How can I improve this U-shape layout?
I used the IKEA planner to come up with this U-shaped layout for my kitchen. It is my very amateur attempt so I am certain there is room for improvement. I want to end up with a kitchen that is very functional for 2 cooks (or more). The area in the top right corner with the oval table is actually a bay window. I couldn't figure out how to illustrate that in the IKEA planner. I would like to build a window seat into the bay window area so the table and chairs will be recessed into that area a little bit. In the dining room in the bottom left corner, I would like to use a bench on one side to put the table as close to the window as possible. That will leave at least 4 feet for the walk-through space to the right of the table. I also got the idea from someone here to bump out the cabinets next to the fridge so they are flush. That way the regular-depth fridge won't stick out into the room so far. I have my daughter's Girl Scout troop over frequently so I would like to have a large peninsula in the kitchen where 4-6 girls can cook together. I would love a long island but I just don't think it will work in this space. I also would like as much storage as possible. I have one tiny triangle shaped closet on this floor of the house. So would like to add a lot of cabinet space.
Here is the layout:
Here is an view of the space and measurements. I have left out a load bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room that I want to remove (right where the yellow arrow labeled 156" is located).
The art room at the bottom is supposed to be a formal living room. We are a very creative family so we converted that to an art room with a huge square table. My kids do homework & projects there. I use the dining room table for my projects (so I don't really want to combine the kitchen and dining room and lose my project space). We eat at the small table in the eating area. So yes, I really do want 3 tables on the main floor all very close to each other.
Here are some pictures of the first floor as it currently looks. Please excuse the mess.
Comments (17)
sheloveslayouts
6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
rantontoo
6 years agoRelated Discussions
Finalizing my U-shape layout -- final check
Comments (35)AnnKH - your before and after pix show a beautiful kitchen. I also can easily visualize what my kitchen will look like if I use some of the advice given on this board. If you were to switch the placement of the sink and range, and put a full cabinet over your sink area, you have a very similar arrangement to what I want. The added height of your cabinets was a great idea - my 36" vs the normal 30" height will be a good idea. I do use a hand held "reacher" device to get things down in any kitchen I have ever used, so the added height will be used. Although your kitchen may be perfect for you, I see items that make me return to some of my original plans. I would not want the angled corner lower cabinets -- that, to me, squeezes in the kitchen visually far more than angled uppers. With squared cornered lowers and angled uppers, I will actually be able to reach corner storage better (being shorter). Using the wider cabinets around the window was a good idea -- I would have made them even wider, to frame the window even more. Although you did add length and needed storage by adding the pantry next to the fridge, the full size fridge does intrude into the room too much for me. I will pay the extra to get a counter depth fridge. The pull out for the cabinet above the fridge is a good idea. Regarding the 42" lower, I have already had one in my old home, and it was very well organized. I guess it make a difference what is placed in the cabinet, my pots and pans either stacked well, or I had lid holders mounted to the doors and sides. I like the yellow tone of your kitchen - it makes it "happy". I am looking for a yellow or caramel tone that will match the warm browns of my cabinets and the knotty pine cathedral ceiling over the kitchen. An enlarged picture of my old kitchen above will show the 10' side walls of the kitchen and the soaring knotty pine ceiling above....See MoreConverting dining room to walk-in pantry & butler's pantry
Comments (50)I am just now reading all these amazing comments. We were going to sell our 5 bedroom house and build a “smaller” 2B2B barndominium, but plans changed due to my dad getting sick and not wanting us to move away from me. So we have decided to renovate what we have and incorporate the things I wanted into this house but I have no clue where to start. This house had NO storage. We have extra rooms I want to make one a butlers pantry that connects to my kitchen and the other I want to make a master closet. Any ideas would be appreciated...See MoreKitchen Layout Decision Time: Island, or U-shape....?
Comments (4)Oh I know to be careful with the fridge, opening, ty. It will be a full size fridge that I can embed into the wall just enough to keep it from sticking too far into the room yet also not too far to impede the door opening. Unfortunately, that prep sink is for DH. Technically that 2nd fridge, sink wall, with an eye level microwave is for him to make his oatmeal every dang morning! However, I have plenty of time to run that by DH in the future when he is actually interested in talking floor plans again, for now he doesn't want to hear anything about it, he's still too busy working on building the roof. eta: I noticed you dropped my second fridge. If it's not there it has to go next to the stove, it wasn't a mistake that I had 2 in the plan....See MoreSofa Size for open-layout space: Big U-shape or smaller L-shape?
Comments (1)Keep the sofa out of the breakfast bar area, by moving it closer to the t v. A console behind the sofa would be a nice line of demarcation. Now is the time to have a floor plug installed so you can have table lamps on the console. Try the layout with a not so large sofa and a loveseat replacing the single chair....See Moresheloveslayouts
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoWorking with your existing windows, here's layout that gets you an island. I wouldn't move the range. A range between to windows a very pretty focal point from the front room.
You can use Ikea Sektion Refrigerator cabinets on the floor with drawers for a storage bench--I did it in my mudroom--so the drawing shows the dining room window flanked by a pantry on the left and the fridge on the right with a storage bench between. If window coverings are important, you'd probably have to do inset plantation shutters or something.
For the sake of saving time, I didn't include any wall cabinets.
By not having any cabinets on the stair wall, you can take advantage of between the stud space and any hidden cavities behind there for storage.
If you haven't read about Ice-Water-Stone-Fire... this will explain why the fixtures are in the order I chose... http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first
Jennifer
6 years agobenjesbride:
We have 4 people in our family: myself, husband and 2 daughters (ages 5 & 7). I am also a nanny afterschool for several of my daughters' friends. So on a daily basis I have 4-5 kids working on homework, school projects & art projects in the art room. That space has a 60" square table in the center of the room for the kids. I really can't feasibly share the space with them since I would have to clean up my projects every day before the kids get home.
I like the option with the island and window seat you posted above but I don't think I could fit a dining table in that room. The stairwell space has stairs that go up and down so there aren't any recessed cavities to take advantage of other than the space between the studs. Also, is that a counter-depth fridge? I am worried that won't have enough space for us. We have a regular depth now that is always packed.
I did work on an option a few weeks ago like you suggested above with the kitchen extending into the dining room (the green box you drew above). After thinking about it for a few days I decided it would make a very functional kitchen for cooking but it wouldn't leave enough art/craft studio space for our family. I think I would end up doing my projects on the super long island which means it wouldn't be available for cooking. I guess I should have said that I really want a super long island (that could seat 3-4 people without getting rid of my dining room. So that brought me to making the peninsula option above so that I could keep the dining table. I have another picture of the peninsula coming out of the opposite wall, and a window seat with surrounding cabinets like you suggested. I liked the peninsula option I posted above better because the flow of walking through the house seems better. Here is the other option:
I am going to go read the Ice-Water-Stone-Fire link you posted and see if I can improve the peninsula layout using that. Thank you!
Jennifer
6 years agosheloveslayouts
6 years agoThe NKBA recommends a maximum of 9 feet between the center of each fixture. I ignored this in my previous kitchen renovation and ended up really disliking the distance to carry stuff from the fridge to the sink. YMMV.
sheloveslayouts
6 years agoIn case it hasn't already been considered, here's another way of looking at your space.
Basically, the dining and kitchen swap places and there are work areas in the breakfast nook as well as in the front room. There's no seating at the island so you can have wider work aisles as well as more storage with shallow cabs on the window side.
The front room is closed off from the kitchen (I'm thinking it would become your work room) which is on-trend with what folks are doing in new construction; separate "away" space at the front of house with kitchen/dining/family at the back.
Jennifer
6 years agosheloveslayouts
6 years agomrspete
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoFirst, a U-shaped kitchen is an awful fit for the function you say you need. A U-shaped kitchen's great strength is allowing a single cook to have everything in easy reach. It's what my husband and I strongly prefer for our retirement home because we both cook ... but hate to have anyone else "in the way".
Second, definitely read the Ice, Fire ... thing. It's a formula for something good cooks know instinctively, but having it spelled out helps it make sense.
Finally, I think this is the best idea presented on this thread -- it just makes sense for your unusual space and the function you say you want:
Jennifer
6 years agoThanks for the input, mrspete! I read the ice, water, stone fire and it makes a so much sense. It was very helpful to read it all spelled out (and the humor was very entertaining too).
I also like that layout with the island you mentioned above, but I have a couple of issues with it. One is the counter-depth fridge; I really want something larger. Two is the range. I strongly prefer a cooktop and wall oven. And three is that the size of the island won't allow me to have a dining table. So I worked on these variations:
Option 1 with a smaller island so I can fit the dining table. I just seems too tight to me.
Or option 2, with a peninsula. This is very similar to the layout I have now, but removes a wall and adds more cabinet/counter space. But that takes me back to the U-shaped layout. :( I did think about how our family really cooks. Mostly I am doing the cooking while my husband stands in front of the sink, or by the peninsula and chats with me. In this layout he could sit or stand on the other side of the peninsula to chat while I am working. That would get him out of my way.
sheloveslayouts
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJennifer
6 years agosheloveslayouts
6 years agoJennifer
6 years agoJennifer
6 years agoI've been working on trying to fit a an island into the kitchen but still have the stovetop, oven and microwave separate. I centered the cooktop on the wall between the windows with a hood over. Then I used an undercounter oven under the other window on that wall. The microwave is under the counter on the island.
This layout gives me a lot more prep space and storage than my current layout. And there is space for a group of kids to stand around the island working on a project. I am a little worried that the aisle widths won't be quite wide enough to feel spacious. And I have never used an under counter microwave. It seems a bit akward to get the food in and out to me, but I see them in pictures everywhere so maybe that is fine?
sheloveslayouts