Three choices for the last wall of my layout (pic heavy)

14 years ago

I have a general layout for my kitchen.

The one part that I have left to figure out is the bottom wall in the above picture. The first option, above, puts a pantry cabinet in the corner, and a counter-depth side-by-side fridge in the middle of the open space between the L and the island for easy access.

Advantages: More access room in front of fridge and bigger fridge than current kitchen. Disadvantages: Smaller pantry than my current kitchen.

Option 2: I can try to make up for the smaller pantry by putting another pantry cabinet on the other side of the fridge.

This looks a bit like a too-many-cabinet wall in the respective elevations, but may be OK if the cabinets are not too dark?

Option 1:

Option 2:

Finally, there is option 3, which is to leave my existing pantry and fridge space in place. The big disadvantage of this is that I would be stuck with my existing size and type of fridge. I can't imagine putting a side-by-side in that corner. A left-hinged top-mount fridge wouldn't require me to "step aside" to access the fridge.

The main advantage is that it's the budget-friendly option as I don't have to rip-out the pantry (would still replace the doors to match new cabs) and the simpler appliance is cheaper as well. The fridge would have landing space that it doesn't have at the moment, both on the counter directly in front, and the island off to the diagonal-front.

Option 3 floor plan:

Option 3 elevation:

Option 3 doesn't excite me much, but it is practical when I consider the other things I want to do with a roughly 30K budget for this project.

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Comments (8)

formerlyflorantha
14 years ago
Am curious as to why refrig. is in the corner and the cupboards are in the space closest to table in the last option. Is this because of the depth of the refrig?

You will need "plunk space" on the open door side of the refrig for items coming or going from refrig. -- this is missing in #2 and #3 and is perhaps awkward in #1. Think about grocery bags arriving from elsewhere. And think about serving milk from refrig to table. And assembling assorted salad-makings from refrig when you're preparing meal.
bmorepanic
14 years ago
In option 3, there's no reason you can't move the ref to the leftmost pantry wall, destroy the rightmost pantry wall and then re-build beside the ref.

So 3.5-4 foot drywall pantry is in the corner, one of the original pantry walls serves as one wall of a ref enclosure? You'd have landing space on the island for a french door or sxs and to the right if you stay with a left hinged door (or maybe I have that hinge backwards!).
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Thanks for all of the nice encouragement. There are several areas of the kitchen which I feel pretty strongly about, and then there are the ones I am uneasy about. I think the Marcolo / rhome concern of too many steps for something as simple as a bowl of cereal is certainly worth considering, and I am going to work to tighten up those functions which are common for us. I have one of those little "planning desks" in my current kitchen and at any given time it is piled with papers, bills, kids pemission slips, and mail. If I have somebody coming over, I quickly dump it all into a basket which quickly becomes a black hole! My little room behind the cooktop (Rachel's space) is to allow my mess, keep it close by, but keep it out of the kitchen area. I know this little space will be a favorite, and it is really there only to handle a roofline issue. The home planning area, is where I was thinking the kids could do homework --- they would be close by, but not in the loud main room --- I knew it would be darkish, and would have no windows, but that is a bit by design as the computer will not have a glare and the printer and all of that stuff can be tucked away in here. The butler's pantry will likely house the more formal china, and it is where guests can help themselves to wine, beer, drinks and a food buffet, though I think it will mainly function as a bar during parties, and food will likely be on the island. My thinking is the butler's pantry is a good connector to the dining room, and the great room, kitchen and porch. The corridor is wide enough for some milling around, and there will be a sink in there, but the related clean-up area will really be on the island. I'm OK with that. One of the other things that you've all made me consider, is the steps to do things like get cereal. What if the 2 cabinets flanking the kitchen table have a fridge and freezer drawer, coffee maker, mugs, sugar bowl, glasses and bowls on one side. On the other side, what if they have 2 big drawers (size of fridge drawers) filled with the cereal boxes. Silverware is another issue. Would it make sense to keep the daily silverware over by the table? If so, couldn't I just take the silverware basket out of the dishwasher and take it (or have the kids take it) over to that area to empty. In that case, a daily meal (cereal and coffee, and juice) would all be handled right there at the table. Clean-up would involve setting the dishes through the little pass through (I could make this a door, but I think I like the pass-through) and then loading the dishwasher, etc. Not too bad, it only involves the breakfast and clean-up area. Now, things are more complicated for other meals. Setting the table would mean getting plates, etc. out of the "dish pantry" area. In my little baking area, I think the comments are totally on --- I think I need to put uppers here for baking supplies. That would allow me to put drawers below for things like mixing bowls, pans, mixers, etc. The toaster could also go out here as well. I know I have lots lots more to figure out --- but thanks for all of the help thus far. Marcolo, thanks so much for the design and reclaimed wood, etc. encouragement. I have always loved these things and sometimes people look at me like I'm crazy, but I really love them. Good to know that I'm actually going to be current for a little while at least!
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User
Original Author
14 years ago
@floranta - Am curious as to why refrig. is in the corner and the cupboards are in the space closest to table in the last option. Is this because of the depth of the refrig?

This is the way my kitchen is currently -- option 3 is the "don't knock things out" option.

You will need "plunk space" on the open door side of the refrig for items coming or going from refrig. -- this is missing in #2 and #3 and is perhaps awkward in #1.

I can "walk through" option 3 easily because it's leaving the same type fridge in the same location, and believe it or not, it's an improvement over my current kitchen. The 15 inches of counter space across and to the left is my "grabbing things to make dinner" plunk space. I'm a lefty, so to the left is not awkward at all. The island will be my "multiple bags of groceries" plunk space. Right now, my bags of groceries go on the floor in front of the pantry or on the counter over by the windows.

Good catch on remembering door swing in options 1 and 2, though. I should walk through that layout more carefully. I don't think I would have used the counter to the right as plunk space anyway, though. I was mainly looking at using the island.

@bmorepanic-My main concern with that option is how narrow that pocket door is-- getting past those stupid bifold doors is tricky enough when they're in the middle of the room, wedged next to a 29 inch wide doorway would be horrible. Of course, part of the problem is that the current closet doors are shot, so I try to leave them open most of the time, and the right-hand door is too close to the current island... It's funny how hard it is to see beyond what is actually in your current kitchen. The new doors will open and close easily, so of course I'll close them, right?

Thanks for the feedback!
brickton
14 years ago
Another thing I would at least consider doing is if you keep a non-cabinetry pantry (either where it is or shifted as per bmore's suggestion) not trying to make it match. I would consider doing two full size 24" french doors, some frosted glass doors, funky screen doors or even one 30" door. I know that you are concerned about clearance, but a 24" door is actually smaller than a standard refrigerator door (Non side-by-side, non-french door) so it might be doable. Also it might help it feel more like a design statement rather than a budget induced option.
malhgold
14 years ago
You might want to turn the table the other direction. doesn't look like you have alot of clearance between the island and the table. You might then want to eliminate that angled lower cabinet on the frig run.
bmorepanic
14 years ago
Why use bi-folds again? With a four foot pantry, enclose last 6 inches or so on both sides with drywall and trim and use 16-18" doors.
User
Original Author
14 years ago
@bmorepanic - Why use bi-folds again? With a four foot pantry, enclose last 6 inches or so on both sides with drywall and trim and use 16-18" doors.

Wouldn't reducing the opening size reduce access to the contents of the pantry?

Anybody have pictures of alternative pantry doors as bmorepanic and brickton are suggesting?
bmorepanic
14 years ago
6" worth is only about 3 more inches per side than would exist anyway to be able to have the framing for the doors.

You'd work out your own pantry layout, but I'd probably line the long side with 12" deep shelves,one short side with 14" deep shelves, but take a small holiday on the other short wall to be able to fit broom closet items - so I can't see it making a lot of different to me. How you think about that space could be completely different.

Three choices for the last wall of my layout (pic heavy)

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formerlyflorantha

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Three choices for the last wall of my layout (pic heavy)

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