Open shelves require everything be neat and color coordinated...is that what you want? Then put open shelves in. I personally prefer cupboards with doors on them but your kitchen with modern lines looks good. Will you be putting anything on the counter tops? i,e, coffee pot, toaster, etc. Might look busy with open shelves....this is just my opinion. I love a neat tidy kitchen.

If you have sufficient storage-I'd leave bare. I'd be,like, hooray, art opportunity! lol

but then I'd leave another side of the window bare..I also like bare spots. I love to have lots of art-and I love to have bare walls too. That's, like, inner war of the Roses. Gotta have both.

but it's kitchen..needs to function well, first and foremost. Shelves will look a bit busy-not because of them being shelves, I personally have no problem with keeping things tidy (unlike some other family members I must add)-but because it seems to me the space is a bit small? But it might be 'cause it's a rendering?, hard to envision real dimensions.

frankly, I don't know whether I'd add backsplash on that wall. Shelves will make it easier decision-backsplash comes up to the shelves or something. Tiling the whole wall..you add lots of lines. You already have lots of lines. Will take away from the vibe you're going for, that'd be my concern. Unless the grout is such it all kinda dissappears. Then it's pity since you're loosing your tile shapes, to a degree.

it's a give and take

very nice plan, overall

My concern is with the DW placement. If you have shelves OR cabinets on the left side of the window OR on the right of the range...you will have to unload to the countertop / close DW / dishes to their storage spot. Just be sure you're good with doing that.

Thanks guys! I knew I could trust Houzz on all of these 11th-hour details.

@aprilneverends - Yes x1000 to war of roses. I always want beauty and function. Knowing what to prioritize in a particular spot is such a fun challenge. Also frustrating, haha.

With the upper cabinets open, there is just enough room for 2'-3" shelves. They'd be 7" inches away from the window. It's a good width for wine glasses and a couple bowls. I do like the idea of a dark saturated color back to give a bit of color. At this point, it could go either way.

The green tile in any shape is probably not a good choice given the grout lines would not be tight enough. This would probably be a better alternative, since the light grey grout blends in, yet with the color variation the shape isn't lost.

@benjesbride - Not too worried about the beam since it can look like anything and it's structural. Yes, do talk about the layout. Why do you think the fridge, stove, sink placements are not optimal?

If you post a 2D drawing with dimensions I'll try to offer alternatives with perhaps a cleaner and more modern look if the space allows.

This explains why I aim to put sink between fridge and range:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first-dsvw-vd~2699918

What about a wall mounted knife rack? Obviously this is a different style than your goal but the concept is the similar.

Fulham Traditional Kitchen · More Info

You could put art on each side of the sink as you showed in one of your mock-ups and mount the knife rack to the backsplash.

@benjesbride Thanks, great resource! Unfortunately it's not a new build and the sink will stay in the same location. We could likely place a sink in the island but with island around 6' we like how it looks better without an additional sink.

I don't think you need to move the sink. The fridge or range needs to move. Please post the 2d and I'll show you.

@lindsey Brilliant idea! You reminded me of some gorgeous wall storage pieces on Food52.

Before and after 2D. Some changes were made to window and added spacing between fridge and door but represents general layout.

At the edge of the kitchen (see bottom) is an overhang (above is loft), then it opens up to a vaulted ceiling. We've designed it so the cabinet lines up to the end of overhang.

Sorry. Does the vault start to the right of the sink? Or above the beam where the fridge is?

Where does the door to the left of the fridge go?

@benjesbridge

Yes, the vault is to the right of the sink. The beam is structural and extends to opposite wall through living room. (The beam isn't in 2Ds.)

The door goes to living space downstairs.

We're convinced our house is the perfect analog to a broken puzzle because fitting everything together has been harder than a Rubik's cube.

Did you explore moving the door to the lower level toward the windows? Your island could be larger and the beam could be better incorporated into your design in this config.

The only wall where the door can be is the oven wall. The other walls are the second story sides of the house.

but can it move to the left toward the window?

Oh, I see. Hypothetically, it's could be moved to that window. But it's a big picture window so cons are less of an outside-in effect with door that close to window. And of course, money.

I think we're pretty well set on layout now but always good to triple-check...

Okay. If you change nothing, please at least consider moving the dishwasher to the right of the sink and get it out of your primary prep space.

Put the dishwasher in the island.

the island?

Put the dishwasher to the right side of the sink like benje suggested. This way it's not in the way when your stove oven is open, or visa versa. Trust me when I say having it on that side is a huge hassle. I had that in my last apartment and DH couldn't help clean up while I was cooking.

Also change all your lower cabinets to drawers. Drawers allow you to store a heck of a lot more stuff in them.

If this is a new build, put two windows there.

i know you dont want uppers around the window. But the dishwasher is to the left of the sink probably because that upper that is close is where the dishes go.

If you put uppers by the windows and give one extra cabinet to the right of the sink with associated upper, you will get a ton more usable space. This will mean when you put the dishwasher to the right you can easily put dishes into the uppers above it.

There also wont be the question of how far up to put the backsplash.

Agree with everyone about drawers, especially deep pot drawers on either side of the range. But everywhere else too. You can also put a garbage drawer to the left of the sink.

Make sure the stove is induction, slightly more pricey but way more functional

@cpartist Right, we changed back to drawers shortly afterward. Cabinets are cheaper but for a renovation we're only doing once, we'll happily spend for added functionality.

We have around 450 sq ft - a perfectly cozy size for living, kitchen, dining, and a desk area. The living room rug will be 2' away from that end cabinet under the sink, which is why we opted not to add an upper cabinet. I think these are great ideas that won't work for our space.

benjesbride: << the island? >>

I know, it's a bad idea. I take it back! My first thought was to relocate the dishwasher to the right of the sink. Then I got concerned about the distance to the wall cabinets, so I figured if the dishwasher was in the island, it would be closer to the wall cabinets and easier and faster to unload clean dishes and put them away. At this point, I don't think the kitchen can be workable without more wall cabinets. That means they'd have to go to left and right of the window above the sink, which the OP is trying to avoid.

about the dishwasher..good point about moving it..I also kinda understand why it is where it is, but from my strange standpoint..I like to see cabinetry at the edge close to the open living space, rather than an appliance. to me, somehow looks neater. but. if one makes it integrated panel (or how this is called correctly?) then one has both more clearance between things, and the "neater" look.

I agree with moving the dishwasher to the right of the sink. I have a cabinet that dead ends into the window wall as yours does because I didn't have the 18" necessary between the corner and window to use a corner cabinet. I hate it. I can barely reach it and if that's where you plan to store dishes, I would seriously consider a corner cabinet. The only things I store in there are things I hardly need to get to like outdoor dishes, and extra storage containers. Even then I have to call my husband to get things out for me and I'm just shy of 5'7" tall. JMHO