Welcome Pattyjill!

There is a topic in the "Read Me" thread (NOT the Sticky) that discusses asking for layout help...what information we need to know about you and your family as well as how to draw up a floorplan so we can play with it :-)

Scroll down to the "Layout Help" topic in the thread linked below.

Here is a link that might be useful: New To Kitchens? Posting Pics? Read Me!

I'd definitely go with #2. lots wrong w/#1.

I'd move the island sink down a bit so if the one at the sink isn't the same one cooking they don't bump butts!

can the stove run extend down to be even w/ the wall across from it?

don't forget - drawers, drawers, drawers!

Thank you Buehl! I have looked over the info you suggested.

My kitchen is definately a hang out place; one of the reasons I would love a large island that everyone can hang around. My house is what we call 'upside down'. Kitchen is on the 2nd floor of a 3 story home which does not include a basement. I have a beautiful view of the bay in New Jersey and I live here year round. My LR is directly off the kitchen area in an open floor plan, however the DR, which is where we eat most meals, is separated by a wall. We are taking down that wall which will be held with a steel beam (as you can see in the photos). However the DR will only house a large casual table and either built in cabinets in the corners or a large buffet to hold most of my china & not everyday servers. I like the idea of the corner cabs since it will use dead space!

The kitchen sink is located under a 36 inch window which is wear I would like it to stay. The DW is to the right of that sink and will also stay in that location.

I do have a 2nd window located above where my cooktop/range will be. I have 2 choices: leave the window where it is and move the range down which will then give me more work space OR remove the existing window and flank the range hood with 2 oval windows. I'm leaning toward my first choice as to save a little on construction and also not worry about the discoloration of installing new outside vinyl siding.

It is just my husband and 2 boys (7 & 10) however I do love to entertain and do so frequently, especially in the summer! My husband and I like to cook together or just catch up on the days events while one of us is preparing.

A definate is a separate ice maker which I would like in the island, as well as a prep sink. As much as I do want a stacking wall oven, I think I am going to have to settle with a 36 inch range/oven combo and then do a wall oven with a MW above it. I do not want a drawer style MW. I am also in need of a pantry closet and/or broom closet as I have no closets on this 2nd floor.

Hope that helps and wasn't too confusing. All ideas and suggestions whether good or bad are welcome.

Thank you so much. Patty

Hi, Pattyjill. Your designs are looking very promising.

Speaking of more information, I notice your kitchen seems to be extending to various degrees into that undefined space below. Is that space a previously wasted, dysfunctional area that's being scavenged for the kitchen or is it an attractive, nicely functioning space that's being cannibalized to feed the kitchen? (Both common scenarios.)

Thanks Rosie.

Yes the kitchen leads into the LR. I guess you would say the kitchen & LR are in an backwards L shape. Unfortuately that space just beyond the kitchen is wasted and I cannot do much as I have a support pillar there. And on the other side of the wall next to the island is a staircase. I'm attaching a picture so you can get the idea.

The drawing shows the range wall stopping short but I am fairly certain I am going to extend it to the stain glass window. This will allow me to keep the existing window as well as more counter space.

another angle where you can see the window wall run that I presently have.

Are the dolphins staying or going? Are the dolphins the 3rd window in drawing 2.

Are you flexible on the window sizes?

Is it possible to stand at the cooktop and take a few more pics - looking out into whatever is right of the support post, the wall with the indents and your current sink area?

I'm just asking, cause the location of tall stuff is one of those things that people have strong feelings about, but in your current layout, does the oven location bother you? It would bother me - not only because I'd rather prep closer to the cooktop, but having tall thing blocking the window and vision to the rest of the room.

Hi bmorepanic. Thank you for your input.

Yes, the oven location bothers me to no end, hence one reason I am remodeling my kitchen. My floor plan is like no other, unfortunately. It is a strange set up so I am trying to make it as functional as possible.

The dolphin stained glass window is staying. That actually will be my breaking point from kitchen to LR area. I have posted a picture for you to take a look. It will be more open with the removal of the peninsula and addition of an island. Oh and the square table you see next to the pillar will be gone.

Both disigners wanted to put my dbl wall oven/mw and refrig on the opposite wall from the stained glass (I've included a pix of that too). I'm not crazy about that idea at all since I will have to walk around the island to get to an oven..hence non functional!

At this point I think my best design would be 36" range with oven where my dbl wall oven is now, giving me tons of counter space to work on next to it. Leave the MW where it is basically but add a separate wall oven under it. So I still have the luxury of another oven. That leaves me about 5' for a pantry closet & broom closet. Refrigerator would then be on the same wall as the sink, closest to the dining area.

Please tell me what you think.

I need to figure out how to use this google sketch it! It would help me so much.

These all sound like idiot questions (or perhaps questions from an idiot) but ...

Do you like or dislike the little prep sink next to the cooktop? If the cooktop moved, would you move the sink with it?

How often do you use the thermal ovens per week? How often do you use the microwave? If you had a single thermal oven and a speed cook oven (both thermal and microwave) or a steam oven - would that be enough?

Is that pantry in an ok relationship to the cooking surface or to the prep surface today? If you do an island with the pantry on the far side, how will you feel about that? Again, this can sound like I'd like to get rid of the island, but its more about its size and exact location of other elements and how you feel.

I'm assuming you are talking about the prep sink in the new plans, not the existing? If so, yes the prep sink will be configured to my oven/cooktop.

The ovens I do use fairly regularly in the winter months. Rarely do I turn them on in the Summer as I grill outside alot. I do entertain frequently, casual but still somewhat of a party house.

I really don't have another option for my pantry. I do not have even a broom closet on this floor right now. I do want an area that I can store all my larger appliances that are not used as freguently, such as Kitchenaid mixer, food proc., expresso machine. I am trying to have any items on my counter other than utentil holder. I want appliance garages to the far left of the cooktop for toaster & coffee pot.

Does that answer? And you are not asking idiot questions. I like that someone is thinking differently for me.

If you look at the plans the cooktop wall will actually run pretty much down to the stained glass window. I will take a photo of that new layout and post tonite.

Thank you again!

I meant the prep sink in your existing kitchen - it looks like it would be immediately to one side of the cooktop?

I long ago figured out that the best thing about my oven was the "Warm" setting - it's most frequent use is as a plate warmer and food warmer in the winter. To me, I bake stuff and roast things in the oven a fair amount, but its still used most frequently as a warmer. In my next life, maybe I'll get a warming drawer. I asked about the ovens because it's estimated that people use their thermal ovens less than 3x per week. I really wouldn't mind having ovens on the far side of an island IF I had a place to sit things down when they came out of the oven.

Do you have any strong feelings about combining your table space (the one near the post) with the "hang out space"?

The prep sink will be moving into the island fairly close to the cooktop. At this point I think the only space available to use as the oven drop is on the far side of the island would be the island itself.

I will not be using the space for a table. The dining table will be going in the area which is now a separate DR. I am removing that wall so that I don't need another table. I actually don't even use that square table. I had purchased it and had it in the middle of my kitchen using it as a table/workspace. It was nothing but in the way so I moved it to that vacant area for the time being

Another problem with having the oven/refrig on that wall is that the steps are right ardound the corner. I'm thinking of safety first. If I have
The oven doors open and someone comes swinging around that corner it could get ugly. However if I move the MW/oven close to the DR opening (precisely where the MW is now) I think it would be safer as well as closer to dining table.

Can't put a big table between kitchen and LR because that pillar is there. Not enough space for the size table I want.

Is the location of the support beam in a place where it can be incorporated into your design? (Like a pass through from kitchen to LR or eating area? Or hidden within some built in storage?) I guess it would depend on how much space is beyond the beam, and from the pictures it looks like maybe not a ton. But if you could post your overhead drawing with the beam and the space beyond included, with dimensions, that might spark some ideas. It would be great to make that beam an attractive part of your new design. (I know not quite like those below but maybe they will spark ideas.)

{{gwi:1457397}}

{{gwi:1509505}}

Where are those steps? On the next plan, is it possible to note the location of the steps and the post? I hear you about safety as an issue, but I haven't figured out where the steps are.

This may also sound crazy, but is there a run-around path through the house for kids? If so, where does it go...

Chicagoan I love your idea and you are right...not much space beyond that. I'm looking at that beam trying to figure out how I can incorporate it but not looking very hopeful. When we purchased this house we added about 5 ft to this area and that is why that post is there. (the things you learn later)

I don't have an overhead view of the area but it is 8 feet from my current [peninsula and 13 feet from the slider in the Living area.

bmorepanic. I will try to draw the steps in my plan and post another pix.

Thanks everyone.

First pix is overhead view and I've added in the stair location and the pillar location. This would now make the wall even with the adjacent wall the wall house the MW/2nd oven.

2nd photo is the redesign of the cooktop wall leaving the existing window which then pushes the counter down to put up to the stained glass window giving me more counter/work space.