Please help me figure out new kitchen layout (where can microwave go?)
1gofishing
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
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please help me figure out the best raised bed layout for my yard
Comments (6)I few more details on the plans that I posted above: The raised beds along the fence would be completely separate from the fence, I'm not talking about heaping dirt against the fence or anything like that lol! Just building raised beds 2' wide and placing them against the fence so I can grow vertically as much as possible. I have a 50' roll of black vinyl coated chain link fencing (part of it is used to enclose the current garden) and I plan to repurpose it by hanging it along the back fence so I can trellis peas, beans, tomatoes, melons, whatever. I have been reading that growing vertically is one way to get more out of a small space. Since I have two medium sized dogs and I have learned the hard way that regular garden fencing or poultry wire isn't really sturdy enough, I was planning to buy some hog panels, have them cut in half, and have those go along the front of the beds to keep everything out. Hog panels are 34" tall and the bars are close together at the bottom and gradually get further apart as they go up. Each half would weigh about 17 pounds, so I can lift a section off as needed to tend the garden, then put it back up when I'm done. The design I came up with has a 4' tall 4'x4' fence post between each bed, about 2' feet out from the existing fence posts. The end pieces of each raised bed will be screwed into it, and once the 1' tall beds are filled with dirt, it should be plenty sturdy enough to support these panels. I also intend to have a piece of 2"x4" going between each of these posts and the actual fence posts to lend greater stability to both, and that will be the only thing that connects the raised beds to the fence. I thought it would be best to keep them totally separate to allow the fence to be worked on or even replaced later if needed, without having to remove the beds. The center beds would need a different setup for keeping out the dogs and rabbits. I had in mind some kind of enclosure that goes around the perimeter, with a gate at the opening. Most likely I would use the same hog panel idea so I could access the beds from the outside or the inside, or I could opt to leave part of it in place and use it for a trellis. I have thought about even enclosing the whole thing with heavy plastic to create a greenhouse for winter, and I could also use it to suspend shade cloth since the sun is a bit too much here in Oklahoma in the summer and it actually gets hot enough that the tomatoes stop setting fruit. The only thing I don't like about this idea is that it is right in the middle of the yard (actually, two of them, one on each side) though the dogs would have a blast running around them. Aesthetically, I think the perimeter beds along the fence would be more attractive and open, even with the smaller island beds added. I would probably put just low covers on those and use those beds for low growing crops since I would have plenty of space to trellis the taller crops along the fence. Thank you for considering my ideas and if you have any feedback or suggestions for me, please let me know! Here is a link that might be useful:...See MorePlease help me figure this out! Is it worth making a 3rd BR?
Comments (23)Thanks arielitas_mom! yes,my plan is to make a nice, big, luxurious tiled shower along the same wall that the corner shower is now. Probably about 39" w x 6 feet long (unless that's TOO long...). I do feel like this is a compromise, since a 3BR/2BA (and lts face it, most people will use it as 2BR/2BA/office) feels like it's step down, as far as the target market, from the 3BR/3BA/office we'd planned when we bought it. But it's good to hear some positive feedback from you folks about the compromise, because it really would stretch us too far to do the addition. Thank you! So what do you all think about the fact that there's no proper dining room? The DR area is really more of a dining "nook" and there's no place to put a really big dining table. ?????...See MorePlease help me figure out which way to go
Comments (11)Really, you have quite a few issues that make tearing out what's there and replacing it a better option than attempting to rework what you have. 11K is a bit steep for refacing, but realize that you also asked for quite a bit of labor in moving around stuff. Moving old stuff is more costly than ripping it out and replacing it with new stuff. Issue #1 is the fridge location. There are several possible solutions to this, but all would require remaking a large part of your layout. Issue #2 is your DW is right in the middle of your prep zone. That complicates being able te separate the prep and cleanup functions and keeps that area muddled. Issue #3 is the paucity of actual prep space. You're mostly standing in the corner facing away from anyone who might visit you. I had a similar layout, and it always felt like "time out" punishment to me. Issue #4 is the bookcase/MW area that serves as a dumping ground rather than an area for decorative items or even a functional snack area. (Move the fridge here with the MW and you now have a great snack area.) Issue #5 is the soffits taking up valuable "overstock" space for seldom used items. That's not space you'll drag out the stepstool and use everyday, but it WILL be useful for turkey platters and the seldom used espresso machine. Issue #6 is the need for better lighting in the kitchen. You need to address this no matter what you choose. Under cabinet lighting becomes more of a must as we age because our eyes need more light to be able to see as well as we did when we were young. Under cabinet lighting puts the light directly onto your work surface where you need it. You also could probably use tweaking of the existing central light fixture into a couple of semi flush lights and possibly some recessed lighting. Issue #7 is the lack of proper landing space around your range, which is one of the things you hope your tweak will help with. Yes, it can, but your proposal doesn't go far enough in addressing all of the issues as a whole. My advice would be to take this layout to several local kitchen shops and see what type of suggestions you get offered as to how to make the space more functional. (This is after getting lots of suggestions here that can open your eyes to the possibilities.) Talk the the KDs about the various "average" costs for the different lines that they carry and the number of options offered by the manufacturer both in door style and stain as well as the thickness of the spec book (indicates the number of variations offered, i.e. the line's flexibility) For the same 12K you were quoted, I could get you all new taller cabinets in Shenendoah along with granite countertops and the installation of all of that. I'm not counting the electrical for the lighting or the demolition of the soffits in there, as costs for that will vary depending on if systems are located in them as well as drywall repair varying depending on location. In the end, for just slightly higher than you were quoted, you could have a MUCH better functioning kitchen with all new cabinets and countertops....See Morenewbie/need help figuring out kitchen layout (sorry, long)
Comments (9)Hey, thanks for the response. The sinks don't necessarily have to be far apart - I've seen some kosher kitchens that just have a double bowl sink with one sink for meat and the other for dairy. But I would strongly prefer to have two separate sinks (again, that third sink could go if I can't fit it) with separate prep space - at least 120 cm of counter space for each side. Having the oven in the middle makes a clear delineation between the meat side and the dairy side, but that's not an absolute requirement....See More1gofishing
7 years ago1gofishing
7 years agoartemis_ma
7 years agolast modified: 7 years ago1gofishing
7 years ago
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