New construction layout- fridge vs pantry placement

9 years ago

I'm having a new home built by a production builder and I could use some help with the kitchen.

Here is the floor plan. As you can see I added a powder room/ mud room off the garage, so the powder room which is IN the dining room (yuck, right) will be gone. I will probably use that as a built in desk space. I know many here don't like the kitchen desks, but it will be very useful in my tiny house.

This model has a layout I prefer, with the island turned containing a sink, range on the far wall, built in desk. I want to make my kitchen more like this:

I will probably move the windows like the second floor plan as well. What I'd like to know from the experts here is this a decent layout? Is that an okay place for the fridge or should it go where the pantry is?

Here are some pictures of the second layout.

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Comments (5)

sheloveslayouts
9 years ago
Cute place! What if you did a little of each so you could have a window in the kitchen as well as the window above your desk area? The island doesn't look very big, so I'm thinking your sink is best on the perimeter.
szruns
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I prefer the second option, as I'd rather have the island seating in the living area as opposed to backing into the dining.
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Also...make your refrigerator look "built-in" If you keep it w/the cabinet to the left (maybe a 12" deep Utility cabinet for broom, dustpan, etc.?), then * Put a 3/4" finished end panel on the right side of the refrigerator that's as deep as the carcass/box of the refrigerator (if it's a cabinet-depth that would mean somewhere b/w 24" & 27"). The door(s) will extend past the panels so you can still open the doors fully. * Put a full-depth cabinet above the refrigerator If you don't keep that cabinet on the left or put in base + upper cabinet, then do the same as above except put end panels on both sides of the refrigerator. As Holligator said, if you don't have any cabinets on the left, then you will need filler to allow the refrigerator door to open fully (not just the 90o needed to get most things out)...for the greater angle that will be needed to open and/or remove drawers or bins. The refrigerator door must clear the doorway trim around and then some. You'll probably need at least 6" of filler. The cabinet idea is a much better idea. For that cabinet on the left, depending on your cabinet/door style (partial overlay/full overlay/inset) you may need filler b/w the cabinet & refrigerator to ensure the cabinet will open. The best way to accomplish this is to put a 3/4" end panel on both sides of the refrigerator. If you have partial overlay you probably won't need that end panel/filler. However, you will still need filler to the left of the cabinet. Right now, the door trim will be in the way of it opening. You will need enough filler to clear that door trim...but it will be much less than you would need for the refrigerator...only an inch or two.
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Your island can and should shift down more to the breakfast nook area. Trying to make it symmetrical to the back wall is damaging the functionality of the space. With the wider aisle to the bottom of the island, there is no issue with the island impacting the fridge. However, you will need at least a 9" broom closet or pullout filler between the fridge and the side wall to allow the doors to open enough to pull out the baskets for cleaning. I'd also consider doing a focal point range rather than cooktop and wall ovens. That will give you 30" of additional counter space.
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ondanonima, damiarain and rebunky, WOW! I am so glad I submitted this to Houzz - I am totally impressed with your ideas. Thank you so much! ondanonima, we are still in the design phase so we can still choose most of the window/glass locations. We want that east wall to be mostly glass. We will probably have one or two French sliding doors covering the entire space (kitchen – living room) with floor to ceiling glass as an option. There's even an option to install a corner window in the NE corner and have the sink as close to that corner as possible. There's not much to look at out a window toward the west end of the north side wall - just the least attractive side of the neighbor's house. I never would have thought of leaving the west wall completely blank. I have to mull this over for a while. We like the idea of lots of floor to ceiling glass on the east wall and it might be hard to give that up. rebunky's idea is appealing in that it frees up the east wall for floor-ceiling glass but I'd need to have the sink more toward the east end of that wall which spoils the pantry in the NE corner! Also I don't know if we'd ever want to sit with our backs to the view :( Your ideas have made me excited that there can be a really good arrangement for this space!
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This is not a layout that I would want - it would make me angry every time I tried to fix a meal. How large is the house / how many people? Do you cook more than just heat things up? Do you entertain in the kitchen? Where is the dishwasher? When the kitchen has space for "guests" (non cooks) I like a design that keeps them on the other side of the island and not in the work flow. Great if they can be there to talk or help... but bad if they get underfoot. The fridge on the other side of the room violates that. The work area for food prep is going to be the fridge, sink, counter (prep area). The work area for cleanup is going to be the sink, fridge, dishwasher, counter, trash The work area for breakfast and snacks is fridge, counter, dishes, food storage If you swapped the sink and range it would still be awkward, but not as bad. Put the dishwasher to the right of the sink (at the end) and the dish storage above the dishwasher. If that's a table in the lower left, it seems that you have a lot of space for sitting and not really much space for cooking. If this were mine, I'd be looking at what I could do to make more substantial fixes to the layout. As it is, you are going to be constantly walking around the island to get to the fridge which is off by itself.
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szruns
9 years ago
ps. I wouldn't put a desk there next to your dining room, but I would put in a lovely built in buffet there. If the builder is willing to, you could have him do it. Otherwise, you can have him leave the area empty and add your own free standing or built in serving area. If modifications are doable, I'd have him center the window over that area, maybe making it a touch narrower, allowing for 24-30" wide cabinets flanking a central window. (That's what I did in my dining room, and I love, love, love it.) By having some upper cabinetry, you get storage for wine glasses, china, etc (I did glass uppers.) Whatever you do, I'd make sure the window is at least 40" off the floor to allow for standard 36" cabinetry there (or a free standing buffet) later even if you don't want to do it right now.
reesepbuttercup SLC, Utah 6b
Original Author
9 years ago
The builder will move windows as I wish and two windows would work in the space freed up by moving the powder room. The thing is, is that side if the house looks out to the alleyway. So the view is only of my neighbor's garage door or siding at best.

I know people here aren't keen on kitchen desks, but for my life it would be pretty useful. I have two young kids and I have them do lessons on my laptop. Right now that happens at the dining room table and that's a pain due to the trailing cords and the fact that I must pack it all up at mealtime. I'd also like a designated office space, with at least one cabinet where I can contain paperwork, etc. This home is only 1400 sq ft total, I'm guessing 700 sq ft on each level. I need to maximize space. I know it would be more elegant or whatever with a built in buffet or even a blank wall, but I need that office space! I don't have room for a desk anywhere else.
desertsteph
9 years ago
on p1 there's a thread showing some storage spaces - on the far right and down to row 13 (might be off by 1 row) it shows a drop down door front used as a 'desk' for a laptop. To the right of that pic is another that shows a file cabinet drawer. Or for the computer/laptop space it could be a slide out like used in the past on computer desks. There are options to think about.

You could then still have a window over it with a cabinet on either side (with glass if you'd want that). Even if the view isn't so wonderful, the natural light is wonderful to have. Especially if you live where it is drab, dreary at times of the yr. Some people have had a window etched or frosted. I've seen pics of a window with a stained glass piece hung in front of it. Or even a sheer to fade the view but still let in light.

I'd put the fridge on the run with the sink in it - for ice, water, stone, fire to flow. Just be sure there is plenty of space for opening the door(s) and a body to stand there - and not be in the way of the cook. I think on the back wall it'd be more likely to put someone behind the island.

New construction layout- fridge vs pantry placement

Comments (5)

sheloveslayouts

szruns

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szruns

reesepbuttercup SLC, Utah 6b
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New construction layout- fridge vs pantry placement

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sheloveslayouts

szruns

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szruns

reesepbuttercup SLC, Utah 6bOriginal Author

desertsteph

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reesepbuttercup SLC, Utah 6b
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