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Layout help request / reusing cabinets advice request

10 years ago

Hello GWers,

I feel like I've been lurking here forever, and now I'm finally ready to pull the trigger on a kitchen update this year. I'm attaching a current layout, so you can see the major problems, which are the horrible range placement, congestion at the entry door, and the lack of a built in dishwasher (have a portable set up now).

I'm trying to keep the cost of whatever I do reasonable (so no marble, high end cabinets,etc.), but I'm on the fence about whether upgrading to new cabinets is worth it. The updating will include ripping out the soffits above the cabinets, some rewiring, some drywall patchup, new countertop (open to laminate or lower cost granite/solid surface/etc.) and new flooring, too. A lot of this will be DIY or done by family members, except the drywall finishing work (I hate it) and the countertop and flooring install (nicer vinyl, more than likely).

If any of you have the interest/time, could you help me out with a couple of things?

1. Would you reuse these cabinets (a little darker than golden oak, but not too orange, nice solid early 90s Kraftmaid cabinets)?
2. If you did, would you gel stain them darker or leave as is?
3. I'm having trouble coming up with a layout, any ideas? I am open to removing the built-in pantry and replacing with pantry cabinet(s), moving the entry door (shown at the top of the page) to where the built in pantry is now, and moving the window. The window can't go any further toward the bottom of the page, though.

Also, there is a three season room off the kitchen that might be able to be turned into the dining area, if I bite the bullet and pay the money to insulate and heat/cool. I live in Iowa, so this is not necessarily a cheap proposition, but might be worth it, if it allows a really awesome layout.

I'm linking to the current layout, a drawing of the room with nothing in it, and one option I've come up with that tears out the pantry/moves the door, moves the window, and reuses most of the cabinets I have, adding in some new pantry cabinets.

Any and all suggestions would be welcome. Thanks!

This post was edited by hawkeyekitchen on Sun, Jan 19, 14 at 21:54

Comments (2)

sena01
10 years ago
1,2) If the cabs are in good shape I'd reuse them and I like their color on my browser. Maybe consider pullouts behind the doors or new hardware.

3) I prep around the sink, so prefer DW and sink next to the peninsula and move the range towards the door area (seems you'd have a good aisle in front of the range for traffic). But if you prefer the range closer to the fridge then your layout makes more sense. You'd miss a landing spot near the fridge. Maybe a small cart in front of the broom closet can help.
Cindy103d
10 years ago
I like your cabinets, and would not feel the need to do anything to them unless you plan to sell soon and all the comps have new fancy kitchens.

Can you find matching pantry cabinets? You may want to consider a built-in again. If your scale is correct, you have enough space to move the fridge down opposite the peninsula and have a fairly long built-in the same depth as the fridge. Then build an end end wall on the far side of the fridge to make the fridge look "built-in". With a regular interior door on the build-in, you'd have much better access than what you have now. You could use the peninsula as a landing space for fridge items.

I like Sena's idea of moving the range down closer to the door, assuming the door will open towards the wall with the door to the basement.
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