I like option 2. More counter space, and you're not looking right at the microwave, that you don't love.

How about option three: Put the refrigerator on the opposite wall and keep the L open. If not, I agree with the others that option 2 is more functional, but I would try option 3 on paper first.

I prefer Option 1 -- the fridge in the other crowds the entrance, while having it by the dining area means people from there or LR can grab drinks without bothering the cook. I might put more drawers next to the range though, unless you have space for pots and so forth in drawers in the island. Also, there's no reason not to put an end panel on the fridge, and then you can continue the base cabinets under the window if you want to. Honestly, nobody likes to look at the ugly end of a fridge anyway. I have something similar on my fridge wall:

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New Kitchen 2016 -- wall 4 left · More Info

Even though your total empty space is large, the actual working kitchen space is tight. I'd put the microwave over the range and call it a day -- otherwise you're going to be sacrificing some of your few wall cabinets to put it someplace else. The only exception might be if you, say, do a lot of spicy frying (Indian food or other very smoky cooking) for which the extra efficiency of a real hood might be critical.

Note also that in Option 2, with the longer cabinets and island, you've basically eliminated the space for a real table -- be sure that your designer puts that into the drawing too, so you understand the trade-offs. In option 1 you could have a real table in that space, while in #2 you better have comfortable seating on the island, or you might as well just engulf the remaining space for kitchen. If you don't have a dining space somewhere else, then this could be an issue.

Couldn't see the island under your option labels. Very tight for an island. There's your obstacle to a good design. Can you live without it?

Valerie, that island is going to look chincy because it's too skinny. It's interrupting the flow of the kitchen and actually closing it in on itself.

Consider this layout. You could pull the cooktop to the new surface and create an exhibition cooking area. This makes great use of space that is otherwise a travel area without crowding the kitchen. It allows you to move the fridge to the wall with the skinny cabinets and end up with clean lines

I like to design using Sketchup. Most kitchen folks start with 2020. I end with 2020 as the last step to produce shop drawings and cabinet orders. Here is the way I like to design using actual surfaces, with a model that you can zoom through at every angle.

Tight spaces are my specialty. You wouldn't believe what this looks like in the before pictures. :) P.S. There is a laundry in this this design, that's how tight the space is.

To walk in the front door and be greeted to a kitchen peninsula, with a cook top on it especially, is not exactly what I had in mind for the space.

Well, I think you made that decision when you decided to knock down the wall! At least a peninsula makes better kitchen space, and functions better than a pony wall, which isn't much of a barrier visually and isn't useful. I wouldn't cook on it, but you could have the end bulge out into some casual seating.

Then, I guess, maybe you could use a tall screen to hide the kitchen from the entrance. Or just get casual with your friends! :)

Curve kitchen · More Info

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I take it then that the bonus room was once the kitchen? I did assume that was a side or back door. Definitely not the place to put the cooktop! The peninsula works here, just make it pretty.

Is this a new build? If so, and you don't walk in the front door and be greeted by a kitchen peninsula, swap the kitchen and dining rooms.