Update on kitchen layout...what do you think?
geyerma
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I have tweaked the layout to include a prep sink in the island, dropped the 42 inch drawers to 36, replaced the lazy Susan's on the upper corner cabinets with EZ reach cabinets...any suggestions or major flaws in this set up? I know the small 9 inch cookie sheet holder is out of place next to the dishwasher but that's all the designer could come up with to keep the sink centered under the window...I don't really see much other way of doing it either. If we eliminate the cookie sheet holder then the upper caninet will stick out. Thank you for your suggestions!
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (8)
Related Discussions
Kitchen layout, What do you think?
Comments (8)My kitchen layout has many similarities to yours. I have my one and only sink in the island and it is across from my cooktop and my ovens are in the same general area as yours are. In my kitchen the fridge is about were your doorway next to the pantry cabinet is. I find that the arrangement works very well. I truly don't mind having a joint prep and clean up area. It's so easy to get stuff from the fridge and place it on the island, prep it and then turn and cook on the stove top. Prep utensils can then go quickly into the dishwasher. I have 50 inches between my island and cooktop wall and that is more than enough room even if someone is at the sink and someone at the cooktop. I do think you should consider all drawers on your cooktop wall. That is what I have and I love being able to open the dishwasher and the drawers across from it and unload the dishes, flatware and pots into the drawers. Even with my dishwasher and/or drawers open there is room to walk through or of course one can walk around the backside of the island. My DH and I cook together in the kitchen all the time and the layout works fine for us. My island is not deep enough for seating but we have a small sitting area just beyond it. Definitely put storage on the backside of your island for items that are only used occasionally. You can never have too much storage. I think your plan could work out just fine for you. Good luck with your remodel....See MoreNew Layout. What do you think?
Comments (18)It was the full U. The more I thought about those 2 corners, the more nervous I got with that layout. I will probably just do a small trash pull out instead of the prep sink...as long as I have somewhere to sweep cuttings and scraps, I think it'll be ok. Now that the girls are 15, they're less interested in "helping" and when they do, they're pretty good about not getting under foot. Of course, DH always manages to be standing in front of the cupboard I need to access, no matter where it is. The hip bumping corner hasn't been a problem in the current kitchen but it's only 5". We may be able to keep it that small depending on how we arrange the sink and which sink we get. Those bump outs have really made this kitchen difficult. Rhome, I really appreciate your kindness and help. I had worked 2 straight days finalizing the cabinet specs when I realized there was a problem with the ovens and I was just ready to give up. I'm feeling much better now and very confident that this new layout will work. Thanks again....See MoreNew idea for layout --what do you think?
Comments (12)What is the minimum amount of space needed for me to walk in the pantry, and pull things off the shelves? Is 2 ft.(for me to walk in) plus shelving enough? I know most of my pantry items--the old shaped, not frequently used items seem to all be large (huge soup pot, old bread machine, which is still used weekly, DH's crock pot which is never used, but you never know when he may start cooking, and my very favorite--his humongous juice man thing. OK back to measuring. And I'll try to fit in some cupborad behind the garage door when it is open. Last, do you think the angled pantry gives more useable counter space (for 2 working at the same time), or is it a draw? Thanks again for your time and energy. I finally am feeling like I am getting close....See MoreUpdated layout: What do you think?
Comments (7)Merci! What are your range hood/venltilation plans? Island hoods are very prominent visual elements so you have to think about them right from the start. I don't much like the hanging-down cab between the window, but I think the upper horizontal cabs, if very carefully scaled to work well with the overall proportions of the windows (width and height proportions of front faces having a rhythmic relationship to the fixed dimensions of the window opening) would be very nice. And good place to store and display your glassware. Are you planning on using the glassed cabs as a form of lighting as well? One thing that might make them less looming is to have them made in some less-than-standard depth. At that height several rows (arrayed back to front) of glasses might look cluttered whereas fewer would not. Since it sounds like you already live here, I would install a sturdy shelf above the windows and then mock-up proposed cab front widths/heights and put the glasses up there to see how you like them. (Beware if you have cats - mine seem to be able to get up to impossibly high shelves, apparently for the express purpose of testing whether the Law of Gravity is still in force. You could check how the glasses look by penning the pests up, or out, while you study the visual effect.) One possible improvement would be to move the fridge to the other side of the kitchen to make unloading groceries easier: al your incoming food would be stowed from one central dropping-off point and going at once into the pantry or the fridge. This is the biggest issue for me that I would really try to work on. You also have your work areas predominatly stacked towards the left of the drawing in a kitch where you have plenty of room to arrange them differently. One question I do have is whether your scale on the drawing is correct. The called out measurements don't seem to line up with the graphed squares which is the usual convention (and one of the inherent advantages of using graph paper.). It will be easier to move stuff around if you decide on a common increment of inches for each square. Twelve inches per square is easy to work with, but six or three inches per square also work well, but one foot and three and three-quarters inches per square (15.75 inches per graph square) is a lot of unnecessary math! If this were my kitch, i would want to do some more work on how the zones are laid out relative to each other, and how the food and utensils move around within the kitchen with an eye to avoiding backtracking while cooking.. HTH L....See More
geyerma
6 years agoHeather N
6 years agogeyerma
6 years agoHeather N
6 years agoI don't know how modern the space is, or how pressed for storage you are - but I am doing a kitchen now with a similar layout, with tall windows on either side of the range hood. Instead of wrapping the cabinets around the corners, we are putting open shelving that "hangs" in front of the windows. I say "hangs", because it is actually attached to the wall and the ceiling, but gives the look of hanging from the ceiling. We are doing this in our home because we wanted additional upper storage, but wanted more natural light. Our windows look out onto greenery, so it is a perfectly fine view, but not one that is ruined by putting shelves in front of it. I thought it would open up the space a bit more in our kitchen. Anyway, that's always another option as well! Some examples are below. I also have a bunch of pictures on my kitchen Pinterest page of range hoods flanked by windows in case that would be helpful! http://pin.it/Y3MMzGc
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Layouts: Ideas for U-Shaped Kitchens
U-shaped kitchens are great for cooks and guests. Is this one for you?
Full Story
FARMHOUSESKitchen of the Week: Modern Update for a Historic Farmhouse Kitchen
A renovation honors a 19th-century home’s history while giving farmhouse style a fresh twist
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Elegant Updates for a Serious Cook
High-end appliances and finishes, and a more open layout, give a home chef in California everything she needs
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNWhite Kitchen Cabinets and an Open Layout
A designer helps a couple create an updated condo kitchen that takes advantage of the unit’s sunny top-floor location
Full Story
KITCHEN OF THE WEEKKitchen of the Week: Beachy Good Looks and a Layout for Fun
A New Hampshire summer home’s kitchen gets an update with a hardworking island, better flow and coastal colors
Full Story
KITCHEN MAKEOVERSThey Entertain the Day Away in Their Updated Kitchen
An open layout makes this kitchen-great room combo the perfect place for spending time with family and friends
Full Story
KITCHEN DESIGNDesign Workarounds Update an English Heritage Kitchen
Remodeling restrictions lead to an unconventional layout for a 17th-century kitchen
Full Story
KITCHEN OF THE WEEKKitchen of the Week: An Awkward Layout Makes Way for Modern Living
An improved plan and a fresh new look update this family kitchen for daily life and entertaining
Full Story
BEFORE AND AFTERSKitchen of the Week: Creamy White, Warm Walnut and a New Layout
Years after realizing their custom kitchen wasn’t functional, a Minnesota couple decide to get it right the second time
Full Story
BEFORE AND AFTERSKitchen of the Week: Bungalow Kitchen’s Historic Charm Preserved
A new design adds function and modern conveniences and fits right in with the home’s period style
Full Story
phuninthesun