Kitchen Layout Help: Small Kitchen

11 years ago

My husband and I are meeting with a KD next week and we are trying to get some ideas together before our first meeting. This forum has been a great help! Our kitchen is approximately 10 x 9 feet. I cook everyday so I need a kitchen that functions well. I bake and make almost everything from scratch so I need a decent sized prep area for mixing things and chopping veggies. My small appliances are stored in the pantry in the dining area. The kitchen is only used for cooking. We would like to keep our current fridge because of the indoor water and ice, but it seems too large for the space (36" wide).

Here is a picture of our current layout. We always go thru the kitchen to get to the garage so there is a huge traffic jam when someone has the fridge open or is getting water/ice from the fridge. I love the large prep area of the peninsula.

Here are some layouts we are considering:

Thanks for all your help!!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

deedles
11 years ago
Seems to make sense to have a range instead of separate cooktop and ovens. In that third option, could you put the fridge where the 36 base and wall cab are by themselves and turn it so the door(s) open towards the range wall? Looks like you even have enough floor space to have a pull out pantry between the fridge and the wall ( have to have something there for door swing clearance anyway). That way if someone wants something from the fridge, they won't be opening it into where you are working. And if you went with a counter depth french door, the doors shouldn't encroach on the doorway much if at all. Then you could slide the range down to the right, get rid of the 12" base and wall cabs and have a nicer sized one to the right of the stove. If you wanted, you might be able to have a very shallow platter display cabinet on the side of the fridge that faces the DW, too. I guess that would depend on the width of the fridge.
herbflavor
11 years ago
what's the point of keeping the pantry in that awkward spot. All you have to do is put the fridge to the right of sink,at the end of that foyer wall so the protrusion of fridge in your "jam" is eliminated.....then demolish pantry and peninsula-it's a big blockade in your living area which is "kinda" open/then "kinda" jammed up . The pantry isn't that special and prevents a good open living space . Do an island in that spot that unites living and kitchen/dining spaces.......L kitchen with island..... All the storage in pantry can be redone with base organization.and still have 2 sides likely for seating.I'd bet once you did an island,you'd enjoy the whole space a lot more and find another spot for the desk and cabinet that look rather lonely in that underutilized area and the living room would fill in and over.
Related Discussions
Small kitchen dining renovation layout-help please!
Q
Comments (0)
Requesting your help in designing layout for combining kitchen and dining space. If plan is to open up wall between the two rooms can you suggest a smart layout for space? Love to cook, have 2 elementary aged kids and would optimally like space for dining table to seat 6. (Bay window has radiator along entire length. Fridge is currently in nook by the stairs). Thanks for any assistance and advice you can provide!
...See More
Small Kitchen Layout--1920s Craftsman Puzzle--Please help!
Q
Comments (52)
M, So great to hear your take on form following function. I think we share a practical streak. On the one hand, I'm not a preservationist, on the other I do want to be true to the spirit of the house. I'm not aiming to make it something its not, and I don't want to "over improve" either. I agree that its entirely possible to "design a modern functional home and have the original vintage design-spirit prevail". In fact, thats precisely the balance I'm striving to achieve. In my situation, honoring the vintage design spirit means keeping certain elements intact: --the cottage windows --the china cabinet --the built-ins in the living room flanking the fireplace I'm not as attached to keeping the kitchen and breakfast room spaces separate as my partner is. In the spirit of cooperation and domestic harmony ;-) I've solicited feedback on how we could fit everything in the footprint of the kitchen proper, and posters to this thread stepped up admirably (THANK YOU!!) Reading the comments here has allowed me to feel more comfortable with merging the kitchen and the breakfast room--that this might be the right place to "modernize". Considering the two spaces as one is beginning to feel…well…more practical to me. Your point about it being possible to botch both the form and the function strikes a cautionary note---Sheesh, that would be awful. Aiming to avoid this, on both counts! Thanks so much M, for your always incisive comments.
...See More
Help me critique my small kitchen layout please!
Q
Comments (16)
Another idea... First, though, please realize that with a small space compromises are often needed. However, I think this layout has few, the primary being the sink is not under a window -- it's b/w the two windows. This does have the advantage that the Prep Zone workspace is in front of the window, many people prefer this setup. The other, minor, compromise is that the refrigerator does not have landing space directly next to it. It does, however, have landing space within the NKBA guidelines of no more than 48" away (the perimeter counters are 43" away). To make it even easier to get food to/from the Refrigerator (and Pantry cabs), I suggest a small rolling cart (there's an example at the end of this post). What does the layout have? Separation of the primary work zones...Prep, Cooking, Cleanup Follows the Kitchen workflow of Refrigerator --> Sink --> Prep Workspace --> Range Plenty of prep workspace A secondary Prep Zone using the Cleanup Zone Real vent hood over the range 18" pullout pantry 24" tall cabinet with...tray storage on top, additional food/dish storage below the trays, an alcove for a countertop MW at counter-height, and more additional food/dish storage below the alcove (in drawers). The upper cabinet above the sink and b/w the two windows is only 9" deep so there's more "face room" while working at the sink. If you don't need the storage, you could eliminate it altogether. Pots & pans in the corner susan Note that I extended the wall on the right side to hide most of the refrigerator from the other rooms "below". This isn't necessary from a functional standpoint, but it is for aesthetic reasons if you're someone who doesn't like to see things sticking out. The wall, however, can be no deeper than the refrigerator box b/c the doors must stick out past all adjacent items. (The Refrigerator is surrounded by finished end panels, so it wouldn't be stainless steel sticking out.) . [Select/click on an image to a larger version] Layout: . Zone Map: . . Rolling Cart example (found on Home Depot site) https://www.homedepot.com/p/StyleWell-Glenville-White-Single-Kitchen-Cart-SK17787Cr2-BBW/304083100
...See More
Help with kitchen layout--U or G with small peninsula? Pics included
Q
Comments (12)
@tonoplast In my opinion, since you asked, I think the two-tone scheme you have in mind would be lovely. It is somewhat of a trend that is past its peak, but I can see it working well in your kitchen. If you really want to lighten up the space, you could keep your wood tone cabinetry and just add glass fronts to the uppers on the back wall. That's generally the way people get a more airy, open-feeling space in the uppers unless you went to shelving which is also on the wane due to maintenance issues. Your cabinetry design is more modern, but you can still get uppers with frosted glass. I'm thinking of something I've seen in the Poggenpohl showroom in Dallas where the uppers were all frosted glass on one display area, and it was simply beautiful. Most companies would offer something similar. I love windows and would never recommend doing less. I have a tiny kitchen right now with huge windows all around it, and I love it. It depends on your personal aesthetic. Having windows brings in a lot of natural lighting so that I rarely need to have lights on during the day for cooking. As for the comments saying the kitchen is too small for multiple cooks, I've personally have several families among my extended family relatives who have kitchens smaller than that where multiple people manage to cook together on a regular basis, so not to worry if this is the layout that you're tied into, which it sounds as though you are already. There have also been a few comments about the gap between the refrigerator and end of the peninsula. I have the exact same scenario in my current kitchen with less space there than you would have, and it works fine for a two-adult household. You have to shuffle to get past if someone has the refrigerator door open, but it's not an unworkable situation if you have no other design layout options. Your walkway there looks to be 40" which is more than decent. Mine is less than 30", and I have a side-by-side refrigerator, and it still works fine for us to have it that tight. We will not be reducing the peninsula in our current remodel because we cannot afford to lose the storage space. Don't assume your designers are leaving enough corner clearance. The drawers should open with a minimum of 1/2" clearance to each other, as another poster pictured above. You would not believe the number of times we hear about in-home installations or even see in kitchen showrooms drawers that won't open due to negligence on the part of the designer. Double-check that before your cabinetry is ordered.
...See More
NJHM
11 years ago
Are you just renovating the kitchen or other sections of the house too? If you are doing a bigger renovation, then you may consider removing the pantry or moving it against a wall and installing an island. This will open up the space and it will not feel as claustrophobic. Island will be more expensive, but may be worth it. But please note that the existing pantry walls may be load bearing walls which will be a hassle. Also make sure that the walkaway between the cabinets and island is 48" so two people can comfortably pass each other (per NKBA guidelines, see link below), or at least a minimum of 42" wide. Looks like you have 5' but read the guidelines and see if it helps in rethinking the design.

http://www.kitchens.com/Design/Layouts/NKBA-Guidelines.aspx
chemnerd
Original Author
11 years ago
I've been wanting to knock down the pantry walls since we moved in 5 years ago. Unfortunately they are load bearing walls so we are trying to work around it.
beasty
11 years ago
Could you use columns instead of the pantry walls? Houzz has lots of examples of columns incorporated into islands.

http://www.houzz.com/photos/kitchen/%2Bcolumn-%2Bisland-
annkh_nd
11 years ago
Can you move the door to the garage to the left? that would reduce the traffic jam, and it makes more sense to bring groceries directly into the kitchen instead of through the dining room. It changes the whole footprint, which might make it easier to put a plan together.
NJHM
11 years ago
Beasty's suggestion about using columns is a good idea. If you have an attic above this floor, you can check the ceiling joists and figure out with the help of a structural engineer, what the best way to proceed is.

Kitchen Layout Help: Small Kitchen

Comments (7)

deedles

herbflavor

Related Discussions

NJHM

chemnerd
Original Author

beasty

annkh_nd

NJHM

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Kitchen Layout Help: Small Kitchen

Comments (7)

deedles

herbflavor

Related Discussions

NJHM

chemnerdOriginal Author

beasty

annkh_nd

NJHM

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

chemnerd
Original Author