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Any ideas to improve my layout?

15 years ago

Based on your suggestions, I'm taking a step back and starting with the current space and reconsidering my options. I'd really appreciate any thoughts/suggestions you may have because I'm beginning to think the as-is is the as-good-as-it-gets!

The things I know: soffits are coming down, we are putting in a new hardwood floor, new cabinets, new countertops, and new appliances.

Other considerations: The washer dryer are staying put. I'd prefer not to move the walls or windows. Although it is a little cramped, we really like the kitchen table. We have 2 little ones. There is one cook in our family (and occasionally the 2 little helpers.)

{{!gwi}}

The text I added in Photobucket doesn't appear on Gardenweb so I'll try to better explain the layout.

Top wall:On the L of the fridge is the opening to the DR.

Right wall: The range is Gas, but we are open to moving the gas line. The MW is currently over the range. There are 2 windows; one over the sink, and the bay window by the table.

Bottom wall: The open space is the step down into the FR. The "walls" on either side of the step are currently railings.

Left wall: The first opening is the hallway to the foyer, the next is the basement door, the next is the pantry, and the next 2 doors are where the washer/dryer are. The pantry is not as deep as the washer dryer (and the air return duct is behind that wall.)

Is this the best use of our space? Does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks,

Tara

Comments (9)

homepro01
15 years ago
The image is really small. I can't expand it in Photobucket. Can you add a new image?

Thanks!
tsherman
Original Author
15 years ago
So sorry - when I did the preview as I was posting the image was huge. Try this link:

{{!gwi}}
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I also prep/cook between my sink/cooktop, so w/ your layout, 1. I would shift the sink to the right, allowing more countertop to the left of the sink. yes, the sink will not be centered, but you can center the faucet w/ the window and no one will notice. 2. W/ the 36" sink base, I put the trash on 1 side (18"). (your kitchen is flipped from mine): but w/ your layout, I would have it: - 18" under sink - 18" trash under sink, so you that you can stand in front of the left sink door, while people can still access the trash on the right door (pullout). 3. I would put another trash/recycling in the desk area. My kids are now trained to use that trash for non-dirty stuff, meaning only food covered stuff goes into the sink trash, while other stuff like broken rubber bands go into the desk trash, so that they stay out of my cooking area. 4. I would make the upper corner cabinet into a 90degree cabinet, so that you wouldn't have a cabinet in your face, since you prep in that area (between cooktop/sink) a lot. good luck, Amanda
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I was thinking of the possibility of extending the back wall of the kitchen further into the family room , or putting the kitchen in the family room. The fireplace though...I suppose you wouldn't want to lose that. Were it me, I would definitely switch the range and sink. Without the range hood, you could expand the peninsula on the family room side for seating. How do you feel about adding storage with upper cabs over peninsulas? I know that is something that isn't "in" currently, but they are useful. Glass upper cabs, or shelves over the peninsula that borders the table room might look very nice. I can't see shifting the kitchen into the space with the cathedral ceiling, it would be on the opposite side of the house from the dining room.
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Ok, thanks very much all ... and in no particular order: 1. I don't have dimensions yet, but it is not quite that big. The fridge is 30 in. not 36, so that side is more like 8 ft I think. I will measure when I go back up this weekend. 2. Can't enlarge window. 3. Yes, this would include replacing the cabinets. The owner had a local cabinetmaker build the fridge panel, and he already has bid on cabinet replacement (which I haven't seen, but I doubt it addresses what I want to address. Don't know though). Most likely we will reuse the range and DW, as they are fairly new, but change counter, backsplash, sink, and faucet. I really don't want to spend a lot of money here -- it's a condo in the mountains, we don't really cook that much up there (although of course we end up doing Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners for 10 in our tiny condo even when I have a perfectly wonderfully large and efficient kitchen at home that is much better suited for that! lol). 4. Love the induction idea. It's probably not in the budget right now (well, definitely not), but I will keep it in mind when rearranging things. And it's a good reason to hold off on gas. 5. I've been toying with the idea of replacing the table with a counter-height table and stools, and placing it crosswise short end against the wall, sort of like a peninsula, to increase work space. Then we could pull it out when we have to seat someone for a meal down there. Does this make any sense? Again, I'll have to measure things.
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I don't think 12" is adeqaute to the left side of the sink. Here are the kitchen planning "rules" for reference. See, rule 11. From experience, we found that a 21" sink-side landing space wasn't quite adequate for handwashed items, soap dispenser, paper towels and-or coffee maker, etc. So that sink related stuff landed in the prep zone instead, which then cramped that prep space. I would do plan #2, modified. End-panel to support the countertop on the aisle-side of the dw --1", 24" dw, 27" sink-base (if available), 33" prep space, 30" range, 15" cab or drawer base and 2" filler. Plates across from the dw in drawers in the island. Where are you planning on putting the trash?
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celticmoon
15 years ago
What most bugs you in the current layout?
rhome410
15 years ago
You need to download the image and resize it to 'large' no matter how it looks to you on your computer. The last one is larger, but distorted, so really out of scale and hard to read.
tsherman
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks for your help!

{{!gwi}}
tsherman
Original Author
15 years ago
Interesting question Celticmoon. Here are my issues (in order of importance):
* Lack of storage
* Island is too small. I'm not sure if a larger island will fit well, but this one is so small it looks silly.
* Lack of lighting
* Lack of counter space. This is probably related to the lighting issue as the counters are so dark I really only use the island.

It's a good point that the guts of the kitchen work pretty well for us. Honestly, this remodel started as a "face lift", but I am so worried we are going to spend all this $$$ and later realize we should have done XYZ with the space when we had the chance I just want to consider all the possibilities.
tsherman
Original Author
15 years ago
Bumping for any suggestions.
bmorepanic
15 years ago
You might think about a "U" and make the peninsula part double-wide, move the sink onto the peninsula facing the table and family room, but still able to see out the window. You get another 8 foot bank of lowers facing the table and a huge counter surface.
tsherman
Original Author
15 years ago
bmore - that is a really interesting suggestion. It is hard to imagine closing off the space with a peninsula. It seems like it would make it feel so much smaller, but at the same time all the flow would be contained and on the right side of the peninsula so maybe it would work. It is something to consider...

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