Please help with appliance locations/layout

10 years ago

We are finally getting closer to a start date for our addition/ renovation and i am having the worst time trying to decide on a layout. The pressure is on since we recently found out that we are expecting a baby this summer. So not only is there a definite time crunch, but my pregnancy brain is just not too sharp! I am posting the plan that our cabinet maker sent me, but honestly, i am not happy with it. I had another design from someone else that placed the fridge on the same run as the range on the long wall ( in line with the aisle between peninsula and island) and the wall oven, micro, pantry and refrig drawers on the wall where this plan shows the counter depth fridge, micro and pantry. My husband likes the location of the fridge in this plan better because he thinks there would be a problem getting past the open doors of the fridge even with the aisle opposite, but i'm not convinced. Here are my concerns:

1. location of wall ovens opposite peninsula- is there enough clearance to open oven and stand in front of it?

2. glassware closer to fridge - right now, the design has it in a weird spot at the end of the range run, no where near dishwasher, fridge, dining area

3. pull outs next to range - really don't think i want these cause i am so used to having my spices in upper cabinets and thinking i can fit oil and cutting boards under prep sink

4. no designated place for fridge drawers for extra drinks/ produce in this design- where could it go if i convince my husband it will be necessary for our soon to be family of 5. so worried that produce won't fit in those small counter depth fridge bins and we love our fruits and veggies
my architect also planned the aisle wider than what is shown between sink and island - there will be no wall under the overhang between posts so i can gain about 3-4 inches setting the cabinets back, but will lose some space in end cabinets due to posts.

As a point of reference, behind the half wall (where clean up sink is) will be addition of family room, the basement door is next to microwave, door to hallway leading to bedrooms is by basement door, area to left of peninsula will be wall with entrance from mudroom and a pantry closet. The dining room will be to the left of the family room.

Thank you so much for any help you can offer

This post was edited by phillyfeet on Mon, Feb 24, 14 at 15:59

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Comments (9)

feisty68
10 years ago
Sarah Richardson says:

"Double wall ovens are on the Ã¢ÂÂnice to haveÃ¢ÂÂ list if space and budget permit. My issue with them is that they generally steal precious counter space that could be better used for prep areas. But there is a solution Ã¢ÂÂ¦ instead of buying a double wall oven, buy two single ones and install them below the counter on either side of the cook top. This allows you to create a symmetrical layout with maximum counter space to spread out while you whip up a feast."

Example photo in link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: Renovating An Older Home Yields Space and Beauty
phillyfeet
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks feisty- i'll take a look at that link, but i just realized i made a typo in my post - it is actually a single wall oven that i am putting in (in addition to a gas range). i know i wrote wall ovens.
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Can you recess it (take some space away from the mudroom lockers and push the back wall for the fridge back)? Then, you could put it where you want, it won't protrude into the walkways, it won't be the focal point, etc. Is the wall load-bearing? If your drawing is mostly to scale, it *probably* won't be visible from the foyer. Your original location for sure would have obscured it from view of the foyer. And, obscuring the fridge from the foyer is a nice touch (not a deal-breaker, but I don't feel like the fridge is something my friends all need/want to see when they enter the home.) I'd actually consider swapping the location of the wall ovens with the fridge... Not really as convenient for quick snacks, but kids won't be in your work zone anyway. Ovens aren't open for very long, and since your cooktop is sheltered by the angle, that would probably be my second choice to your original plan.
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Thanks, live_wire_oak! Let me find some more details to post. You've put your finger on exactly what I'm worrying about ... I'd like to make sure the island cooking zone is functional for teaching children. And teaching my friends, who all seem to be turning gluten-free and/or vegetarian. They repeatedly ask for lessons instead of the boxed meals I give them now - but that's all I can handle from my tiny rental kitchen. I am planning a 42" w 27" d high CFM island hood with a remote blower, so that I can do some of my "grease" and "spice" cooking there, without smoking up the house. What I'm worried about is counter space and accessible storage for my spices, lentils, pots and pans, since I'll have no upper cabinets. Thanks again, and more soon!!
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Yes, entry is movable, too, it's kind of nice at this point that everything is mainly on paper. I'm sure I'll feel a lot more panicky/tied-down once we actually start (hopefully 1st week of March). And thanks for the ideas. I don't think I actually want a message center, I thought about it but DH and I are thinking it will be more a magnet for clutter than useful to us. We have a full study/den downstairs (next to the foyer) which is where computers and bills and the like go. I'm thinking of putting the kitchen phone at the end of the buffet (end closest to kitchen) and maybe using a drawer there to hold a phone book or message pad or the like. But I don't think I want more than that. That said, though, it is interesting to think that the space could be expanded that direction for whatever we end up using it for. I guess I should double-check with the architect, though, it may be that little short wall is load bearing - that's the top edge of our existing house, and I know the columns (square dots in the buffet) are load bearing, so maybe it has to stay? Or at least would be expensive to move. I was reading another thread where someone posted about the various work zones and the way things should flow and thinking that my latest proposal, a few pictures up, might actually be pretty functional. With zones near each other and ideally going around the kitchen so you don't interfere. They talked about incoming/storage, where we could put grocery bags on the island and then store into fridge and pantry. Then next is prep, where food comes out of those and onto the island near the prep sink. Then cooking, where we go to the range and ovens. Finally I think was clean-up, where we move on over to sink and dishwasher. Anyway, made me happy to think that at least I'm not thinking things that are completely dysfunctional :-)
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Damn.. I've written this twice already but the site won't let me post another follow-up. What's the deal with that!!! Anyway, I looked at the whole house plan and saw that the 'nook' is actually a corridor connecting your kitchen and DR so you have it set up like a butler's pantry. Now that makes sense (although on the first drawing it looked like it was an enclosed space). But maybe you could still extend the kitchen wall over a bit to gain more cabinets or countertop in the kitchen space.
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feisty68
10 years ago
Sarah Richardson also recommends 36" clearance, so you should be good with the clearance shown in the diagram.

I really have trouble visualizing with floorplans like yours. I think it would help you to use Google sketchup or some other 3d software to see the room from different sightlines and to design around windows/doors/openings.
phillyfeet
Original Author
10 years ago
maybe this will help - i have the 3d mock up of each wall. i'll post the range and fridge walls
phillyfeet
Original Author
10 years ago
Fridge wall
phillyfeet
Original Author
10 years ago
And just to add to the insanity- this is a 3d image from the original design with the fridge on same run as range

This post was edited by phillyfeet on Tue, Feb 25, 14 at 11:27
phillyfeet
Original Author
10 years ago
Can anyone help make this space the most functional it can be? I'm seriously driving myself crazy. Why does it seem easier for me to see how to fix other people's layouts, but not my own?
annkh_nd
10 years ago
I don't think the appliance layout is bad, but I'm a little confused about your openings. What's to the left of the kitchen? It looks like the fridge is easy to access from family room (drinks and snacks); I don't know about dining room.

I agree with you about pullouts by the range. The 21" drawers shown would not be great for pots and pans; 30" would be pretty good.

So there are no uppers on the cleanup side? Will all your dishes go in drawers?

Speaking of drawers - many folks here (including me) would recommend drawers for all your base cabinets, unless you have a specific need for a cabinet instead.

A lot of people don't like an angled base cabinet, but I have one, and love it. Mine has a drawer above - in my kitchen, it's the perfect spot for a knife insert. My cabinets were custom built, though, so I could get whatever I wanted.

Good luck!
phillyfeet
Original Author
10 years ago
annkh
thanks for replying. so so you think either layout would work with the appliance location?

i am posting a partial layout of the addition/reno to get an idea of where things are in relation to the kitchen. some things have been changed to the kichen layout, but the rest is the same.

you're right about the fridge being easy to reach from family room in one plan vs if it were on the same wall as range, then it would be easier to access from seating at peninsula and dining room. I want an undercounter fridge by the family room if we put the fridge on the range wall, but overall appliance budget will definitely be a factor with that decision.

there are no uppers by the clean up zone and i am not sure where i will put my dishes yet. right now, in my dysfunctional kitchen, glasses are above the dishwasher and dishes are on the other side of the kitchen. quite honestly, it's the least bothersome to me of all the things i dislike about the my kitchen. I did consider moving the clean up zone to that right wall (where fridge is in first layout) so i could have uppers by the sink and dedicated baking zone where the sink had been, but the KD talked me out of it.

i will definitely review the base cabinet configuration regarding drawers once i figure out where i want to store things and the size of some of my stuff.

i chose the angled cabinet in the corner because i was afraid people would bang up the cabinets if they didn't line up a hinged right angle door just right. that would irritate my husband. haven't ruled out corner drawers here instead of a lazy susan.

This post was edited by phillyfeet on Tue, Feb 25, 14 at 12:53

Please help with appliance locations/layout

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Please help with appliance locations/layout

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