Please review our kitchen layout and island design

12 years ago

This is our first remodel project and we would really appreciate your feedback on our design. We are at San Jose, CA. If you have a good kitchen designer recommendation, I would appreciate your referral also. We have decided to go with GE 48" built in frig, 36" GE induction cooktop, GE oven, 2 dishwashers, 1 GE avantium speed oven (next to the frig). We will have 2nd microwave and toaster oven on the counter somewhere.

We talked to a couple cabinet makers but they want to put together a layout as fast as possible to give me a quote rather than talking through the pros and cons of my 3 designs. They are not trying to think about better designs. Since we spend a lot of time in the kitchen and family room area, this is the most important room that I want to get right. We have 2 teenagers who will be doing homework in the kitchen and probably will have friends over and eat around the kitchen.

We came up with 3 designs with our own software - please see the links for pictures. Each square is 1sf. I did not make everything perfect since I am still learning how to use the software. For example, I can't figure out how to create 1' countertop overhang for the bar chairs.

(A) Island counter with Square end

(B) Island counter with radius

(C) Island with built in banquette booth

Personally I like the comfort of sitting in the booth but my husband does not like booth since he is tall and it's not that easy for him to get in and out of the booth. Although I love booth, option C somehow does not look as nice as option A/B. I am wondering if I actually have enough room for booth (the size of the island is flexible).

For option (A) and (B), do you think the radius or square end look better?

Initially we want double ovens next to the frig but now decide against it since it would make the window area feels smaller and less open.

We would really appreciate your comment and feedback such as size/shape of the island, appliance placement, and your vote on the best option (or some modification). Thank you so much in advance.

Here is a link that might be useful: option A B C pictures

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Comments (5)

herbflavor
12 years ago
In terms of overall vibe-will say that I like plan A, but in all the plans the table by the bump out wall seems dwarfed by the island/banquette in the middle. There seems to be some competition/and the table in the alcove with the nice windows seems to be losing out in terms of significance in your design. If you do not see this as an issue,so be it. I kind of like the island with the radius-think that people will sit and interact there...Sorry, haven't examined how you placed things against the walls-it looks okay-others will take a harder look....have you gone through many configurations to get here? It looks modern-ish....is that your style?
User
12 years ago
You have a dining room too, right? Well, no one needs 3 places dedicated to eating in a home. If you want to do all of your casual eating in the kitchen and keep a DR for formal meals, then take over the breakfast area entirely for your kitchen. If you prefer to have a place for snacks at the island, and do your meals at the breakfast table, then make your formal DR into a library or office or some other useful space that will get more action than twice a year.

Other than that advice, I do like the curved island design better than the others, but would like you to process where and how you would really like to eat your meals. And then translate that into your plans for your kitchen.
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It's going to be really nice, Amybo. You're going to love it. I'm not one of the real layout mavens, but if it were mine... As designed, I think the cleanup sink might be closer to the stove than desirable. I'm imagining people busy there and at the stove at once. Regarding the island sink, I'd move it over so I could work/chop there and pivot-step directly to the stove and back. The step-in pantry's nice, and if it didn't cost me anything I might well go for it; however, in terms of storage it doesn't gain much of anything over a series of full-depth pullouts on that wall that would provide as much storage with significantly better accessibility. The pantry would, though, allow you to step out of traffic when you go in there and give you a private place to...adjust your bra? Whatever. I might have the door swing in against shallow storage for items that are less seldom used, but then I'd have to design the door for safety--i.e., somebody collapsing against the door so it couldn't be opened.
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I have a very similar space and tried and tried as you are to locate the sink and stove on the same run and it just couldn't happen without cramping and majorly sacrificing function. We ended up with our main and only sink in the island. I was hesitant I really was but it really has allowed effecient use of space and keeps the auxiliary traffic out. We have 2 boys and use our island all the time for all sorts of things - snacks, wrapping presents, homework. Having the sink in there has not impeded any of those things. I know you said you really didn't want to do that but to sacrifice functionality to avoid it you might want to really think hard on it before you get too far. On the other hand if you can squeeze more length in maybe you can do it - but then I'd want a prep sink on the island, a water source there somewhere even if it's a smaller one. Our island is 9' long and has room for 4 stools on the long end and one on the short side. It houses the sink, dw, trash and a 4 drawer stack. We have a decent over hang, about 16" which makes seating comfortable. I like green designs - our MW is right by the fridge and that works well and usually those 2 appliances are used right in succession - no crossing zones to get to them. Good luck! It is so tough to get everything just so! If only I'd have analyzed the rest of the house as much as the kitchen! ;O
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Thanks for all the comments and suggestions, here are the responses to questions & the changes we've made (waiting for updated drawings from KD): I would flip the line up on the island, with the prep sink on the right, and a shared trash pull-out on the left Flipped the island line-up, so the prep sink is now in the middle of the island and the prep & cleanup areas won't bump into each other Moved the trash pullout to be under the main sink, will have storage on the left side of the prep sink it would be more efficient to completely separate the prep/cooking and clean-up zones We've not swapped the range & the sink for a few reasons - the range wall will be the "cooking" zone with both ovens, appliances in the appliance garage etc. Plus it will look better to have the range & hood directly across from the living & dining rooms :) While we do value function over form, in this case I'm thinking our kitchen is small enough where it won't be inconvenient to go from fridge/ pantry (supplies) to island (prep) to range wall (cook) Do you know in which cabinet the broom and step stool (and pet supplies if you have a pet) will be kept? Broom, step stool & pet supplies - still trying to figure out where these would go. One option is to add a 6-12" tall pullout closet (Rev-a-shelf or similar) next to the pantry. Another option is @jzlcantu's suggestion to remove the wine rack/ bookshelf and replace it with a 15" pullout utility closet. We like the open shelves because it breaks up the "closed/ large cupboard" feel of the pantry cabinets but a pullout closet might be more functional. why is the door opening at 48" wide We wanted to have a wide doorway leading into the hallway to make it feel a little more open & for convenience (people who want to come in for a snack from the bedrooms), there will be no actual door here just a straight opening in the wall (no trim). We would like this to be atleast 42" which could give us another 6" on the pantry wall. you have zero clearance from the door opening to the drawer cabinet There will be a 2" filler next to the wall oven (it's not currently shown, working with KD on including it in the diagram)
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amybo
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks. It looks like I got 2 votes for option (A) - curved counter.

I do have a LR/DR combo at the front of the house for formal dining. We will spend majority of the time in the family room/kitchen. We have 2 eating areas (casual table and counter/booth) because I want to have 1 are for eating dinner and the other area for spreading out homework (2 teenage kids) without having to clean up homework stuff for dinner.

The house is simple modern-ish style with very open floor plan and tons of windows.

If I have thought of option (C) with Island & built in banquette booth, I would change the layout of the kitchen and have banquett booth and some counter space with bar chairs. However, the walls are already up and I can't come change current floorplan - perhaps you have some thoughts and suggestions?
User
12 years ago
What about a banquette in the bay space? (In addition to the curved island plan.) That would give you better traffic clearance between the two seating zones. I'm a bit concerned that it's on the tight side now with the traffic through to the back door there.
herbflavor
12 years ago
The teenage kids will be gone at some point...I would decrease the volume of base cabinets on the island-but give yourself the counter with overhang that you seek. In some years time, you would have the option of removing just the biggish countertop and replace with a more moderately scaled counter-be able to leave the base cabs.Then the table can take its rightful place back-even pulling it into the room some.This is a compromise for where you are at right now in the process.

Please review our kitchen layout and island design

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herbflavor

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