The ease of bringing groceries in through that opening would mean I wouldn't want to get rid of it... however, what about closing it off as a walk-through but creating a pass-through with a counter with cabinets underneath. You could then place groceries through the "window" onto the counter in the kitchen. Seems the counter to the left of your range is a wasted space. I'd consider moving the range to the left a bit. Would also make it less of a bottleneck if it wasn't directly opposite your sink. There are others, more qualified than I, would can make more detailed suggestions. Good luck!

Thanks ck, thats something we had not considered.

We are able to still rework/tweak the placement of items along those two walls. This was just what the builder's draftsman put together. We are planning a cooktop and a separate wall oven, so we have some options with the positioning the cooktop and dishwasher in optimal locations. We are also not sold on the built in pantry size and location, possibly considering just using built in pantry cabinets to give a more uniform appearance.

I would leave it open and I agree that you should move the stove down to make use of that wasted counter space (Don’t worry about the hood being lined up with the sink/island. It’s not balanced as drawn and it wouldn’t look right). From the opening, I would do wall ovens, pantry, cooktop, fridge. Maybe a beverage area or snack area by the microwave.

I'd be concerned also about your dining room. You have a 4 bedroom house. How many people will be dining nightly? Right now it looks to be about 10'6" long of usable space by 11'10"? I say that because you won't want to put a dining table blocking the path to the 4th bedroom, and you will need room on the side where the french doors are to get outside.

I disagree with the others and would make it a true L shape. 13' is only 6 or 7 additional steps. I can show you in the morning.

The other advantage to making it a true L is then your kitchen work zone doesn't become a passage from the den, laundry, and bedrooms 2 and 3 to the dining area or to bedroom 4.

Another thought. If your slab has been poured already, that means you can't move or add plumbing. Correct?

Thanks everyone for all the replies!

There are four of us that dine nightly in our dining room, so won't have a huge table in there. I know we would like to get a table that would seat a max 8 person if we can fit it, but not a requirement.

I know the island plumbing can be adjusted a bit, as it is just a stub-out of the concrete at this point, also the fridge can be moved along that wall without any issues. Everything else is pretty much unmovable (that bathroom wall next to the dining room), unless concrete is torn out and plumbing redone, and re-poured.

We have been playing around with some ideas for the layout in a graphic design program. Attached those below, both the Broken L and True L Shaped designs.

Broken L

True L with Corner cabinets

True L with Corner Pantry

True L with Corner Oven

I think i’d Close it off also, it’s too tempting for people to hike through the main prep area with it there, which is a safety issue anyway. I’d also scoot your fridge recess down (away from the dining room) just far enough for a broom closet or some other narrow storage next to it - fridges hard up against walls cause all sorts of issues with door opening and replacing the fridge. Either that, or make absolutely sure the fridge recess is shallow enough that the doors can completely clear that wall corner. But I think a narrow cabinet (or even a few inches of a fill piece, thoug then you lose storage) is better as it gives you wiggle room if you need to replace the fridge at any point and can’t find one with the exact right dimensions.

No corner pantry or corner oven! Neither is worth closing it for!

I would not close off the current entrance. There have been many threads on this forum from people trying to figure out what to do with their corners. If you decide to go with the 'L', I would not angle anything in the corner, as it is a huge waste of space. I think that the 'L' also makes the kitchen look smaller than it really is with the tall items crowding the range. I like the entrance there as it allows the kitchen to breathe.

Functionally, I think it makes more sense to 'zone' your kitchen and put food storage together on the shorter wall to the right of your entrance. I would flank the refrigerator with pantries or pullouts and place a MW drawer across the aisle on the short end of island. Although it sounds like a great idea to have the frig near the dining space, it is not necessary. I had that in my previous kitchen, and there was just too much going on in the same space with my cooktop. Snackers can then get to the refrigerator and MW without traipsing through your cooking zone. It's also less steps when putting groceries away.

I would use a range and as many drawers as possible on the long wall for all of your cooking needs. By eliminating the refrigerator and double ovens you would have a very spacious look and a tremendous amount of storage and prep space.

Dirty plates will be coming from your dining space, so I like the DW on that end of the island, with dish and cutlery storage either across from or next to the DW, making it easy for someone to set the table without getting in your way at the range. I would also extend the island and make it as long as the range wall.

I like wilson's idea of flipping the fridge to the other side, and leaving the DW in the original location. I'd keep the fridge on the long wall, but it doesn't look as if you can recess it into the hall--then it protrudes into the work aisle. Does a counter-depth model have enough storage for your family? Maybe it's just the perspective of the drawing, but it looks as if having the fridge on the short wall would crowd the traffic aisle.

Can't you move the door? I'd slide it down closer to your pantry. I realize that puts it steps away from going around the wall to the LR; but actually, those are several extra steps with groceries, and it opens a passage so people don't have to dart through that corner of the LR. It makes the main kitchen traffic go in front of the island, as it should.

I'm not usually the first to recommend something though, so not sure why that option hasn't come up yet.

Thank you everyone for your feedback. Definitely gave us some new options to consider that we had not even thought about.

We decided against closing off that entrance and keeping it as a broken L.

Michael, how is your kitchen working for you? I have similar layout considerations. Thx!!