Requesting a layout critique for open Great Room.
Hi,
A long time lurker here. I am excited that finally I can use help from experts here!
We are starting on a big addition to our exisiting 1-story house to make it 2-story. The overall change is reconfiguring main floor, adding a bit of square footage (there's limitation to how many linear ft of walls we can change before triggering a major re-do. Our aim is to avoid major re-do).
I am uploading the current plan of the Kitchen, Living and Dining. It's a 39ftx14.5ft wide space, kind of a rectangle. I have a few concerns about this space, and I am also evaluating a possibility of reconfiguring. I would appreciate all feedback, help and critique.
My requirements and lifestyle: I cook a lot, entertain quite a bit. This will be a one-cook kitchen, but I am harboring hope that I will be able to get more help occasionally at least, when I have a bigger kitchen. Right now we have a kitchen that can only hold 1 person, so other family members have an excuse to not come in :-). If nothing else, then I think I can at least have a better connection while entertaining, which will be an upgrade in my lifestyle.
Some requirements:
- No cooktop in the island, ideally not even a sink in the island.
- At least 5ft counterspace that's hidden inside a pantry/closet to hide appliances (we do not like the look of appliances cluttering counters. Our current kitchen is that, unfortunately).
- Island seating AND a nook dining areas.
- Plenty of storage. (I am thinking that if I get island as prep surface, I do not need other counterspace. But I would like to hear others' experiences) -- Wall to floor cabinets when possible.
Here's the currently made draft. As per our building rules, we cannot bump out >20 linear ft towards the top. This plan already uses that limit towards the top right end. (Living room is 16'8" wide as a result of this bump out, kitchen wall is unmoved). 'Top end' will open to a covered porch and backyard thereafter.
I have concerns about this plan but I'd love to hear others' views/thoughts:
- I would like to have a dining area (apart from island) and this plan have a very narrow strip between L and K to fit dining table. Also, currently the kitchen isle width is ~5ft, and it's too wide. If we reset it to 42", then the kitchen may look too thin compared to the rest of the space.
- When we place dining table next to the kitchen island, there's practically no space for bar seating at island (it's desirable).
- In such an open kitchen, I'd love to have some closed space to hide away ugly stuff (appliances/rice cookers/toasters etc.)
I have come up with an updated concept. It keeps the top right end of the space intact, and uses left top end to bump out. Thus living room is now 14'6" wide (as it currently is before the remodel), but now I've created a dining area and relocated kitchen island. This is a very early stage plan, therefore not detailed. I see the following benefits:
- Being in the kitchen, there's better connection with L & D. (I expect to spend much of my family time in the kitchen thus it's important to me!)
- Bigger island gives more seating space to bar.
- Note that I have some leeway to relocate W+D elsewhere thus reclaiming that space for kitchen cabinets.
Issues for this updated plan (once I decide which general layout, then I will post with detailed kitchen plan only):
- I still need that hidden space somewhere to hide my junk. I've shown a corner pantry but I'm not sure if it will work well.
- I'm completely giving up on window to the side yard (don't quite like it!)
- Ideally I would like an island to be just slab, with nothing in it.
- Since I've never had an open floor plan, I am a bit apprehensive about the "side" of the island visible from living, and that sight dominating the overall space. With that in mind, I've moved the island a bit to the left (so as soon as you enter the space, it is not too close for comfort. )
Comments (10)
practigal
8 years agoRelated Discussions
layout 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 MoreNeed help with breakfast room design and overall layout critique.
Comments (1)Post this in the Kitchens forum for best results....See MoreCritique my Kitchen layout, we want a WOW! room
Comments (16)@anj_p I've been flipping the sink/DW placement back and forth. your suggest make sense and would make the sink a little closer to the fridge. @Piney Jim and @tozmo1 The view is looking out over SFbay and beyond to the east bay hills. So making the doors and window as big as possible is our goal. I like the idea of pass thru windows about the counters. We're in Redwood City it has the motto "Climate best by government test". Nobody really knows what that test is, but we do have beautiful weather year round. I'm hoping to have the sliding glass doors be the kind that open up all the way. To really blend indoor/outdoor. We don't even have many bugs, so I regularly have our current sliding doors open without the screens. (As a transplant from the midwest, I LOVE this!) @3onthetree Currently the stairs to basement are outside. There's a deck off the family room sliding glass doors, that has the stairs down. That deck will be gone and replaced with the addition. Honestly we don't really need the extra sitting area in the family room, but the master suite upstairs REALLY needs it. Good idea to look into connecting the deck to the new space. Thanks everyone, I love the feedback!...See MoreLayout for open great room with a view
Comments (11)So, you don’t watch tv in this room, nor do you have company in. How will you use the space? Reading? Doing a hobby? listening to music, podcasts, audiobooks and courses? Do yiu have any furniture you intend for this room? Is that the ”front door”, by the kitchen? Is it where you will usually enter?...See Morehomey_bird
8 years agoBuehl
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agohomey_bird
8 years ago
funkycamper
8 years agoMaybe you need something similar to a baking center that is used for prepping instead. Something like this?
Past Projects and Ranges · More Info
Or a pantry that is open enough to the kitchen that it doesn't need the ventilation. Something you can just close when you're done cooking but is open the entire time you're working. Maybe like this?
Custom pantry · More Info
As for your general room layout. I, personally, prefer the living and dining rooms to be closer together and then the kitchen to be at the end. When entertaining, I like when people sitting at the dining table are in closer earshot with folks in the living room so people can mingle without coming into the kitchen. And I had a corridor kitchen once and would not choose it again. Of course, this is an YMMV thing and there are probably a lot of folks who would disagree with me.homey_bird thanked funkycamperhomey_bird
8 years ago
cpartist
8 years ago
omelet