A 50cm is not wise enough to be an entry way. So the second option is better.
Is I

Actually, I checked the plans and it is more like 600mm. Would that be a better width?

Well 600 is better than 500 but as drawn you won’t get 600 once you allow for a jam and hinges. A standard door is about 820. Go and mark off 500 in one of your existing doors with tape/cardboard and then imagine using it multiple time to prepare a meal. You may find it ok, but it would be too tight for most.

my suggestion is a combination of both ideas with an angled wall to allow for 750 wide doorway but, as i expect that the door would rarely be closed, make sure that you ask the cabinet maker to make the pantry door out of a thin cabinet door matreial so it can stand back out of the way against the inside pantry wall or you may decide not to add any door ...and, inside the pantry has 400-450 deep counter along the long side, and a deeper 450-600 counter at the narrow end of the pantry as it makes a better work surface for sorting supplies and hopefully you will be able to steal some extra storage space under the stairs and i would also have 150-200 deep open shelves above and open shelves below the counter although sliding doors might work if preferred and i would also rearrange the cooktop and stacked wall oven for a more symmetrical look

They are excellent suggestions. I didn't think of swapping the cooktop and wall oven as thats the way it has always been but I like the symmetry in the swap. I can also get a larger pantry with combining the two designs. Yes. I had thought the pantry door would be tall kitchen cabinet door to match the other doors.; I'd seen one at a kitchen showroom. I have a pantry now where the sliding door is always open, so hoping to be able to keep this one closed!

The stairs are actually going down, so no opportunity for storage under there :(

yeah!! stairs going down is so much better as you can have upstairs pantry storage that can be built as deep as needed starting from above upstairs floor height so as not to impact head room over the stairs...talk to your builder to work out how much space they can allow for built ins without impacting the structure as it will make much more space for a better pantry

The kitchen is small, I would like to see more of the floorplan to see what is possible

I thought it was a good size. There are only two of us - empty nesters!

It’s not dissimilar to mine in size and it’s a family home. I have repurposed a nearby cupboard for appliance storage but at the moment I have empty cupboards having had a good clean out.

It looks like you are making a lot of changes and wonder if you could expand that pantry area as per the following. you could just have a 600 deep extension to the existing with cupboards/shelves above or do a return at the end of the space ?

I would also look to extend the 620 Nib wall to 700 depending on the depth of your fridge and add another 25m panel on the other side to build it in, if not you will have part of the side of the fridge next to the cooktop.

bigreader - the designs are very similar. Yours looks great and you have a lovely big window over the sink. I am going for a narrow window below eye height otherwise I will just have a birds eye view into my neighbours driveway and carport which is understandably used for storage! I think both our kitchens are a good size. I am not an amazing cook and don't spend hours in the kitchen baking ect. Our kitchen is very much a utility space - we gather elsewhere. The kitchen is being relocated and at the moment is around the corner and a bit out of sight. I am nervous about the whole open plan thing and still wonder if I am doing the right thing. The current kitchen is where the new study is going to be.

Hi Susan, that’s funny I also look out into the neighbours carport. I would go with a larger window, you can always add frosting or window coverings that allow light with an obscured view. I love the practicality of open plan but it’s a battle to keep the island clear. I’m sure when you’ve finished all your remodeling you’ll love it.

you could also add a fixed window between stairwell to add extra daylight to the pantry

Bigreader your kitchen is looking great. We had an island on wheels growing up. The wheels were fully concealed and didn’t lock. Lots of people got surprised when it moved as they leant on it. I use to move it to use it to climb up to reach overhead cabinets. Memories.

I was wondering if you might consider the following layout to avoid that awkward corner space you can buy pantries that have doors that open out and then slide back on each side, you have enough space for them. I also feel that having the sink so far from the cooktop, draining hot water etc could be a problem. This plan can give a 3M island with a panel behind the sink to cover any dish mess, it can also do a return around to the side facing the walkway, Having furniture shown on a floorplan helps to see how the whole room works.

Hi siriukey and thanks for your suggestion. I did consider this kind of arrangmenet, however decided aginst it for these two main reasons. 1. I don't want a sink in the island. 2. the view from our home is to the north west so want to keep the sitting area closest to the back of the house. That's why the dining table it in the middle. Please keep you ideas coming!

I didn't see any furniture placement in your posts , I had placed a floor to 40cm panel above the benchtop where the sink is to give coverage to any mess if that's what you are concerned with. Given the sink in your floorplan is to the side it will be exposed to the whole space. Your current Island is 2100 the new 3m so plenty of space with extra storage, which way is North?

Thx Kate. Hoping my teenagers don’t climb on the island. The castors are more visible than I’d like but I love the practicality. My prior island (same kitchen guy) was also on castors but the panels extended to near the floor. Missed this in the drawings this time. :)

Hi siriuskey, fair enough. I didn't have the furniture in there, sorry. I have gone with an inline layout.

Hello Susan, I like the plan that Siriuskey drew with the bench continuing all the way into the pantry area. The bench maybe harder to get to the further in you go so a return across the end would be good (altho I hate the dead corner) It would be open all the time but that is not too much of a problem in my book: the kitchen is a work space so it doesn't matter if it looks like it! Think practical. If the builder does a 70mm wall or adds a fixed glass to the top of the stairs it will at lease give the illusion of more space! Then the appliances have the room to live and work in the pantry. Flour, sugar, cocoa above and bowls, tins and spatulas in drawers below and a chocy cake is made in to time!! Air fryer, spray olive oil and tongs: Juicer, glasses, tea pot, mugs, toaster and spreads, you get the idea! It looks like a great kitchen to me and I am like you: I only have a kitchen because it came with the house. But I love the way mine works and love my wall oven so I'm not groveling with roast dinners or chocy cakes either!! enjoy and show us what you finish up with! Cheers Margot PS great idea to not have the sink on the island. put it as far to the dining end as possible to give as much benching as possible. :)

I haven’t yet finalised my kitchen plans. I have a couple of design meetings next week. It turns out the bathroom will be completely gutted - which wasn't what I expected - so I have an opportunity to redesign. I've added the current floor plan but its all upt for grabs. The door can be anywhere along the short wall. The only constrain is the window which is centred and 1800 mm high. I want a bath - looking at a 1425mm bath at the moment. I can't find a design that works and I'm not happy with anything my designer has suggested. The picture attached gives the dimensions of the room. So, putting it out there for help!

This is a pretty typical design these days

Thanks, Kate. I'm not really a fan of the 'wet space'. I appreciate your suggestion.

I am not either but it does look nice

Can you tell us what you don’t like about the pic you posted?

enclosed toilet

@bigreader - the shower screen has to come in front of the window to be wide enough and I didn't like this.

This is a new design - I like this much better. Thoughts?

I like it. I’m assuming a wall hung vanity with drain underneath. I think you could consider a longer bath depending on the sizes available. I’d also check standard vanity widths unless you’re having it custom made. At the non shower end, budget permitting, you could consider a tiled seat and hand held shower for shaving and pets. If you’re planning on using the dwarf wall as a shelf (much better than a niche) then make sure the drawings and measurements have the shower screen on the bath edge not the inside edge and maybe consider making the dwarf wall a fraction wider. And if you’re planning the tall cupboard make sure the drawings take that wall to the ceiling or at least the height of the cupboard. Lots of things get missed between the designer and the builder so watch the little things.

Last point. What is the sight line into the bathroom, the door opens to a lovely view of the toilet. Not a biggie if it’s off a hall, can be unattractive if yiu can see the loo from a living area etc. can the door swing the other way?

The bathroom is off the hall so toilet is OK there I think. Great advice re the dwarf wall near the bath - I will make sure the screen is at the bath end - to give a shelf in the shower I assume? Yes, hopefully the wall will be to the height of the cupboard. Maybe to the ceiling wold look better but might make the shower a bit dark. Why do you suggest a wall hung vanity? Alos regarding tile height - I want' going to go floor to ceiling. What do you think about tile height?

The way drainage is drawn it’s going to the bottom of the vanity. If it’s not wall hung you need to make sure the drainage fall goes elsewhere where. Not all states require a central bathroom drain but even if yours doesn’t you don’t want the water directed to the plinth of a floor mounted vanity. The trend is not to go all tiles. In the shower area I’d go to the ceiling if a standard height ceiling, if high ceilings then at least to the top of the screen or shower head whichever is higher, try and get your horizontal lines eg top of fittings, edge of tiles, top of screen, all to line up. Behind the vanity I’d do between vanity and cabinet. Behind the bath I’d line up with the top of the dwarf wall.

Layout looks good. Shower is long enough to have towel rail and robe hook within enclosure. Move toilet so centre is 400 not 450 from side wall. Agree bigger bath cans fit. At least 1500 but 1800 if gor an adult better. Toilet can sit within 800 mm wide space.

Hello Susan, Have you resolved the pantry plan? If it is built are you happy with it?

It isn't built but I think I have resovled it. It will now be 1200 wide with a 600 cabinet door - not sure how that is going to work - I might leave it off to start with?