Back with another idea
I took a break from kitchen stuff to focus on other house projects (and keep from driving myself crazy!), but I had an idea the other day after seeing some nice, modern L-shaped banquettes at a local furniture store.
If you've been following along, the gist is that I have a 1950s ranch house that has a small kitchen (approx. 10 x 10). I'm trying to find a way to enlarge the kitchen and increase functionality, particularly adding prep space and some kind of informal seating. I do not want to do any major structural work (e.g., tearing down load-bearing walls or the fireplace).
Previous threads: http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3495159/late-50s-ranch-with-addition-keep-current-layout-and-footprint
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3629017/please-critique-new-kitchen-layout-idea
http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3676407/did-i-solve-the-puzzle
Here is the latest iteration. The giant white box is the fireplace, which will not be removed. There are 41" from the doorway to the beginning of the cabinet run, which is about 2" less than we currently have there. I'm a little concerned about that, but I think it can be dealt with in the refinement process. I just wanted to get this idea down on paper fairly quickly and (hopefully) get some constructive feedback.
Thank you all!
Comments (14)
sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
alerievay1
8 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (27)Hi Mistergreen - I have also searched high and low for something similar - as I think a few others on this thread have done. I did call Lester Harry's and their price is around $800. That is just too hard to justify with all the other expenses for building a new home. I have found some similar items but most all are in the chrome/polished finish, not in bronze. I am not sure if that makes a difference to you....but if you want to check out Schonbek Geomatrix line, James Moder Tekno line, & Elk Lighting Optix line. There is a pendant by Quoizel - the Lisette Piccolo - which has the bronze finish, but it is 9 1/2" in diameter which is pretty large. There is a bronze finished pendant from Elk - Victoria line - it has red accents and can look great with a white kitchen (which is what we have). And, there is a beauty by Framburg - Empress Series 1499 - but it is about $500-$600. It has the bronze finish, but with amber crystals and it is round, rather then square. It took me a little while to try and warm up to another crystal pendant after seeing those Chandi beauties, but since they are out of my price range, I think there are some other alternatives which will give the same effect and look beautiful. Unfortunately, the Schonbek, Moder and Elk that are similar, don't come in the bronze finish and all our lighting and hardware are bronze. Hope this helps! Please let me know if you find anything else.......See Morearranging furniture into a small TV room
Comments (11)Thanks for the feedback everyone; you make good points. We will also have a TV down in our rec room in basement which is great for our two teenage sons and our 12 year old too (not as easy to supervise as you have lebwhite). We will put their X-box downstairs as well. The TV on the main level will be our second TV. Our daughter just turned 6, so we don't want her watching what the boys do most of the time (although she does get exposed to big boy TV). My husband and I very rarely watch TV (I am too addicted to GW for that LOL) and he is always working. We don't even have cable, and just rent movies on the occasion. I would say the four kids do screen time in one form or another more than I care to admit. As porkandham suggested, I will be sorry not to have the fireplace in the same room as the TV, but we are to have radiant heat, so it will be cozy everywhere! The fireplace will be used, but is also wanted for design reasons. Also, I agree that it would be nice to watch TV in the large great room, but something has to give (i.e. find a new spot) as I am not finding an easy solution to squeezing the fireplace, TV, display shelves and window seat all into the great room. Suero, thanks for the sample furniture layout that would work if we use the playroom as a TV away room. When you suggested two chairs perpendicular to the couch, were you thinking having those chairs on the side of the big window, or nearer to the entrance of the room? If we do put the TV in this smaller room, would you recommend french doors and hall door to keep the TV sound from traveling throughout house. I know the author of Not so Big House is keen on this kind of closed in away room, visable but not heard from main room especially the kitchen (see Fun2Bhere your idea is in line with a famous architect you are not the only one who sees the benefits of a separate TV room). Also I really wonder what to do about the proposed railing between the foyer and TV away room. Should we keep it as a half wall, even though the railing will make the foyer seem larger?...See MoreI’m back with another floor plan
Comments (58)Of everything you've posted, I like cd's most recent version, which adds the office/bedroom, makes the powder a 3/4 bath, and retains your walk-in pantry, since that's important to you. I would add a large door from the dining/kitchen area to the office and use it as a playroom in the short run, personally. It's perfect for having a kids' space nearby, but one that can be shut off when needed, and also one that can transition into different uses as the kids' grow. I also don't think you'd miss the walk-in pantry if you went with something more like cd's first option. The long wall at the top of the kitchen is great for a wall of full-height pantry cabinets. And I don't think you'll use that space much if there's a counter there, as it's a little far and separated from the rest of the kitchen by a major walkway. And that way all your pantry-type things will be right in the kitchen where there's used, rather than in an adjacent room. You say you're living room people - are you t.v. in the living room people? If so, think about where a t.v. will go in this space. I can't tell if the model simply doesn't have one, or if that's a Frame TV above the fireplace. If it's the latter, that's a super uncomfortable height to be watching from the sofas....See Moreback to back shower/toilet. Good idea? or bad idea?
Comments (14)In our last house, the 2 tub/showers, 2 toilets, and 2 sinks were all back-to-back, and atop the lower level half-bath. The house was built in 1959, we bought it in 1996, and remodeled the baths in 2002. As far as we can tell, nothing more than minor toilet repairs and sink faucet drips were ever repaired. Wait, we know 2 bathrooms had been wallpapered over the painted drywall after 1975. So, unless you anticipate pipes freezing, I wouldn’t worry too much. This upper-midwesterner recalls her years living in Dallas, when 30-degree forcasts included warnings to let faucets drip. Hopefully your house will be better insulated....See Moresheloveslayouts
8 years agoalerievay1
8 years agoalerievay1
8 years agoSo, the issue with that is a floor to ceiling window (well, really 2 of them plus a French door). It would essentially require putting the cooktop on the island, which I'm really trying to avoid. I also can't really figure out where to put the oven stack in that layout.
Anyway, here is a quick and dirty layout using the w/d plumbing:
eam44
8 years agolast modified: 8 years agoalerievay1
8 years agoThanks. I definitely go back and forth about enlarging it. My biggest frustrations currently are lack of counter space and lack of seating; it's also a one-cook kitchen. It's an efficient layout as-is, but it could be improved.
It's also extremely frustrating to have a large amount of space and such a small kitchen. I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, and, while I don't want true open concept, I would like the kitchen to be less an afterthought and more a center of the house. On the other hand, if I can get 90% of what I want without major structural issues or huge plumbing moves, I'm not sure that extra 10% is worth the cost.
For comparison, here's where I ended up with roughly the existing layout (prep sink optional). Not crazy about the refrigerator/dishwasher location, but it seems the most practical solution.
alerievay1
8 years agoOk, what if I kept the first idea in this thread, with the banquette, but switched to a range and took the sink out of the island? I think switching to a range would help a lot of my problems.
alerievay1
8 years agoThanks, chicagoans. That's an interesting idea. I think someone had recommended something similar before?
Here's the offending fireplace, from the listing; we've since stripped it of the mantle and trim, as well as painted the room and changed the light fixture.
alerievay1
7 years ago
sheloveslayouts