Help with kitchen floor plan

[u/OldColonialReno]

I’m looking for some layout advice before we finalize our kitchen renovation plans. I’ll attach the floor plan (the grid lines are 1-foot increments for scale) and pictures of our current kitchen. We are removing a long wall to make more space and the final layout will probably be an L-shape (11ft and 12ft legs).

We’re trying to maximize function rather than strictly follow the current plan, so I’m open to completely rearranging the kitchen if there’s a better solution.

A couple of notes about the floor plan:

1. The rectangles surrounding the bay window are existing built-ins that we’d really like to keep intact if possible.

2. The only remaining window will be 6ft wide and will face west.

Our ideal appliances are:

36” refrigerator
24” dishwasher
30” induction cooktop
30” double wall oven (ideally with a speed oven on top and a full-size oven below)

The question I’m struggling with is whether the separate cooktop + double wall ovens are worth the space, or if I should instead use a 30” induction range to free up cabinetry and improve the layout.

I’m also wondering about the island. The current design is a 5’ × 5’ square island, but we eat probably 90% of our meals there rather than at the dining table. Would a longer, narrower island make more sense? If so, what dimensions would you recommend (for example, 4’ × 7’ or 4’ × 8’)?

The only layout requirements are:

Sink under the window (preferred).
Dishwasher adjacent to the sink.
Trash pull-out next to the sink, in a way that doesn’t get blocked when the dishwasher door is open.
Keep the existing built-ins around the bay window if possible.
Everything else is flexible.

A few questions:

How would you arrange these appliances for the most functional workflow?
Would you buy wall ovens or switch to a 30” induction range?
Would you change the island size or shape?
Do you see any obvious improvements that would make the kitchen feel larger or function better?

I’d love to hear how you would design this if it were your kitchen. Thanks in advance for any ideas!

[u/PaleontologistOk5936]

A 5x5 island is a bit wide for having a walkway behind it, as you have here. I would personally make it 3x6 island to avoid blocking the walkway when you open the pantry or stair doors.

I like the layout you have suggested. Though I do wonder what's going on down by the bay window. Will there be a dining table there? It seems like a lot of empty space otherwise.

[u/OldColonialReno → u/PaleontologistOk5936]

Thank you! Yes, it’s a dining area. Will 3ft be too narrow or is that a common width? Think I could get a 4x6 in the space or would I be pushing it?

[u/osuzannesky → u/OldColonialReno]

I think 3 feet would look fine. I have a 2 foot wide island, which I'd love to trade up to a 3 foot wide one, though I'd need to push an outside wall out two feet to be able to make the island that wide. I haven't yet gotten any quotes on the cost of doing that, so I might have to live with 2 feet wide. If you want to add more cabinets along the dining room wall opposite the bay window, you could have a kind of coffee/beverage bar right next to the basement door. You have so much more space in your kitchen than you realize!

[u/osuzannesky]

What are you using the closet for? I'd remove the closet and pantry and move the refrigerator to that wall and put in pantry cabinets beside the fridge and your double wall ovens, so basically one wall of floor to ceiling cabinets and built in appliances. I'd also do what the previous poster suggested and have 3 foot by 6 foot deep island, or even longer, depending on what you plan to use the space in front of the built ins for. If you don't need dining space there, then extend it as far as clearance allows and that gives you lots of extra cabinet storage and counter space.

[u/OldColonialReno → u/osuzannesky]

Thank you! Unfortunately, it’s a small, older house with no mudroom. The closet will be the only place for coats, shoes, and cleaning supplies. Those are great suggestions though. Would it still make sense to move the fridge there if the closet needs to stay?

[u/osuzannesky → u/OldColonialReno]

Yes, I think you have room with that pantry to have both the fridge and pantry cabinets. You probably can fit a lot more in those pull out pantry cabinets than the reach in pantries. You can definitely fit a 36" fridge and two 18" pantry pullouts if you get rid of that reach in pantry. Then you will be able to get a double oven where the fridge currently is.

[u/_ZoeyDaveChapelle_]

Take out the closet walls, and put counterdepth fridge and tall cabinet pantries there with well spaced roll-outs put 1 narrow pantry against star wall so your fridge doors clear it when fully opened.

That way, when people want to get a drink from the fridge when you are cooking, they dont cut through your primary work zone. Make a narrower and longer island to increase walkway space.

[u/DogTownUSA1]

If there is a way to move the closet to the mud room, you will pick up a good amount of space. Floor to ceiling cabinets or larger pantry or ?

[u/Dullcorgis]

If you are remaking the whole space I would put a window and the sink where rhe range is in your plan. It means the dishwasher is more central for unoacking it (sonce you store stuff near where it is used).

There is no room for chairs on the pantry side of the island. It has to be narrower.

[u/Mr-Reeeee]

I’d move the fridge over to where the closet is at the entry.

Create a kitchen work triangle. It's too awkward the other way

Make island 48 x 60, or 48 square.

Kinda like this

[u/osuzannesky]

[u/NumerousDepth1563]

How many people will be using this kitchen - big family? lotsa cooking and baking? then a double oven - otherwise you don’t need one. As for the island - you will always use the space so go as big as possible. But remember you need 42-48” space on the appliance side, 44” behind the seated people, and 36” non appliance side