"The oven will be staying put (except we'll buy a slide-in), the sink and dishwasher (across from the oven) will also stay put."

-and-

"...the fridge is (also will stay put)"

KEY items in a Kitchen that make or break a design are the locations of the refrigerator, range, and sink. If you're not willing to move any of them, then there's probably not much that can be done. In fact, if you're taking down the wall where the range is and leaving the range where it is, you're making it worse!

If the island is large enough to contain (1) prep sink, (3) prep workspace, (3) range, (4) landing space, and (5) at least 24" behind the range for the seats, then maybe it will work. However, that will require an island at least:

Width:

1.5" counter overhang + 12" landing space + 18" prep sink (minimum size) + 36" workspace (bare minimum, I'd want at least 42") + 30" range + 24" emergency landing space/safety buffer + 1.5" counter overhang = 123" (10'3")

Depth:

1.5" counter overhang + 24" deep base cabinets + 24" behind the range for safe seating = 49.5" (4'1.5")

Total island size: 123" x 49.5" (or, 10'3" x 4'1.5")

Venting...Overhead, exterior venting...Keep in mind that an island range will require bigger and more powerful venting overhead to handle the stronger and more air currents than against a wall; plus, there's no wall to help corral the FOGSS (fumes, odors, grease, smoke, steam) that will be spreading as it rises.

So, why can't the key items move?

@Buehl - thanks for the speedy response! On the why - I'm not certain we have enough room to open the wall up - and then move the stove anywhere else. We really need the wall out - it's super dark in the room and we don't use the front room at all, so this solves for a few things at once. We also really wanted to have a penninsula or something, rather than an L shaped kitchen, as it seems it would fit our family needs better (we have two four year olds who like to be involved + then we don't need to have an enormous table to fit folks at - which we currently have in a different room, and have found we don't love to have). That said, I'm very open to ideas that would improve the layout. We're novices here :)

Kitchen work studies show:

• 70% or more of the work done/time spent in the Kitchen is prepping. That's preparing a meal, snack, dough, etc.
• 20% or less is spent cleaning up (loading/unloading DW, clearing table/counters, wiping down table/counters, sweeping, etc.)
• 10% is spent cooking -- actually watching food cook, stirring, adding ingredients

By far, the most time spent/work done is prepping...so the Prep Zone should be the work zone in the most desirable location. For most people, that means the island (or peninsula) when there is one. Key items to a functional/successful Prep Zone are direct water access (i.e., sink in the Prep Zone), sufficient workspace (at least 36" with 42" or more much better), and next to or directly across from the Cooking Zone.

In your case, with only one sink, prepping is most successfully done next to the sink against the wall, not in the island.

OK --- if you're willing to be flexible, let me see what I can do. I'll check your layouts above first to see if all the key measurements are included. Stay nearby! :-)

Measurements:

• How thick is the wall that's coming down? (It needs to be factored into the measurements)
• You say the entire length from the sliding glass doors to the front door is 28'4" (340"). However, when I add up the measurements this is what I get:
• 79" + 175" + 86" + 24.5" + 4.5" (thickness of wall coming down - my guess) = 369"

Could you also please post a sketch of the entire floor? It lets us see how the Kitchen relates to the rest of the home. It doesn't have to be to-scale, but it should accurately show how the rooms relate to each other and should include all interior & exterior doors. In addition, it will help us see how traffic flows in, around, and through the Kitchen. Label the front entry and family entry. The family entry is usually a garage or side entry, but it might not be. It's helpful to know which door you use to bring in groceries.

Is that the Family/Living Room with the sliding glass doors? Or, Dining Room? (Sketch will answer this question). Do you plan to incorporate any of that space into the Kitchen? It looks like the Refrigerator is in that space right now.

Do you have a basement or crawl space under the Kitchen or are you on a slab?

Dimension check:

Wall coming down is a standard 2x4 stud wall.

The house has no basement and this is the ground floor.

We hadn't planned to incorproate much of the area on this side - as the sapce is a bit awkward. We have a way too large table in there now. We do have twin 4 year olds, so this is definitely a family home.

This is the view from the galley kitchen out to the rest of the downstairs.

Another view - there is a bathroom and laundry room beyond the door on the right

Rough sketch of the downstairs. I can do more exact measurements later today. we use the front door to bring groceries in, rarely use the garage door for that purpose.

The front room seems much bigger than the family room. Have you ever considered using it as the family room and turning the family room into the dining room?

@Sammy - We haven't found an issue with the family room space and don't want a TV to be the first thing folks see when they come on our home either - but it is how some folks in our neighborhood have their house arranged.

What will you be using the current DR for after the reno? It might be an idea to swap the kitchen and DR spaces.

Working on layouts. But, I was wondering if you had thought about removing the wall b/w the Family Room and the current table space to merge that space into the Family Room.

Not really related to the Kitchen per se, but just a thought!

@Jennifer K the way the plumbing runs through the house would make it really difficult to do so. I'll post the measurements of that space tomorrow, but its also not really that large.

@Buehl you can probably tell from the photos (look at the ceiling) that when we moved in we already took a wall down close to where the fridge is now. We had a structural engineer friend come approve walls we were removing and asked about taking the wall down in the family room and it quickly became a no-go for cost and structural reasons. Otherwise, we totally would have!

@k murphy just want to share a few thoughts. I think the idea of making the front room your family hangout area is a good one. Personally, I don’t see the difference in having people come in and see your TV “first thing” vs. a stove/exhaust fan or a kitchen sink of dirty or drying dishes, which you will also have when the wall is down.

The front room is larger and brighter. Right now you’re hanging out in a darker, smaller space because people might see a TV. In a grand home, I can see the reasoning. But in a cozy home, it doesn’t always make the most sense to try to hide the TV.

Two layouts. The first is an "L" with an island that seats 5. The second is similar to your idea, but it's a "U" with a peninsula that seats 6. Either would work, I don't even have a preference! (Usually, I do, but not this time.)

Note: I don't know how easy it is to put plumbing in the island or peninsula, but if it's at all possible, I would!

• First, the sink wall is lengthened by building out the wall in the bumpout by 11". That gives you more and better dish storage as well as eliminates those angled cabinets and triangular shelves -- I wholeheartedly agree with you on those! There's no issue with building out the wall as that space is not really used. You still have 12" b/w the bumped out wall and the sliders.

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• Second, both have a Snack & Tea/Coffee Center in the former table space. It includes the MW, plenty of storage for snack dishes and snack food storage (gets them out of the pantry), and 30" deep counters...really nice space to set up a snack center! You could even keep a toaster on the counter or other items in addition to a coffeemaker or electric teakettle (can you tell I'm a tea drinker instead of coffee!) They would be out of sight from the front entry. The location puts it near the cleanup sink for dirty dishes or water access, close to the main Kitchen area, and near the Family Room for snacking. I don't know how much space you have to work with b/w the Kitchen and Laundry/Powder Room, but it looks like at least 6 to 8 feet, maybe even more. The width could be tailored to fit your available space.

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• While I put in a MW drawer, you could also put a MW on the counter or hang it from the upper cabinets. However, I like the drawer b/c it will be easy for your twins to use it when they get old enough without having to get a chair (much safer!) MW drawers are easy to use and, in my experience, last much longer than countertop or OTR MWs. (My first one lasted 11 years and only died b/c of "user error"...i.e., I killed it. We replaced it with a second one and it was, literally, "plug & play", a very easy DIY to remove and replace.) (You can use the child-lock on the MW drawer until your twins are older.)

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• You have plenty of space for a decent sized table as well as island or peninsula seating, so take advantage of it! While island seating is OK for quick meals or snacks, a table is really best for family meals for family bonding, etc., when the twins get older. It's also much more comfortable for long-term seating.

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• The island or peninsula will work well when they have friends over after school for an after-school snack. It will also work well for homework, something I would not recommend if the range was on the island/peninsula. You also have a nice expanse of space for larger tasks such as baking, decorating cookies, science projects, wrapping gifts, etc. Yes, there's a sink in both, but since they're not centered, you have plenty of workspace.

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• The peninsula seating has two different overhang depths. 18" and 15" (the minimum recommended clear leg/knee space for counter-height seating), The 18" would be nice if anyone is tall or has long legs. (I wish we had done 18"...we did 15". We're at relatively tall family, ranging from 5'10" (me) to 6'7" (my son). Even I would have liked an inch or so more.) The island seating overhang is 15" deep on both sides. You probably could expand it to 18" on the short side. If you move the table 3" closer to the window.

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• How far from the wall is the front door? There was no measurement, so I didn't know what was available. What's on the other side of that wall next to the front door? I was wondering if you could fit a closet in that wall. Recess it into whatever room is behind it, maybe. Or, if there's space, work it into the new Dining Room. Maybe even create some kind of separation there. However, without more details, I don't know what will/will not work.

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The three primary work zones (Prep, Cooking, Cleanup) are nicely separated and allow for several people to be working in the Kitchen at the same time -- prepping, baking, cooking, cleaning up. This is especially important with growing children! At the same time, the zones are located that the work well for only one person working in the Kitchen.

Prep Zones...both have at least two Prep Zones with water access and, possibly another couple without direct water access. The Cleanup Zone could also be used as a (third) Prep Zone with water if no one is cleaning up or unloading the DW, or if there are no dirty dishes on the counter.

The primary Prep Zone is in the most desirable space and has the trash pullout. However, the trash pullout is accessible from the other Prep Zones and the Cleanup Zone. (You generate far more trash & recyclables and for a longer period of time than in the Cleanup Zone, so it makes the most sense to have the trash pullout in the Prep Zone. My biggest regret in my Kitchen -- I put my trash/recycle pullout in the Cleanup Zone across a 6' aisle from my Prep Zone and I regret it every single day!)

When the twins get older, you will appreciate the extra Prep Zones as you (or your DH) are teaching them to cook and cleanup.

Cooking Zone...the range is against I assume is an exterior wall based on your sketch. It makes it easier to vent to the outside. It's also in the most protected area of the Kitchen -- very desirable! It's location b/w the prep sink and cleanup sink in the peninsula layout and next to the cleanup sink & across from the prep sink in the island layout is ideal for multiple-cooks.

Cleanup Zone...Dish storage is next to the DW so it's easy to unload the DW. In addition, with the dish storage on the perimeter and away from the Prep & Cooking Zones, anyone setting the table will not get in the way of those prepping/cooking/baking. It's also a straight shot to the workspace in the Cleanup Zone from the Dining Room when clearing the table.

Refrigerator...is on the perimeter so someone getting a snack or getting condiments for the table will not get in the way of those working in the Kitchen. It's also close to the Prep & Cooking Zones where it's used the most while preparing a meal. It's better located in the island layout, but it's not too bad in the peninsula layout.

Microwave...see the above bulleted list. The info about its location is the same as for the refrigerator above.

Here they are!

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I'm not sure a "dark accent wall" hides a TV. It might while it's off, but when it's on, your eyes are immediately drawn to it b/c it's so much lighter than the walls. Perfect example of what I'm talking about in the picture posted. My eyes were immediately drawn to the TV (or picture) over the fireplace b/c it's so bright!

Something else to consider...if the Family Room is the first thing someone sees upon entering the home, that means it has to be kept clean at all times. No toy clutter, etc. I would not have wanted that when my children were young. YMMV

@Buehl I guess it’s just personal preference on which room is used for dining and which for living. My family spends way more time in our living space than our dining room. I suppose down the road the spaces could be swapped to meet the needs of the current (or future) owner.

And if you cannot add plumbing or move gas, this is probably the best you can do. While there's a lot of counterspace, unfortunately, it's not the best for multiple cooks or even one since the water is so far away. (You may say it's fine b/c that's what you have right now, but it's only b/c you've adapted to it. We human beings can adapt to anything -- good or bad! I would see if there's some way you can add/move plumbing/gas to make it better. I promise, you will be so much happier with the functionality!)

I would still stick with the "U" as it does add some functionality to your existing layout, even if it's not the best.

Another variation.

• Table - near to dish storage and fridge for easy table-setting, near to dishwasher and sink for easy clean-up
• Clean-up - you'll be able to unload the dishes directly from the dishwasher into drawers across the aisle.
• Snacking - fridge, microwave, and eating dishes are all grouped together, so easy to grab a quick bite
• Cooking - range is well-protected from through traffic, positioned on an exterior wall for easy/effective venting
• Prep - big prep counter with a view of the dining room and family room (good for keeping an eye on the kids) and seating across from the main prep counter for the kids

I think it will be a bit weird to enter the house directly into an eat-in kitchen, so I'd suggest putting a wide doorway between the kitchen and dining for some visual definition. Make it feel more as if you've entered into the dining room, plus the doorway will architecturally echo the family room doorway you are keeping.

Something like this badly photoshopped doorway:

@Buehl - WOW WOW WOW! You totally helped us out here. We just taped layout 2 out in our home and I think it's going to fit (or very closely w/ light mods) what we were hoping to achieve. We hadn't thought about buying more space in the work area of the kitchen w moving the penninsula out the way you did. We also are loving the idea of moving the stove over so we can get a more open sightline. This is such a great help - thank you for all of your hard work here.

I have a layout similar to the last one Buehl posted (peninsula with range, and entry opening on the dining room. It works fine as long as you respect a 36" hallway (so may be no chair on the hallway (your space is much larger than ours, so you should have plenty of space).

Of course, if you can move gas, plumbing, and electricity, this could be better, but it is a lot of money. So it's up to you to decide whether it is worth spending it.

Also, not sure where you live, but where we live, redoing a kitchen completely requires rewiring the kitchen (and replumbing it) completely. Not sure if you have checked.

You're welcome!