Separation between kitchen & family room - new house
We've been working with a local architect to design a new home for our family of 5 (three kids 12, 10 & 9). 95% there with the plans but I need help devising a perfect plan for the separation between the kitchen & family room. I know the family will spend a ton of time hanging around the island (so don't want to make the space feel cramped) and I want to create flow between the two rooms but want more than just columns dividing the space.
I feel like my two options are:
a) close off the two spaces on the right and left of the columns. Doing so blocks the flow of the hallway from the garage into the house.
like so...
or
b) close off the middle with more cabinets (never bad thing) but it may be too much of a visual separation and cramp the feel of the island.
Would love some advice or feedback! (Hope my floorplan is legible. If not - I can repost). Thanks in advance!
Comments (18)
lisa_a
6 years agoI like your inspiration photos but I think I prefer the 1st photo.
Anyhoo, how about a slight alteration to your 1st photo?
Space the posts so that the sides are wide enough to allow flow from garage into the house. I think I saw something on Houzz like this....
lisa_a
6 years agoDidn't find the photo I was thinking about but found this that is like your 2nd photo but without the glass uppers. Separation but not as closed off feeling.
You could do a bookcase facing the great room instead of cabinets facing the kitchen. That wouldn't require as much depth as cabs and counter.
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Comments (8)aokat15, I saw your reference on my "boxed in columns" post. Thanks for referring me here. We're definitely on the same track. I really liked the examples that you and the other posters put up. I think we're leaning toward the idea shanghaimom posted with the columns and the arch except DH and I were thinking to panel 3 sides and install shelves on the inside. In my situation, the family room side is a walkway, so we'll have plenty of space for an overhanging bar with a few stools. I definitely need a place for my cookbooks that is easily accessible, yet doesn't take up valuable space in the main kitchen storage area and this seemed like the best solution. In the picture below, we already have the basic structure....See MoreSeparate home office or larger family room?
Comments (10)Something to consider: Someday any children you have will live elsewhere and you will get older and likely have arthritis -- making climbing those stairs ever more difficult. You may also have overnight guests between now and then. For these reasons, I recommend that you keep one private room -- a bonus room that could be bedroom or study or craft room, with an adjacent bath, downstairs -- preferably with bath away from the entry / living room area. Could you close off the entry to the hallway near the downstairs bath and enter the hall leading to the bath the back left corner bedroom from the dining room ... and enter the dining room from the living room but via the other side of the chimney -- remove as much as possible of that center (left to right) wall that is to the right of the chimney. It appears you have a dining area (left of the kitchen) with just a small window. Unless you're enlarging the kitchen into this area, you might consider a sliding glass patio door or a large bay window in the dining room. If you're extending the kitchen into that space that appears to be a dining area, perhaps you need to keep that large front room one combined living/dining room....See MoreI need help with a family room design in our new house
Comments (5)It is actually not a new house, just new to us. The sun room is one of those porches attached to the house. It is all windows including the 3 doors. I think right now there is those vertical hanging blinds. Yuck! We are hoping to keep the idea of the sun room, but just put on an addition in its place so that we can get rid of the slider off of the kitchen....See MoreAny way to create larger opening between kitchen & sunken family room?
Comments (18)Are you looking to have the work done before move in or are you thinking you might not want the house if there isnt a good enough solution? Assuming this ends up being the house you want (looks beautiful with lots of potential!) My thought is that it’s better to move in and live in it a bit before deciding in the flow that might work best (esp if you have little ones). I love the idea of getting rid of the bottom part of the window and creating an arched opening (so ”in” right now). But once you move in you can have contractors come in and give you quotes on the work and a good one should have some great ideas avout what is feasible. I get why you’d want to evaluate the possibility and potential cost beforehand though!...See Morelisa_a
6 years ago
clove3415
6 years ago
sherri1058
6 years ago
ILoveRed
6 years agoThe picture Lisa a posted was the loose inspiration for what we are doing between my kitchen and living room. it looks something like what you might be looking for. I gnashed my teeth for weeks looking at pics and couldn't quite find what I was looking for. My kd did this. A beverage center is on the other side. The builders built a one foot header which will be wrapped in wood. Something similar might work for you.
clove3415 thanked ILoveRed
cpartist
6 years agoHere's a drawing of what we're doing.
And here's the cabinets partially installed. (We're having flooring issues which is why they're not in yet.)
lisa_a
6 years ago
KD
6 years ago
J. .
6 years ago
DrB477
6 years ago
Karenseb
6 years agoclove3415
6 years agoThanks everyone! I am getting dimensions from the architect to figure out just how much room we have for everything. I've also found this picture. Not sure if supporting columns can be hidden within the cabinets but I would think it would be possible.
The glass cabinet is pretty but I doubt I have the width to do full height cabinets + glass uppers + an open space. Just adding the photo to the mix in case anyone else gets inspiration from it as well.
clove3415
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoAgain....thank you all for your suggestions, feedback & visuals.
We want at least three barstools (three kids in family) at the island. Backless, pushed in under the island when not in use.
Here are two dimensioned versions of the kitchen thus far.
1) with a 24" cabinet separating but smaller island. (note: sink and dishwasher would be on island. 24" cabinets on left would be buffet style lowers only).
2) with no separation other than 11" beam - showing max usable space
rebunky