Kitchen Dilemma - Awkward Layout, Several Possible Solutions
Anna Daneri
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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Anna Daneri
5 years agoRelated Discussions
layout advice--very awkward kitchen location
Comments (143)home4all6, I had an idea that could be a middle ground between working within your home's footprint and a MBR suite/kitchen addition. It is spurred by my memory of your comment that the FR addition was either built to be or could be turned into a first floor MBR suite. This likely won't be appealing to you since your children are still quite young but it won't be that many years before the idea of having some space between their rooms and yours will be quite appealing. Also, I don't know if this holds true for your area but first floor MBR suites are popular here because it means that people can stay in their homes longer. On to my idea: Build an addition for a larger eat-in kitchen, addressing mudroom, side entry stairs and PR issues at the same time. It's possible that an addition may offer up other possibilities for a PR location that won't require losing your home's center hall entry. I know you don't use it and wouldn't miss it but losing the central hall entry could be a negative for future buyers. Then, at some point in the future (that will arrive sooner than you realize), convert your FR into a MBR suite and convert the 16x13 room you are currently using as a MBR into a bonus room/media room. Is the existing laundry room large enough to be a walk-in closet as well? If not, you'll need to relocate this when you convert the FR into a MBR suite. Or perhaps include room for W/D etc in your mudroom plans. I don't know your market so please ask local realtors which of the potential revisions will make your home most appealing to future buyers. I'm not saying that's what you need to choose but it's good information to consider as you decide how to proceed. btw, this thread is coming close to the 150 cut-off so it would be a good idea to start saving all the information and suggested plans now before they drop off the forum....See MoreMy, possible, Title 24 solution
Comments (3)You've obviously put a lot of thought into this, zinnah, and I'm impressed. I like your idea of a suspended panel for lighting. I got my start in residential lighting (most of my work is in industrial) by crafting all sorts of lighting boxes and other structures to help remodelers in San Francisco adapt new lighting technology to old houses, which later turned out to be helpful in T24 compliance in many instances. I also hate penetrating the ceiling if I don't have to, so your idea is doubly attractive to me. I'd like to see a picture of it when you can....See MoreSmall, Awkward Kitchen Layout
Comments (52)"...AND the plans are all running traffic one way or the other back and forth through the kitchen, some plans even requiring you to dodge others while you carry boiling water from stove to sink..." Rosie - please take a closer look at the layouts I drew up - there are prep sinks in all of them to avoid the very thing you're saying is an issue. Is it perfect? No - but then, no one's kitchen is perfect. If the OP says s/he does not want to change/move something b/c s/he wants a certain feel and function for the space or it cannot be done for financial reasons, then I think we should respect that. We can suggest s/he consider new ideas - which s/he has done - or to check out the actual cost for some changes b/f assuming it would be too expensive, but once the OP has made a decision for his/her home, then we should let it go. Some people may think their ideas of what the style/use of the home should be are "right" and that owners shouldn't change it b/c these same people think they shouldn't - but...this is not our kitchen, space, or home - it's Cluch's. Every project has compromises - what is acceptable as a compromise to the OP may not be to you and compromises you might think are acceptable may not be to the OP. To remind everyone of what has been mentioned by the OP: "...We want to open up the space by removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room, and also the wall between the kitchen and sunroom. We are after a large family, eat-in kitchen, great room sort of feel. However this will be our only dining space as well, so we need to be able to squeeze in up to 8 people at the table on rare occasions...." "...we prefer the kitchen to be connected the sunroom. Also, we are hoping to change the window in the dining room to french doors and build a deck off the back, as that is the only place where we can put a deck. ..." "...I don't know how we would expand the kitchen into the sunroom and the expense to change that space would be too costly. ..." "...We have considered putting the kitchen in the dining room, but I keep feeling as though I would be left out in the kitchen while all the fun and visiting goes on in the sunroom. And your drawings of the kitchen in the sunroom look awesome, but I feel sad to lose that space as a family area...." "...I want to be working in the kitchen and be able to see what is going in in the sunroom and see the ding table at the same time...." "...I think that I desire a "great room" feel for our family and for visitors. I see the sunroom being a big part of that. I love the idea of working in the kitchen and interacting with people in the sunroom at the same time as people at the dining table...." "...We do not need an eating area in the sunroom, and a banquette in the dining area could work. Prefer one long bench, as opposed to a corner banquette...." "...I don't think we are willing to make any other structural changes inside in terms of doorways and......See MoreLayout dilemma-esp. for those with kitchen islands of all shapes!
Comments (14)No to curved island. Mine is 100” long and 36” wide, with only a 12” overhang. We have 4 barstools here, though usually only 2 of us sit here at a time or just our teenager (who’s 6’ and fits fine). A lot of people get all bent out of shape about smaller seating area but in the grand scheme of things, it works fine and looks fine. Would I have a family of 4 sit here for dinner every night? No, probably not, but we have a kitchen table and a dining room table available for that. As far as resale value and just aesthetics the island looks good and seating is available....See Morenotapundit
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