Which floor plan do you prefer for a more functional kitchen ?
JadeBRZ
9 years ago
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Do you Prefer an Open Floor Plan?
Comments (42)I had an open floor plan in the last house - no doors downstairs except to the powder/laundry room and the coat closet (across from each other so if someone was in the PR and trying to get out they'd hit someone trying to get a coat in/out of the closet - not to mention ds was always in there when I wanted to get things out of the washer/dryer!). It had cathedral ceiling in the FR behind the garage with loft above the garage (friend called it a FROG). But the small eatin area on the opposite side of the peninsula from the working part of the kitchen was halfway in front of the wide doorway into the FR. Just about 18" wall in that area was in my way when I was at the sink (back wall of the house) so I couldn't see the kids! So I designed new house with back of the house combined kitchen/FR - 37x13 space with 8ft ceilings so I can actually see the kids. TV is in the LR which is off the foyer, has 4ft wide French doors (or will, once I finish and hang them) so we can close off that room. Even with no doors on we really don't hear the TV so someone can be reading in the FR while someone else is watching TV. The FR i for relaxing and visiting with family & friends, "guests" can be there w/o getting in the way of my cooking. LR is supposed to be a retreat for me and DH, and a more formal place with leather sofa, oriental rug, drapes (yet to hang) where we can "entertain" but the kids watch TV more than we do and we haven't "entertained" anybody so it's become "the TV room" as dd calls it. Hopefully as she gets older she'll lose interest in TV and be more into books like ds. She can't read yet but maybe next year... The DR is open to the foyer which I really didn't want (would have wanted bottom 4 steps with wall along that side but builder messed up didn't see my markup) but came in handy when we moved the furniture in. The only thing I realized too late is that in my old house we had 3ft doorway near stove to get into DR. In this house we have 4ft opening directly across from the DW/sink. So when we finally finish the house and have people over for dinner in our formal DR, they'll be able to see the mess! Putting the DR where the LR is wouldn't work though - walk 11 ft from kitchen (more like 13ft from stove), hang a left past the PR before you go through the front door? So maybe I'll put bifold doors in my DR?...See MoreWhich layout do you prefer (open kitchen in LR)?
Comments (9)The left one is the more traditional layout. But I see what you like about the one on the right. I'm in a house rather than an apartment, but my layout is very similar to your right option. The kitchen is dead center of a large room that has the DR on one end and the LR on the other. There is a garden in the center. With that layout, I can see you shifting the dining table down to the center section, and having a desk or other small sitting area up at the top, adjacent to the second bedroom. If you go that way, you might consider shifting the door on the hall bath to the top, so one isn't "in" the kitchen when going in and out of that bath. I also wonder about the set-up for the TV. I know the furniture placement isn't a done deal, but I don't think it works with the TV in the corner. You could consider mounting the TV in a recessed fashion on the wall that backs up to the master closet. Put it on an arm that will allow you to swivel it out if necessary....See MoreWhich layout do you prefer? Please Vote
Comments (32)lisa- Thank You for throwing it out there. I like to look at different ideas b/c in the end once we decide we'd like to feel confident that we explored our options! I thought the basement part might work but right away my dh pointed out that it makes it really hard to bring large things downstairs with the curve. (We have that now and its very difficult) In the Dining Room, would those buffets have cabinetry above for dish storage, etc? I like it b/c I was thinking tall cabinetry without the counter space but that would be nice : ) I definitely "get" what you're saying about banquettes not being for everyone. We plan to be here 10 years and if that works out maybe much longer. My husband and I do like the banquette idea especially b/c it keeps the area open from kitchen to DR and it's just a different "look" for us. We'd only use the bench side when we have a larger amount of people. That being said we're still open to not doing it if we think it won't work. Also, couldn't a new buyer just take out the built in seat if they don't like it and turn it back to a traditional DR? I'm not asking that sarcastically but it wouldn't seem the worst of things. OR- we could do a separate piece of furniture that's not built in too right? I think someone said Ballard has them. IF anyone sees others let me know. I know they have great fabrics that are kid friendly too : ) I wonder how long they come? THANKS EVERYONE! I so love this : )...See MoreHelp! Which Plan for Storage around the Range Do You Prefer?
Comments (85)Ice, thanks for posting your lovely kitchen. I struggle with visualizing ideas, so it is really helpful! Funky, if we go with additional lighting I think you are right that the sconces are going to work better with the look and small space. It also makes a lot of sense to add a little additional light - it can always be turned down - and to have a couple lights that are task-specific or for mood. The artwork idea is so fun. I'm going to have to think about this! I also have that evil powder room wall, if I could find the right decoration. There's something terribly pleasing about having begun the kitchen planning with the thought, "Oh my, where am I going to put all my stuff? How is this ever going to work?" and to be drawing toward the conclusion and be thinking things like, "My storage plan around the range should be nothing, or art. Bbtrix, Thanks for hunting out this pictures for me. The style you pictured and the placement might look really good in this situation. The pulls are a kind of a strange color, "antique pewter," so maybe hard to match. The faucet is chrome and lighting fixtures in the dining area are currently dark bronze. So ... we're already getting patchworky, for better or worse. Here are the pulls - first is the stock photo, and the second is a photo I took when investigating flooring. (We're probably about to order the brown tile on the top.) The pull looks more silvery in direct light:...See MoreMike121
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