Need a solid plan to give cabinet maker, please help!

11 years ago

I am likely meeting with a local custom cabinet maker very soon! I received a quote from them based on a layout I sketched out but I need to make changes to it.

I could really use help since although I worked with (still am) 2 KDs, I don’t want to ask them to take time to show me any changes when now that I have prices I’m pretty sure I’m going to go the custom route. I really want to have a good idea of what I want when I sit down with the custom shop since I don’t think they have computer programs to show me changes until I know what I like, I sort of need to know ahead of time.

1. Prep sink…is it OK or should it be more on the corner or more in the center of the island? Somewhere else? Unnecessary (DH thinks so!)?
2. Induction 36" Cooktop/30" Wall oven…I was assuming wall oven under cook top, but after searching this topic, I’m thinking I’d be better off putting the wall oven in an adjacent base cabinet... I’m thinking to the right of where my cook top. Id have to steal an inch and a half from somewhere. I figured 36, but does a 36" cooktop require a 39" base?
3. And microwave…I know a drawer style in my island would be ideal, if budget allows I might go that route, but I hate to spend the $$ there. Will it look OK where it is? I wasn’t planning on a spacemaker, just my small one on a shelf, hopefully with some trim around it? Does that cabinet need to be deep? My current micro is maybe 14/15” deep.

If my spots for sink/appliances are established, can I have feedback on sizes/types of cabinets to surround them. For instance, I’m not sure how to get the best symmetry since I have 2 focal points on the long wall, the cooktop and big window/farm sink. I’m thinking that since I hope to have a nice big focal point with the window, I’m going to try to play down the cooktop so it doesn’t compete, does that sound right? I don’t want a big fancy hood, I think I want a stainless under cabinet, simple, but good quality and large enough…other question, do I need a 42” wide hood for a 36” induction cooktop? Can I just do 36” under cabinet?

I put a bunch of 24” cabinets everywhere, but Im afraid that’s too big of a door and if I make them all double 12” doors, that’s going to look like a lot of doors! I feel like I need to break it up with glass, different sizes, a skinny window, or an open shelf or something? Should the cabinets flanking the window be the same size? Should the cabinets flanking the stove be the same size too?

Do you see a spot that would look good with one of those taller, down to the counter, uppers? I’m thinking maybe on the side near the Dishwasher, it might balance that side out a little? But do they waste too much valuable counter space?

Placement of trash, drawers, spice, tray storage look functional? I’m hoping to put dishes in one of the 30” drawer banks in island.
Thanks in advance for any input!

Here is a link that might be useful: Entire First floor layout

Comments (7)

smiling
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
For your induction cooktop, it seems the different brands have different sizes and layouts of the burners, so it would depend on what size pans you cook with the most. On the Miele, for instance, the burner sizes are different on the 30" and the 36". If your brand will work in the 30" burner sizes, that will let you use just a 30" hood, too, and will give you a little more room top and bottom.
robo (z6a)
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
In general the advices on here has been to go no wider than an 18" door, that way the doors don't bash you on the head and don't block traffic when they're open. Your 24" easy reach is going to have smallish doors anyway, so personally I would convert them all to double door. The 21" I would leave as a single door since it's kind of out of the way.

The microwave cabinet would look fine bumped out to 15" deep.
Here is a photo of a bumped out micro cabinet

[
[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/lisas-work-traditional-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~277777)

[Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Philadelphia Interior Designer lisa furey

Personally that is also where I would do the down-to-the-counter upper and use the part under the micro as appliance storage.

I would be tempted to turn the fridge and put a little 15" cabinet beside it for landing space. If you don't turn the fridge you may have to worry about the handle hitting the wall on the bottom. Can you move the fridge so it's on that side wall beside the microwave shelf (is the doorway moveable)? Are you ok without a tall pantry? You could do a tall pantry with a microwave in it either where the fridge is or where the micro is.

[
[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-houzz-spacious-cottage-on-the-jersey-shore-traditional-kitchen-philadelphia-phvw-vp~327796)

[Traditional Kitchen design[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Philadelphia Media And Blogs Colleen Steixner
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Marcolo and Blfenton, the box thing in the southeast corner is just that, a box constructed out of drywall to take up the corner. I hate blind corner cabinets, so I would rather "waste" the corner entirely rather than spending money on corner cabinetry I hate, especially since it lets me put more efficient drawer storage on each side of the corner. It also allows me to have tall cabinetry on the east wall and uppers and lowers on the south wall, without having an issue where they meet in the corner. I might put a door in the guest room wall to utilize the 27" x 27" space from the other side to store items we do not need to get to often, like luggage. I agree that having the wall ovens 4' away from the nearest landing spot on the island is not ideal, but it is a big improvement over the 7' walk between wall ovens and counters in our current kitchen. If we move the wall ovens to the east wall, there is still at least a 4' walk to the island. 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live_wire_oak
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Your cabinet maker needs to provide input on this. If he doesn't provide input into the design aspects as to what is or isn't possible with him, then you need somone who will. Like a KD who you pay for a plan and who will consult with him as to his capabilities to fulfill that plan. It doesn't do any good to plan something out that he won't do. Frankly, I'd search for the combo unit of a cabinet provider and kitchen designer as you'd be better served by that since you have so many unanswered questions that can only be answered by the particular line/maker that you select.
ginny20
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
It's recommended, though not absolutely essential, to have a 42" hood with 36" cooktop, even if it's induction. You'd need to look at the installation instructions in the manual to see what size base cab you'll need. I have a 30" induction in a 36" base with 36" hood over it. It really helps to have the extra capture area.

I did take a general layout to my custom cabmaker for the initial estimate. But he accepted changes in my design almost up until he started construction - only about 2 or 3 weeks before installation. I considered it part of the benefit of going custom. He just kept revising the drawing and sending me a new estimate.
caliente63
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
The hood size you need is somewhat dependent upon the burner layout. We specifically wanted a big burner in the center, so we could use that for all frying activity. The center burner is a log way from the sides and the front, so it is optimally placed to get the best out of the hood.

So long as you don't want to fry a lot on the outer burners, I think you will be OK with a 36" hood over a 36" cooktop (it's what we plan to do). Dropping to a 30" cooktop could actually put the big burner nearer to the edge of the hood.
homebuyer23
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Caliente, thanks so much, that makes a lot of sense, I'll look extra carefully at burner sizes/location now.

robotropolis, thanks for the pictures and advice its very helpful. The fridge cannot be moved, the doorway leads to a small mudroom. I will probably have a pantry in the mudroom so I'm Ok not having a tall one. I might turn the fridge 90 degrees, that's how it is now, but I cant fit a cabinet next to it if I want to keep a 36" walkway around the island there.

Anyone else care ease my mind that my prep sink is in a good spot?! Or where to put a wall oven if I separate it from the cooktop?

LWO, Thanks I appreciate your feedback. Im going to a GW highly recommended cabinet shop. I assume they will be perfectly capable of telling me what is or isn't possible when I go meet with them. I was just hoping to have the best idea of what I want when I go, because I'm not sure how much creative advice they give. I was just hoping to get some of the gw members' opinions on any nice features you could envision in my layout as well as point out any red flags if I placed anything in a less than ideal spot. Typical things people ask on this board, no?! As I tend to do, I think I asked too many broad questions in one post. Im still learning ;-/

I can't afford a separate KD. The custom quote was a little less than the kitchen design shops I've been to, but not enough to justify me hiring a separate designer. If this meeting doesn't go well and he is an "I only build it, nothing else" type person, then perhaps I'll head back to the Brookhaven/Medallion dealers around here so I have a KD to work with.
LE
11 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I'm in something like the same boat, but you are ahead of me. We have some "wrinkles" that make me think I'll end up with a custom cabinetmaker, but I want to go see him knowing as much as I can. I have only talked casually to KDs at cabinet shops, back when I was still "kicking tires," so to speak. There were a couple I really liked and one specifically said she'd like the opportunity to bid on the job. I just feel like I'd be taking advantage of them by getting their input and then going to the custom guy I've worked with before. On the other hand, maybe they'd convince me one of their lines would work. I guess if they are willing to take that chance, I should let them. Anyway, I'll be following along to see what you do!

Need a solid plan to give cabinet maker, please help!

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smiling

robo (z6a)

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Need a solid plan to give cabinet maker, please help!

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smiling

robo (z6a)

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live_wire_oak

ginny20

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homebuyer23
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