Mark, I'm currently designing a new kitchen, and I told the designer that under NO CIRCUMSTANCES can the trash can go under the sink. The trash can is seriously probably the single most used item in the kitchen. I'm so tired of constantly being asked (or having to ask someone) to move back from the sink for a moment so someone can throw something away. I'm hand washing dishes, rinsing veggies, cleaning the sink, whatever -- and it's a barrage of "excuse me" and I have to move so someone can access the trash. In my new kitchen, the trash is going to the side of the sink, period.

I get the idea of a large, flat surface on an island, but my favourite is an island with a sink, and the reason is making the kitchen a social space - whether I'm doing the dishes or a guest graciously offers to do them after dinner, having an island sink often means the person doing dishes is looking into the seating/entertaining area and isn't left out of the post-meal socializing! I also find people are more likely to volunteer to help with dishes when the setup allows them to be included during the job. :)

Hi Mark. The plan for this summer is to make my mom's kitchen more accessible as she ages. She can't reach upper cabinets any longer so considering dish drawers. Adding an island for more usable counter space and bringing pantry into kitchen instead of down the hall. Ageing in place in your home is a big deal.

It seems a lot of people are against island seating. I specifically designed my new kitchen to be able to sit 4 people around my island. I have 4 children and I cook dinner most nights. They like to sit at the island while I cook and we play music, sing, and just hang out. It's one of my favorite features.

I do like the individual questions format. I tend to be off put by hour long KZfaq videos. So digestible smaller videos can help me select which topics I'm interested in listening to.

I've had so many bad kitchens in my life that with my build happening now I spent months agonising over the plans! I went with an L shape cabientry and a island, fridge on one side next to pantry, induction stove top, hidden range, window backsplash, stacked oven tower, large single farmhouse sink at another large window where around me is dishwasher and bin drawers, everywhere has drawers for storage except island I kept as cupboards for my huge pots, have done seating at island for my son but also have hidden cupboards under the overhang and most important to me is I'm never a step away from a power point hidden somewhere! Can't wait 🎉

I was in the Girl Scouts of America for many years, from Brownie (they didn't have Daisies back then) up to Campus Scouts in College. Mom was a leader for many years and when she was invited to Bridal showers for her former scouts, among other items, she always gave them a "Rack-Sack" garbage can holder for beneath your kitchen sink. Simple, handy and lasts for years. Especially great if you have pets or children that like to get in the garbage, just put a child latch on the door, and your trash doesn't get spilled anymore. Amazon has one now called "TrashRac" that is very similar.

As always, it's very informative...just the right amount of info mixed with a lil humor... we learn and retain ...you are gifted. Thanks for the hard work. You are like seasoning too lil, no one want the info, too much, no one retains info, but just the right amount, even leftovers are good. So catching replay...even replay is good. Give Gammy big Ole hug🎉🎉🎉have great weekend with your family...👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻thumbs up all day every day... keep this channel growing...

more long detailed videos like this! love it!

Hello Mark. I’m late to the party, but I love your community and your expertise in design. I believe one golden rule is missing…adequate and functional placement of electrical outlets. I have a small tight galley kitchen with table table space at the end designed and built in the 70s. Great tight triangle with minimal steps between range / oven, sink, and refrigerator. Our big challenge is storage AND a missing electrical outlet in a strategic food preparation area. Makes no sense to me that this was missed. Interestingly, there’s an outlet halfway up the wall in the now defunct kitchen table area. Probably designed with keeping the toaster or coffee pot on the kitchen table in mind. The other challenge in this small galley is that the size new refrigerators jut out into the galley. Although we cannot open the dishwasher and the bottom freezer door at the same time, it’s no big deal. 70s kitchens were not designed for built in dishwashers 😅. One consideration regarding cleanup that’s not highlighted enough is the linear flow from left to right from stacking dirty dishes (requiring plenty of space) then convenient access to garbage bin, then sink and/ or dishwasher, then to clean cupboards. I credit my grade 7 home economics teacher for instilling this flow long before kitchen ergonomics was a thing.

Bought a 1940 cape cod and gutting so love the help!

38:00 parents supervising kids homework, or keeping young kids close for art projects, etc, benefit from island seating right in the kitchen as they cook.41:00 sink is offset so someone can be at range, while someone is at the sink.

Haven't been able to watch you much. I really like your talking points. You have great advice for any kitchen designer. Keep up the good work!

28:50 kitchen seating, or lack thereof... As someone with neck and back problems I prefer seating at counter height. I'm building a small 24" x 30" kitchen island on locking casters, with a drop leaf so I can sit while prepping. I do a lot of freezing of in-season vegetables. The island will expand in length by raising the drop leaf, to sit at, then fold down to the original 24" x 30" size. For me, versatility is what I prefer.

Great plan for a design

If I had that galley kitchen with the window at the end between the cabinets, it would have to be a tall, beautiful, dramatic cathedral window with divided panes, stained glass, or even glass block, if appropriate. I'm not a fan of counter-height squatty windows unless they're in a long bank of small pane casement windows along the back of the counter. If nothing is in front of them, I would want the window(s) about 18" off the floor and 7 feet tall at least. It would have to be a focal point and a thing of beauty. There's nothing like a statement window.

Some of us can't work in a kitchen without seating. Preparing vegetables, washing dishes, even stirring a pot on the stove - if we can't sit down while we're doing that, it's just not going to happen. It'd be cute if abled designers were aware that disabled people exist, and that we have to get on with our lives including eating regular meals while being disabled.

I don't have an hour to watch at the moment but this is my experience. I remember well the kitchen in every home/apartment I've lived in since I was 11 years old, that's 60 years. So I've got a good idea what is useful and what isn't. Since I started living away from my parents home I've collected A LOT of kitchen ware, china, glassware, etc. My needs are very different now than when I was 20 and had very little and it was only me. When I have an opportunity to watch I'll edit

There is no way more than one person could function in the small kitchen triangle that I have . For sociability, it has been opened up . That is enough. The "sitting" and "participating" is held at a small distance but just outside the kitchen area. No drawers or kitchen appliance doors are kept open. Open, close. That's the rule. Bruised eyes, split brows, knocked elbows and dropped bowls or plates a thing of the past when the rules are followed. Best consideration is a large, uncluttered workbench area and maybe a serving trolley with an enclosed slot that doesn't drip or leak fluids.

If I could change one thing in my current kitchen - the cabinets. I have full custom with inset doors. I hate it. The edges get dirty and scratched up. When they were new it looked like better homes and gardens, now it's super ratty. There's also an intricate design that catches all kinds of dust, they are hard to keep clean. My new kitchen will be Ikea. I love the metal Blum drawers and European style.

I really love this format. It's so helpful to discuss and criticize the floor plans. I'm about to build a U shaped kitchen with seating in the peninsula. I know you don't like that, be we really do love to eat at the counter. I was planning placing the kitchen sink in the peninsula. Tell me why it might be a bad idea. I think it's part of the perfect work triangle - sink in the peninsula, stove on the next wall, and the fridge and wall oven on the third wall. Thanks!

I live in a condo that I just had remodeled before moving in. The condo is small and I wanted to maximize all the space because we are a family of 4. In my kitchen I decided to turn my island into my eating table as well. My island is used for storage and food preparation on one side and it also seats 8 people. My condo is open style. Living room and kitchen in one open space. I also made my cabinets go up to the ceiling. My ceiling is almost 3 meters high.

Don't forget recycling. Depending on the local rules, recycling might go right next to the trash by the sink with the larger bins outside.

I'd much rather have the range/stovetop in the island than the sink. You're at the stove cooking and socializing. You aren't doing dishes and socializing and who wants to be having convos with guests over dirty dishes? I never understood the sink in the island. I do get the 2nd sink in the island though as you use that for prep while cooking while the dirty dishes get put behind you in the other sink. That makes sense to me. In the same plan, you wanted to swap the fridge with the oven/micro, but I disagree. When people open the fridge and are standing there a bit rummaging they tend to stand back a bit so you need that room in front of the fridge for that plus then you can't get around the person at the fridge if the island is there so I think it should stay where it is.

If I could change anything in my kitchen right now, I'd have cupboards 😅 I've been living for nearly 3 months without them (and will live for 2 more before they're installed) and it's been a pain in the arse.

i want to change everything in my kitchen! but layout and cabinetry is first

I think I’m really lucky with my kitchen layout - an L-shape with an island. A large single bowl sink sits between the dishwasher and pullout trash drawer. The refrigerator and walk-in pantry are on the same wall, directly across from a large counter. The entrance to the kitchen is located only a few steps from the garage entrance. The only thing wrong with it is the location of the microwave - over the range. I plan to correct that design flaw when I renovate the kitchen.

Hi Mark - New follower here. In the first layout with the beautiful wood cabinets, do you know/can you share the what the cabinet-facing is or who the cabinet maker is? We are the very early stages of our remodel process. That's very much the look/style I want.

Hey mark! If you ever do a 'kitchen projects around the world I would love your and the community's opinion on what I came up with. It has quartzite😊

No American cheese is American cheese in America... It's processed and different than cheddar, Swiss, provolone, etc.

I forot to say that i have a mini galley style kitchen and am constantly bumping and bruising myself on the dishwasher.

3rd kitchen, the electric plates in the backsplash very low, seems to be a shock hazard for spills.

Behave, Phil!

That first floor plan design needs help. food storage should be together meaning the refrig and pantry. Having a tall item next to exterior doors where you take food in and out not a good plan. The refrigerator is closing in the work area and there is hardly any work space around the sink. Why is the microwave so far from refrig?

My Nana made the Best pickles!! (I missed the live stream, so I'm going to submit comments!! Ha, ha)

How does the kitchen triangle work when you have a separate cooktop and double oven. Wouldn't that be a square?

So…. Does the triangle need to be larger for larger people? 5’9” wife 6’7” husband?

If you are right handed the dishwasher goes on the left!

I see homes called "upside-down houses" where the living area, including the kitchen is on the second floor, now you have to haul all of your groceries upstairs. Doesn't seem practical or safe.

Actually American cheese is called that here.

wow. Is the word "rubbish" really so difficult? lol

If you have to rinse your plates before putting them in the dishwasher, you've just spoiled the point of the dishwasher. You might as well just wash your dishes yourself at that point.

I'm in the minority.....I prefer not having an island.