I like the 2nd option better. Is the fridge actually against a wall or is that open to another area (no actual wall)...if there is a wall, make sure you have spacers in place to open the fridge all the way. I’m not sure I fully get how the tall pantry in option 1 works...do you have plans that show the layout from above?

Option B. The first wastes a lot of space the corner. If you have enough room for the double cabinets, it gives you extra space for seldom used items, so go all the way to the ceiling.

Can you use an ikea designer to make your plan? They are really great. We hired them twice to come on site and measure and plan our kitchens. They are excellent and know so much. You turn get the cost back when you buy the kitchen. It’s an outside company who works with IKEA who does this. Worth checking

Mama Goose, thank you very much, I appreciate this and the validation! I never realized how much thought went into these spaces and the indecision when you have a blank slate is really overwhelming! You helped me optimize the triangle in another post so I incorporated those suggestions here.

Hemina, there isn't a wall next to the fridge on the right, it borders the hallway. I put this overview together to give an idea of what I'm hoping for the pantry, the door would be flush to a wall, there wouldn't be a gap in the opening. In our existing kitchen, we have a single 30"W pantry which really isn't enough for the 5 of us. I looked at multiple ways to open up walls for a walk-in pantry but it involved cutting into shear walls and changing seismic supports so this was the compromise within in the existing footprint.

Calidesign, I was actually thinking the pantry would optimize the space in the corner with accessible shelving but the tradeoff would be counter space. Thanks for the thought on going to the ceiling, that makes sense.

A S, I've spoken with a few designers but since I change my mind so much, I thought it'd be a waste of $$ to work w them til I've settled on something that's pretty close to what I know I want. Once I get close on a layout, I'll definitely get their input to refine it.

I wonder if you need two sinks? It is small depth island and you are only 4 steps? From sink under window. I have had 2 sinks and we really hardly used second sink. But it is a choice. I would rather have a drawer unit so I could have spices in drawer right near stove top. Biggest issue is making darn sure your refrigerator doors can open full in order to easily pull out drawers. Biggest mistake made in kitchens.

Thanks, Flo. The island isn't small depth, sorry, this just shows the cabinets needed and not the countertop, the top will be 48"W x 100"L. The sink in the island isn't a priority but that's where the existing sink is now so the plumbing is already there and it seemed like an easy add. Friends who have one say that they use them a lot for the kids washing their hands or fruit etc while someone's washing the dishes. Good thought on the refrigerator having enough space to open on both sides, I'll ask that the filler be 2" there.

So for the 1st option, the panel (blue arrows) pulls out to see the items on the shelves? And the red arrows are for a different cabinet that swings open? What happens below the counter space?

Let me clarify. Extreme care is needed on refrigerator door opening. Manufacturer’s specifications are often incomplete so if possible, get to see refrigerator in showroom and physically measure, operate, take photos, ensure you will have on off water shutoff valve easily accessible. Assuming you will have ice maker and or filtered water. Depth can be impacted if refrigerator can’t be pushed into back wall. Do you have powder room for kids to wash hands. If so, delete sink in island. If you keep, move closer to refrigerator. That would make for a tidy triangle refrigerator to sink to range top. If budget allows, do glass doors cabinets above cabinets and put lighting in them. You are smart to get a good feel for your design before getting with designer but I think you are there! Best of luck.

Hemina, I can see how that's confusing. The three panels from the floor up would actually be one 90" tall door and you'd walk into a mini pantry with the 20" shelves on the left and 11" shelves in front and a blank wall on the right. I thought the built in cabinetry look would hide the pantry and blend better than having an opening or regular pantry door.

Flo, thank you for the clarification on the fridge, I will be extra sure there's enough room to open the door before ordering everything to avoid what you described, thank you!

I know the corner pantry seems like it would hold a lot, but I feel like you’ll end up with deep shelves and not be able to find anything. I really like the pantry on the end a lot more. It’ll be so much easier to access everything. Just do some thinking about how you want to use the shelves above your head...and plan the shelves to have heights to fit your things...short ones for cans vs cereal boxes from Costco...

I literally measured everything in my kitchen and sorted things by how/when I’d use them to determine where I’d put things and how wide/high a drawer or shelf would need to be. Sounds crazy...For example, I knew I needed a 30” wide drawer that was at least 5” deep to hold all the foil/sandwich bags/parchment paper, Saran Wrap etc. So all the top drawers ended up being that height to make sure that got accommodated.

Definitely B! Nice layout.

Excellent layout! Just wanted to chime in with my experience, and this may or may not be cost prohibitive give what you said about existing plumbing: the prep sink gets in the way of your work space around the range with your current plan. The landing space immediately behind the range (where your prep sink is) is valuable space for temporary food staging, chopping, etc while you are cooking. You may even prefer this space to the landing space on the sides of your range. Putting the prep sink immediately behind also creates issues when one person is cooking and another is washing. Not a deal breaker but definitely can get annoying even if you have the min recommended aisle width. Also, prep sinks take away valuable under counter storage space if you are already space constrained. In my own kitchen, sometime I do wish I had a second sink for a quick rinse, but when I think about the above compromises we’re still glad we didn’t. Good luck with the remodel!

I like B.