Kitchen Layout Review Requested
This is going to be long - sorry...
Here's the snapshot of the kitchen with the (open) pantry to get a handle on the overall layout. I was unable to make this large of a design in the IKEA planner so I had to split it up.
The Appliance wall pretty much has all drawers under cabinet height, the appliances are at counter level, and then "regular" cabinets above. Here's the IKEA snapshot:
And for the island, the IKEA picture is hard to post since the cabs are the "black / woodgrain" so it's hard to see the differentiation. On the "kitchen" side of the island are (left to right) drawers, 2 pullout trash / recycling centers, sink base with disposer / remote switch, DW, and 2 drawer stacks. On the "front" side of the island I have gone with all 24" wide single door cabinets. They change to 15" deep ones on the "left" end to allow for counter seating that wraps around. I am not skilled enough in IKEA to show the overhanging seating area, although it's somewhat shown in the original floorplan layout.
I can post the Pantry layout - but they are pretty much drawers where the "center" section is (giant passthrough / window area) and large doors / high cabinets everywhere else for storage for food in shelves, a charging station for tablets and phones and all our electronic gadgetry...., and perhaps a coat type "closet" on the end since we don't have one for our front entry. Pantry cabs will be same as the appliance wall cabs.
I am planning ongoing plates and glasses in the island drawers nearest the dishwasher, and pots / pans / small appliances / cooking gadgets / utensils over on the appliance wall. Larger, infrequent use stuff in the upper cabinets.
I went back and forth on a prep sink - but we have one now and don't use it, and I didn't like how it would interfere with the passthrough area. Also the laundry is to the right and it has a nice large single sink and another fridge / freezer.
I am interested in:
- Anything you think I missed with layout or funky features that I should incorporate.
- Any cool IKEA ideas - we decided to go with IKEA for their modularity and the fact that we could easily use standard sizes. Also - we are looking for some minimalist doors - slabs, really. And - at any time if we decide we want to change the doors it's a one day 'remodel'!
- cool ways to incorporate my electrical outlets into the island. (I should mention that the right side will be waterfall with our quartzite) Like the pop up ones or the strips under the counter.
Thank you for your eyes on this!!!!
Comments (27)
mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agojust_janni
8 years agoRelated Discussions
Kitchen layout design help requested
Comments (4)Just bumping this up in hopes of getting some help. This is a very functional kitchen while cooking. You retrieve from the refrigerator, wash in the sink, prep between sink and stove and serve. Kitchen prep space currently is 27" inches sink to stove. We've managed in the past, but for the remodel, I've enlarged prep space between sink and range to 36" by removing wall side fillers and adjusting the range location to the right. Using a 30" kitchen sink base instead of a 33" sink base would yield another 3" for the major kitchen prep zone (total of 39"). I think a lot of about a separate clean up zone in the pantry. I considered a second DW here, but given the size of the kitchen/pantry in general I couldn't justify it, due in part to concern about what happens when a DW isn't regularly used. Should I consider moving the main DW to the pantry in your opinion? The pantry sink is plumbed for an ice maker which is old and being removed. A garbage disposal would be needed, but doesn't that also mean separate sink venting? Probably the two sinks vent together already? The pantry sink cabinet could easily be changed to 24" w, 8 to 10" deep for cleanup, allowing the balance of the base pantry cabs to be 24" and 24" (I thought of an under counter 24" refrigerator to minimize need for drinks from fridge). I have gone back and forth on this clean up function point. One disadvantage to moving the current DW location is dishes are closer to the cook in the kitchen but not by much. On an aside, in twenty years of raising kids, we never had any problem with the DW next to the kitchen door as we always kept it (the DW door) closed when not being emptied or filled. All advice is welcomed. Thanks. This post was edited by SparklingWater on Mon, Feb 25, 13 at 19:43...See MoreLayout Review Request
Comments (17)I went back and forth about whether to add a prep sink to your island and in the end, opted not to in favor of more counter. You don't have a lot of counter as it is and the island offers the only long stretch of uninterrupted counter in your kitchen. The other reason I didn't add one is that the end of the island - where a prep sink makes the most sense - is also the closest landing zone for fridge and pantry items. Sure, you could use the counter between fridge and range but then you'd have to have the fridge door closed first. I'm not saying you can't or shouldn't add a prep sink, merely pointing out how its addition would affect other functions. If you do decide to add a prep sink to the island, put the trash under it. Hmm, your island is long enough to place the clean-up sink and DW in it and then you could put the prep sink where the clean-up sink currently is. That would give you a huge stretch of counter between sink and range. The downside is that moving the clean-up zone to the island would mean losing an island seat. Or maybe not: The DW is across and over a cab from the clean-up sink, which puts it in the prep zone but I thought this was preferable than having it directly across from the sink since that wouldn't give you much room to stand at the sink when the DW door is open. I tried to find pics with this set-up but I didn't have any luck. I know it's been done, I just must not be using the right search words. The downside of that placement is that prep sink and clean-up sink are directly across from each other. If you and your spouse are working at each sink at the same time, you'll be bumping butts. Another option is to put the clean-up zone in the peninsula. The peninsula needs to be deeper to allow for enough of a seating overhang. I couldn't tell if you have enough room to do this while keeping a decent aisle between peninsula and bathroom wall. You could always start the peninsula closer to the range wall. You can use the current pantry area as storage for dishes and glasses. Since you have a dog, I would advise against open storage below counters. I have a cat and pet hair goes everywhere. ;-) Here are some ideas for dish storage on that wall: [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/showroom-display-traditional-kitchen-boston-phvw-vp~96095) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Boston Kitchen & Bath Designers Venegas and Company [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/painted-and-wood-kitchen-traditional-kitchen-burlington-phvw-vp~112931) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Putney Design-Build Firms Kenzer Furniture [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/shannon-cabinetry-traditional-kitchen-toronto-phvw-vp~74326) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Youngstown General Contractors Shannon Cabinetry [[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/universal-design-kitchen-by-sawhill-custom-kitchens-and-design-traditional-kitchen-minneapolis-phvw-vp~6843316) [Traditional Kitchen[(https://www.houzz.com/photos/traditional-kitchen-ideas-phbr1-bp~t_709~s_2107) by Minneapolis Kitchen & Bath Designers Sawhill Kitchens...See More3rd pitch: layout review requested (photo heavy)
Comments (29)In case anybody is still following, lol: I've been thinking of Sena's fridge placement concern. The fridge I ordered has a door that can be reversed and is actually 26" deep with door. So I think we'll try it for awhile where the current fridge has been, on the end of the short L. We can inset it into the wall with the door reversed so it swings left and, thus, won't crowd the person at the sink. I'm wondering if we do this if it will be back far enough to now crowd the line-of-vision to the window? We should be able to get an idea of that without actually before we tear out the wall to see if it will be worth it to inset it. Although i do hate to lose that long baking counter. But we can also take out the side wall to the broom closet and play with the fridge there. If we don't like that, I figure we can get cabinets to fill that spot. They could uppers and lowers with counter and a better landing spot/command center than I currently have. Or just a pantry. Might also make a good place to put a small microwave a bit closer to cooking area. Anyway, just mulling options. It will be fun to play with all this. Went to a big home show in the Big City a 90-minute drive away. Hoping to see some unique and interesting ideas. Well, that was a waste. Didn't really see anything any different or better than what I see at our HD. Bummer. But had a nice visit with my friend that came with me so that's good. Won't waste my time on home shows again if this is all they have. My next venture out-of-town will be to some of the bigger Habitat Re-Stores. I've been told that a couple have amazing selections due to being in areas more flush with cash and a lot of high-end remodels. After looking at photos online, I kinda wish I'd thought to check them out sooner for my fridge. Hoping to find some nice cabinet boxes in the sizes I need so I only have to order door/drawer fronts from Barker. I don't mind multiple trips for the right cabinets as this will save hundreds over buying new cabinet boxes. Wow, I can't imagine building a whole house. A kitchen is enough work for me!...See MoreYet another kitchen lighting plan review request
Comments (19)I never even thought of an up-light fixture. That could certainly add a nice ambiance when task lights aren't needed. I will play with that idea. Thanks! Yeah, I figured you didn't notice the window issue, lol. I was thinking about mid-point between wall and edge of counter and tried to center my little circles to show that. 10" from counter makes sense, too. I've never heard an exact placement so I was guessing. It seems that so many lighting plans I look at have the light fixture half on the counter and half off into the aisle and this makes no sense to me as your head would be blocking the light. We are going with the flush mounts as we have a weird ceiling issue. We have a false ceiling of of 1/4" plywood, then 4" gap, then another ceiling of 3/4" plywood. Directly above that is the attic which has about 15" of loose insulation in it that has never been disturbed. We don't wish to disturb it now. My DH says it will be a lot easier to cut holes in the false ceiling and then pull/fish the wires up the wall (breaker box is in the garage below) than to have to cut through the 3/4" plywood and line up both holes correctly in both ceilings. Makes sense to me. I think the flush mounts look fine and really don't drop down much more than the decorative edge for the can lights. I have also read that they tend to have greater coverage as the light is lower than the ceiling and shines out from the rounded edge of the light, where it meets up with the rim, instead of being more recessed and, thus, a bit shaded on the edge. Not sure if that's accurate or not but it makes sense to me, too. Do you know anything about the flush-mount LEDs that I should be concerned about? Thanks again for your help....See Moremama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years ago
funkycamper
8 years agoWow! Ditto on being anxious to see your reveal. This kitchen is going to be jaw-droppingly awesome!
I think you could still keep the symmetry if you separate the sinks. I moved the DW over on the freezer side as I figure most prepping will start with food from the fridge. I also gave you a bit bigger sinks. One of the cabinets in-between the sinks would be a good spot for trash and compost.
cpartist
8 years agojust_janni
8 years agojust_janni
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agojust_janni
8 years agojust_janni
8 years agoThanks to you smart folks - we made the following changes and I made some notations on this plan below.
I tried separating the sinks and DH and I sat down and talked through how we worked. It was perfect because while we have a prep sink in the current kitchen, we don't use it (thus my thinking we might now need one in the new house) Anyway - we ended up in each other's way as we were working in the kitchen making Sunday brunch.
So - what we both use as part of prep and clean up is a sink of soapy water - we ALWAYS have one. So here's what we did:
- Moved to 3 sinks - one prep on the right, soapy water in the middle (shared / kitchen demilitarized zone... LOL), and then clean up / dirty dish staging. This isn't exactly how we will do this - as we'll do it with 2 faucets (If we had separated them, we'd have needed 4 sinks so we could each have soapy water!)
- Moved the garbage and recycling to right of prep sink. MAY end up putting a pull out for recycling at least - under the center sink, or garbage - so it would be shared - but if not - it will stay in prep.
- Because we swapped the DW, we also swapped the seating to the fridge end (accomplishing another suggestion). This moves the barstools away from my desk, so will cut down on traffic or any possible pinch points. It also puts the "dirty dish" sink further away from the seating / guests, which is a nice bonus.
- In order to get enough overhang on the front side, we will put a pony wall / half wall between the FULL DEPTH cabinets - effectively giving us another 4-4.5 inches for the front overhang. It likely won't hit the 15" - but we measured our current island and we've eaten at this island daily for 18 years and it is 14". (Possibly our femurs and the femurs of our friends are on the shorter side of average. ;-) )
Tonight's activity is the storage map to determine where everything goes and then we can pick the correct cabinets for the usage - but we've done some preliminary work as part of this exercise and I am liking it!
Thanks again for your help - I have some floor plan changes to make on the Building a House forum too.
just_janni
8 years ago
Stan B
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agojust_janni
8 years agojust_janni
8 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years agojust_janni
8 years agocpartist
8 years agojust_janni
8 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years agoIf you save your Ikea plan in Paint, you can rearrange elements easily, add color, and paste in things from other sites.
just_janni thanked mama goose_gw zn6OHjust_janni
8 years ago
mama goose_gw zn6OH