Which is the better layout?

15 years ago

As you may know, we are trying to decide the best layout for us. We are a family of five. We do an average amount of cooking and entertaining. We REALLY like the symmetry of having the 48" range flanked by all R and F units however, we feel like we will not have enough counter space on each side of the range. If we go with 30" units, we will probably AT MOST have 36" which would be fine. We certainly don't want lest than 24". Our architect came up with an alternate plan where we go with a 48" SxS fridge on the right hand wall and keep the range in the middle. Unfortunately, our house is in the framing stage right now so I don't know if it is even possible to change the layout.

Any ideas or advice would be appreciated

Here is a link that might be useful: {{!gwi}}

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Comments (13)

erikanh
15 years ago
It's a little hard for me to read the small print, but I love the space on both sides of your range in the first plan. Your fridge is far from your range. Would you consider putting fridge drawers near your range?
malhgold
15 years ago
what if on that side wall you did(starting south and moving up) a 30/36" frig, 30" oven/micro, 30/36" freezer. I really like the double island layout. Reminds me of momto4kids' layout. I would probably make that prep sink alot bigger so you could clean pots in there. I don't think you'd want to be carrying them all the way to the clean up sink. You definitely have the space there.

Do you have a separate pantry area? I'm not sure how the exact #'s work out, but maybe you could do a pantry on the frig/freezer wall I suggested.

Here is a link that might be useful: Mom to 4 Kids
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I just caught that you're not moving the sink, but I'll post my idea in case it sparks others. For the nook with the special floor, I thought you could butt a counter height pub table up against the end of the cabinets. It acts as a peninsula and work top, seats at least four and your pretty floor is not hidden by cabinets. Unlike my drawing, you'd want a stool near the range that can tuck under the table so it doesn't interfere with the oven. Rather than having a totally open wall between dining and kitchen, I thought you could do a cased opening with 24" walls on each side. One side might be structurally required, so you might as well make it look intentional and hide the side of a fridge on the opposite wall. I put a microwave next to the fridge in a base cabinet with an upper cabinet above; this creates a counter that would be a good place for your coffee bar. (Note: the aisle between the stairs/bathroom (I think) and the pantries on the right side is not the right width in the drawing below) From dining: From nook: From fireplace:
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@mama goose, everyone who helped. We finally had enough stuff done to enable us to move in... we still have a lot of work to do...living room is untouched, doors not fixed, skirting not completed because, doors...etc, , but 90% is done. Here's how to kitchen turned out. 1. This was the final design I made. We got a round expandable dining table and decided against an island. Kitchen lamp still to be fixed. We are not decided on the lamp shape yet - round or rectangular? Any recommendations? The walls are a warm cream and the ceiling is white. The floor is wooden, a warm light brown. 3. The kitchen top is galaxy granite (with golden flecks). The stone was cut to accommodate the cook top, so no bumps. A soap dispenser was also fixed into the stone and the sink too. I love this 'clean' look. 4. My search for a backsplash was...so tiresome! I visited about 10 tile shops and made numerous online searches before I found something I liked on a blog (http://therawhouseproject.blogspot.cz). Then, armed with this, I asked the stores whether they had something similar. Only one said they had it in one of their catalogues - they'd never sold this particular tile and had no samples. I waited 3 weeks to get samples. That's it. Thank you everyone. Once the living room is done...I'll take better final photos.
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Annie I'm happy you finally found a layout that works for you. Can I suggest you fine tune the details to maximiZe storage and efficiency. Drawers instead of slide out shelves across DW to store dishes. It's so convenient to open DW and store dishes without having to walk to other areas of kitchen. It's life changing, well at least for me it was! The upper next to fridge I would do a straight cabinet that deads into the wall vs a curved corner upper. You might consider connecting it to the counter with bifold doors or doors that slide up and out of the way to hide small appliances. I would probably shorten the island to get more aisle between the fridge and island and also inch the island down a few inches to get 44 between the range/sink wall and island as that is your main prep and cooking zone. The bottom right corner that notes slide out shelves, is that a pantry? If so, I would probably do shallow shelves vs deep 24" cabinets with roll outs. i would try to configure cooktop and prep sink so they aren't back to back to allow two people to use both areas simultaneously without getting in each other's way. Again, the wider aisle will help.
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So a couple of things... You have many, many constraints, so you need to be willing to consider what you might consider "non-standard" things such as the sink not centered under the window - allowing it be offset a bit (you can install the faucet so it makes the sink appear centered). When there are so many constraints, options are very limited to begin with. By refusing to consider unusual/different options, you are severely limiting yourself even more. So, please, open yourself up to other ideas. Sink...honestly, I would not reuse an old sink. I think this is one thing that you should replace, no matter what you decide to do. It's more difficult and expensive to replace an undermount sink later (assuming it's an undermount), so replace it now while it's easy and much less expensive. You can reuse the faucet now to save some money - they're relatively easy to replace later and it may even be a DIY project, depending on your DIY skills. . . So, here is my idea. (Zone layout at end of post) It has a very nice primary Prep Zone b/w the sink and range. It also has a nice secondary Prep Zone and/or Snack/Coffee Center on the other side - with a great expanse of space - over 70" wide! I did reduce the sink base to 36" to gain workspace. It will be well worth it, trust me! If you get a sink with an offset drain (highly recommended b/c it gives you more usable space under the sink), then you shouldn't have to move the plumbing. Even if you cannot get an offset drain, I don't think the plumbing would have to be moved all that far - maybe a few inches? I think it might be doable without cutting into the wall. However, even if it does cut into the wall, you don't have to do a full repair - it will be hidden behind cabinets so all you really need to do is put in a rough patch (and maybe you could do it???) Just a thought... The counters are all 3" deeper than normal to (1) increase workspace and (2) reduce the aisle b/w the two counters a bit. Pull the 12" deep upper cabinets and 24" deep base cabinets out from the wall by 3". (If 4" is less expensive, go with 4" deeper counters.) The deeper counters will (1) add workspace, (2) reduce window splashing, (3) reduce the aisle a bit b/w the two sides of the Kitchen, and (4) add space behind the sink for your faucet, sill (if the window is above the counter), and ease of cleaning behind the sink. On the refrigerator wall, the deeper counters will make a standard-depth refrigerator appear counter-depth - an aesthetic consideration. The refrigerator is moved to the right so it's closer to the Dining Room. It uses all but two of your existing cabinets and adds two new base, 2 new uppers, and 1 new tall cabinet. New cabinets are outlined in red with red text. [Edited to add: Oops! I forgot to remove the full-depth cabinet over the refrigerator - or, at least, mark it in red. If you can add that cabinet, it would be really useful, as well as make the refrigerator look more built-in.] One of the new base cabinets is an 18" trash pullout. I don't know who told you you need 19" to 21" cabinets for a double-bin trash pullout, but they're wrong. I have a 2-bin 18" trash pullout with a drawer above (my junk drawer). We use one bin for trash and one for recyclables. Note that I "repurposed" the existing 48" sink base by adding roll out tray shelves (ROTS). The new upper cabinets are 15"D, if you can get them and they're in your budget. Otherwise, get 12"D uppers. The new tall cabinet is a 12" wide pullout utility cabinet for your broom, mop, etc. If you can cut the 18" pantry cabinet down, then you might be able to use the pantry cabinet for that function, but I did incorporate the pantry cabinet already. If you do modify the pantry cabinet to use as a utility cabinet, then consider shelving where I have the pantry cabinet. But, it may cost more to modify the pantry cabinet than to purchase a 12" utility cabinet. Zone Map:
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allison1888
15 years ago
Can you move the range/cooktop onto the island -- would take some reconfiguring, but as is I think you'd be walking all over to get to various appliances. I think having the separate fridge and freezer on each end would be confusing. This is a tough one.
malhgold
15 years ago
FWIW...I have frig and freezer columns and they are going to be separated. Not even on the same wall. RMkitchen also has her frig/freezer columns separated on either side of a doorway. I don't think it will be confusing.
drjay71
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for the responses. We do have a pantry which is nor pictured. Would def consider fridge or freezer drawers
remodelfla
15 years ago
I would suggest swapping the 48" frig and the ovens putting the frig closer to the cooktop. It would look like two towers to me to have them flank the range.
rhome410
15 years ago
I'm going to have a different viewpoint. I think the amount of counter on each side of the range, especially with the island right across, is excessive in the plan with the 48" fridge. (I don't like counter that doesn't get used/isn't where it is needed, because it just collects stuff, or is just more to wipe dust off of. Every space should serve a purpose.) And that fridge is TOO far away from the prep sink and range. I would like to see 30-36" on either side of the range. If you'll really prep on the island, I think the 24" is doable.
drjay71
Original Author
15 years ago
thanks for the good points. it is a tough call.

right now we are leaning toward going with separate units on each side of the range for looks and since hope that the counter space on each side of the range will be enough. we also plan on using the island for prep.

the wall where the proposed 48" fridge will be cabinets and counter space without any addtional ovens except for a mw maybe.

we also plan on moving the veg sink to a corner of the island
erikanh
15 years ago
I misunderstood the original post. I remember he had 24" before with fridge and freezer on each side, so I thought he was saying that Plan 1 had 36" on each side of the range. Silly me. I think 36" is great, that's how much I'll have too.
mom2lilenj
15 years ago
I like plan 2 better with the fridge and freezer on either side of the range. It places everything you need to cook or bake in that area of the kitchen. Functionally I think the 2' counters would work especially with that big island directly across, but visually I think the 3' fridge and freezer are too wide. With the 3" wide fridge and freezer and 4' range, the 2' counters are going to look tiny. If you can get away with 30" wide fridge and freezer that would give you 30" counter which would look more proportional.
laxsupermom
15 years ago
I like plan 1, but with the frig and ovens swapped. That creates separate work zones for cook and baker and keeps the frig and freezer where children grabbing drinks or popsicles stay out of the cooks way.
busybme
15 years ago
I'm no expert, but just wanted to chime in and say that I would love to work in your plan 2 kitchen, with the fridge and freezer flanking the cooktop.

You've got the prep sink right there (agree that you should make it larger), plenty of counter space surrounding the stove, a large exxpanse of island to utilize, and the cooking zone is away from the cleaning zone...really nice.

My only two ?s/comments are: where's the microwave? and could you put a beverage center fridge in an undercabinet closer to the living areas.

(PS: I typed this yesterday, life interferred with GardenWeb, and I didn't hit the submit button...so I realize I'm a little late with my input but figured I must be meant to post since it waited on my computer for me for over 12 hours! : ) )

Best of luck! It's going to be beautiful!

Sandy
nwpepper
15 years ago
I agree with mom2lilenj - the 24" counter looks proportionately too small. 48" fridge is too far from prep/cooking zone. What about 30" fridge and freezers, and one (or two) fridge/freezer drawers nearer the outside island. I'm assuming there's another casual eating area in that direction...?

Which is the better layout?

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erikanh

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