Is this the best layout and what to do with excess space

10 years ago

This is the layout the kitchen has currently, and I'm wondering if you all think this is the best use of the available space. We are doing the reno before living in the house, so I haven't been able to use the kitchen and see how workable the layout is. I need opinions from people who have more kitchen experience about what may or may not work. Also, what should I do with the area by the radiator? It's technically considered an eat-in area, but its right by the powder room and with the location of the radiator, it barely would fit a table. We will be expanding out the back in the next few years, but I want to do something with that area for now to make it a useable space. Any suggestions?

Here is my drawing of the layout (sorry for the fact that it is not at all to scale)

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (5)

herbflavor
10 years ago
what do you mean by "expanding out to the back"....that will be a large expenditure project if it's any kind of addition.I would definitely wait.Start planning the construction and have the kitchen as part of it....ideas will flow...does everything in the kitchen work currently?
Fori
10 years ago
Herb is probably wise about not doing it until you have the whole plan planned. But whether you do or don't, I'd use furniture down there. A vintage set of matched corner china cabinets...bookshelves...a pie safe. Something cute for storage.

But then I love furniture.
Related Discussions
Need layout advice - lots of space for creativity, how best to use it?
Q
Comments (23)
I definitely appreciate everybody's input and advice, so, thought I'd come back and give you all a little update. There are some issues with changing the layout, specifically moving the range to the interior wall. The venting is going to be problematic, because of location of the garage doors and also some HVAC equipment in the path. Would involve a rather long, inefficient run with multiple turns to avoid these things. HVAC guy basically said, Please don't move it there. Not only that, but the small wall that Karenseb suggested to remove - is part of a larger load-bearing wall. I have a healthy mid-range kitchen budget but these changes could be a real budget buster. Especially as we don't know what other surprises are lurking once demo begins. With that in mind, and my husband's wish to have the range and hood as a focal point centered between the windows, aesthetically nicer than staring at a fridge from the island seating, as well as simpler ventilation, any other suggestions? Should we keep dishwasher to the right as it is now? I plan to move the sink further down the run, ending at the right end of window instead of centered, to increase counter space on right side of range. For the few times a year I would cook a large spread of food for entertaining, I do have a butcher block island on wheels that can be rolled over to serve as surplus counter. Plus the big island directly behind. Other changes - we are leaning towards forgetting the separate oven and going with the aga range (plus my trusty Breville smart oven). I think then we would just make the beverage center section all countertop, space for Breville, and center the bar sink on that run. I asked my kitchen designer to draw up an L shaped window seat, into the alcove, maybe shelves or small upper above. As we can have lots of pantry space, with affordable shelving instead of cabinets, in the current hallway/future walk through pantry.
...See More
spacing between range and fridge. Which layout is best?
Q
Comments (16)
I strongly dislike the L island, especailly with the round table there. I would make the island more square (double cabinets) and shorten it. Put the table at the bottom of the picture. You need 3 ft for seating and 5 ft for seating and a walkway. Make sure you have 42" or so between sink and island and range and island. I prefer more space on either side of range, and the full cabinets to right of refrigerator. You wont be able to use the tiny counter as a desk and it will accumulate unsightly junk. We put a door in front of our junk space that lifts up but lays flat against the cabinets so we can leave it open.
...See More
Is this the best layout for this problematic space?
Q
Comments (5)
Thanks for the input Mamagoose! I recall you helping last year. I hadn't thought about the view coming in. Though I do hope that the "front door" as far as guests coming in, and even us the bulk of the time, will be relocated to the door in our living area that is to the "south" of the kitchen area on my diagram. This house actually has four front doors, one in every room. I had got everyone retrained to that door this winter, then we redid the flooring in there (which evolved into a fireplace surround remodel) and it all moved back to the kitchen. So there will have to be more retraining. I'd considered the fridge by the front door before, but have two reservations with it there. It just barely fits so it would be right there and looming when you opened the door and I'm afraid its bulk would also block a lot of the light that comes from the little window there. The kitchen is light starved because we have a covered porch and an overhang out the back entrance. All with the purpose of blocking sunlight and keeping the house cool, which it does admirably, but its always so dark in here. We will definitely be adding lots of lighting when we get this done, nothing beats natural sunlight in my opinion though and I want to keep as much as possible. Your second idea with the long island and sort of a modified galley style kitchen is something I hadn't considered though. I'm going to think on that a little. I'd like more counter between the sink and the range, but maybe I wouldn't miss it with the counter space directly across. I've never worked in that style of kitchen, so I've got no experience with it. Do you think the fridge where it's at in this drawing would allow for a french door style? Not what we have now, but DH keeps talking about it for some point in the future. I took a couple pictures and will have to get on my phone to upload them.
...See More
Which layout of corner uppers will be the best use of space?
Q
Comments (4)
If you ever need to clean the vent/fix the machines/mop up water etc... if is easier to access the machines if there is not a cabinet directly over them. I have had several configurations of corner cabinets and I am over them! What seems like a good way to utilize space ends up making the existing facing cabinet so small it is unworkable. Not to mention the severe hassle when something gets dumped off the lazy susan. I would do the straight run that does not sit on the counter. If you also wanted to do floating shelf over window or rod over window you can It just wont be connected to cabinets and that is ok.
...See More
ktj459
Original Author
10 years ago
Herb- we will be building an addition. Makes the kitchen area about 14' deeper and is 17' wide, which encompasses the kitchen width, the powder room, and a bit more. We are waiting to see what we find behind the walls in the renovations that need to be done in the current house before knowing when we can do the addition because the house is very old and we have no idea what we will find. The current kitchen is not workable. It needs new cabinets (none close and they are old and damaged) and all new appliances. It needs to be redone before we can live in the house, and that can't wait for the addition, since we are carrying two mortgages until we get in there. So we need to design the kitchen at its current size with an eye to what it will be when we do expand. That's why I'm having trouble knowing what to do- how do I make it useful for now and the future?
meek95
10 years ago
Can you do something like inexpensive Ikea cabinets and replace them when you do the addition? It would give you a chance to live in the house for a while and see how you like the layout. You could probably do something similar for the appliances, get cheap replacements now and use them for a few years. Don't know how this fits in with your budget.
peony4
10 years ago
There are many unknowns here, but here is what I would do:

Invest in appliances that I know I'll want in the upcoming remodel.

Buy a simple sink cabinet base to house the sink.

Treat the rest of the kitchen space and storage needs as an unfitted kitchen. Perhaps check Craigslist for hutches, narrow tables and other furniture that could serve as storage, and functional workstations in your space. You won't be investing a great deal, and can repurpose or sell these pieces in the future.

Open shelving instead of uppers. (More economical.)

I would treat the area by the radiator as a landing zone or mini-mudroom, assuming the door to the outside is used and may need a place for sitting, hanging coats, etc. A large bench would work well.

Here are some links to unfitted kitchen ideas:
http://www.kitcheninstallation.org/tag/unfitted-kitchen-furniture
https://www.pinterest.com/lindseyinal/unfitted-kitchen-ideas/

Is this the best layout and what to do with excess space

Comments (5)

herbflavor

Fori

Related Discussions

ktj459
Original Author

meek95

peony4

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Is this the best layout and what to do with excess space

Comments (5)

herbflavor

Fori

Related Discussions

ktj459Original Author

meek95

peony4

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

ktj459
Original Author