Need help with very Awkward kitchen layout!!
I'm having trouble planning the layout of my kitchen. There are doors and windows on three of the four walls, and on the fourth windowless wall, there is a large 6'x1.5' obtrusion from the brick chimney underneath the wall.
here's the current layout:
This is the best solution that I've been able to come up with on my own:
What do you think of this look? Should I attach cabinets to the wall with the obtrusion?
link to ikea home planner:
Thanks!
Here is a link that might be useful: Ikea Home Planner
Comments (20)
bpath
8 years ago
rmtdoug
8 years agoRelated Discussions
need layout help-awkward window
Comments (1)If you haven't already done so, I recommend you post this on the "Discussions" side of the Kitchens Forum. This is the "Gallery" where mostly finished kitchens and few picture-heavy threads are usually found. However, not much goes on on this side on a day-to-day basis, unlike the Discussions side...which can be quite lively! Good luck!...See Morelayout advice--very awkward kitchen location
Comments (143)home4all6, I had an idea that could be a middle ground between working within your home's footprint and a MBR suite/kitchen addition. It is spurred by my memory of your comment that the FR addition was either built to be or could be turned into a first floor MBR suite. This likely won't be appealing to you since your children are still quite young but it won't be that many years before the idea of having some space between their rooms and yours will be quite appealing. Also, I don't know if this holds true for your area but first floor MBR suites are popular here because it means that people can stay in their homes longer. On to my idea: Build an addition for a larger eat-in kitchen, addressing mudroom, side entry stairs and PR issues at the same time. It's possible that an addition may offer up other possibilities for a PR location that won't require losing your home's center hall entry. I know you don't use it and wouldn't miss it but losing the central hall entry could be a negative for future buyers. Then, at some point in the future (that will arrive sooner than you realize), convert your FR into a MBR suite and convert the 16x13 room you are currently using as a MBR into a bonus room/media room. Is the existing laundry room large enough to be a walk-in closet as well? If not, you'll need to relocate this when you convert the FR into a MBR suite. Or perhaps include room for W/D etc in your mudroom plans. I don't know your market so please ask local realtors which of the potential revisions will make your home most appealing to future buyers. I'm not saying that's what you need to choose but it's good information to consider as you decide how to proceed. btw, this thread is coming close to the 150 cut-off so it would be a good idea to start saving all the information and suggested plans now before they drop off the forum....See Moreneed layout help--awkward window
Comments (13)Sorry, I don't have any skill when it comes to layout advice but I can tell you about replacing windows. We ended up raising three window openings so we could put counters underneath and lowering and moving another window opening. We removed the windows ourselves and we did our own trim work interior and exterior to match the rest of our 1915 house. We also repaired the exterior stucco ourselves. We hired out someone to install the new windows and to do the framing (there were some header issues and as it turns out some other support problems). The cost of labor was $2,000 for the four window openings (three window openings of about 70" wide by 45" high, one 35"w x 45"h). It was already a total gut job and we insulated while we were at it and got new drywall so I do not consider any of that additional costs. It was a big decision to make whether to move the windows or not but we are SO HAPPY we did. We also have a small kitchen and moving the windows made the layout process easier. I would get bids on the cost to move the window - the brick work might not be as expensive as you think. Also if you are getting new windows I think there are still tax incentives that apply. If you do decide to just drywall over it, my neighbor did that and just put blackout material over the window so it always looks like a curtain is drawn. It is not very noticeable but the window is under a carport and the window sill is above eye level. Personally I think with a small kitchen you are best to keep both window openings - it keeps it from becoming cave-like....See MoreNeed help with awkward layout and opening kitchen in late 50s ranch
Comments (24)You guys are awesome! I tried to incorporate everyone suggestions (because they were all great!) and this is what I've come up with. Since I'm not sure which of the kitchen walls are load bearing, both designs incorporate the possible need for a beam to extend down, which is fine. LAYOUT A: large pass-through looking into the living room and the doorway to the kitchen has been expanded. Basement stairs and corner coat closet have also been removed and the doorway into the addition has been widened. Hoping the outer facing cabinets around the beam can act as a place to put keys and bags, otherwise, we have no entryway. Concern: I'm a messy cook and with that being said, I'm questioning whether the stove should be below the pass-through because I'm envisioning grease splattering and sauce flying into my living room. LAYOUT B: The same as layout A but with a smaller pass-through that begins after the stove. My concern for this is despite the pass-through being just shy of 5ft wide, based on this mock-up, it doesn't look like it does much to open the room. Would this be a waste of money to even bother with? Here's a loose floorplan of both A and B. What are your thoughts? The fridge jams me up a bit because it seemed too bulky near the kitchen entrance and moving it towards the addition opening made it too crammed again....See Moremissingtheobvious
8 years agocam349
8 years agomdln
8 years agoLooks like a fun challenge!
In front of the chimney wall, I put two 36" wide, tall, shallow (12" deep) pantry cabinets.
Good luck.
alerievay1
8 years ago
_sophiewheeler
8 years agolavender_lass
8 years agolascatx
8 years agorahull
8 years agoThanks everyone for the great ideas! I've finally had time to meet with the plumber and we decided that it's not worth the trouble to move the plumbing and gas. We decided to close off that upper right corner to use as a space for the range hood duct.
We're still having trouble fitting in uppers in that corner. If I use a corner wall cabinet, I will only be able to fit 12" cabinets on either side.
I'm in the final stages of planning and plan on picking up the cabinets at Ikea later this week. Would you mind looking over my layout one more time and tell me what you think?
The highlighted parts are windows. The rest are doors. None of the walls can be moved, but the door next to the refrigerator can be moved and windows can be resized.
Here is a link that might be useful: http://kitchenplanner.ikea.com/US/UI/Pages/VPUI.htm?LoadDesign=c86b9a4682144955846361603d2eb64f&UIContext=Kitchen&IsSharedDesign=1
This post was edited by rahull on Sun, Jul 13, 14 at 12:18
debrak2008
8 years agoideagirl2
8 years agoBuehl
8 years ago
Kitch4me
8 years agorahull
8 years agoUnfortunately, I can't move the door. But I can remove the window in front of the sink because it faces an enclosed porch.
Buehl,
Where would you suggest moving the plumbing to? I have a basement, so moving it wouldn't be too much trouble if it significantly improves the layout. But keeping the range in the same place means I'd be able to use the closed-off corner for ductwork from the range hood and avoid a soffit.Does this look better?
lisa_a
8 years agoI like ideagirl2's suggestion to replace the window on the left wall with the door. Here's what I came up with:
Plumbing and gas lines stay put. I added another window on the sink wall to make up for the loss of the other window.
Moving the doorway to the window gives you room to move the fridge to the left wall, giving you more counter and cabinetry. I also added a shallow floor to ceiling pantry in the lower left corner for more storage (I guessed at its depth).
I also decreased the aisle behind the seating. NKBA's minimum suggested aisles for walk-behind seating is 44"; 53" seemed a bit overkill to me given your small space.
Now if you're willing to move plumbing and gas lines just a bit, here's another possibility:
I swapped sink and DW to give you more counter between sink and range. Yes, it puts the DW in the prep zone but I thought that a fair trade-off to get more counter for this busy area. I moved the range down the wall a bit - doable since the peninsula is shifted down - to avoid DW door and oven door collisions.
You'll notice I made that top wall a wall of windows. I've no idea what your view is but all that light and openness will make the small space appear larger. Hopefully the pantry cab helps makes up for the loss of upper cab storage.
Oh, I also spec'd a counter-depth (CD) fridge over what looks like a standard depth fridge on your plan. That helps avoid fridge door/DW door collisions in Plan A and gives you a bit more breathing room when standing at the sink in Plan B. If you can't or don't want to go with a CD fridge, pull the base cabs next to it forward so that the bulk of the fridge is less obvious.
lisa_a
8 years agolisa_a
8 years agolisa_a
8 years agoOkay, here are two more ideas, with windows and doors in existing locations, plumbing untouched but with the gas line moved. These plans use Ikea cab sizes (rounded up, obviously).
I spec'd a CD fridge in both plans to avoid crowding the back door.
I eliminated the peninsula and swapped it for an island with room for 2 seats. Eliminating the peninsula allowed me to move the range down the wall, giving you more prep room between sink and range.
The island is composed of a counter supported by 2 legs at the lower end and an upper cabinet serving as a base cabinet at the top end (check Ikea hacks, this has been done before). The lower end of the island is open for seating like this
[Transitional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/transitional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2112) by Charleston Cabinets & Cabinetry K & K Custom Cabinets LLC
Plan D adds a peninsula for seating opposite the fridge.
The 3 cabinets in the lower left corner are upper cabs used as base cabs. Stack an additional 12" and 24" on top of the bottom 2 to create a shallow pantry. The 24" cab below the window is only one high, topped with counter. You can eliminate the doors and have a bookcase/display case here instead.
The top side of the peninsula has one each 12" and 30" wide base cabs, facing the fridge, for more storage and serving as counter support.
The peninsula has room for 3 seats with ample aisles behind the seats. I curved the lower right end of the counter overhang. You can use the peninsula as additional prep area, buffet counter, snack center.... Whatever fits your needs.
This post was edited by lisa_a on Sun, Jul 13, 14 at 16:50
cam349