Raison d'etre & a request for a kitchen plan critique
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
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Let's give it a whirl... Floor plan critique requested
Comments (4)This plan looks like it has been thought out very well. I like the storage space in the entry foyer but the off center main entry is throwing me. Is that a stained glass focal point window next to the door that has caused this layout? The kitchen island might also look great with a slight arc to the countertop. Perhaps a split level bar design might look nice. There is a huge amount of cabinetry in that kitchen as well. Perhaps eliminating the cabinetry along the kitchen wall that backs up against the foyer closet would free up enough wall space to allow you to have a custom designed hutch made that could match the cabinetry along the walls and give you a funiture style accent to the kitchen. A colored island could be a great contrast against stained perimeter cabinets. Center the double mulled window over the master tub. It will drive you crazy later. Also, I have some great images I can send you for inspiration of a raised hearth fireplace with flanking built-ins, arched firebox etc that I can send you for inspiration. I may even be able to dig up some other kitchen images from some of our previous homes I built that you may find helpful. Great plan and best of luck. Jarrett Here is a link that might be useful: Way to contact me....See Morelayout critique requested
Comments (4)I think my builder knew your builder... I kept the footprint of my kitchen, but just tweaking appliance placement and taking cabinets to the ceiling made a huge difference in our storage space and function. I love my easy-reach corners, compared to the angled cabinet caverns! I agree with Cindy that a lot of small drawer stacks are not going to give you the storage you hope for. I have one 18" drawer stack, and while it's fine for dish towels and storage bags, it wouldn't be much good for pots and pans, or small appliances. Is the window centered on the sink wall? It seems to be in the photos, but the layout shows it off to one side. It looks like you have a 36" sink base. Do you need that much? I went to a 30" sink base in my new kitchen, and it helped a lot. My U-shaped kitchen is about the same width as yours, and I couldn't figure out a way to put the dishwasher next to the sink without sacrificing a lot of good storage. I put it next to the fridge, where you show a MW drawer. Could you make your peninsula a little longer, and put the MW drawer there? Or not have the counter extend out toward the fridge, and have the MW face the fridge? Speaking of peninsula - the corner cab that says "drawers and pullouts" - you won't be able to access a drawer under the counter overhang. Here's a thought - I apologize for not posting a layout, I haven't figured that out yet. See if you can imagine this, starting at fridge and working around clockwise: - Fridge, full-depth storage above. I have pullouts - love 'em. - 20" tall pantry - 24" DW. Most people want to put the DW next to the sink, but even with the small one you showed, it throws everything off in a small U. I've had mine on the adjacent leg for 25 years, and have no complaints. With the amount of cooking you do, I think you'd appreciate the full-sized DW. - 36" super susan. I use mine for small appliances, and it's very convenient. - sink base - 32" drawer stack (likely 3 drawers). - Closed off corner. Yep, no way to store anything in the corner, no way, no how. The advantage (and it's huge) is that you get to have nice wide drawers on each side. I did this in my kitchen, and I use those drawers every single day. I gained enough storage in other parts of the kitchen that I didn't need storage that was difficult to use. - 28" drawer stack. Here's where the closed corner comes in, with drawers on each side of it. I allowed a couple of inches filler on each side, so the drawers can clear each other. - your big honking range! - 14" tray storage. I have one that's only 9", and even that is wonderful - 24" corner, accessible from the other side (no drawers, though). - peninsula with MW drawer, facing either the sink or fridge (depending on if you are willing to give up a bit of counter). I didn't make a space for a trash pull-out (but neither did you). Several here have out a trash pullout under the sink....See MorePlease critique my unusual two-tiered hillside house plan
Comments (28)One of the problems you'll have to figure out is how to hold up the houses on the hill. Generally, this is done with a foundation / retaining wall. Without knowing the soil type, it would be difficult to figure out how the retaining wall would have to be constructed. Generally, you can think of a retaining wall as being an "L" shape with the horizontal leg of the "L" being on the uphill side so that the weight of the soil holds the vertical portion upright against the soil pushing against the vertical wall section. There can be a 1:1 (or greater) relationship between the vertical and horizontal legs depending upon the soil type, This means that a 12-foot high vertical wall would need at least a 12-foot horizontal section to retain the wall. You have to excavate the hill back, pour the horizontal and vertical wall sections - and then backfill the soil against the vertical wall. You'd really need a structural engineer to do this type of design, as if it is not calculated correctly and then built to match the structural plans, you'll have the entire building sliding down the hill. An alternative might be caisson (drilled) foundations - but that requires a caisson drill and access to the site where the foundations would be placed. You could also cantilever the houses off of the hill side - but, that's some real involved structural work. One other thought - while you're planning on a composting toilet - have you thought about how to dispose of the grey water (shower, sinks)? This post was edited by buckhorn_cortez on Wed, Dec 31, 14 at 22:49...See MoreFloor Plan Critique Request
Comments (9)I can't identify everything on the plan, so my comments may be a bit off: - The house has a VERY complicated footprint, which will add to the cost of building ... without really adding any function to the house. I'd flatten out some of these jigs and jogs, and I'd reconsider the angled garage. - In the mudroom /garage entry, if you switch the closet with the washer/dryer, you'll score two benefits: 1) You can vent the dryer directly to the outside, which is both cheaper and safer. 2) You can have windows above the washer/dryer, which will be pleasant in what could be a dark space. - The toilet-in-a-closet looks very narrow and uncomfortable. Keep in mind, too, that these toilet doors are never actually closed, so this toilet closet is going to be the first thing you see when entering the bathroom. - What's the point of dividing the master closet? Those dividers will make the large closet feel small and choppy. - I like the idea of a bench by the front door, but this one seems to be in too deep a spot. I don't think it'll look comfortable. - Why does an average-sized powder room have a teeny sink squished over in the corner? - The dining room looks comfortable, and it will have the benefit of so much natural light! However, what's the second dining room table (or island?) right there? Why two? - I generally love a kitchen booth, but this one is smack-dab in the middle of everything, and the result is that it forces the two cabinet runs to be too far apart, and the island is more of a hindrance than a help. When you have an eat-in spot in the kitchen, you want it to be on the edge, not in the middle....See MoreRelated Professionals
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