KITCHEN DESIGN DILEMMA NIGHTMARE ****** HELP NEEDED PLEASE*****
Golden Light
7 years ago
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Golden Light
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Kitchen Design Dilemma HELP NEEDED
Comments (8)I second the lighting comment! I have cabinets and counters similar to yours and my Kitchen is far from dark! I have several recessed lights on both sides of my Kitchen AND under-cabinet lights under all the upper cabinets AND pendant lights over my sink for night time AND pendant lights over my peninsula (that's a peninsula you have, not an island). Lights also need to be located so they (1) provide overall light in the Kitchen and (2) light up your work areas without casting shadows on your workspace. I would start with under cabinet lights and see how it helps. Additional recessed lights will be more work. "Dark" Kitchens are usually the result of poor lighting, not the colors of cabinets and counters....See MoreMy "Blank Slate" is giving me nightmares! Please help my kitchen!
Comments (14)Thank you all for your comments and feedback! I will add some more details here to better define my project. DETAILS: 1. Yes, getting new appliances. A big, french door fridge (35.5 inches wide, SS) Keeping current dishwasher (standard 24", SS) Adding a drawer microwave (27" Sharp SS) Still trying to decide about range or cooktop / oven. If I get a range, it will be 30" with a double oven configuration. If I select a professional range, it will be 36". If I do a cooktop / oven, the cooktop will be 36" and under-counter oven. All SS. Big, deep single bowl SS sink 33" (requires a 36" cabinet) 2. Yes, I definitely want an island that we can have at least 3 stools at for teens to eat, etc. 3. No table. In the lower left corner, we already have a table and eating area. (It's located off the design drawing) 4. Yes, we can move the pantry opening to the left. 5. No, sadly, I am not getting a prep sink . . . darn it . .. hubby won't allow plumbing changes. 6. From the bottom right corner, on the right side wall, the first 9 ft. have been removed to open up the kitchen. The remainder of the right side wall is still there though. DIMENSIONS: * 9 ft ceilings * Top wall is 210" total with 132" of continuous wall space (assuming I shift the pantry opening to the left more. * Right wall is 252" total with the first 108" now gone. (at the bottom of the wall). The upper portion of the right wall has 120" of continuous wall space. * The bottom wall is 140" total. It has a big window on it, so only lower cabinets can fit here. I have two sink hookup options that do not require plumbing changes. I can keep the sink under the window, where it is currently on my drawing. Or, I can put it off of the top wall, about middle of that wall. I don't really like the idea of my sink facing a wall, so I would prefer it stay on the bottom wall, under the window. Things I would like: * A pullout base cabinet that will hold 3 trash cans (21" cabinet) * I would prefer that most or all of my base cabinets be drawers. Is that a good idea? Or, will it look odd? If I have lower cabinets, then I want pull out shelves. * I'd like a big island, and I think I could accommodate that. * I would like to have a hood in my kitchen to help get rid of cooking smells. I like the hoods are are hidden inside cabinetry. (See pictures.) * Off white traditional style cabinet doors. PICTURES: A. . An example of the kind of hood that I would like to have. B. This is a picture of my old kitchen. You are looking at the bottom left wall area (on my drawing, for reference.) This is our eating area. So, no need to make any table fit into my drawing b/c we have this other area. C. We remodeled that dining wall area in Picture B, and it now looks like this. My new kitchen will have the same brick for backsplash to tie it all together. D. This is an old picture of my kitchen. You are looking at the wall that we knocked down (I drew a blue line over the portion of the wall that is missing now.) That window has been replaced with a 3 section window with upper mullions. Again, thank you for taking the time to read all of this and thanks for offering opinions and advice. I really appreciate it!...See MorePlease Help! Design Nightmare of a NextGen like Suite.
Comments (5)Hi Sunflower! First thing: breathe. It's a big job but it's not impossible if you break it down. 3onthetree is correct that you need a scale drawing of the existing structure and the addition. Then you'll know what your constraints are. I've done an approximation for you using Floorplanner.com and the measurements on your diagram. (I had to guess about the area of the yellow and pink) I've rearranged a couple of things from your diagram. The bathroom in particular would not work as you planned it (you wouldn't have comfortable access to the toilet) In the above layout, your toilet is still private and you get a nice long vanity with plenty of storage and room for a linen closet as well. I've modified your kitchen into a galley by adding an island with your sink and dishwasher. This will be much more workable than a perimeter set-up like you had. The island won't be appreciably more expensive than the sink/counter setup you had. (Consider Ikea and remember that if you plan for something, you can always add it later when there is more cash). And there will be room for seating on the outside of the island. Regarding materials for your kitchen surfaces, most standard kitchen surfaces stand up pretty well even to industrial cleaners. But if you're really concerned, take your list of surface options to your supplier of cleaners and ask if any of them will be damaged by them. The space you have is essentially a bachelor apartment. You don't really have room for a living area next to your kitchen. If you want one, I'd look at extending the window side of the kitchen outward. Otherwise, you may want to set up the bedroom as a convertible room. note: Floorplanner is a nice, fairly easy tool to help you visualize what your space will look like. It does not produce blueprints nor is it professional level software....See MoreDesign Nightmare - Need Help with Second Opinion
Comments (2)You shouldn't expect to find another design professional to perform a costly forensic recreation of what you signed, paid, and what has transpired with physical items and all written and verbal communication. That is not why they are in design. Disagreements can only exist when contracts are not clear (not meeting undefined expectations is not a legal fight). You should do the forensic legwork yourself now to have an understanding that you apparently did not start the process with, and if it seems egregious go to an attorney. Your $20K thus far might in fact be bigger than any prior project, seeing her company was only formed on 12/15/21. Did you get the included life coaching session? It appears she is not a licensed or credentialed Interior Designer, but an interior decorator (brand and marketing experience). She may very well be talented at decor, but possibly not thrown in the day-to-day of a project and it's processes and paperwork. However, that does not relieve you of any obligations you signed if you feel this process has been terrible. Unless there are items in clear violation of the contract, chalk this up to lesson learned....See MoreGolden Light
7 years agoGolden Light
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoLavender Lass
7 years ago
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