Another Layout to Assess TIA

14 years ago

Hello everyone,

I am a new member, but a long time lurker (since August 2009). My husband and I are in the process of having a new home built...here is the kitchen so far...a few facts... as there are no dimensions on the drawings...the back wall with the 36' range is 19.5' and the pantry is framed and is 4' x 4', the wall with the main sink is 8.5' and the fridge wall is about 9' long. My island is 8 x 3 1/2'. I have tried to plan this kitchen with all of the advice that I have learned from this amazing site - what a wonderful and so helpful group of individuals!!! I am sure this will be one of many posts from me! A couple of other notes - the fridge is full-depth french door samsung and on the other side of it will be cupboards on bottom and wine racks on top with panels facing the island; on the island, the single door is a pull out garbage/recycle and the coffee/toaster station will have a garage door that lifts up. I plan to put an after market garbage under the 36' sink cabinet. Ok, I think that is all for now, thanks in advance for your advice and critiques.

I hope this works - it is my first time - I can't figure out how to link the whole album? Can you still see my whole album? I have never used photobucket either...sorry if I mess up!

Melissa

Here is a link that might be useful: Photobucket kitchen cabinets

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (10)

rhome410
14 years ago
Welcome and congratulations on building a new home!

It looks pretty good, but would love to see the layout from the top...Even if drawn on graph paper or any to-scale sketch with some dimensions. The 3Ds don't show the relationships as well. It helps to see the layout and flow of the house around the kitchen, too.

Where do you plan to store your dishes?
melissy
Original Author
14 years ago
I have added a sketch up of my floor plan and a basic picture of the house in progress. Here are some more notes that might be helpful...

I think my aisles will be approximately 48" from range to island, 37" from dishwasher to island and 43" from fridge run to island. The island will probably sit slighty toward the fridge (not perfectly centered with range, due to the 4' space for pantry).

I plan to store my cutlery, dishes and glasses in the first bank of drawers to the left of the sink OR on the first bank of drawers on the island - I am not sure what will be more ergonomically suitable.

Here is a link that might be useful: Photobucket Kitchen Cabinets
Related Discussions
Another layout option for difficult kitchen...
Q
Comments (34)
LL.. that sink is so pretty below the windows. the plan I am currently pursuing (although I do agree with LWO that I am trying to put 20 pounds of sand in a 10 pound bag. The plan is not your standard plan for sure) would hopefully have about 6" of space between the edge of the cabinet to the corner and the sink would be in a 36" sink base. LWO... thank you for helping me tackle this. I am going to talk to DH about removing the chimney. It is the kind of thing I would very much enjoy doing myself. I do worry about running into structural issues and being in over my head. We did have a contractor come in and the price was reasonable for removal ($1500) but the cost to re-do the master bedroom closets along with the disruption and possible domino effect of putting in beams, etc. are my reservations. In thinking through the compromises I would be willing to make, I would go to a 30" rangetop. I would also go to a 36" cooktop rather than the rangetop that projects into the space by a few inches. This would be one space saving option - I rarely need more than 2 burners at once - I only wanted the 36" for the griddle because I had one in my last house and used it all the time and loved it so much. BUT I would give up on that without much ado. The MW could go on a countertop to the right of the wall ovens. No problem.. I rarely MW anything - mostly just use it to re-heat my coffee. I would easily compromise to a 36" refrigerator or even a 30" as we could put another one in the basement if we felt we needed it for overflow, BUT my issue with this is the size of the doors swinging into the room. I thought the 36" Liebherr french door would solve this but I was disappointed in the cubic footage in the fridge. But a compromise on the fridge issue would be quite doable. The more I have gotten into this the more it would be tough for me to compromise on the cooktop with seperate wall ovens. I didn't have that in the last house and really wished I did. I have it now and even though the Maytag are ancient and only 24" I like not having to bend over and being able to just peer in to see what's going on. The other thing is seating in the kitchen. I just can't give up on that. We do have the dining room close by and it is not overly formal so we tend to eat in there for our dinners, but in the mornings with the kids and getting ready for school, we keep the ball rolling by being in the kitchen. I am making them lunch while feeding them breakfast and getting their backpacks together and getting them dressed (usually from the stack of clothes on top of the laundry machine) and having them brush their teeth (in the butler's pantry). Anne, I reworked the plan a little... am posting below. 55" inches from end of island to fridge. Could widen it a little. could also have stool on the end, just a small one tucked under. I really don't need to prep sink. Would be nice but totally not necessary... I use my MW sometimes once per day but more often every other day so not sure if I would want it in the peninsula - seems to valuable to give up on that prime location. If you think of anything else, please let me know. Here is the latest plan (posted on the peninsula vs. island thread)
...See More
unique or terrible idea for the island tia !
Q
Comments (5)
I assume your concern about a gas top in wood counter is due to the flammability of wood? People have been putting gas cooktops in formica- topped counters for decades. Formica is not only mounted on a celluosic-based (i.e. mostly wood) substrate, but is itself flammable, giving off toxic vapors as it burns as well. If I have a fire, I'd vastly prefer to deal with burning wooden counter than a burning plastic one! A bigger issue, I think, would be grease and food splatters generated by cooking being hard to keep from damaging the wood cosmetically. And to some degree the excess steam created by boiling might be hard on the joints in a made-up wood top. I have a powerfull gas range mounted next to a large slab (about 1 meter square) of mahogany counter (distance to flames less than 4" horizontally with enameled metal and stainless edging in the gap). This is an unjointed slab of wood from a huge tree, so no seams. Of course I have to remember to never set a hot pot on it (trivets needed.) But the main thing is that it requires removal every now and then for a heavy outdoor scrub to tidy up grease splatters. I use hot water, a coir scrub brush (a Japanese tawashi vegetable brush) and good dishwashing soap like Dawn, followed by a good rinse with a garden hose and drying in an airy spot out of the sun. Once a decade or so I use oxalic acid to remove badly stained areas, followed by a light hand sanding and recoating with protectant. In former years (before it came into my care it was in my childhood kitchen for about 30+ years) it was treated with unknown oil (probably mneral, but I don't know for certain). Since I've had it I only use a beeswax and mineral combo I cooked up myself. I give it several coats over the course of a week or so after it has dried from its bath, then once a month or so, and then after that only rarely. I wipe it clean before (indoor cats, 'nuff said) and after every meal and zap it with various pump spray counter-top cleaning products perhaps 5 or 6 times a week, depending on what I've used the surface for. As a rule I don't use it as a cutting board, though I don't really baby it either and occasionally will slice something on it as I prep. HTH L.
...See More
Another TINY kitchen--help with layout
Q
Comments (56)
Lyfia, I hear you, but if the front "LR" was a dining room, in our family, it wouldn't get used. My entire life, I've always had an eat-in kitchen--grandparents have eat in kitchens, etc. When I lived in the midwest, everyone had a dining room in addition to the eat-in space, the the dining room was just really a craft area that got cleared 2x a year for large family gatherings. Both sets of grandparents live about 3 hours away, where the family farm also is. So, for larger family gatherings, we are much more likely to be at the farm (either at the grandparents' house, or the cousins) than here. 8 adults is probably the most I'll need to accommodate; a few more if you count kids, but kids are also happy to eat in a different spot than the adults. I think it most likely that if I had a really large gathering (once in 3 years that it might occur), I'd set up a separate table either in the LR or the FR to accommodate the extras. I like to use my peninsula now, as a "bar"/buffet area for those large type gatherings. Which brings me to Peke's long comments (thank you!)-- I would like to be able to have multiple areas in the kitchen where a couple people could work simultaneously without needing to occupy the same space. I think I prep like you--I'd be fine with a 32" counter space. But, I would also like the flexibility, that while I'm working in the 32" counterspace, someone could pour themselves a glass of milk without having to be in my space. Or, someone could be mixing brownies, say, and I could be prepping the next ingredient, without having to reach over them (that is getting more and more difficult as my older daughter is about armpit height now)... A lot of the time now, that mixing is done on the kitchen table (which means I'm carting water from sink to mixing bowl at the table, etc). Or, I just kick everyone out of the kitchen and do it myself. So, I envision the peninsula/island/extra counter to be another spot for someone to be able to work, without clogging up the whole kitchen function. I still want to keep a dining table (as opposed to a counter) because we do make an effort to eat, nightly, as a family, facing each other, etc. There is no TV in the same room or on during dinner. So, our dinner times really are the family conversation time. We've been lucky enough to make that choice and have it work well for our family. Our girls also really, really love that time. Bedtime is smoother when we've had that too. If I understand an eating counter correctly, they are more likely to sit everyone in a line (like what you'd see in most island bar seating arrangements). We prefer to sit in an L or C shape. My primary grocery is Costco (it also happens to be the closest one to my house). So, when I shop, things come home in bulk sizes. The walk-in pantry allows me to put too large items on the floor (and I can close the door). It really does function very well for me while still being fairly compact (since the door is an outswing, and on an angle. The inside is really shelves on 2 sides with a little extra floor space (and crawlspace access door)). The Family Room is games and toys. I really like Lisa's plan E, but also plan D. I think I can use the shape of the pantry in sena's recent post (21:23)--I also like the plan. And, YES! I DO LOVE GW for the amazing creativity, experiences shared, as well as eye to function that everyone has. In a few short days, we've covered many more iterations/variations of kitchen for my space than I've thought about for over a year! And, that is truly wonderful. My next Q to all you who are still reading: DO ANY OF YOU HAVE A DW/SINK relationship such as the one drawn in Sena's 21:23? (With the sink 90* to the DW)? I've never had this (which is why I've been stuck on a corner something). How does it work, as an efficiency thing?
...See More
Another Rookie Needs Layout Help
Q
Comments (36)
AHA! That cooking for 60 is something I can certainly relate to! (Actually I can relate to two kids, but rely on rhome410 (sound it out) to explain how larger families work.) I don't know how your family room lays out, but encourage you to search for threads about multiple islands, and check the Finished Kitchen Blog as well. Something that might help with all those people wanting to be in the kitchen, and define the areas for you, would be to have a really big seating island where your breakfast area and den wall are now. It could then be partly kitchen area and partly den, and substitute for the wall in separating the spaces, while keeping them continuous and open. You might not like it for the same reason you don't like the wall--having to go around it and all. But what you could do is put a beverage/snack area in one part (microwave, beverage fridge, maybe even an icemaker), and, unless you need more kitchen storage, art drawers and desk stuff drawers. Maybe even have a coffee maker cubby and sink for that, art, etc., as well as overflow food prep when needed. A great project area. And party central. That might be more than your house can take, or it might be a budget buster, but it might be worth considering. Since you want a new table, etc., you could also do something similar, sans plumbing, by combining some freestanding pieces (2 desks and a table, maybe) with a unifying surface on top.
...See More
rhome410
14 years ago
I'm not usually a looks over function girl, but the pantry seems to loom there in the corner, and steals counter from the busiest section of the kitchen. If you can, I would make it only about 3 ft deep (measuring from fridge wall out toward sink wall) and maybe a little wider toward the fridge, so you'd enter it from just right of the microwave cabinet, and then flush out the fridge and other cabinets on that wall with it. You have a symmetry thing going on with the range and the windows, but the pantry intrudes on that design. --In other words, the pantry would be rectangular and line up with the fridge run and not show on the stove wall. If that doesn't make any sense, I'll draw it.

I prefer my island closer to the range than 4 ft, but prefer 42-48" aisles in front of the fridge and dishwasher.
melissy
Original Author
14 years ago
Anyone else have some advice/opinions?
bmorepanic
14 years ago
Not having much of a brain today - snow blindness! This is technical comments only.

Your dining area is only 9 feet wide. It will be difficult to impossible to have a full size dining set and seating at at the island. You might try moving the laundry to the back hall (rearrange mbr closet) and incorporate that space into the dining area.

The dishwasher will blockade the sink aisle - depending on your family habits, this could be a problem. The sink cabinet run is a little short for storing dishes or having a large trash or recycling receptacle in a cabinet. I don't know what you've planned for them.

The ref landing space is the island - primarily exactly where the prep sink is. You might think about whether to scoot it over to give yourself some room. Also, will every microwave user play run around the island to get dishes or silverware?

Where will small appliances be - coffeemaker, toaster, etc?

Be aware that no one will ever see the rigid symmetry of the back wall because of the island. Mostly we'd advocate for using the proper size cabinets for whatever it was you wanted to store there and then make it look pretty.

The island countertop can be 8 feet long, but the cabinets max at about 7'9".

Long way to kitchen when toting groceries.
melissy
Original Author
14 years ago
Thank you so much for your responses. You have given me more to consider. A few other notes...
My dining area is actually about 14 or so feet and there is exactly enough room for our hutch and dining table with aisles.
I am not terribly concerned about the blockade of the dishwasher, as it is only opened and closed for short periods of time throughout the day. My main garbage and recycling is planned for the island (next to the 27" sink cupboard, then 2 banks of drawers for containers, cling wrap, measuring devices/prep stuff mainly) and I will have a smaller garbage pull out under the main sink for scraping plates etc.
As for the microwave, we are not big microwave users, some popcorn and the odd heating up of leftovers. The coffee station will have a garage door and counter (above microwave) that closes over the coffee machine and toaser and I plan to store my mugs above or below the microwave. My dish/cutlery storage is a question, I was thinking it is close enough to store them in the first bank of drawers to the left of the sink or the first bank of drawers on the island, but maybe this won't work? Perhaps it is back to the drawing board? I know there is a bit of a trek to the kitchen from the the front door or mud room, but I really wanted to have my kitchen facing the back yard and my 8 x 30 covered deck...some sacrifices made in the convenience department for sure, but I am hoping it is worth it!
Please keep this great advice coming!!!
rhome410
14 years ago
The symmetry I was noticing had to do with the windows, hood, and blank wall space trimming the display of those things...So visible even with the island.

I'm not one to ask about grocery access, I guess, because I have to carry ours across the yard, across the 8 ft porch, through our 12 ft entry, through 12 more feet of house to plop it on the island. So I think yours looks pretty good! As long as you can walk a straight path between dining and living room furniture.

A slight adjustment of the generous island length could make it so that the dw won't block the whole aisle...No reason to make a potential problem if you can easily help it? And you might want to think, not only of fridge access in its aisle, but pulling it out to clean, repair, or replace. That actually makes me change my mind about the 4 ft aisle in front of your range, and think it's OK. We had to replace 2 dbl ovens in a matter of months and 4 ft aisles were definitely not too generous at that time..So I'd recommend 4 ft around your island on all sides in this layout.

Do you have kids?

Will you mind that your laundry is a walk-through? Mine gets messy enough without through-traffic, and I don't really want to see it every time I come in the house. But I know there are people neater and more disciplined than I!
bmorepanic
14 years ago
I was only speaking of symmetry in connection with the cabinets.

According to your drawing, you don't see to have 14 feet between the laundry wall and the island. Be happy to be wrong, but that's not the way its drawn.

I'll bite - where is the back yard?
rhome410
14 years ago
where is the back yard?

I was assuming it's behind the kitchen/stove wall?

Gotcha, Bmore re the symmetry thing...I thought you were responding to something I'd said, BUT you were saying she didn't need to keep her cabinets in those sizes just for symmetry if they weren't what will work best, since they're not seen anyway. We don't have snow. I just have brain muddle.
rhome410
14 years ago
Just noticed that the "9 1/2' wall" on the left of the kitchen has 4 ft of pantry, 2 1/2 to 3 ft of cabinet, then 3 ft of fridge, and about 1 1/2 ft of cabinet facing the dining area...for a total of 11 to 11 1/2 ft.

A guess at an explanation: Is the cabinet between fridge and pantry only 2 ft, and you're counting the cabinet facing the dining area as part of the dining room, so not included in the 9 1/2 ft?

Another Layout to Assess TIA

Comments (10)

rhome410

melissy
Original Author

Related Discussions

rhome410

melissy
Original Author

bmorepanic

melissy
Original Author

rhome410

bmorepanic

rhome410

rhome410

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Another Layout to Assess TIA

Comments (10)

rhome410

melissyOriginal Author

Related Discussions

rhome410

melissyOriginal Author

bmorepanic

melissyOriginal Author

rhome410

bmorepanic

rhome410

rhome410

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

melissy
Original Author

melissy
Original Author

melissy
Original Author