Eat-in Kitchen Open to the DR - too many tables?

11 years ago

Please help! I am going to be renovating my kitchen and I'm trying to figure out the best layout to make the space functional, appear larger and pretty. My kitchen is not large. It is in the shape of a U: on the left there is a wall between my dining room and kitchen which is where the range is, perpendicular to that to the right is where the sink is beneath a window, and forming the last part of the U is a peninsula. Looking over the peninsula is the kitchen table eating area. This area is then open to the back of my den.

I was planning to make the wall between the DR and Kitchen a half wall to open the kitchen to the DR, with a second tier so that people could not see the countertop, but then there is the issue of needing a hood for the range and I don't think a hood would look pretty from both sides (my style is not modern - more traditional meets shabby chic). My contractor suggested not putting a wall there at all and instead eliminating it and making an island that runs parallel to the sink. Since my kitchen isn't wide, it would not be an island that people could sit at - it would only be the same depth as that of a cabinet. He could put the range to the left of the present sink an appropriate distance away (towards the DR) with a nice hood above and a cabinet after that to finish it off. On the other side, the peninsula would be gone and the island mentioned before would be there. I could have a 90in island in that space.I need more counterspace than what I have now, so the large island sounds appealing.

Is this a plan a good idea? I like the idea of everything being open but I am thinking that it might look funny having two tables (DR and EIK) separated by the kitchen. Also, is it a good design to have a stove and sink next to each other, even if appropriately spaced apart? I'm not really sure what else to do with this kitchen. I would appreciate any ideas you may be able to offer me. Thanks!

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

msitalia
Original Author
11 years ago
Here are some photos.
msitalia
Original Author
11 years ago
Photos of the sink area.
Related Discussions
Too many colors of wood? Cabs, table, beams, columns
Q
Comments (7)
To me, the pictures above where the ceiling, cabinets and floor are all the same tone (in one case the floor is tile but a very close match for the wood cabinet and ceiling beam color) to be kind of muddy and depressing - it is too monotonic for me. It isn't quite as bad where most of the cabinets are white but the island, floor and ceiling beams are similar but I'd still prefer more variation. Our kitchen has natural cherry cabinets, natural maple floors, oak table and chairs. I like the contrast between the floor and the cabinets and the table works fine (it is in the breakfast room but there are a couple of matching oak stools that we use at the island). There is also a darker stained wood in the built in bookcase in the breakfast room and the doors - it was there when we bought the house so I don't know what the wood species is. Try to ignore the toe kick area - the cherry skins were off them for the floor installation and hadn't been put back when I took these pictures. I need to find time to take new photos now that it is done. We went with cherry cabinets in the family room - I love walnut too but we felt that it would make that wall too dark. We put walnut knobs on them so we have a walnut accent.
...See More
Too distracting for an open great room/DR/kitchen?
Q
Comments (5)
We also have an open great room to kitchen with gorgeous views at back of house. Our great room alone is about the size you mentioned. No chandelier to distract, but did floor outlets for two lamps behind sofa. Two other lamps on furniture at walls. Four sconces, two on each side of room. I also did not want pendants over island, so went with cans (as much as I hate them, you don't want to cut off a finger). DR is at front of house w chandelier. Breakfast room next to kitchen at back if house w chandelier. Keep overhead lighting finishes consistent for a cohesive look. Don't have to be exact, just in the same family.
...See More
Lighting open concept eat in kitchen
Q
Comments (0)
I've posted before on the kitchen forum and got a lot of help. Now I need some lighting advice. Ive bought a new construction house in a neighborhood and I need to make all of my design decisions by 4/26. I'm super obsessed with cool lighting. Ive pinned about a thousand kitchen island pendants for starters. But my lighting dilemma question is in regards to our eat in kitchen. We have a huge open concept kitchen-eat-in kitchen-living room. All one long room. When standing at the kitchen sink you look directly through the eat in kitchen to the living room to the fireplace with tv over it. I want to be able to watch the tv while I'm in the kitchen, specifically washing dishes. I'm worried that the light I choose for the eat in kitchen will hang down too low and block my view. We have 9 foot ceilings. I'm wondering if 1) there is a lighting option that won't hang down too low or 2) if I should place 2 pendants over the kitchen table. My worries with having 2 pendants over the table is that it will mirror the 2 pendants over the island and look strange. I'm attaching some pictures of the layout and the model home to help. Thanks in advance!
...See More
Kitchen layout take 1: where to put opening to DR?
Q
Comments (23)
Here is another drawing with a wider kitchen and moving the ensuite toilet. Is moving the wall 11" to create a 15' 8" kitchen worth the effort? Is the kitchen too wide now? Is that island just a barrier? I love having a small table and nook for casual/breakfast family dining. This plan also brings a new window into the kitchen which I like. Buehl's wonderful plan doesn't involve widening the kitchen beyond its current 14' 9" which is fabulous and will certainly be more cost effective. Each square is 1' x 1', my hand drawing is obviously imperfect though, apologies. I will try to perfect using lay out software this weekend.
...See More
msitalia
Original Author
11 years ago
The peninsula. The wall to the left of the window that is attached to the peninsula will be removed in the renovation.
blackchamois
11 years ago
I am no expert but some initial thoughts.

I think a hood seen from the dining area might be a little odd. The spaces seem fairly close. It appears to be a formal dining area. Is that how it is used, or more casual? Can you visualize yourself sitting at the table and looking at a range hood?

Do you use both the DR and the EIK? Would it be possible to reusue one of those spaces? For example, if you are doing a large island where the peninsula is now, could that also serve as your EIK? You could "borrow" some space from that room and make your kitchen larger.

I am interested to hear what others suggest. I too have a very small kitchen and love to learn about options for maximizing the space!

Good luck! I'll check back! :)
msitalia
Original Author
11 years ago
I agree that the hood would look odd, which is why I don't think that is an option. The dining room is formal and I plan to make the kitchen more formal looking. We use the EIK more than the DR, but when we have people over we use both spaces. DH doesn't want to eliminate the table and chairs in the EIK. I was thinking it would be better to put a peninsula closer to the den where people could eat at instead of the table. This would make the kitchen larger, but DH doesn't want that. I appreciate your input. It has been a very difficult process trying to come up with a layout that works. I'm interested to see if anyone has a solution other than bumping out the kitchen.
likewhatyoudo
11 years ago
My first thought is to extend your kitchen into the dinette area remove the range wall to open up the space and configure the formal dining space as the dinette area.
GreenDesigns
11 years ago
Post a measured layout. Pictures can be deceptive.

But, if it were me, I'd expand the kitchen into the breakfast area, relocate the range to between the two windows, and open it up to the dining room to create more visual space and so you'd use the dining area more often. Then, either an island or peninsula for casual dining could be carved out of the now open concept space.

Eat-in Kitchen Open to the DR - too many tables?

Comments (7)

msitalia
Original Author

msitalia
Original Author

Related Discussions

msitalia
Original Author

blackchamois

msitalia
Original Author

likewhatyoudo

GreenDesigns

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Eat-in Kitchen Open to the DR - too many tables?

Comments (7)

msitaliaOriginal Author

msitaliaOriginal Author

Related Discussions

msitaliaOriginal Author

blackchamois

msitaliaOriginal Author

likewhatyoudo

GreenDesigns

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

msitalia
Original Author

msitalia
Original Author

msitalia
Original Author

msitalia
Original Author