Kitchen and drop zone design advice
cproksa
8 years ago
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bpath
8 years agopractigal
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Need advice for wasted space kitchen design
Comments (12)I like Marcolo's idea of switching the closet and adding the cubbies! Here's that option, but I kept a small table for crafts, snacks, breakfast, etc. You said you like to watch the kids out that window, but a setee would look very nice, too. While an island is very nice (and popular) I thought I'd leave the wall (perhaps load bearing?) and make the kitchen easily accessible from both tables. And you still have a little more 'formal' feel in the big dining room. By having the French doors opening into the kitchen, you have the option of closing off the noise...but still seeing the main sink (maybe farmhouse?) and possible 'buffet area' opposite the French doors. I added the extra sink by the fridge, so you have one sink/prep area to the left of the range and another baking area on the right. The dishwasher could go by either sink (or both) but if you have one opposite the French doors, cabinet front or drawer dishwasher might be a nice option. Hope this helps and have fun with your planning :) From Kitchen plans...See MorePlanning kitchen remodel – need design advice please!
Comments (14)damiarain and mama goose - thank you for those bold and beautiful layouts! You've found a graceful solution to a lot of my wishes. I'm on the fence about windows to the fridge/stove side of the house, because it faces our driveway and the neighbor's (not so attractive) yard and house. But the natural light would be wonderful! Great food for thought, thank you again. I'll have to check the space to see if there's room for dining table in kitchen. What's that great layout software you're using? rantontoo - We don't absolutely need two spaces to eat, and I had thought about shifting that door as you describe -- it would be between kitchen and DR. That way the traffic lane wouldn't go through the kitchen. I just couldn't figure out a good way to do that. Unfinished crawl space is underneath the whole main level where kitchen, etc. are....See MoreLandscape Design Help / Advice in Northeast Florida (Zone 9A)
Comments (24)Yes, I understand that the immediate intention for the play area is not to install a play set. But it's coming eventually and do you want the planting scheme to do dual duty by working now and also be ready for the future without any major alterations? Or do you want to subject yourself to the possibility of making a lot of changes when a play set is installed? A year is NOT a long time. As the play area develops, it is divided from the planting area with a bed line. The bed line is something to be figured out now, on the plan (as information about the play set/area becomes known.) The bed line divides places where people could possibly walk ("floors": lawn, low groundcover, mulch-only) from places where they couldn't ("walls" & "furniture": shrubs, perennials and tall groundcovers.) Trees ("ceilings") could be located in either areas Another possibility with the pitts is to cut them down and do a total rejuvenation -- where you control/shape their re-growth (which will happen very quickly since they already have developed root systems) -- and trim them so as NOT to reach way out into the yard. Let them grow as a much narrower hedge which is later trimmed into tree forms and reaches and screens above the fence. Based on some of the prior discussion, I'm going to speculate that one potential problem that could come up is not devoting enough depth to the planting beds (that are likely to surround most of the yard.) In general terms, this bed(s) ought to be allowed 6' depth as an average minimum. There are usually instances where it can easily be deeper, and possibly some instances where it can be shrunk to 4' when sacrifices must be made. Plants require space and trying to maintain a bed that is too skinny/shallow is not only difficult & more demanding of maintenance, but it doesn't look very good either. That's something to be mindful of....See MoreHelp with Drop Zone layout
Comments (10)Is it normal to lose sleep over small details??? Yes. I think I'd prefer it as a straight line, and remember to leave a space for a wastebasket/recycle bin and a shredder for the mail. I was also going to ask about trash and recycling -- trash and a system for sorting mail are the two top priorities in such a spot. Stopping paper clutter as it enters the house is a big deal. Alternate to the shredder to be considered: We don't have a shredder, but we have a "shred box" (I'll tell you my secret: It's a 12-pack beer box covered in contact paper -- it's exactly the right size to contain paper). Once a quarter our Credit Union has a "shred day", and we go to toss the contents of the box into their commercial shredder. We like going: they have food (like pizza or Chick-fillet sandwiches) and door prizes. Wow, do I sound dull. As for straight line vs angle ... I guess I'd give a slight nudge to the straight-line concept because 1) corner cabinets have deep, dark recesses where junk can accumulate, and 2) corner cabinets are more expensive. But my preference here is quite small. Other things to consider keeping in this area: - Kleenex ... hey, don't laugh. - A mirror for checking your hair before you go out the door (maybe inside a cabinet door?) - A cabinet for various canvas bags -- big, heavy bags ... reusable grocery bags ... empty backpacks. - A box of donation things. Clothes you intend to take to Goodwill, that coffee mug that no one really likes, etc. Assign a place for these things to accumulate. - Hangers for extra keys (inside the cabinet) - Is this area housing coats and shoes? I showed the layout to some people who were horrified by the "wasted space." And now I'm horrified at the thought of losing precious organizational space! Yeah, well, people here are always horrified by small, non-optimized things. I don't think the space is "wasted", but I don't think the drop zone -- well thought-out as it may be -- is located in a very good spot. By definition, this is a "drop spot". A place for miscellaneous clutter to accumulate. First, this spot is nowhere near an exterior door ... I'm not convinced that the kids will carry their things to this spot instead of just dropping them as they enter the house. This spot is dead-center of the house, where it's visible from most of your living areas. I don't think this spot will remain neat and clean, and I would be annoyed at having it so visible. Which door is your everyday entrance? I think you could set up a (smaller than this) drop spot near either one ... and I think location trumps larger size. The blank wall without upper cabinets will have a bulletin board. I think I'd rather have magnetic paint, which would make the whole wall a place to accumulate ... but it wouldn't look so much like a bulletin board. I use a wall calendar! Me too. That would also give you room for some shallow wall shelves to use as a charging area, Love the idea of shelves to get the phones, etc. "up and off the countertop". Last thought: I haven't heard a single word about your personal needs for your own individual family, and that should be key as you make these plans. What do YOU need to store in this area? Picture yourself walking out the door ... do you need a place to set down your coffee mug while you gather your keys, sunglasses, etc.? Will this area house a collection of cookbooks? Will you store cards and stamps here? Do you need a hook for a dog's leash? Will you store candles or batteries or light bulbs in this area?...See Morepractigal
8 years agoBuehl
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8 years agoBuehl
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8 years agoStan B
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