the planner, but if you look at the left side column near the bottom there's a category that says something like "change all at once." Then select "doors and drawer fronts, then scroll to the far right and I think there should be a no doors/drawer fronts option maybe with a gray X. Then if you go up to "print" (I think) you'll see the cost of the kitchen without fronts.

Thanks benjesbride!

Just did a new layout in ikea to try to get an accurate cost. I was thinking I could make the pantry a little bigger to compensate for giving up the walk-in. I could do 24" on either side of fridge. The island is only 24x72 because ikea doesn't have the exact size, so we'd have to either go with 24 (and I guess the top would bring it to 26 or build it custom. What do you think? (The fridge won't actually stick out this much because it will be recessed into the pantry area.

Can you sketch out the pantry space including the (surprise) chase in the corner as well as the doorway to the dining room?

I am sure I should know what you mean lol, but I can't figure out what "(surprise) chase in the corner" is...?

Sorry! That doesn't make sense! I meant that bump-out into the pantry that might be a chase for utilities that you may have been surprised by :-)

LOL! Ok, I get it now! I sketched it out. I also made a new sketch and also changed it up a bit from last night. I don't think I like the wide pantries on either side of fridge with the wide oven. So I tried putting a 36" "main pantry" to the left of fridge, then a 12" to the right (actually it's 15" on the ikea layout cause they don't have 12"). That leaves space for 3 30" base cabs. Then I put 48" between cooktop and island, so that the fridge has a clear path from the sink.

Layout:

Here's the current pantry:

And can I just say I can't wait to rip out this kitchen! Decided to fully unpack and live in it for a bit... oh my goodness these old framed cabinets with the super short top drawers, shelves instead of drawers, lazy Susan in the 45 degree cabinet where you can't fit anything wide into it. Ahhhhh! And I'm finding it may be a challenge simply to find space for all my kitchen stuff! And I consider myself relatively minimalist. Being someone who actually USES her kitchen I'm not as minimalist as could be...but I don't have a lot of superfluous gadgets or anything!
Ok back to unpacking!

Did you get a chance to check out scrappy25's kitchen before photobucket killed all the pictures? I'm wondering about this solution in your kitchen. Forgive me if it was already considered and nixed.

I hadn't seen it before. Pretty! We did play with some peninsula layouts, but I think I decided it wouldn't be enough storage space? I'm so exhausted I can't even remember lol!!!

I took a shot at it. A drawback is the 30" sink to allow room for the dishwasher on the end. Scrappy25 put her dishwasher under the window. Open the design

Thanks benjesbride! I like how it opens up the center of the room, but I don't like how much cabinet space it gives up. I've got the kitchen unpacked now, and I need all the space I have. I will be able to forgo the uppers I think, but I need all the lowers.

I don't have an opinion on what you should do with your kitchen, but I'm wondering... How does it give up cabinet space? Isn't it basically like turning your island 90 degrees and sticking it to the end of your cabinets?

There is no seating overhang in that drawing above. There's approx. 7.5' of 15" deep base cabinets across the backside of the sink cabs; that might be about 60"x15" more base cabinet than what you're planning. Scrappy25 really liked that set up because she would prep with family members all around the peninsula with everyone having access to the sink.

It is kind of nice with the peninsula facing the rest of the room where people are likely to be spending time. I'd probably be more likely though to keep the sink under the window because I like to have a large open workspace, such as in the island. But then you have the complication of where to put the dishwasher so you can actually open it. Just looking at them, with the island layout I have the drawers right next to the DW where I can unload the clean dinner dishes. With the peninsula that gets tricky. I'd have to move the dinner dishes to the drawers on the fridge side, I think.

Comparing the two, with the existing layout idea with an island, not counting the fridge wall since that won't change either way, just going around clockwise I'd have
30 drawer, DW, sink, 18 trash, 36 susan (or drawers, haven't decided), 24 drawer, 30 drawer, 12 drawer. Plus the island at a minimum of 24x66, but possibly more like 28x90.

With the peninsula layout I'd have:

DW, sink, no space for trash, 36 susan, (2) 24 drawers, 36 susan (changed this just a bit from your ikea layout because I don't like blind corners), 30 drawer, 12 drawers, plus the backside of peninsula at 90x15.

So, just doing the math, they are almost even if I go with the longer island. The peninsula does have the edge in raw space if I go with the shorter island. HOWEVER, it would have to lose more cabinet space somewhere to find a cabinet for the trash. And that puts them back close to even. And, the storage space is less accessible/functional in my opinion. To get to those 3 shallow cabinets I'd have to go around to the family room side of the room. It would be great for things like game storage. But I actually need those cabinets for kitchen items. Unless I downsize and/or get really creative with organizing.

And I'd have two corners, which is my least favorite type of cabinet. Even with a super susan, I still prefer drawers. I prefer them so much that I'm considering in the one corner in my island layout to go with two banks of drawers and making that corner part inaccessible altogether. I did the calculations and read many threads on it. I'd be giving up about 200 square inches of useable space, but I prefer drawers over corners that much. And it would allow me to do a 30-36" wide drawer next to the cooktop.

Does any of that make sense? It's all in my head, but if I read it from the viewpoint of someone who isn't staring at my kitchen all day and looking at a million layouts, it might be confusing! Thoughts?? Honestly, I'm not set on the island. I just want to have as much storage as possible and also make things as efficient as I can.

Took a picture of what I meant... so if I leave sink under window and dw next to it, I could do a 26"ish deep peninsula. I'd have to start drawers a few inches back to be able to open them. Put some boxes to simulate peninsula. Also a pic of how I have it right now. I had same setup in last house with drawers next to dw, except I had pegs for between dishes and it was a wider drawer so I didn't have to stack like this.

I am just not sure how best to make a peninsula work. I will have more lower cabs than I currently have, since the fridge and desk will become useable storage. So, maybe I'm underestimating how much space I actually need. Everything fits (except my Instant Pot which is on pantry floor because there's not a single shelf/drawer tall enough in the cabinets :(

Also a pic of how peninsula would look with the small table we bought this past weekend. Hubs will likely build a bench so we only bought 2 chairs that match. It's smaller than I expected. I actually think it's a bit too small, should have gone with 48" I think, but I don't have the heart to tell my husband. So I'm going to just make it work. And it has an extension underneath to make it an oval. My main purpose is a spot for the kids and it will serve that.

If you want to keep the sink under the window, I would not have a peninsula There's no good place for a dishwasher inside a small U like that.

The benefits of a peninsula with the dishwasher on the end would be 1) increase continuous counter space in your primary prep area, between sink and cooktop 2) I like to keep glasses/dishes/flatware near fridge and microwave and away from my work area. A dishwasher on the end would make it easy to unload stuff next to the fridge.

Some good points benjesbride! I need to mull it all over. A peninsula is such a departure from what I'm used to and typically prefer. However, part of what made the island work so well in my last kitchen was the fact that everything was on one side of the island. That's obviously not the case here.

I am looking again at an idea that mama goose had. I am going to play around with this, with no seating though. I am fairly sure I don't want seating at the island/peninsula. I wish the overhang wasn't there on the island in the kitchen now (and I still can't believe they actually intended seating there). It's the perfect height for my little ones to bonk their heads. They crawl around on the floor under the countertop and then stand up and bonk. And with the little table there and the dining room nearby, I think it's unnecessary. If they want to help at the counter, they can just as easily stand on a chair or step stool.

I had started mapping out where everything would go in my tentative final layout (with the island). One thing that I've decided is down at the end, where the desk is... the desk I was adamant I didn't want ;) Well, I don't want a desk there, but I DO think I'd like to make that area a "family command center" with a printer in the base cabinet and a place for keys and mail and school papers that need attention. In our last house we had our printer in our family room, which was right off the kitchen so it was convenient. In this house we may have an office in a bedroom upstairs, but I need an easily accessible printer. I COULD put a printer in the living room....you know, the room attached to the dining room. The room I have no idea what to do with yet. But I like the idea of keeping it right there in the kitchen where we spend so much of our time, convenient to grab things as we are going out the door etc. But does it seem weird to have an appliance garage right there? Please say no it's not weird lol. I need a place to keep our two toasters, and I prefer them not sitting out on the counter. Can't put an appliance garage by oven because that's the landing space. And with no upper cabinets on the cooktop or exterior walls, there's no place for it there either.

I'm thinking again about the oven.... debating if I ought to do slide in range and forgo wall oven altogether. If I do my latest layout with island positioned for unobstructed path between sink and fridge, if I put a range it would put all the cooking things within triangle (except MW which would probably put next to fridge). It also gets the oven out of pathway, which is a slight concern to me. Thoughts??

Could you go with a slide in range, but wire in an outlet for a wall oven in case you decide you hate it? If you go with Ikea cabinets it would be easy enough to change a 30 inch high cab to accommodate a wall oven.

Very, very good idea! Though I'm not sure I can convince my husband to change later once it's done. lol!

Ok you guys... I just started a new thread. I would love it if you'd weigh in. Decided to start a new one since this one is so long and convoluted at this point. If you can't stand thinking about my layout any longer, I understand ;) But I think I'm down to the details. I'm really going back and forth between wall oven or range. Thinking through the pros/cons of each option. Here's the thread if you're up to it! http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/4864217/m=23/debating-between-single-wall-oven-or-range-please-weigh-in

Can't wait to get this remodel started! The 36" clearance they decided on is fine except when it comes to unloading DW lol!!

Trying to go back and update the threads where I asked for advice. And I want to say again a huge thank you for all the input!! We are finally (pretty much) done! https://www.houzz.com/discussions/5774070/kitchen-is-finally-99-lol-done