Starting to plan out the kitchen.
J M
6 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (26)
cpartist
6 years agoJ M
6 years agoRelated Discussions
How I Started Planning for My Kitchen
Comments (9)I'll add to lissa comprehensive post. I'd did some of the same. I also paid very very close attention to how I prep, cook, and clean up in my current kitchen. Even though the new kitchen will be a totally different layout then the one in this home; I realized that there are several things I tend to do; whether out of habit or necessity; that helped drive my new layout. For example; I tend to get out all my ingredients ahead of time which gave me more flexibility on frig and pantry placement. I also tend to use a small trash (Publix) bag on the counter for trash as I'm prepping... so a trash pullout though great; was not a priority. Most importantly for me; I realized I tend to prep on one side of the cooktop and not both. That realization helped me to decide to move my range over giving me a small space on one side but a larger space on the other. One last example; I discoverd that symmetry is not as important to me as balance. I know for sure the most helpful thing was posting on this forum and reading other posts. If you do post a layout; be patient, open, and invite criticism. Not negativity mind you; but objectivity. It's hard... especially if your new to the game and just spent 5 hours working up what you thougth was the best layout ever that incorporated all the suggestions from a previous post. Within an hour; you'll realize all that you still have yet to rework. Don't get discouraged. Walk away, moan, pout, then get back to the drawing board and get to work again. Even though I've get to start; I know my layout is perfect for the space I have to work with, the way I love to prep/cook, and the budget we want to work within. Be honest with yourself and determine whether your motivation is form or function. In the beginning, I'll be honest and say I was so influenced by the gorgeous kitchens I saw that I was trying to put too much into a small odd space. Trying to make my kitchen into something it wasn't. After much input and reflection; I learned that I will value function over form in the long term and then learned to embrace the layout we finalized. I've been talking about this for a year and a half... we should start getting down and dirty this spring. I absolutely cannot wait!...See MoreDesign this kitchen- starting planning process over
Comments (23)I have a galley too, with laundry off the kitchen, and love the idea of a peninsula. But it's not clear to me that it works well as suggested above - based on your previous posts, you have about 100" in width for the kitchen, right? If you have a 48" wide peninsula (seating for 2) on one side and then a regular depth cabinet on the other (25" including overhang), you've created a chokepoint that is just over 2 feet wide. If my reading of your diagram/dimensions or my math is wrong, forget this point! If not, consider how you use the space. From my read of that last diagram, every time you opened the oven door you would block access to either end of the kitchen. That's not fun (and not the safest thing either if you have lunatic kids like mine.) I'm biased - we just spent a bunch and possibly even reduced our counterspace all for the primary purpose of eliminating that kind of choke point. If you don't get a lot of traffic through the kitchen, then it's probably not a big deal. But I can say that having moved from 33" wide openings at either end to a 48"+ aisle for the whole galley, it feels a thousand times bigger (even though it's really not!) Try mocking up the space with boxes or blue tape and see how it feels....See MoreAnyone have experience with glazed cabinets?
Comments (10)Hi, Actually, Dynasty/Omega only has two brown "wet" glazes specifically for opaques. The wet glazes are applied to the entire surface of the door and the brush marks are visible. I can never get this right and I don't have my spec book in front of me but "Amaretto" is the Dynasty name and "Cappuccino" is the Omega name for the same glaze. Same glaze - different names. Similarly, "Cognac" is the Dynasty name and "Hazelnut" is the Omega name. They do this just to drive dealers (and customers) crazy. : ) The wet glazes are only offered on a limited number of doorstyles in Dynasty. Your dealer is required to get you an exact door sample prior to selling the kitchen. I would insist on that. There are two brown-toned dry glazes also. Caramel which is a light brown (reddish) and coffee which ranges from dark brown to almost black. (Get a sample!) Personally, I think the coffee is too stark for the opaques. The dry glazes are applied as a powder and wiped off leaving the glazing only in the door profiles - no brush marks. Dynasty does a great job of glazing compared to the other lines I have sold. Each kitchen is glazed by the same worker so your doors will always have a consistent level of color. That's not to say that one person will not have a heavier hand than another so expect variation. Hope this helps!...See MoreWhere to start? How to plan an unexpected kitchen renovation?
Comments (11)1) First up, don't install the hardwoods yet. Three reasons: a) Find out from the manufacturer of the intended hardwoods if cabinets can be installed on top of them or if the floor should be installed around the cabinets. We're installing a floating hardwood floor, and we were told in no uncertain terms not to install the kitchen on top of the floor because it would cause a "pinch point" where the floor could not expand/contract naturally because it was pinned in place by the weight of the cabinet/counter/sink-full-of-water. That apparently can cause terrible buckling in the floor. If you should not be installing cabinets over your floors, you'd need to know the final cabinet layout before these floors go in. b) Since you are redoing your kitchen, you may end up wanting to widen doorways or open a wall or whatever. You want to lay the floor AFTER these changes are made, or you'll have weird-looking floor patches where the moved walls were. c) You want as much work done as possible before the floors go in because every workman, every tool, every job is one more opportunity for your floors to be damaged. You can protect the floors after they go in, but it's still better to have your framing, electrical, plumbing, insulation, and drywall done before the floors go in. 2) This is related to number one, but don't do ANY expensive work until you have a complete plan for what is going in your kitchen. Down to which lights and where, which size cabinets are going where, etc. What trim, etc. A kitchen remodel is like dominoes -- if one of the first tiles is not placed correctly, the rest can't fall the way you want them to. It is very costly -- in time and money -- to fix an early domino that was placed rashly, and anything you feel like you're gaining by just getting SOMETHING done now will be lost a hundredfold several weeks from now when you have to undo it after a lot of stuff has been installed over it. I really can't stress this enough: No plan? NO work. I know it's really difficult, but try not to let your urgency to restore order dictate what you actually do. You will thank yourself later. 2) As everybody else is saying, argue with your insurance for more money. 3) Start googling and pinteresting and find some inspiration pictures of kitchens you love. Get at least five, but more is better. Then sit down and figure out what are the common threads running through the pictures and how those might be put into your new kitchen. Gardenweb can help you brainstorm about this if you post your inspiration pictures. As you pull pictures, make sure you are going in a direction that fits with the architecture/style of the rest of your house. It doesn't need to be a perfect match to the rest of the house, but it should be compatible. (For example, our place is rustic Spanish-style. I like more clean, simple, and modern places. So for my kitchen, I went with more of the Spanish-revival art deco inspiration pictures -- not incongruous with our building, but also not incongruous with what I like.) 4) Concurrently with fighting your insurance company and looking for inspiration pictures you like, get gardenweb started working on a layout for your space. Post: a) a floor plan of the entire floor of your house where the kitchen is (not just a floor plan of the kitchen -- we need to consider traffic flow, so we need to see where the kitchen is in relation to other rooms in the house) b) pictures of the space (this helps with visualizing things that aren't clear on the floor plan) c) the details of who uses this kitchen and how and what features you like in a kitchen Make sure to include measurements of everything on the floor plan and preferably have the floor plan on graph paper with a 1 sq foot = 1 square scale. 5) Set up a functional kitchenette space in another room so you don't go bonkers in the meantime and you minimize the impulse to make rash, expensive decisions out of frustration. My husband had an old Ikea dresser, and Ikea sells glass tops for their dressers for $30. I put dishes in the dresser drawers, and we use the glass top as a counter top. I bought a $50 hot plate to go on our "counter," and we already had a mini fridge and a microwave. It's not perfect, but we can still eat sort of normally, and it works....See MoreJ M
6 years agoBuehl
6 years agoJ M
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoAnglophilia
6 years agoBuehl
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJ M
6 years agoherbflavor
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJ M
6 years agodan1888
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoJ M
6 years agoJ M
6 years agolast modified: 6 years agoalex9179
6 years agoekms
6 years agoJ M
5 years agoekms
5 years agoJ M
5 years agoJ M
5 years agoJ M
5 years agoJ M
5 years agoJ M
5 years agoJ M
5 years agoJ M
5 years agoJ M
5 years ago
Related Stories
REMODELING GUIDESPlanning a Kitchen Remodel? Start With These 5 Questions
Before you consider aesthetics, make sure your new kitchen will work for your cooking and entertaining style
Full StoryKITCHEN WORKBOOKNew Ways to Plan Your Kitchen’s Work Zones
The classic work triangle of range, fridge and sink is the best layout for kitchens, right? Not necessarily
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESHow to Decorate When You're Starting Out or Starting Over
No need to feel overwhelmed. Our step-by-step decorating guide can help you put together a home look you'll love
Full StoryKITCHEN STORAGEGet the Most Out of Your Kitchen’s Undersink Area
Clever solutions can turn this awkward space into a storage workhorse for cleaning supplies and more
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN9 Questions to Ask Before You Plan Your New Kitchen
To get your dream kitchen, start with a strong mission and wish list, and consider where you’re willing to compromise
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN10 Design Tips for Planning a Family Kitchen
Find out how to create a friendly, functional kitchen that meets the needs of a family with children
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHow to Plan Your Kitchen Storage for Maximum Efficiency
Three architects lay out guidelines for useful and efficient storage that can still leave your kitchen feeling open
Full StoryOUTDOOR KITCHENSHow to Cook Up Plans for a Deluxe Outdoor Kitchen
Here’s what to think about when designing your ultimate alfresco culinary space
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHow to Plan a Kitchen Workflow That Works
Every kitchen has workflow needs as unique as the people who use it. Here's how to design your space to suit your needs
Full StoryKITCHEN ISLANDS10 Decisions to Make When Planning a Kitchen Island
An island can serve many purposes. Here’s what to consider for one that works best for you
Full Story
alex9179