Need Help With New Kitchen Design!

6 years ago

We lost our home to a wildfire in 2015 and are just now rebuilding. A contractor friend designed the house, then pretty much left us on our own to build it.

There are no Interior Designers in our area and it certainly isn't my forte'.

Hubby wants me to pick colors, inside and out, cabinets & kitchen design pictures show a workup of a potential kitchen. Not sure about the shelves, or if we should have cabinets there. I like the kitchen at the very bottom, but any suggestions on different designs are welcome!

The counters will be Soapstone. The cabinets are cherry, but not this dark. Open floor plan.

Need paint help also, we have Milgard tan windows and an open floor plan with vaulted pine ceiling which peaks in a hallway along the wall with the fridge. I was thinking a light dusty green. No clue on flooring, since DH wants wood. He also wanted the wood cabinets. And Im supposed to make it all work.

Any opinions welcome!

Featured Answer

mama goose_gw zn6OH

6 years ago

I can't help much with colors or flooring, but I like the last kitchen, too, especially if you're going for a vintage look with the rounded shelves and subway tile.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Rose Knudsen
Original Author
6 years ago
Hubby hates the work up with the subway tile, He thought it was brick! He just needs to see it in real life. I like those shelves the best also.
Related Discussions
Need kitchen design help - can't take ugly kitchen anymore
Q
Comments (18)
Why are you replacing with triple sliding with double (not single)? I am you have thought through this but.... What if you replaced it with standard single door with large glass area (since you have decided to bite the bullet and replace door and spend the money).... I think this will be fine since you have access to the "deck" from the sliding door in the living room. So you still have double access to the deck. Sliding double door versus single door has the exact same access width. The only difference is the amount of light coming in. I think you have enough light that you can do this. I would not do any uppers between the frig and sink to open up the room a little. You could move the frig to that wall, so you have frig, sink, then range on the L going from left to right. This will give you more landing around the stove. I think you will still have enough room for a table in the eating area. Visually, if you are running the cabinets to the ceiling, you need trim that is as wide if not slightly wider than the stiles of the cabinets. Even if the crown is simple in detail, you still need a little more "weight" to balance the cabinets than what is drawn. If you want more modern clean line look (which would not look good with your 6 panel doors), then you can use slab or very plain doors with minimal trim.
...See More
Need help with new Kitchen -- cabinet colors and design
Q
Comments (10)
The previous homeowners made a classic mistake of mixing "earthy" with "fresh" in fixed materials. Maybe they did it for resale, I don't know. But the mistake is there. White kitchen plus white subway tile doesn't look good with travertine(or that granite, for that matter). It's not a question of traditional vs modern; it's just a plainly wrong choice of combining materials. Fixed things should make sense together; if they don't it doesn't matter what style it is or was supposed to be-it will irritate you. I'm not that optimistic about travertine floors-I have them myself in my current home(not everywhere but big entry and kitchen)-I find them much bossier than wood floors. Luckily I prefer warmer palette, so I was able to combine them with wood, and work with them and not against them. I agree with Lily'smom about warmer aqua, it will work; aqua by itself is on the warmer side of blues. But it won't be enough to tie everything together. The materials are fighting each other. You'll need-eventually- to change either the countertop, or the backsplash. (The backsplash you're probably loving more; but it's easier to change) The question is: after you spend your time and money tweaking here and there-will you arrive to the feeling of the house you're after? I'd make a plan. What bothers you the most? And I'd start slowly changing it. In our new house, the owners put a newer kitchen, probably for resale because it was like a sore thumb. It didn't make any sense with the rest of thehouse. I thought for days how to tweak it until I understood that whatever I do-it won't be a good solution. It was a wrong plan for the home, and a wrong style for the home. Fortunately (or not LOL) we had to abate tons of asbestos, literally gutting the house..was psychologically easier to decide to put in a new kitchen, because the old one had to come down off the walls anyway. You can start small, taking doors of the upper cabinets, painting the lowers aqua..btw I'd paint the uppers aqua too. Painting walls if you don't like the current color(even though it's cool), seeing how it all comes together. Or you can decide the floors or the granite boss you around too much-and start with that. In which case I'd start with the granite)) Much smaller surface to tackle. And harder to work around, than travertine.. This house is traditional..you can't make it into a completely different house. But you can translate a different feel. It takes planning, time, and money(or less money and lot of work if you DIY a lot)
...See More
Need Design Help for my New Kitchen!
Q
Comments (3)
How long is this island you have in your drawings? It doesn't look like you have room for a 10 foot long island. You might get more "air" if you did the oven in the island and the cooktop with it there - I'm sure there's some sleek, modern version of that like this one I found: [https://www.houzz.com/products/designer-range-hoods-moon-crystal-series-prvw-vr~1926705[(https://www.houzz.com/products/designer-range-hoods-moon-crystal-series-prvw-vr~1926705) I would do sink under window. Is that where it is right now? Cheaper not to move it so and better there in my opinion anyway. Maybe you are a neat and tidy cook, but I'm not, so I wouldn't want dishes stacked on my island, seems not so in your face over there against the wall. Can you have your cabinets run all the way to the wall on the left side of your drawing? I actually think it's more sleek that way in your particular situation. I think you need to share measurements. I think it can be better.
...See More
Need help designing a new kitchen please
Q
Comments (11)
H2O2 - as mama goose mentioned, the "great room" (current DR) is already walled off the current tiny foyer. It feels cramped when we get inside the house and since there is a door to the kitchen to the immediate right, people tend to go straight to the kitchen when they get in. I hate this! That is way I want to increase the foyer size. Also, while I love open space houses in other people's home, I would detest to live in a house so open like you suggest because to me, it requires the whole house be kept pretty pristine at all times. I do my best, but my husband and children are messy. I don't want people in the living room to see kitchen mess. Mama goose: I really love your idea for the door in the pantry leading to the hallway/foyer, because I hadn't thought about bringing groceries in. And I will include it in my project. I do not want to move windows though, although, we will have to shorten one window to allow for counter or sink placement. Herb flavor: We do not have a garage so there is only one entrance to the house on the front. There is also the basement entrance, plus the deck entrance, but they are seldom used. I don't want to put this post in the whole house construction/renovation forum because it is not within our budget. Our budget allows only for breaking a few indoor walls and complete kitchen renovation. That is it. Besides, we are very happy with the house and the only thing that I never liked and came to despise with time, is the kitchen and its lack of storage and counter space. And the fact that it is the first room people go in when they come into the house.... Not even the tiny Master bathroom bothers me (it does bother my husband though, but that is for another time).
...See More
Buehl
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Is there a reason you have an angled island? They're not the best design for storage and can be expensive to build. I'll be honest, I don't like that island. I think you have a lot of wasted space overall -- both counter and floor space. Unless...do you need extra space in the middle of the Kitchen for a wheelchair or similar? If so, then I can see why this design might work.

Good job on the DW placement -- it's not b/w the sink and range!

Do you like staring at the divider in the middle of the window? I'd rather have the sink offset (to the left) so I could see out one of the full windows instead of staring at the divider. It would also give you more workspace b/w the sink and range. Or, you could put in a 3-pane window so that the middle pane is clear. Or, a single-pane window.

My mother's old Kitchen had those plant shelves flanking the window. She got rid of them to open up her window more -- and she wasn't remodeling, she just wanted a more open feel.

I don't know what the cabinets are in the island -- are they all drawer bases? I recommend it. I'd also switch out that cabinet to the left of the DW for a drawer base as well.

How wide is the aisle b/w the refrigerator and the island? B/w the island and the sink wall?

I'm with your husband -- I don't like the subway tile either, but then, I'm not a fan of subway tile in general...it reminds me of subway walls! However, it is popular right now (and has been for a few years, at least on GW).

With the exception of the island, it's actually a pretty good layout. But, I wonder if it could be better.... (How many people are in your family? How many work in the Kitchen at the same time -- cooking and/or cleaning up? What about the future?)

If you'd like us to work on a Kitchen design for you, we really need a fully measured layout of the space and more information about you & your family, how you plan to use the space, etc. The Layout Help FAQ discusses what information we need to help you:

How do I ask for Layout Help and what information should I include?
- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include
A sketch of the layout of the whole floor will also help -- it lest us see how the Kitchen relates to the rest of the house and how traffic flows in, around, and through the Kitchen.
Buehl
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
For the floor, just don't try to match the wood of your cabinets exactly -- it will look too matchy-matchy and it will be very difficult to get and maintain a match, especially with cherry. Cherry changes color pretty dramatically in the first year or so...it darkens quite a bit.
Rose Knudsen
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Here's a pic of the floor plan. The island was originally designed as a square, which I hated. I actually like the angle but I'm open to other suggestions. The microwave will be in the island, and not over the range as the plans show.

The window, sink, dishwasher, range and fridge placement are pretty much set, rough plumbing is in.

I'm the only cook, and I do enjoy it. I also do a bit of canning and preserving. Just hubby and me and one grown daughter will be living here, but I have 9 grandkids and this will be the holiday hub.
Buehl
6 years ago
"...any suggestions on different designs are welcome!"

but...

"The window, sink, dishwasher, range and fridge placement are pretty much set, rough plumbing is in."

So, that means you really aren't able to consider any other designs. That's fine.

Good luck with your project!
Rose Knudsen
Original Author
6 years ago
Yes, its more cabinet placement and design at this point. I didn't have much say in the kitchen plan, unfortunately. Thank you for your insight and time.

Need Help With New Kitchen Design!

mama goose_gw zn6OH

Comments (7)

Rose Knudsen
Original Author

Related Discussions

Buehl

Buehl

Rose Knudsen
Original Author

Buehl

Rose Knudsen
Original Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Need Help With New Kitchen Design!

mama goose_gw zn6OH

Comments (7)

Rose KnudsenOriginal Author

Related Discussions

Buehl

Buehl

Rose KnudsenOriginal Author

Buehl

Rose KnudsenOriginal Author

COMPANY

BUSINESS SERVICES

GET HELP

CONNECT WITH US

Rose Knudsen
Original Author

Rose Knudsen
Original Author

Rose Knudsen
Original Author