L-shaped island with built-in dining-feedback appreciated
Mary Andersen
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I would love feedback on this design. We are in the final revision stages. I am struggling with how to have it all, as I'm sure everyone can relate! I have included my layout idea, a picture to give a visual for type of table and how it looks with table area next to island.
I want:
-Space for entertaining/expanding seating
-Space for our family of 4 to eat dinner together that isn't just at a bar
-Ability for kids to sit up to the counter to help cook and do projects
I would appreciate feedback from anyone, especially if you have or have had a similar layout.
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sheloveslayouts
6 years agoMary Andersen
6 years agohere is the original design from Architect (new build). I don't think I made it clear how much I cook...I need a bigger kitchen.
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Comments (25)Personally I'd make the following changes. I showed you in gray how you have almost no actual great room space. You need to account for walkways, etc. The grey indicates the actual usable space on your plan for the great room. Note how it's a tiny space in such a large houseI agree with Stan that you don't need the powder room. I would remove the powder room. Then I'd move the door into the front bedroom to next to the bathroom. This would give you a longer wall for furniture or a tv or a bookcase or... The other advantage is now the door to the bedroom isn't in the great room so there's more privacy. I made the closet more of a small walk in closet in the front bedroom and added a "window" seat and a window between the closet and the front of the house. If not a window seat, it could house a desk, or a chair or a??? In the second bedroom, I moved the entry too so now you don't have an awkward wall you walk towards when you go into the hallway. I wouldn't be so concerned with exterior symmetry as you need to concern yourself with interior space. I would move the doors to the side closest to the office. I personally would make it a single 36" wide door, but left the double doors. Then I'd shift the windows over so you have 4 windows in the great room. Now notice how you have a narrower hallway space but a much larger great room? I shortened your left perimeter counter in your kitchen and moved your cooktop closer up a bit. You still have plenty of prep space and this now gives you some room in a dining room area to put a buffet or some nice furniture. I increased your island size and I flipped the dishwasher to the side between the fridge and sink. This now creates good flow from fridge to sink to prep to cooking....See MoreKitchen layout feedback - L shaped island
Comments (18)Thank you, everybody. @herbflavor I really appreciate you thinking this through. -The fridge is a counter depth, so I think it may be a little wider than a standard fridge. -Yes, I do want the island to operate as part of the kitchen. I'm personally not a fan of diag cut countertops and cabinets (there is an upper diag cabinet in this layout, but that is going to be switched out) -I'm intrigued by the idea of putting the coffee bar on that north wall, but I worry about this looking like one large long wall kitchen as opposed to keeping it in the "center" of the house. There's also the question of what I'd do with the rest of that long south wall. @biondanonima (Zone 7a Hudson Valley) -Yes, there will be a mini-fridge / wine fridge in the bar. No running water though to keep costs down. It is a little annoying to walk to other sink to get water for coffee, but for me not a dealbreaker. Adding snacks to that is a great idea! The first response to this post got my heart beating and I almost texted my designer to call the whole thing off. (I appreciate truthful and frank comments that appear on houzz.) Feeling a little better now. This may not be the most ideal set up, but it will meet our family's needs better than the current open nothingness. Let's call it "a creative solution?" Also I think @herbflavor is correct that just updating the surfaces will make the entire kitchen feel better. We plan to move in the next 3-4 years, so I'm hoping this won't be SO offensive to a buyer that it's a dealbreaker....See Moresheloveslayouts
6 years ago
One Devoted Dame
6 years ago
Boxerpal
6 years agoMary Andersen
6 years agoHere is another idea I had after seeing the houzz picture linked below. I just don't think the eating area for our family is in a great spot . . that will end up being a walkway and we will have to go around the table and chairs.
Love this u-shaped islandMary Andersen
6 years agosheloveslayouts
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoHere's another way of looking at the space. Basically, the kitchen is approx 9' wide, the dining is approx 9' wide and the living is approx 12' wide. The island is total workspace; you don't have enough room for seating overhangs and all the chairs that go with them. I think this plan would live nicely and serve you well given the 20x31' space you're working with.
I'm limited by the sizes of Ikea cabinets. If I had more options, I'd make sure that all the kitchen cabinets on the dining area side were aligned.
cpartist
6 years agosheloveslayouts
6 years ago
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