Islands...all one level or raised area for seating?
lavender_lass
13 years ago
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rhome410
13 years agocj47
13 years agoRelated Discussions
Fireplace Question: Raised Hearth or Level With Floor?
Comments (7)We have both. We did a raised hearth in our living room. A wood burning fireplace, not gas. Did the raised for a few reasons. Although the fireplace opening is fairly large, I wanted it raised for sight lines. I wanted it raised for the same reason Weedy wrote, that it actually does provide additional seating when needed. The raised hearth also makes access easier for me when tending the wood fire. My kids were young, 3 and 5 years old, when we built this house. Though the hearth could be considered to be a hazard of some sort, it also acts as a "stopper" or sorts, keeping the kids from running around right in front of the fireplace opening. My kids loved the raised hearth; sitting and watching the fires, warming themselves, etc. In wintertime it was one of their favorite spots for sitting and reading. There are differences between gas and wood fires, so your priorities may vary. Upstairs in our master bedroom suite I have the firebox raised off the floor, maybe 12" or so...but instead of raising the hearth too, I built the hearth itself flush with the floor. Up there I didn't want a raised hearth at shin level when someone was moving around in the darkness. We wouldn't ever use a raised hearth up there for sitting, we have a couple of reading chairs set around the fireplace. Though the room is generously sized, I didn't want the raised hearth projecting into the room. Raising the fireplace box itself still gives nice sight lines of the fire from throughout the bedroom area, even when in the shower or tub in the master bath, and the "flush with the floor hearth" preserves some square footage. So for us it was two different rooms, two different sets of priorities. And do realize your kids will be young and reckless for how long? Whereas the hearth will be raised or flush forever....See MoreCalling all kitchen space planning gurus :)
Comments (55)a lot of dishwashers are handle-less. It seems it would be fine to the left of sink. there will be stuff on island and peninsula so the peninsula location at[pivot and step] from sink seems it would be fine-even better in a way.rinsing of dishes is not de rigeur anymore.I don't know-I just get a funny feeling about the plan-switching range and fridge would help. I think it's something about the "center of gravity"-I'm not feeling it-there are several sections here but in the end, the "center" ends up the floorspace in the middle,oddly. Here's something-what if you had a long elongated U coming off the window wall---the sides would extend less than the peninsula..then do an island running left to right with stools across back. It's more straightforward and "center stage" which to me your space is asking for. I guess the island off to the left seems marginalized to me....for your lg space you get 3 seats? not good use in my opinion. You could have 10-12 feet of island running left to right, along with ends, so calculate seating potential with that. Also-at the left side of a U, coming from piano plaza, you could do the structure necessary to back up your fridge/ panel and finish off end and back so the fridge is situated on that arm of U-facing in. then place bench or deacon's bench on the back of this wall or whatever you construct. This carries theme of bench at front hall.[I like benches] This would be nice in that mini area. Maybe if you just pause,walk through and look at your existing space and ideas on paper as they have evolved and go back to your goals. You'll get something great here....See MoreMain (& only) sink in kitchen island_raised vs level counter?
Comments (14)Do the counter all one level. The raised counter doesn't do much, except interrupt your expanse of work space. If you want to hide stuff in the sink, your deep Super Single you said you are getting will do that, and anyway, it's a kitchen for goodness sakes, and it will have dishes in the sink. It's not expected to look like an operating room. I also prefer the sink not to be centered in the island. But others feel differently. Again, it's an issue of keeping the counter expanse mostly uninterrupted for the greatest utility. If the sink is centered, then both the left and right sides of of the counter are shortened. If you can, try to have the sink towards one end of the island. Just MHO, it's not a deal-breaker, just a suggestion. Where will the DW be? I suggest next to the sink, rather than not in the island. The reason is that you don't want to have to carry dripping dishes from the sink across the aisle to the DW, so the DW needs to be in the island too....See MoreOne level kitchen island or raised bar?
Comments (27)I have a peninsula and went with a single level flat counter - it's a 90 inch counter run and wanted to be able to have a large surface are for baking, buffets and overall counter space for siting, gathering in the kitchen. I also have three young kids, and felt that the bar height stools would just be too high off the ground for us to sit safely & comfortably. Either way, the angle wasn't going to hide my sink dishes but the new kitchen has motivated me to put dishes right in the dishwasher anyway, so that want really a factor in my decision. Also, I have lo;wer ceiling (New England Cape) and I wanted to maximize sight lines for the feeling of more open space - and the bar height would have broken that up too. Four years later, and no regrets on the counter height....See Moremelaska
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