I am finally redoing my kitchen and would like to know what you folks have done with your kitchen remodels that you really like. Kitchen footprint will not change significantly. Layout attached is not to scale but close. The wall with no cabinets has our kitchen table and our parrot cage, so those areas must remain as is.

The wall with the stove and refrigerator is the biggest issue. Due to adding a bigger fridge and a bigger stove, it is completely cut up. We plan on having to relocate the vent hood. Stove is a commercial 36" dual fuel.

House is small without a lot of storage so need to maximize. Right now the corners of the cabinets are a waste. The prior owner built the cabinets in place and so there are vast wastelands in the corners. I would like ideas to improve those issues.
The peninsula has bar stools now, but we never, ever use them. I think I would prefer more storage on the back side, even if it is very narrow.

The microwave is currently on the long wall and hangs lower than the rest of the cabinets, so space between it and the counter is also somewhat useless.

Cabinets will be custom built (a trade for several years of accounting services) so I'm not limited in what can be done.

Floors will be changed and are on a slab. Probably porcelain tile but open to ideas.

Any thoughts or ideas are welcome!

Thoughts:

1. If there is enough space, loose the peninsula and put in an island instead. This will keep you from getting trapped in that dead end by the sink.

2. Go with a microhood - gets the micro off the counters and puts it closer to the stove.

3. Hard to tell from the scale but is there any way to get the fridge and stove closer to the rest of the kitchen stuff? Or maybe just keep the fridge and a pantry unit (both tall) on that end wall?

4. Since this is a total redo, don't get locked into where things are right now. Granted, a slab can limit your sink drain, but try designing by wiping the slate clean and starting again.

Thanks Jaybee. Don't think we can do a microwave hood as this is a semi commercial stove and the height requirement between burner and vent would require a ladder. I think the only thing that is "fixed" is the sink- due to the window. Just replaced the window and stuccoed the house two years ago and sure don't want to modify that. I will play with a layout.

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This message has been edited. Last edited by: NelsonJohn,

For some ideas on how it would look I've done several things before.
Use graft paper, draw the room to scale on the page and make cutouts of differant stock box cabinets to see what works.
If you go on line on the Better Homes And Gardens web site or Ikea they have a design center that was easy to to lay out kitchen.
I used the Ikea site the most. It would let me lay out the room including windows and doors, you can just pick a cabinet and drag and drop it in place. If it would not fit or needed a spacer it would tell you and move it over. When done it could show it in 2D or 3D.
Google also had sketch up, I've never used it before.
Most design programs use stock box sized cabinets, but that should not be a problum, because your just trying to get some ideas and to be able to show the man that's building them what your looking for.
A couple thing's I have found that were nice in a kitchen was a built in spice rack. We have one that a bottom cabinet, only takes up about 9" but there's 4 racks for spices. We have ours to the right of the stove so you do not even have to take a step to get to it.
A slide out rack under the sink. That way you cleaning supplys do not end up at the back of the cabinet where you have to get on your hands and knees to get to them in the dark.
A tall narrow cabinet for brooms, mops ect.
A good use for those cabinets over the ref. Is for baking pans and cookie sheets, the one's we have has rows of vertical dowels to separate the pans so you do not have to dig through a pile of them.

If you like to bake, and have a mixer, a nice touch is to have an appliance lift with electrical outlet inside the cabinet. Then you just swing the mixer in and out as you need it, and it's always plugged in. Also, slide out trash can drawer is nice. Also available thru link provided.

Click here appliance lift

For it to lift to counter height, you eliminate the pull out drawer.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Re-mdlr,

These are great ideas! Joe, could you describe your spice rack more? Hubby is a great cook and we have a lot of spices. Picture would be really nice. The space above the fridge will be limited as our ceilings are only 7'8". I've been keeping cookbooks up there and canisters - not sure what else I can do.
Thanks for all the ideas.

I'm 3 hours away from my house right now but here's some pictures of some like mine to give you some ideas.
http://images.search.yahoo.com...+spice+rack+pull+out

I use lazy susans as much as possible. They are great in corner cupboards. If you can't find ready made, you can buy the working parts and make your own, any size you need. I even have some plastic ones in the fridge. No more lost left overs.

My neighbor has old built-in cupboards and we put her spices on lazy susans above the stove.

I too would remove the peninsula and create an island, if possible. Maybe the peninsula cabinets can just be moved.

Thanks Joe - know I see what you mean. I am thinking an island would be best too. Great ideas everyone.

I too refer you A Lazy Susan because really its features are awesome like a rotating tray, usually circular, placed on top of a table to aid in moving food on a large table or counter top.

luxury furninishing

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JorgFritz,