Need layout advice - lots of space for creativity, how best to use it?
Hello, I've been lurking for awhile on the kitchens forum, and I'm continuously amazed how much there is to learn from the folks here. We moved into our shed style/contemporary home in West Virginia two years ago, plenty of time to understand the space better, and what I like about it. But now we are ready to gut this sad sorry kitchen and start over! It's all original 1982 kitchen, built-in appliances are failing, and we hate the layout, with a breakfast room we don't need or use, and the cooktop in a peninsula with no ventilation. We are a family of four, I do most of the cooking, although husband and kids get recruited to help out. A previous home of ours had a big hangout style island, and we miss having that feature, we used it ourselves almost daily, as well as entertaining guests.
Our main goals for this kitchen are to demolish the existing peninsula that breaks this space into kitchen and breakfast room, turn the two rooms into one big kitchen space with a large island in center, and put a 36" rangetop in a better location for ventilation. Since the current peninsula is on its way to the dumpster, we need to find a new location for a single wall oven/microwave stack. I would really prefer to keep the current size of all existing windows, the room is filled with light all day - the sink wall faces east, the opposite west wall has a sliding glass door to our grilling/dining deck, plus a wide opening to a living/dining space which brings in lots of light from that area as well. I'm very happy with the main sink as it is now, under the window-love my view of the woods and wildlife. We think the best place for the new gas rangetop is the exterior wall between the two east facing windows - but we are open to suggestions on that, and just about everything else.
One feature I insist on is a one level island, granite counter with no seam, no sink, and room for four counter height stools. I've read the debates on sinks in islands, and I'm sure I don't want one- really want the uninterrupted space to spread out upon. I would consider a secondary sink in a perimeter location. A new feature I would like is a beverage center area with undercounter fridge (coffee in the morning, beer at night lol) somewhere outside of the main work zone.
I got our first preliminary layout back from the kitchen designer, I think its a good start, but would love to hear any critiques and suggestions.
The left half of the room is currently an empty space, the former breakfast room, with an alcove containing a rather odd and ugly deep bench- this is also dumpster-bound. This plan has the oven stack in the alcove, with pantry cabinets around, and not sure if this is the best way to use this 'new' space. Will it look strange having this interrupted cabinet run? And where do hot pans from the oven land? To the right is a large window, too low for a cabinet run at 27" from floor, but I daydream of a window seat under it - I know my dogs would love it as a perch to watch squirrels and deer -with this proposed layout, a window seat would be awkward.
The wall adjoining the left of alcove is a proposed beverage center, thinking this is a good place for a secondary sink, shown here as a circle. One issue, there are two HVAC air returns on the floor/close to this wall, waiting to hear from our HVAC guys if we can use some sort of toe-kick ducting system, to use that whole wall as a cabinet run without running new ducts; HVAC vents are shown as little striped rectangles, current plan shown here is to stop cabinet run before the vents, which I think is going to look strange! Does anyone know if toe kick ducts work with a return register? Or cabinets with furniture style open toe-kick? Alternatively, - just forget this as a beverage center location, leave vents as is, and put a piece of furniture like a Hoosier cabinet or buffet there, which is what another kitchen designer suggested. The plan shows a potential butlers pantry area on the right, it is currently a wide empty hallway leading to laundry and garage. Since its so convenient to the garage where groceries come in, we are now leaning towards making that a walk-through pantry with open wire shelving, to save a bit on cabinet costs-I love the idea of a Walk in Closet of Food! and/or incorporating the beverage center idea here instead.
As you can see, I am having a hard time deciding how to use this new surplus of space! Looking forward to hearing the opinions of the wise minds of this forum!
Comments (23)
OneRidgeOff
6 years agoRelated Discussions
I have the layout(s), now I need a lot of help!
Comments (9)You've gotten a good starting point from the previous posters. Browse magazines and online photos and you'll discover a common theme in the photos that you like. As far as white and beige, yes, "white" white can be stark and cold looking. An antique or creamier white might be a little more accommodating. And I think one of the previous posters mentioned incorporating a hint of color into the tile border. A creamy tile with a crackle glaze finish can lend depth to the tile, a subtle sense of sophistication and age. If you're unsure of the amount of color to use, then sometimes it's best to stick with neutrals for the permanent part of your installation; the tile, the flooring, the vanity if it's stained wood grain. Don't forget dark neutrals. Ebonized wood, or dark charcoal gray or even black. Incorporate a version of your color into the large colored surfaces...the wall paint and ceiling paint. If you're worried about "too much color" then use a light shade of your color on the large walls. Paint color can be changed with little effort. If you're shy using stronger colors, incorporate the strongest colors through your towels, face cloths, etc. Fabric colors can be changed with no effort. You mentioned blues, one of my favorite blue bathrooms was Casey's. Now, you may think his bathroom boring and mundane when I describe it as having light beige or even "plain white" tiled walls, and blue painted walls. Well, here you go, this does indeed look boring and lifeless, doesn't it? (Sorry Casey, that is NOT an insult. This bath is still one of my favorites if all time). But then you add a little color and: It's an indication of how "boring white tile" can become not so boring and actually quite stunning when the "boring white" is used as a backdrop, or a compliment, to a strong color. If you thought you'd someday like to change the blue to another color, then instead of using the strip of blue tile like Casey used just under the cap on his wainscot, he could have used a strip of black tile, or a strip of the black and white mosaic he used as a border on the floor. The tile would all be "neutral". The paint color becomes the main color in the room. The towels become the accent punch color....See MoreNeed Ideas for Best Use of 15 Inch Base Cabinet Space
Comments (10)I am now looking at buying the Marvel 15 inch beverage/wine fridge which has dual zone temp control with range from 40-65F. The 3BARM "Luxury" model can store 4 bottles of wine and 60 12oz cans. It has 4 shelfs, some that are adjustable to accommodate taller items. I am limited to the 15 inch wide model because I am pulling out my old trash compactor which was never used and that's the only space I have. I am less concerned about actual wine storage and prefer having more storage for sodas and water. Marvel also has the 3SBARE 15 inch "Chateau" model which is more expensive and it can only hold 4 wine bottles and 36 cans. I think it has a larger compressor and that takes up more of the storage space. The Chateau has a few nicer esthetic features (glass shelves, glide out vs pullout etc.) but I think the electronics and basic configuration is the same between the two models. I can get the 3BARM for $1400 or the 3SBARE for $1650... I am thinking of going with the less expensive model to get the additional storage capacity. Thanks again for everyone's input! Really helped :) Here is a link that might be useful: Marvel 15 Inch Wine/Beverage Fridge...See MoreNeed cabinet layout advice for 44' space
Comments (4)Macybaby has a great idea. My baking center is about that width and I have a wide drawer unit beside a smaller cabinet that we made into vertical storage for cooking sheets, muffin pans, etc. It started out as just a cabinet with shelves, but we redid it to add the vertical storage and it's much more useful. The link below shows more about my baking center than you need to know, but has photos to show the inside and outside of how the wide drawers and the narrower cabinet work together. On top right of that same page you can see a photo of how we located our microwave. (or you could click on the "My Kitchen" tab near the top of the page to see more pics) You could do something similar with your microwave in the bottom shelf of upper cabinets...Maybe to one side of that space, so you'd have a good section left for other storage. Be sure to consider the door swing direction and check the specs of the microwave(s) you're interested in to be sure you leave enough air space on the sides. Here is a link that might be useful: Baking center post on blog...See MoreAny creative advice to help me make my historic pre space flow better
Comments (26)I would have loved to live here in my single days. Such an eclectic space! I think the first thing you need to figure out is your storage needs. What do you need starts with what do you have. Figure that out first so that you can get the clutter out. Think cube storage shelves, storage ottoman, baskets... a lot of this can probably be sourced for free or cheap on Craigslist or Nextdoor (or any of the other resale apps). Find a small table for 4 somewhere and start collecting chairs. Do you have a homegoods? They have quality curtains for $15 and rods for about the same. I’d also start hitting up thrift stores in good neighborhoods. You’ll be surprised at what you might find....See MoreOneRidgeOff
6 years agoThank you for responding, CPartist. Took a few pictures, complete with a little photo bomber. Ignore the mess, we are starting to clean out and pack cabinets today. I'm no artist but I tried to make a little sketch, I outlined the kitchen plan section in pink and its current layout. And yes, I am at a loss what to do with the big window, shown in the picture, in the breakfast room, it is 27" from the floor. That baseboard heater will be gone. I love window seats but can't visualize how to use that space for one.
OneRidgeOff
6 years agoThank you Karenseb, I'm willing to totally rethink just about anything. The laundry room may be revamped someday, so far it never bothered me as a walk-through. (I know my sketch is crude and definitely not to scale)
Maybe it would help with the raw dimensions of the room with compass- this is how it is now:The kitchen designer's plan showed the construction of a new wall, enclosing the hallway to make it more of a butler's pantry, its open now as shown here. Are you suggesting making the current alcove on the north wall a small walk-in pantry, put the oven stack on the south wall where fridge is now, then where would fridge go? Currently have a 36" regular depth fridge, considering switching to counter depth, same width.
OneRidgeOff
6 years agoCPArtist, I am not sure I understand your question about corner cabinets in corner? Is the kitchen designer's plan just considered dated, or is it an actual waste of space? I think I agree with you, now that you mentioned it, think I prefer the 90 degree angle bottom cabinet, with pie shaped lazy susan. (not the super susan with double hinged door) Then what for the upper cabinet above?
I also agree there is not a great amount of space on either side of the rangetop. I realized what happened, the designer centered the new 30" apron sink under the current window. In the picture from previous post you can see the existing sink is not centered under current window. Sliding the sink further right should help a bit. I mentioned not changing window size raw opening, because that east wall is the front of the house and don't want to open that can of worms altering my front facade. Having said that, the window is failing and will be replaced sooner than later, and we can make the new window arrangement within that opening fit the layout, if that makes sense. Our house has mostly asymmetrical windows like this, so we can be creative with that
cpartist
6 years agoCPArtist, I am not sure I understand your question about corner cabinets in corner? Is the kitchen designer's plan just considered dated, or is it an actual waste of space?
It's a waste of space and looks dated. There are lots of choices to a corner. I'm headed to a ball game in a few, but when I get back tonight, if no one else has posted some pics, I'll post some ideas. Here's just one, which is what I'll be doing with my lowers:
And here's just one idea for a corner upper cabinet:
Shaker Grey · More InfoIf I don't get time to play with your layout tonight, I'll definitely try to do so tomorrow.
Greenwood Farmhouse · More InfoOneRidgeOff
6 years agoOneRidgeOff
6 years agoOneRidgeOff
6 years agocpartist
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agocpartist
6 years agoHere's the movement from Ice to water to stone to fire:
Blue is ice to water (from pantry and fridge)
Orange is water to stone.
Red is stone to fire.
And yes, it's all about the dogs. I'm building a window seat in our guest bedroom (new build link HERE) and I'm sure our girl will be up there every afternoon enjoying the sun streaming in.
A secondary prep space would be the island of course.
One question: How wide are your aisles in the work zone?
OneRidgeOff
6 years agocpartist
6 years agoOneRidgeOff
6 years ago
Karenseb
6 years agoI agree with Cpartist. I also like the idea of increasing your stove wall length if possible and adding a door from the garage into the mudroom area. Putting the cabs on the garage wall lets you keep the window on the south wall and gives you an extra cab near your stove on the longer stove wall. Added bonus, a separate laundry area.
cpartist
6 years agoOneRidgeOff
6 years agoOneRidgeOff
6 years ago
cpartist