Awkard Kitchen Help

10 years ago

This is the best website and has answers so many questions so far! This is our first time kitchen planning, and we would appreciate help to finalize our plans. The room is awkward as it combines our kitchen, dining room, foyer, hallway and laundry room!

Mission: I want a functional open kitchen where I can entertain while cooking and cook while my three young boys are running around. I want a combined kitchen / dining room that provides room to cook, sit down to eat and entertain as well as allow my sons to do homework while I make dinner. On my must-have list is lots of storage, an island and a second sink. Since the room is also the entrance to the house, I want it to be inviting, attractive and easy to maintain.

Pros: Lots of natural light, open space
Cons: Ceiling is 93", Complete hub of the house

The entrance to the home is on the bottom-right, next to a doorway to the living room and bedrooms. A fireplace on the bottom wall. Doorway on bottom left leads to main bathroom and back door. On left is second sink, double oven and fridge. On right wall is large window and baseboard heating. The wall cabinets are there as a placeholder since I want to build a bench. On top left is the laundry room with a bay window and sliding doors (not used often). Flood zone so needed to bring the laundry upstairs, and this is only place. Top wall has cooktop with hood, main sink and dishwasher.

Any suggestions before we finalize? I appreciate any feedback since this is my first time, and it is so hard to make so many decisions! Thank you!

This post was edited by Milosc on Wed, Feb 19, 14 at 12:33

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Comments (6)

CEFreeman
10 years ago
Talk about open concept.
I pretty much suck at layout, but it really sounds like you've got a lot to work with.

Hang tight.
The Ones Who Know will be in shortly. Prepare for a helpful tornado!
Cindy103d
10 years ago
I can only see part of your drawing in the post, the bottom half is cut off. You may want to try reposting it.
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I don’t prefer predominantly black fixtures for this space; imo, it obstructs the line of sight too much. But the lantern option OP mentioned is for sure better than the current wagon wheel fixture. Here is an article about staging with lighting, and lanterns are referenced: https://www.homewithkeki.com/2018/06/home-staging-lighting.html And, btw, OP - although lighting choices are ultimately a matter of personal preference - fyi, copper works with wood, and copper also works with your wood; it could offer you an updated look. I think the lantern/fixture I show above (in my previous post) is out your budget. But there are actually many light fixtures in the world - and the one I posted earlier was but one option. And at least I posted a lighting option... seeing as this was supposedly a post requesting options for replacing a light fixture... If anyone thinks that lighting and light fixtures are not important for staging a home for sale - think again.
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I don't know how deep the bay window well is (you said to ignore the measurements -- but the depth & length would be very helpful!) I will say that we did something similar -- we had a table space in front of a shallow bay window in the Kitchen that we grew out of very quickly. We replaced it with a counter-height bay window and ran cabinets across it but not in the bay itself. The counter did extend into the bay, but not the cabinets. We have approx 24" b/w the back of the sink and the window with an overall depth of 45" from the back of the bay window to the edge of the counter. I have long arms and cannot reach the back window to clean. I can barely reach where the counter meets the window. If yours is as deep or deeper, I recommend doing one of two things: Eliminate the bay window altogether & replace with a window similar to the other one in your Kitchen -- but at counter-height, not raised. Replace the bay with a box window that is no deeper than the side windows and straighten out the side windows (i.e., no angle) What is feasible and/or worth the cost will depend on the structure of your home. E.g., is the bay cantilevered past the rear wall of the house (ours is) or is the bay an integral part of the back wall? What is the exterior of your home where the bay window is -- brick, siding, etc.? Given the amount of changes you're talking about, I think you will be better off replacing the cabinets so you're not jury-rigging them to force them to fit where they were never meant to fit. BTW...if you have a full basement under the Kitchen (or even a crawl space), it usually doesn't cost all the much to move plumbing. Regarding the range -- if you plan to put it under a window, then you should switch to electric from gas. Check your local Code, but I'm not sure you're allowed to put a gas range in front of a window that opens and/or you may be required to have at least 12" b/w the window and the range. I'm not an expert and no one can tell you for certain what is/is not Code in your locality without knowing where you live (country, state, county, and, sometimes, town). I recommend you research whether there are any restrictions in your area. It's also possible there is no Code to prevent it -- but that doesn't mean it's a good idea! E.g., with gas, an open window could blow out the flame while the gas continues to flow; the flame could be "distorted" by a breeze coming in, which would affect cooking; if you keep the wood trim around the window, it could be a fire hazard. Definitely no curtains or other flammable item too close by! Also think about cleaning -- grease splatters, etc., on the window. Have you considered moving the range to the bay window area instead of the sink? It would allow you to have plenty of space b/w the window and the range and give you space for the range hood that you'll need. Just don't have an operable bay window If you would like more help, a fully-measured layout is needed. The one you posted only has a few of the necessary measurements. Here's an example of what we need: Also see the "New to Kitchens? Read Me First!" thread.
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jane__ny
10 years ago
Your photo is cut off on my monitor also. The only comment I will make is the fridge with the wall ovens. I have always found you need counter space next to a fridge and next to wall ovens. You diagram doesn't show any counter space.

Try to repost the diagram.

Jane
Milosc
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks! Attached is floor plan and various views of rooms.

Jane, The fridge placement is awkward. I was hoping the island and undermount second sink would work as counter space? The layout is attached now, so suggestions are appreciated!

Here is a link that might be useful: 3d design view
debrak2008
10 years ago
When I click on your photos they do not get bigger. There are no measurements marked. The link just takes you to the ikea website.

I would suggest posting the layout larger with marked measurements such as distance between island and perimeter, etc. If you can't get this ikea thing to post just draw it on graph paper.
lisa_a
10 years ago
As debrak posted, your images are too small to be useful. I can't read dimensions at all to really be of much help to you but here are a few quick comments.

It looks like you have a large space to work with but my first impression is that you aren't taking full advantage of the space. For instance, what is the purpose of the bench below the windows? They look to be counter height so why would you not put cabs and counters here? Are you hoping to create a banquette seating area? If so, your island will interfere with it.

What is the purpose of the 2nd sink next to the ovens? There isn't any counter next to it so there's no place to set anything down, plus it takes the place of a landing zone for oven items. The island looks like it's farther than the recommended maximum of 48" away for that to serve as an oven landing zone.

You have little room between sink and cook top - usually the hardest working area in a kitchen - and even less counter on the other side of the cook top.

I have some ideas but I need a larger, clearer drawing first.

So, as debrak suggested, please post a larger drawing. Clearly mark doors and windows, wall span between them, and tell us what items are fixed. In other words, can any doors or windows be moved?

It would also be helpful to see a lay-out of the first floor (doesn't have to be too scale) so that we know how the kitchen relates to the rest of the house. Show us traffic patterns through the space.

I've read your description above several times and I still can't get the verbal image to match your drawing. Here's an example. You wrote: "A fireplace on the bottom wall. Doorway on bottom left leads to main bathroom and back door." However, the drawing seems to only show the fireplace, not a door on the bottom wall. Do you mean the left end of the bottom wall or the bottom end of the left wall? I'm a visual person, I need images. ;-)

A 2-D drawing is all that is needed, IMO. Don't worry about how it looks in 3-D until you have come up with a functional lay-out in 2-D. You can always tweak the surface features as needed.

See the link below to a thread where the OP drew up her home and kitchen on graph paper. She posted the day after you did but because her drawings are easier to read and work with, she has gotten many more responses to her plea for kitchen planning help.

Here is a link that might be useful: Help for smallish, eat-in, trafficky kitchen layout?

Awkard Kitchen Help

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CEFreeman

Cindy103d

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Awkard Kitchen Help

Comments (6)

CEFreeman

Cindy103d

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jane__ny

MiloscOriginal Author

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Milosc
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