Kitchen/sunroom/'nook' layout take 2 (long, pics)

drbeanie2000

12 years ago

Thanks for everyone for responding here when I posted originally - especially those who pointed out that the options I'd posted first didn't meet any of our goals/likes/dislikes.

Since then, we've hired a KD, and the following pix are what she has come up with.

First, our "existing conditions," annotated.

Next, one of the first cuts our KD came up with, after the architect had come up with the two "bump-outs."

In the next few figures are "elevations" our KD drew for the various regions marked on the previous photograph.

She'd put a prep sink in there, but since we got our gorgeous Van Gogh slab, we are not cutting into that baby. I've also become increasingly seduced by so many people's experience with the Blanco Silgranit Super Single w/offset drain, that I'm pretty sure I want to use it, so the sink area in the drawing needs to be quite a bit wider, I think.

As for all the trash, we have to dump it ourselves in our area - that means separating it and taking it to the local dump where we need to go to several of the 32 or so separate recycling stations (no kidding - corrugated cardboard, non-corrugated cardboard, white paper, glossy paper, newspaper, green bottles, brown bottles, clear bottles, cell phones, eyeglasses, wood, aluminum, paint, "bulky," goodwill, tires, appliances, tvs (separate from appliances), and at the end - straight trash. I'm leaving out a lot of the "stations" because I don't remember them, because I block out the horror of fighting all the dump traffic on Saturday morning due to ALL the residents doing this.

Ahem.

The other dump we have access to, really only has 4 stations: paper, cardboard, cans, and "co-mingle," which translates into "everything else." For co-mingle, we have to put everything in a special bag we have to buy at the grocery store.

So when I explained this to my KD, she came up with this 4-bin setup. I think everything will get filled up really fast, especially paper, but I can't think of a great alternative. Any ideas? We have to exit the house and walk outside and around the corner to get to the garage, by the way.

So, experts, what do you all think? Obvious layout disasters? Ideas about what to do with the "sunroom"/"nook" area? I prefer drawers to pull-outs, and that's what she's put in, other than the pantry.

TIA!

drbeanie2000

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Comments (6)

drbeanie2000
Original Author
12 years ago
More info -

We don't have little kids, we both cook in the kitchen, and we usually eat everything except breakfast in the DR.
lavender_lass
12 years ago
I really like it! The elevations look great and I think you'll be really happy with this plan.

My only concern is the placement of the microwave...where the uppers by the cooktop would open into it...or so it seems, on the drawing. Do you need two ovens and a microwave or could you combine them (maybe convection oven) and have storage, where the microwave is now?

Also, if you're planning to use the bigger sink, you may want to extend the sink area to the left a bit, as you show that possibility on your drawing.

The Van Gogh sounds beautiful and I like your barware/cookbook combination! If you get a chance, can you post the furniture plan, for the sunroom? I'd like to see it, since eveything else looks so well thought out. I'm planning a sunroom, too :)
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drbeanie2000
Original Author
12 years ago
Thanks, lavender!

We don't have a furniture plan, really. It had been a outdoor porch (hence the step down from the rest of the place) that had had the screens replaced by windows. It's heated by an electric baseboard heater that you turn on with a knob on the wall (and then hear $$$ flying out the dozens of windows...). There's a huge sliding glass door from the current DR/new kitchen area, which we pretty much keep closed in the winter, and open in the summer when it is our (my) gardening dumping ground.

Making it into a real room is basically adding a whole new room on to the house, and we're not really sure WHAT to do with it. We'll probably put a table and chairs near the bumpout on the long wall, but that leaves a lot of empty space. Because it will be so sunny, I'd like there to be some plants, probably mostly herbs, in there - but again, it leaves a lot of empty space.

Thoughts on how to fill it, anyone? :)
lavender_lass
12 years ago
I love plants! If that's the case, what if you leave the windows for plants/plant tables and maybe put the table and a couple of chairs, in the middle. If the plants are low, you can still see over them and enjoy your view.

Another option (rather than an eating table and chairs) might be two upholstered 'comfy' chairs and a smaller table, just for drinks. Or, if you like wicker...maybe a couple of wicker chairs (with nice cushions) and a tea table. So many possibilities :)
drbeanie2000
Original Author
12 years ago
Okey doke -

Now our KD has produced a computer layout of the kitchen with all our appliances marked in, to be sent off to cabinet people for pricing. The second one includes surfaces, which means our Van Gogh slab sliced up into island and backsplash, and an approximation of a lighter-colored countertop perimeter.

I don't know if that table/chairs setup will stay, but thoughts on anything else?

Yay!

drbeanie
lavender_lass
12 years ago
Oh, that Van Gogh is going to be beautiful! It's such a nice space, with all those windows and light. I think you're going to be very happy in your new kitchen, whether you're cooking...or just sitting and enjoying a nice cup of tea or coffee :)

Kitchen/sunroom/'nook' layout take 2 (long, pics)

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Kitchen/sunroom/'nook' layout take 2 (long, pics)

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