What is up against the 10' wall on the kitchen side?

When the dw is open, it'll block the door to the bathroom, and you won't be able to reach the storage above it. I wanted to move it between the sink and stove, but then maybe it's a hazard and aggravation for the cook. Since you don't want to move it, maybe you've already considered and chosen the compromise here.

The table area is VERY tight...Only 1 ft between table and fridge/wall will not work for getting in and out, and you're too limited, as is, to move it out to use it. Do those walls have to go in? Seems like the room would feel better and be a little more flexible for the table if the kitchen is left open. (Maybe just leave a 2 ft section where the 10 ft wall is to back the woodstove)

How many people do you need to seat? Could you use something else to substitute for a real table? The coffee table? TV trays? Our big family lived in 900 sq ft while we built, and one of the things we had to do without (except in warm weather on the patio) was a table.

Is this a place that will remain for some type of use after you build your house? Will you need or want to sell it?

Since you are only going to be there 2-3 years, are trying to sell one home and are building another; I almost hate to see you do too much with this space. I would not build the 5'9" wall for sure. What is in the LR that is angled but somewhat cut off in the layout? Could you put a small multi purpose table against that left wall in the LR that you 2 could eat at, use for computer use, whatever. Same with the 10' wall. WHy go to all that trouble? I'd build the 2' to create an end for the angled run but I think leaving the rest open would open up your space. I almost would then want to place your range on the angled wall except venting would then be an issue unless you can go through the ceiling/roof. NOrmally, I wouldn't suggest that kind of range placement but this is an unusal instance. I would then flip the DW to the other side of the sink to give better bathroom access.

On the 10' wall is just some cabinetry that I tossed in the plan and a rolling cart/island that I already own. Anything there can change.

The dw is currently in that location and doesn't seem to be a problem for us. I usually only load/unload it once late at night and it hasn't been an issue so far.

I'm the only cook. We only need to seat 2 people. Most of the time the table will be pushed completely in the corner. On the rare occasions that we have company it can be moved out into the living area for more space. It's a drop leaf table and is only about 2 1/2 by 3 when both leaves are down. We are eating at the couch with tv trays right now and would really prefer to have a real table. LOL

The walls don't have to go in, it's completely open right now, but I'd like a little more division of the space.

Right now it is a galley type design with another counter directly opposite the sink/range wall and the refrigerator is on the angled pantry wall. We have no cabinets, only the countertops on 2x4's. It was intended to be more temporary than it is turning out and I'm now trying to make it livable for a few years.

This area will become the kitchen when we build the rest of the house. I'm planning on a total remodel of the kitchen when that happens. It will expand to the living area and part of the living area will become the dining room. No plans on ever selling. We are on 55 acres here and plan to stay for life. We bought it for the land and figured we'll get a proper house eventually. =)

To be honest... I'd leave most things where they are (maybe move the frig to where your layout shows), go to a re-store and pick up some cheap cabs for storage, push the drop leaf against the LR wall (left side) so you can have more of a dining feel when you eat, and call it a day. Don't make too much work for yourselves. Instead, dream and plan the FABULOUS kitchen you're going to have in your wonderful new home. Best of luck to you... sounds like you have a great future!

remodelfla,

I've attached a pic of the "house" as it currently is. This will all be DIY, we built the entire "house" and will be doing all the rest of it after our other house sells. The cabinets will be used, and made to fit the space. We will be able to do it pretty cheaply. I'm just tired of "making-do" and would like some semblance of a real kitchen. LOL

There is actually a door at the end of the angled wall of the panty. I forgot to add it in the plan. The bedroom door is currently next to the bathroom/laundry (where I want to move the fridge) and I hate the little hall that is formed. The aisles between the counters is narrow and I just don't like it. We've been here for over a year already and if we had cabinets already in I would probably just deal with it. Since we didn't put any we've got to take out all the counters anyway to add some cabinets so figured I try to make it more usable while we are at it. =)

{{!gwi}}

Would something like this work? (the red chair is for a guest...I was trying to leave room for guests, but not plan to have a chair in the aisle all the time)

If you'd rather, the peninsula could be replaced with an actual table.

What's the deal with having to change the subject? I tried 3 times to post that last message.

Anyhow.....I really need to refresh before I post. LOL I think I answered your questions anyway. =)

I have REALLY slow dial-up so I'm a bit delayed. =)

Changing the subject line is necessary if you post right in a row or within a certain time period, so the program knows you're not dbl posting.

After seeing the whole layout I had an idea to utilize the wall that now makes the little hallway you don't like. Also, whereas your 3 ft aisles are pretty narrow, 5 ft aisles are wider than is usually efficient, so I tried this 2nd idea. Again, a table could replace the peninsula, but this will get you some storage if needed, and more seating than the last plan I posted. (the red is guest seating, as in the other)

Do you have plans for the whole house finished yet? It seems like it would make a lot more sense to make at least some of the changes to this kitchen be changes that will need to be made anyway. If there is a wall that will be built or taken down for the final version of this space, can you go ahead and do that now? Even if it's only plumbing and wiring changes and such, it seems foolish to do these things twice.

Also, is there a reason for that awkward angled pantry wall? I know you said that you'd rather not move it because of the wiring in it, but taking that wall down would open up so many other possibilities for your layout--many more than building new walls would.

I'm telling ya' rhome is so smart! That table/overhang/storage area can be used for prep space, eating, paying bills... whatever. I think you'd find it more beneficial then the counter you have now. 12" overhang for guests (not optimal but short term doable) and 18" deep for the two of you to use reguarly. The smaller overhang will make the storage underneath more accessible. SUPER MULTI PURPOSE. Pantry perfect. Make an entrance into your bedroom from the LR.

I should have explained, but you read that plan exactly as I meant it, Remodelfla. (Great minds... and all that) There are 2 guest seats that are of reasonable depth, but I thought it was an OK trade off to have the others with a little less knee room, but have more reasonable access to the storage for general use.

I learned from the best my friend!

I really need new internet service.....keeps knocking me off......

Holligator,

I do have plans for the whole house but they are prone to changing daily. =) LOL It will definitely be attached to the right side of the plan, an opening or door will be added to that wall to tie the two together. The new living room will be there and bedrooms etc. beyond. Probably 2 story but that changes frequently as well. =) The existing bathroom/laundry will remain virtually unchanged but will not be much used after the house is completed, the bedroom will become an office and the living, kitchen and pantry will all somehow become the kitchen, pantry and dining room.

The pantry wall can come down, it was one of those "good idea at the time" things. The wood stove however will have to stay in that general area. It is our main heat and the chimney is there.

Rhome and remodelfla, I do like the plans you have posted and it's probably the best use of the existing space. I think the main reason that what I have doesn't work well is that there is no place to put ANYTHING. It looks like a disaster area all the time because there is so much stuff sitting out always. Like I mentioned above, the pantry wall can come down if it would really help. I've done so many plans I'm about crosseyed and decided it was time to ask for help. =)

To top it all off my fridge went out early in the week and that was about when I decided to change it up a bunch.

If you get rid of that angled wall, you could do something like this (which would be much improved by adding rhome's table/counter idea)...

This arrangement allows you a lot more workspace on both sides of the stove, leaves the stove on the exterior wall for venting, makes your pantry even bigger, and makes the whole kitchen feel much more open and roomy.

Ok, here's pretty much what it would be if we took out the pantry wall and moved the bedroom door. I'd prefer to leave the DW and sink where they are just so I don't have to do any plumbing. Just move out the counter, plop in 2 cabinets and put the counter back. LOL BUT, they could move opposite of where they are, the bathroom plumbing would be fairly easy to tie into. Although I do like the sink under the window.....

Oh, I should mention, the counter the sink is in is 30" deep and concrete and we would like to reuse it.

There is a window near the corner on the right that wasn't shown in the plan I posted above, although it will be removed when we add on.

The range can move if needed, the wiring is in place but could be pulled out through the attic and moved BUT it would need to stay approx. the same distance or the wire would be too short and it's #6 and would be really expensive to replace. SO it could go opposite and right of where it's at but that's about it. The breaker box is in the lower left corner of the bedroom. We have 10ft. ceilings and the duct for the vent hood would have a fairly long run if the range was moved away from the outside wall.

I've rambled enough for now. I'll go play with some more layouts.... {{!gwi}}From House-Kitchen

Holligator, I think you are right. We are going to have to move that wall...

It works so much better with square walls, I 'm not sure what we were thinking when we built it that way.

Hubby is going to love it when I tell him all the work we've got to do. If we can keep it cheap for now though I can do about anything that will make it work better. He is about as sick of the messy kitchen as I am. And he never cooks. =)

Whatever you decide to do, find a way to move that range!!!! In yours & everyone's except Holligator's plans, you only have 12" of workspace b/w the range & sink...your #1 prep area!!

I had 24" in my old kitchen and absolutely hated it & is one of the prime reasons we remodeled! Try to get at least 36" b/w them.

If you were going to be there for only a 2 - 3 months, maybe, but you're talking 2 - 3 years. You don't want to spend those years miserable while trying to cook for the two of you.

DW location...no, not ideal, but deal-able for a couple of years. Ditto for table location w/o that 5'9" wall.

Of all the plans I've seen here, I like Holligator's + RHome410's first layout for table the best. Get some inexpensive cabinets to go b/w the sink & range and range & pantry and then some inexpensive (DIY) laminate for a counter. Or, instead of full cabinets, just get cabinet boxes w/shelves from Ikea or some such and then either leave them open or use curtains to cover the front.

Living in a tiny space means storage will be prime...so put in a pantry...it can be used for more than just food and small appliances. Tools, books, DVDs, etc. can all be stored there as well, if necessary.

Correction...it's not 12", it's 24" b/w the sink & range (I read the 12 above it and thought that was the measurement for that space...it's the wall measurement).

Even though 24" is better, my comment still stands....36" or more is much better.

Ok, how's this looking:
{{!gwi}}From House-Kitchen

I added 24 more inches between the range and sink, (there's 18" currently) so that will give 3 1/2 feet. Plus 5 feet on the other side.

A big plus for what I have so far is that my father-in-law has 4 of the 5 uppers that would be needed. All we would need would be the one over the range hood and it should be easy to match at a Habitat re-store, natural oak, raised panel doors. Over the fridge can be built in and won't matter if it matches, can be the same as the walls to blend if nessassary.

Lowers, we have some doors that would match, FIL can build the boxes....

Gotta correct myself....lol....there's currently 21" between the range and sink. Just measured.

Just came back to check and realized I made you a pantry when there already was one! Although, from my experience in a small space, any enclosed storage is helpful. I like the squared off pantry much better.

I just finished this one...very similar to what you came up with Sassafras_Springs!

rhome, I'm glad you added your pantry, it gave me the thought of a cabinet/closet enclosure above the fridge, all the way to the ceiling, 24" deep. With 10' ceilings that will be quite a bit of storage. Not easily accessible but should be great for seldom used items.

Bonus on the peninsula/table...plenty of room for spreading out those blueprints!

Do you think that the fridge where I have it would be too much of a pain? I know the landing area for it would be across the aisle or at the table. Putting it there would make it easy to hook up the ice maker line and allow storage to go all the way to the ceiling above it for storage.

I do think I would prefer to use a table there instead of cabinetry just for the cost factor. I have a couple of different size tables in storage that I could use.

Just door swing thing - you'll need to use about a 30" ref and then have a space or filler or small pullout or small shelves beside it = 6 to 12 inches depending on the exact ref.

The re-working of the angled wall on the pantry is great. Just to add, I don't know about you, but I would really like the window in the kitchen, and not in the pantry. Is it possible to work a smaller pantry in an L shape around (is that a structural column?). By that I mean a shallow section in ront of the column, and a deeper one to the right closer to the wall) and a longer run of cabinets on that wall instead? Don't know if that would work with the window, but it seems like it will really open up the space a lot.

Rubyfig, that window is slated for removal when they add on, so I wouldn't spend too much time, effort, or $$ on trying figure a way to get it in the kitchen.

ah, got it. I missed that detail :) thanks buehl.

I want to thank everyone for their help and for encouraging me to get rid of the old pantry wall. That has made for much better layout of the space. I think I need to change the title now though, it's not so tiny and cramped now. LOL

We've been busy and the offending wall is now gone. =) The bedroom door has been moved to the living room wall. We have been able to move the woodstove over against the right wall using some elbows in the stove pipe.

What do you think of the following layout?

(the 10ft. wall is not built, all other walls and doors are as shown)

{{!gwi}}

I like the booth type seating, which will probably be 2 benches and a table. I have moved the freezer to where I had the fridge since it was in the pantry. Then moved the fridge next to it. (It would be recessed into the wall behind so would not stick out quite as much as shown.) Pantry storage will be replaced by the cabinets next to the fridge. Microwave would sit in that area too.

It gives us more wall space in the living room. I know it sounds weird, but we are mountain bikers and need some wall space for bicycle storage. =) Yes, they live in the house. LOL

Let me know what you think!

WOW! You guys work fast! It's been a year and half for me and DH hasn't even begun demo yet (long frustrating story). I think you've made great use of the space. I'd still want to flip the DW the other side of the sink but remember there was some reason you chose not too. Can't wait to seem some pic of this finished ... complete with the mountain bikes sitting gloriously up on their new wall.... :-) !

Not sure how many elbows you've added to the wood stove and how sharp their angles, but you may want to research this. I know DH made a BIG deal about our wood stove ducting being as straight as possible for cleanability and safety reasons--ours has one 15 degree angle.

Also, I am plenty warm when actively working in the kitchen, and would not want the extra heat from the wood stove so close. We put ours in the coolest part of the house where we just sit (TV area).

Anne

sassafras springs the last plan better than any of them. The first time I looked at it, I thought that angled wall for the pantry took up a lot of space in a small kitchen and the wood stove cut off more.

However it cuts out your bedroom doorway. Why not move the freezer to the oposite end of the wall with the fridge and put a pantry cupboard with pull out shelves between. This would give lots of food storage

As foer the mountain bikes would it be possible to build a cupboard to house them on the far corner of your porch. I really don't see room for them in the house