Parents kitchen plan - please tear apart!
My parents are building their dream/retirement home and we need some help on the kitchen design! As of now, what you see is the stock plan version. One of the ideas is to make the bar between the kitchen and living room have maybe 2 upper cabinets with a window of sorts between then into the living area. Instead of it being completely open. The other room beside the kitchen will be a breakfast/hearth combo. The small room behind the kitchen will be used as a small office area.
The house plan is based off the Fincannon
Any and all suggestions are welcomed!
Comments (24)
mama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoIt looks as if the main traffic pattern is through the work area. I'd
move the doorway on the left side to the other side of the fridge. I
think I'd make the island sink a prep sink, and put the clean-up sink
and DW on the counter where you have the bar sink drawn.
The two upper cabinets that you plan for the bar area could be dish storage, or dish drawers could be located on the back of the island.Related Discussions
Please Critique, Improve or Tear Apart my home plan
Comments (19)Bathrooms: as others have pointed out, you should have a full bath on any floor where there might be sleeping rooms. If you intend to ever sell this house, there should be a full bath on the 2nd floor and in the walkout basement. (Currently, it looks as if the master bath is the only full bath in the plan.) The laundry location will be very annoying to anyone who has more than a single couple in the house--they go up/down stairs, **across the house**, up stairs and then into a laundry room. Stairs: How do you go downstairs? Do you really want the stairs between the great room and the kitchen? The stairs take up a lot of room in the middle of the house--especially considering you don't intend to use them often. Accessibility: By adding stairs to the master bedroom, the master bedroom will not be accessible to someone with limited mobility. As others have pointed out, that negates some of the advantages of a first floor master. Kitchen/Hearth area--there's a lot of space there but I'd be concerned about the actual cabinet layout before I started building. Since the back wall is primarily windows, that will influence how the cabinets are laid out. You'll also want to be sure there's sufficient room for a large table, since that is your only eating space--at least, I assume there will be eating space in there someewhere! Although the space is large, it is fulfilling 3 functions: kitchen, dining, "hearth". Entry way: The entryway looks as if it's over 160 square feet. At even *cheap* construction costs, do you really want to spend $16,000 for an entryway? It is large and will be a huge empty space when you enter the house. What is the purpose of having it so large? I guess you could put a large sculpture in the middle. Flows: The pathways from the garage to the kitchen or garage to the bedroom or garage to the great room are all filled with turns. I think the flow could be improved. Pantry/Officette: What exactly is an officette? How would furniture be arranged here? Pantry shelves don't need to be very deep--the room is too wide to just be a pantry, but isn't really big enough to be an office. Also, does it make sense for one of you to have an 'officette' in an INTERIOR room when the laundry room and mud room both get windows? Office: At that size, it should be big enough to share. If you don't want to share it, I'd consider making two separate offices. For that matter, I'd consider making them "bedrooms" with the intent of using them as offices. That would mean putting in a closet--and turning the powder room into a full bath (or adding another bath). Master bath: There is a lot of wasted space here--it looks as if it's about 11' from the vanities to the shower--that's an entire room--all empty space. The tub gets a back window, but there's a lot of unused space in front of it--on top of all the empty space in the middle of the master bath. Master closet: Some people don't like walking through a bathroom to get to a closet, but that doesn't bother me. What does bother me is what you're gong to do with an 11' wide closet. I *like* big closets, don't get me wrong. But closets are most valuable along the walls--what are you going to do with that space in the middle? Some people put dressers and benches in the middle, but if you're going to do that, what are you going to put in the 16x18 bedroom? Foyer to master bedroom: It is big enough to walk through, but not really big enough to put furniture in. You said your girlfriend was interested in making it a sitting room, but given that you have a HUGE bedroom, a great room, and a hearth room, why would you consider putting a sitting area in an interior, private space near the laundry? Owners Suite to bathroom: I can't tell if there's really supposed to be a door there--it looks too big for a pocket door--and most people do want a door to their master bath, since couples don't necessary get up at the same time. I admit that a 4.5 car garage would be fun to have :-). I'm afraid I don't like this plan--it doesn't use space well, I don't think it'd be easy to live in--even looking at it as a two person house, and you'd be walking through a lot of open space. This house is big and would take a lot of money to build--and I don't think it's a particularly livable plan. I think you ought to look at a lot more existing floor plans or find yourself an architect....See Morepick this plan apart, please! IKEA, ordering next week
Comments (8)Kitchendreaming, thanks for your comments! I have posted at ikeafans but not about options for the 21" base. As it turns out I had a meeting with my builder this morning and 24" bases will fit at each end of the sink wall. :-) Our sink is a actually a stainless apron sink (already purchased) but unfortunately the drain is not offset. I'm still hoping to tuck a trash can under, even if it just sits on the floor of the cabinet and is not on a pull-out, for scraping plates, etc. I really feel that having the trash/recycling in the island is going to work for us. We usually have a trash bowl in use all during prepping, partly because the trash can in the rental we're in now is very inconvenient. In any case, the prep sink will now be in a 21" base, so that will give even more room under it for possible trash as well. So possible trash in three places, surely we can make some arrangement that will work. I have been pondering using larger cabinets instead of the smaller ones and some measurements I got today helped solve that. As I said earlier, now the sink wall has a 24" drawer base at either end. On the cooktop wall there is now a 36" drawer base, 36" cooktop cab, 24" drawer base, 21" sink cab, and then the oven cab. Kaismom, totally with you on the no water on the island thing. My kids are young, but I see them hanging out there for snacks, homework, art projects, etc. And I feel that having a sink and faucet would really take a lot of that room. I also envision us clearing the table to the island after meals, where I plan to store my food storage containers, ziplocs, wraps and foil, so I think the fridge being further removed from the cleanup sink will work ok. I realize it isn't ideal, but I do feel this will be workable for us and the best option given the conditions we are dealing with. I have to admit when I posted the plan I wasn't expecting such a negative response to the fridge location! But that's OK, I wanted to be challenged to take a second look at everything. Dianalo, so glad to hear you love your cabs and 36" bases! If you've read this far you'll see that I was able to upgrade my 30" to a 36"! and as far as the prep sink across the aisle, it has to be across the aisle from something right? Either crossing the aisle with boiling pasta to drain or with dripping, freshly-washed veggies to prep? :-P Thanks again, I really appreciate you all taking the time to comment! Cintijen...See MoreCould you please review my parents house plan? Based off the Fincannon
Comments (11)You mention the possibility of a paid caregiver, indicating that aging in place is one of their concerns, yet the whole house is anything but age-appropriate. First the good: - Great sight lines at the front door. - Nice layout for great room, kitchen and dining area. And the bad: - The master bath is a study in inefficiency. Excess space in the middle of the room, yet a person using the sink must stand practically on top of the tub. An oversized shower (good idea for aging in place), yet the window is a problem. A toilet closet with a door that can't be closed once a user enters the room (and toilet closets are difficult for elderly to enter, as well as being difficult to clean). Your parents have allotted plenty of space to the master bath /closet, but this needs a whole re-do. Personally, I'd start by placing the closet in the spot that's now the shower; that takes care of the window, and it'll allow the shower to move "in" rather than being on an exterior wall. - The 90 degree turn into the bedroom does allow for privacy, but it can be difficult for an elderly person to manage. - The island prevents good flow in the kitchen, and your work aisles look narrow. In general, square kitchens don't work well. In a kitchen you want cabinets /countertops /space for your appliances; thus, rectangles, with greater wall area are superior. In contrast, squares allow for empty space in the middle, which isn't particularly what you want in a kitchen because that means your "important players" are farther apart from one another. I think I'd drop the two-island concept and instead go with a simple row of cabinets against the wall and a large island dividing the kitchen from the great room. This would be very affordable to build, and it would look great with that layout -- as well as increasing the size of a modest great room. - I like the dining room except for the door to the porch. Once you insert a table, it'll block access to the door. The great room doors are only steps away, and this door isn't needed. This dining room would look great with a banquette against the wall, and that would make the dining room more spacious. - The dining room must serve as a walkway to the secondary bedrooms, and you have a "bottleneck" in the spot where the kitchen and the dining room meet at the corner -- keep in mind you're going to have to bring bedroom furniture through that narrow spot. - I like jack-and-jill closets, but this one seems cramped and is just doors-doors-doors everywhere. Imagine if you ever needed to replace that tub - a new one could never be brought into that spot. - Do they need the e-space near the secondary bedrooms, or would that be better as a large storage closet? If you ever do have a paid caregiver in the house, a good-sized closet would be an asset for that person. OR, if they have lots of grandchildren who enjoy spending the night, that little spot could be a cool little built-in bunkbed right in the hallway. OR, you could move the half-bath to this position, allowing for a more comfortable laundry room. - The laundry room suffers from the same problem as the kitchen: The walking area is quite narrow, which is not age-friendly. Moving through that narrow hallway with a basket of clothes may not be so easy as your parents age. Note, too, that when you open that door, it covers up a portion of your folding area. All that wasted hallway space could make a nicer laundry room. It'd be nice if it could be closer to the master bedroom closet....See Morecan someone please rip apart my kitchen plan?
Comments (202)Hurray my order is in! I was only left with one door that was out of stock, so they added it on to the giftcard. It was MUCH easier than I was imagining. The guy helping was great. It probably helped that I waited at the door for opening. He walked around with me to view different trimming options and such, and I also got a quote for the quartz. I'll go back on Monday to get that ordered. I went with Grimslov. I was so back and forth I just decided while there and it feels good that I don't need to keep wondering what to choose. There are so many options and in the end they all look nice. Thank you times a zillion for everything!! And Thank you to everyone. This was so eye opening and helpful in so many ways. Now starts prepping for my temporary kitchen, stockpiling the freezer some more and getting ready for demo. Everything will be delivered Thursday the 22nd....See More
bpath
9 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years ago
Lavender Lass
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoWell, I changed more around than your parents probably want....but I like the big pantry and easy access to breakfast and living rooms :)
I think Bpath is right...MamaGoose's plan is great, but that will be a LOT of walking in a few years.
Also...I thought your mom might like some plants...and a few herbs above the sink. Maybe a little plant light? Interior rooms always appreciate more light. Nice for cooking and my mom would love it! Just a few ideas....
Eyegirlie
9 years agoLavanderlass, I like the thought process, but the main issue I see with changing it like you did is the long trek from the garage to kitchen with groceries.
My mom is picturing something like this for the kitchen looking into the living room. The room on the other side of the kitchen is actually a hearth room/breakfast room. The dining room is on the other side.
Lavender Lass
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoWhat if you walk through the pantry?
I like your mom's inspiration picture! It's just a lot of walking, especially in a retirement home. Maybe layout the plan with boxes or tape...and see what your parents think?Make sure a walker or wheelchair can maneuver through the area, as well. You never know what the future holds...I know that all too well. Just be prepared for anything and the house will accommodate their needs, for many years :)
Lavender Lass
9 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoEyegirlie
9 years agoEyegirlie
9 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoHere's a quick version that changes very little, except the entry from the left, and adds a small prep sink on the top counter. The prep sink would be more functional between the fridge and stove, but who would want to be stuck in the corner, when those wonderful windows are visible to the right?
I missed the pantry with the first post, so I've made the cabs beside the fridge a tall pantry, with either small appliance storage, or a pass-through from the pantry (the pink square), so that as your parents age, possibly using a cane or walker, they won't have to carry items from the pantry to the kitchen.
Work space is all on one side of the room, necessitating fewer steps, but it seems there's a lot of wasted space in the bar area. Unless, of course, that will be a dedicated home pub, with storage for all of the spirits. :)
mama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoThis one is basically the first version, with the addition of a dish drawer beside the prep sink--which might be easier for your parents as they age--you might consider dish drawers for the clean-up sink, too.
PS, I don't mean to make your folks sound as if they're 'on their last leg.'
Lavender Lass
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoHere's an idea for the master bath. According to the forum...the toilet should be close to the bedroom...especially as we get older :)
The bath tub is usually the least used item, so it should be the furthest away. Since it's the front of the house, you could use clerestory windows for privacy. Also used high windows (for light) in toilet closet and shower.
Then, there's the option of a REALLY big closet...or a big closet and the little office. Just a few ideas.
Oh...forgot to ask...did they want to include a stackable W/D in the master closet?
Eyegirlie thanked Lavender Lassbpath
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoEyegirlie
9 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years agoEyegirlie
9 years agoLavander lass, thank you sooo much for the bathroom redesign - my parents loved it!!
Since you and Mamma goose are pro's that this (and I've seen your name since I first started stalking gardenweb in 2011), any ideas for the laundry room - I'm afraid it's too narrow, even with a top loader...
mama goose_gw zn6OH
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoLavender Lass
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoLOL! I think many of us are just happy amateurs...but it's a great break from our 'day job' if you know what I mean :)
I'm glad your parents like the changes! Maybe something like this, for the laundry area/mudroom? I'd have the bench with hooks, by the door...then the counter with sink, but no wall dividing them. So it's like one large space with the window at the end, with washer and dryer 'tucked' around the corner.
Lavender Lass
9 years agoLavender Lass
9 years agoEyegirlie- Have your parents ever considered a larger front porch? Just enough room for a few chairs and a table...maybe a couple of benches?
Oh, and shutters and a little window box on the laundry room window?
Eyegirlie
9 years agoLavender Lass
9 years agolast modified: 9 years agoI do not have the software for this....but just a quick idea. And remember, porches come in all kinds of styles! Just a shady spot in the summer and a place to keep the rain and snow off, when necessary.
And of course, if they decide on a really BIG porch, they can stretch it all the way to the garage...and put a porch swing in front of the laundry window :)
mama goose_gw zn6OH