I'm STUCK....need help with kitchen cabinet placement...ideas?
We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel and everything is cleared out. We are replacing old appliances (new black stainless or stainless??) and 30+ year-old cabinets (new shaker white). We do not want to pay to remove original gas lines/electrical/water etc., so we are leaving those in their current locations. If we add a pantry, it lessens the space to 9" on one side of the stove (not ideal), but I don't see any other place for a pantry (certainly not for it's large size).
1. Should we open up one galley wall for a more open floor plan? We already have large open plan from the eating/dining/living room/family room.
2. Suggestions on another type of pantry on the other wall?
3. What can we do with the area with the old bar/small dining room table?
Here are pictures of the old layout..
Thank you in advance for your help!
Comments (7)
Karen Reeves
6 years agoRelated Discussions
I'm new and so is my kitchen! Help with layout!
Comments (37)Three things about the space...I think the fridge does work best by the main sink, especially if the table is over there, too. The prep sink on the island is FOR the cooktop/range. Without it, you don't have a very functional kitchen. I think the island works best opposite the cooktop, but maybe just a bit smaller. The desk should be in the kitchen, IMHO, but not in the main work zones. By changing the island slightly and moving a stool to the end, you are no longer all lined up and it will be easier to visit with the cook and each other. Also, the desk chair should be the same height as the table chairs...that way you can move it over for extra seating, when needed. The banquette will give you MUCH more seating, because people can squeeze in, where chairs would take more room. Having the banquette on one side only, makes it easier for people to access and with outdoor fabric, a breeze to clean up. There are some beautiful outdoor fabrics (that look like indoor) that would be perfect for the banquette, cushions, chairs, etc. Oh, and I think the banquette will allow you to sit in the sun and take full advantage of the windows and view...although the windows will have to be a little higher from the floor, for the banquette. Hope this helps :) From Kitchen plans One more thing...why is the laundry door opening out? It would probably make more sense to swing into the room, against that right side (away from sink) but can't see entire space. This post was edited by lavender_lass on Mon, Feb 24, 14 at 18:45...See MoreHELP with kitchen cabinets, I'm so confused!
Comments (3)There might be alot more to what you get from the local place (such as custom fit and trim, replacement guarantees if something is scratched or doesn't fit, install help, etc.) than from an online vendor. (Note: I have never used an online cabinet vendor so I am not criticizing them. I have used a local custom cabinet maker who was great about the few minor things that needed to be changed.) I think you should be honest with the local guy and tell him how much you appreciated his input and time, but that you have found the same brand of cabinets for less. Ask him why the difference, and he should be able to tell you exactly what more you would get by going local vs ordering online, and then you can decide if it's worth the price difference. Or maybe he'll offer a bit of a discount. Sometimes peace of mind = priceless! (But check over any contract very carefully... even people who have used local dealers have had problems.)...See MorePlease help with kitchen layout--I'm hopelessly stuck
Comments (18)Hi Buehl, Here are the answers to your questions: "Has the garage door been moved in your layout (1st pic)? Your DH's drawing has it in the kitchen but your layout has it in the DR..." Yes, in Plan B - expanding into the dining room -- one of the proposed changes we depicted is moving the door to the garage a few feet over into what is now the dining room. That would free up space for a 36" fridge. Currently the door is still in the kitchen. "Can the wall b/w the Foyer and the table space be moved? Maybe 2' into the Foyer??" No because that wall extends well into the family room. There is also a hallway closet in the foyer that is right off the kitchen and behind our current pantry closet. "Would you consider switching the Kitchen & DR? Maybe make the table area the DR and then have a big kitchen? I don't know if it would work...I'm just throwing ideas out there! (I suspect those tall windows will be a problem, so probably not...but you never know!) BTW...the reason I asked in my previous post about expanding into the Foyer is that your first "IKEA" layout says the table area is 11'0" yet your 2nd layout & your DH's show 8'6"...so it looked like you expanded into the Foyer." Hm...switching the DR and kitchen..I don't think it would work since the eat-in area is right in the middle of the house and open on all sides. However, (now you've got me thinking!) I guess you could leave the table where it is right now in the eat-in area and then focus on expanding the kitchen area into the current DR by taking down part of the wall that separates them, maybe filling up the space in the DR with a butler's pantry along the one solid wall (as I have depicted in the Plan B layout), a larger island than I have depicted with some bar stools, and maybe some armchairs on either side of the tall windows and a small desk in the corner (depicted in black in Plan B). But would that look natural or totally contrived to fit the space? That's my worry...that if we make these changes it will look like some amateurish DIY job rather than something that fits the house organically. I just remeasured the table area and it is indeed 8'6" not 11'. Sorry for the discrepancies...the numbers may have changed a few times since I started this process! I hope I haven't confused you even further. It's frustrating that we live in a home that is plenty big for our little family (just the 3 of us) but that is so oddly configured that the space doesn't work for us. Anyway, thanks for sticking with me so far....See MoreThink I'm planning a dungeon kitchen-HELP!
Comments (23)bahacca, When I started thinking about remodeling our kitchen, I swore I wouldn't get stainless appliances. I was afraid the fingerprints, water marks, and whatever else I saw on all the display models would drive me crazy. But whenever I pictured my dream kitchen with warm cherry cabinets and a clean more up to date feel, I couldn't seem to see any other choice to give me the look I wanted. Through some research, I found that Frigidaire Professional line looked nice and has a special coating on the stainless that doesn't show fingerprints and marks nearly as much. I ordered them for our new kitchen from Lowe's because I could return them in 30 days for a refund if I didn't like them, and they price matched on online vendor. We have had them (gas stove, fridge, and dishwasher) for about a month now. I have to say I love the finish. It really shows marks less than the black appliances and looks really clean in the kitchen. You might want to check them out. Here is a link that might be useful: appliances...just a thought...See MoreKaren Reeves
6 years agoKaren Reeves
6 years agoSophie, If I move the range to the short wall of the L, I only have 2 inches of counter on the right and 30 inches of counter over a corner blind cabinet on the left, which is the right counter of the sink.....Seems too close to the sink for prepping food before cooking and there will be no access to that corner cabinet. What about across on the other wall? Have to move the gas line a good distance for that to work. Is that feasible and not too expensive??
AnnKH, Removing the soffit is an option, but we were trying to save $$. In many pictures if they don't have a soffit, it is open space or they build up the crown molding...seems like a waste. Our family is all tall to reach the top cabinets, but the next owners might not be :) If we didn't use the pantry, there is a funky soffit that extends farther than the rest (to accommodate a larger cabinet), which my contractor didn't like hanging over a 12" upper cabinet. It's a very small area. Is that a bit deal?We did use the two eating tables, the smaller one for 2-3 and then the formal dining for company. Somehow it didn't feel that crowded. I used the bar all the time as a counter to serve food on as we entertain quite often, but we never ate at it because it was too low. The bar is gone and it already looks so spacious.... The dining room table can become a banquet table....which we use at holidays.
Ideas on what to put in all that empty space? What about an island similar to before, but higher and back into the smaller eating area with chairs facing toward the larger table. We could do casual eating there. Or open up the wall on the left side of the galley kitchen for an island? My head is spinning! Thanks
This is after...the bar/smaller table are gone. Ideas on the space?
New cabinets....not installed. Note the soffit over the pantry. There will be a new fridge and top cabinet for a built in look. Notice the place for the range with small counter on the left. I was hoping for more counter space on the left of range.
Cabinets on left are just props.
Thank you for your help.
suzyq53