Can you get rid of some of the cabinet doors and do more drawers on the lowers? I would also get rid of the pullout by the wine fridge and get wider drawers in those lower cabinets (that I would make into drawers!).

Where are the drawers?

I would change all the standard lower cabinets to drawers. You might want to read the many posts about why most people prefer drawers.

I don't like the trash placed to the left of the dishwasher. How do you take a dirty dish, scrape stuff into trash, rinse dish and place in dishwasher. An open dishwasher would be in the way to reach the trash.

Ditto the drawers. The kitchen in this house does not have exceptionally high end finishes, but it does have drawers...all the lowers are drawers. Love them. My cookware, baking pans, mixing and serving bowls, small appliances, paper goods etc....all in drawers. I haven't gotten down on my knees to reach to the back of a cupboard in years.

If you can adjust the window to the left, without adversely affecting the appearance of the exterior, I'd suggest moving it 9-12", and then putting the DW on the right side of the sink. While you are prepping and cooking, a helper can load or unload the DW without interfering with your tasks. I also agree that the trash should be beside the sink, which will be easy, on the left, if the DW is on the right. NKBA recommends 21" between a DW and perpendicular run of cabinets, but you can get by with fewer inches. The narrow cabinet can house cutting boards and sheet pans.

Another vote for drawers: GW discussions--all drawer bases

I was going to suggest all drawers and the layout that mama came up with.

I agree about moving the DW to the other side of the sink. We currently have our DW between the sink and range, and I can't stand it. I can't wait to move it during our reno!

If you move the window over 6", you'll have 18" in which to stand to unload the DW. If that will be comfortable (I have 13" or so, and it works for us), then the upper becomes 36", and you can use a 6" base pull-out. Rev-A-Shelf

MamaGoose has very good suggestions.

The 6" filler pullout that she linked to will give you more usable storage space than a 6" base cabinet. Filler pullouts are just the pullout hardware and sized to utilize the entire space without taking space away for cabinet walls. The pullout attaches to the cabinets on either side of the space.

In our old Kitchen, we only had the 12" b/w the DW and the corner susan and it was plenty of space for standing there while unloading the DW. However, many people find it too small, so it will depend on you and your family. The NKBA does recommend at least 21" so if you or your family are large or just need more space to move around, then think about more than 12".

Would change lower cabs to drawers. I don't rinse dishes before they go in DW, so trash-sink-DW location would not bother me. I'd put a KitchenAid mixer in an upper cab, in order to gain more drawers.

Looks good, except for lower cabs not being drawers.

KA mixer in an upper cabinet? I don't know about you, but mine is much too heavy to be an upper cabinet! You really shouldn't put heavy items in an upper cabinet -- if they slip out of your hands, it can be dangerous if they fall on you.

I would do one of the following:

• Leave it on the counter (maybe get a cover for it when it's not in use to "hide" it and keep dust out)
• Store it inside an appliance garage
• Store it on a pantry shelf about waist-high.
• You could also have one 18" base cabinet with a mixer lift in it. It'll take up most of the cabinet, but if you don't like it on the counter and don't want it in a pantry or similar, then that may be your best bet.

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The sink-DW-trash location has nothing to do with whether you rinse your dishes, it has to do with being in the way of someone trying to prep. If you're prepping on top of a DW, no one else can get to the DW to load/unload or add something/take something out. It's also not pleasant prepping over a running DW (heat and steam).

Unless....are you referring to scraping and then loading the DW? If so, then I understand what you're saying with regards to DW & sink (no need for the sink).

The trash, though, is best located in the Prep Zone since most trash/recyclables are generated during prepping and cooking. Ideally, it should be in the Prep Zone but near the Cooking & Cleanup Zones. If you put the DW on the non-range side and the trash pullout next to the sink b/w the range and sink, then you've accomplished the ideal!

You're probably already convinced about the drawers, but I'll add my vote anyway.

I had 2 angled upper cabinets in my old kitchen, and I despised them. Lots of space - but difficult to access, and since I'm only 5'4", I couldn't reach past the front of the second shelf. When we tore out the kitchen, I found a ton of stuff in those cabinets that I didn't even know I had, because I hadn't seen it since I stuffed it in there.

Now I have 2 easy-reach uppers, which I adore. I can see everything, and I can reach to the third shelf (the rest I can easily reach with a stool, compared to dragging a chair or climbing on the counter).

Have you considered putting a prep sink on the island?

Now is also the time to plan out where things will go in the new kitchen: pots and pans, bakeware, potholders, spices - the more thorough you are in this stage, the more efficient your kitchen will be, because you can plan storage to meet your specific needs (which may not be the same as mine).

Another vote for drawers. I did put one base cabinet to hold my KitchenAid mixer. I don't use it very frequently so I didn't put in a lift, I just exercise my leg muscles while lifting it up. :)

I'd also recommend not putting the drink fridge directly across from range. Could you flip it around to open on the end of the island, so people could get into it without being in the cook's way?

Looks good and great design!!

I will admit to not reading through so I apologize if I am repetitive.... since you are building new you can layout out the kitchen and relocate windows according to plan. The most valuable piece of countertop in the kitchen is your sink to stove top... make it fit the kind of cooking you do - minimum of 3ft up to around 5ft. SO move the sink accordingly. I also recommend using a hood wider than the stove and leave space on each side instead of touching the cabinets. I would also reposition the bev ref. It is right across from the stove - this will be an inconvenience when you are standing there cooking and have a lot of people over trying to get in and out. I would turn it out so it faces the other room. Also, please no garbage next to the stove.... when the oven is going you will get hot trash! Also the dishwasher should not be in your prep space, it should be on the opposite side of the sink.

Also make sure of your walkways.... you should have a minimum of 42" in front of the ref ( not the counter next to it ) and 45 + in front of the stove for ease of opening the oven. Your island looks to be just shy of 96". If you truly want to seat 4 comfortably, I would add 6 - 9" to that ( ideally 12 if you can go that far )...

It looks like it is going to be a great space!

Good luck!