Small kitchen remodel - help on corner layout
We are embarking on a remodel of our kitchen and are not 100% happy with the layout both our cabinet KD and cabinet maker have suggested.
Basically, we are happy with the current placement of the existing appliances and sink, however we want to get rid of the "chunky" look of the oven/fridge wall corner (currently housing a 4' wide shallow pantry and the laundry) and also increase our counter space.
We will upgrade to a 30" range (vs the 24" wall oven) so that we can have a long run of counter space on that wall to provide a lighter, more open space. We will also be moving our current laundry area (to the right of the fridge) to the basement. I envisioned a big open space there, however both the cabinet KD and our local cabinet maker have submitted layouts for a longer counter on the range wall with only a tiny little turn onto the fridge wall - that counter will only be 12" long before the start of the pantry/fridge block. Apparently, that is due to the bigger fridge box (36 vs current 30"), the deeper counter on the oven wall (24" vs the 18" shallow pantry) and the relocation of the old pantry to the fridge wall (30" pullout).
I am worried that this new corner will be a dark, dead end for the counter. I've even started to think about adding a window to the left of the oven to provide some light (love, love natural light, but am worried how this will look next to the range hood and loss of cabinets). Any thoughts?
Thanks!
Comments (12)
mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago123jenkins
8 years agoThank you for your reply! We can't move the DW to the other side of the sink due to lack of space - it would have to move to the peninsula, which would only leave a small area (13" or so) left for drawers or a narrow cabinet.
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Small kitchen remodel - layout input please
Comments (21)I don't know what shape your existing cabinets are in, but if the boxes are okay, perhaps you could save money (or free up $$ in the budget for other parts of the remodel) by refacing them instead of replacing them. Here's a link to a place where you can get new doors (solid wood or furniture-grade plywood) and drawer boxes (solid wood, dovetailed, with solid or furniture-grade plywood fronts, and Blum soft-close slides) for a ridiculously reasonable price. That's what my mom used for her kitchen, and it came out beautiful. Drawer Depot is in California--southern California, I think--so right near you. They were great to deal with and the stuff was high quality. You have to very carefully measure everything, because you tell them down to the 16th of an inch how big each drawer box, drawer front and door should be. They mail it to you in pieces (except the drawer boxes, which they assemble and finish) and you paint or stain it and put it all together. If they're close enough to you, perhaps you could even save on shipping by picking it up yourself. Oh, and PS, add my vote to the pile of votes for expanding the kitchen into the breakfast nook. Don't worry about the low windows--a lower counter is great for a baking zone. Here is a link that might be useful: The Drawer Depot...See MoreLayout help needed for small kitchen remodel
Comments (16)lol. Ok, the island was a bad idea. I got carried away and forgot that I'm design-challenged. But if anyone has a counter height table to sell, I'll take 2. bmore, I get the message. I'll take a few pictures of the space and try to post them by the end of the weekend. To answer the questions: The little piece of wall only juts out about 2 1/2" so it's not to scale in my drawing. It's actually one wall that runs the entire length of the living room and the kitchen. It juts out that way to create a small alcove where the large window is. A picture would definitely help :o). The slider door opens from the left side, not the right. Yes, it would be possible to switch out the slider for a French door and window if we decide to include walls and windows in the remodel. No dining room, unfortunately. The fridge swings the way angie drew it in her layout, which I like for the reasons lavender mentioned. It follows the rules so DH will love it. Thanks for your layout, angie. lavender_lass - thanks for the advice. We've been slowly renovating over the last 10 years and last but not least is the kitchen. We're happy here but DH thinks we could use an extra bedroom, which is why we'd consider moving. DH and I will firm up the scale and budget for this remodel now instead in January. It'll be so much easier to choose the direction we want to go in with these layout options. I'll have an update real soon.......See MoreNeed Your Input! Layout for Small 50s Kitchen Remodel
Comments (14)I love your current kitchen so much I just want to come to your house and chain myself to your cabinets so when the demolition crew shows up, I can scream "NO!!!!!!". If you like the cabinets and if they are still in great condition, why change them all? Of course, it's your decision and I won't hunt you down if you decide to make a total change. But be aware there is a market for used vintage cabinets in good condition so, if you do decide on a to-the-studs remodel, please have those cabinets carefully removed and either donate them to something like a Habitat for Humanity store or sell them. The RetroRenovation.com website is one place to visit and post about them where you might find exuberant buyers. And, of course, Craig's List. So I came up with a plan with minimal changes, allowing you to keep most of your cabinets. Notes on the plan. It should get bigger if you click the photo so you can read it better. Basically, the only thing that changes is the stove wall. You could easily have a good cabinet maker make the additional cabinets you need to match the current cabinets. You may, however, need to paint all the cabinets to get a good paint match if just painting the new cabinets doesn't result in a good match. I didn't figure out how far down you can shift the stove but it looks like you could get a good 12-20" of extra prep space there. That increase should give you a nice prep corner with enough space to spread out. I would keep the charming countertops you have for all but the stove wall and splurge on counters that are cooking/hot pot friendly on that wall. Stainless would be great there and will really compliment what you currently have so it doesn't look odd or like a thoughtless add-on. Soapstone would also look great. Since you're done doing a lot of counter, these higher-priced tops would still be a minimal expense. The yellow is for a cart idea, similar to what MamaG came up with, but not inside the bottom of a wall cabinet. It is simply there so it can be moved to block access for visitors. A flip-up counter can be installed that hangs down the side so there is a place there for chairs and for someone to sit and visit with you while you cook and have a place for their coffee, appetizer, dessert, etc. It can also be used to help with food service at the table for items that might not fit on the table with people eating there. You say you like the peninsula because it does provide that barrier and place to sit but, really, it is the only real obstacle you have to an efficient kitchen that feels spacious. Removing it and just moving the stove down as far as possible to the end of that wall, even to the edge of the wall, should give you good prep space and make your kitchen far more enjoyable to work in. Anyway, just a thought, if you want to preserve what you have and just improve it. Of course, a good, well-designed and executed to-the-studs remodel would also be super-awesome. I just wanted to give you an alternative to consider....See MoreHelp needed - shower layout for small master bath with dead corner
Comments (3)Thanks @Patricia Colwell -- we came to that conclusion as well re: the toilet. We've decided to go with glass for the full wall to keep it open and eliminate the pony or full wall. @Paul NY 5b-6a - agree, only 32" for the fridge! Not sure why they marked 40 initially. Even though it makes for a silly jog, we want to keep the deeper fridge. Pantry will only be ~24" deep for that exact reason - we'll likely put a linen cupboard in the hall bath that backs up to that space. Updated floor plan for the bath attached. We'll use the "dead" space for a couple niches (shaving + soaps), and maybe put some little shelves on the side wall facing the toilet or something (I'll leave that to the designer). Thank you both for your help!...See More
Hillside House
8 years ago
cpartist
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoI'm wondering if you'd consider something like this instead? this then puts your kitchen in "order" with taking stuff out of the fridge, to sink and counter on other side of counter to prep, then to range to cook and back to sink to cleanup. It gives you more room and takes away from that closed in feeling you were afraid of and you now don't have 2 blind corners which is somewhat wasteful even with the new pullouts. It gives you enough space in your aisles still and no wasted counter space. It also moves the DW out of the work zone.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoSomething a little simpler, using Gennifer's idea, with the DW on the right of the sink. I eliminated the seating on the back of the peninsula, and moved it closer to the door. NKBA suggests 21" between a DW and perpendicular counter, but I see no way to do that on either side of your sink--if you keep the peninsula. At least this way you aren't prepping over the DW. I left an overhang at the end of the peninsula, for a couple of stools.
On the other side, I'd suggest a counter beside the fridge, with shallower cabinets sitting on top, maybe all the way to the wall--they can be 12", 15", or 18" deep, but would leave more head space than the 24" deep cabinets. You'd lose some storage, but it would help with the trapped corner, and be a good place to store small appliances. Do you have a KA mixer? ;)
123jenkins
8 years agocpartist
8 years ago123jenkins
8 years ago
williamsem
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoThink I finally figured out the numbers, but I cannot math this late on my meds and there was a lot of guesstimating cabinet/wall size so this may need some work. This leaves the little wall intact.
Benefits:
-fridge easily accessible to kitchen, family room, outside via slider
-drawers for your dishes! (Trust us, you'll love it! And it's close to the DW)
-prep sink with garbage underneath allows for another prep space or a prep and cleanup space if you have help
-the other set of drawers would be ideal for gadgets, wraps/bags/lunch stuff, Tupperware, etc leaving plenty of space on the long wall for pots/pans, bakeware, the much coveted and highly useful spice and knife block drawers, etc
-could put up a shelf or two above the prep sink for prep bowls, etc
Cons:
-may have to decrease overhang if you need the third seat often, that's a bit tight
My sleepy meds are kicking in, so I can't write much else. Maybe someone with a functioning brain can take a look. Might spark more ideas!
cpartist
8 years ago123jenkins
8 years ago
Hillside House