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Remodeling Design Dilemma Kitchens

Best way to plan kitchen

6 years ago

We are not happy with our current layout. It's a very small kitchen with 3 doorways that complicate the planning process. There are no long counter tops besides next to the sink for work space and hardly any natural light makes it really dark inside. Also, the wall behind the fridge is a load bearing wall which I heard is expensive and difficult to get rid of.

I'm posting a layout we had someone design for us but it still doesn't fulfill our needs. We really need counter top space but they just added cabinets next to the stove and fridge. I'm not sure how to do this as it's my first kitchen. Is there a better way to plan this kitchen? I would really appreciate all the help I can get.

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Sativa McGee Designs

6 years ago

Even though it is load bearing you may be able to enlarge the door opening to make more of a peninsula. No guarantee but it is possible.

I would move the fridge into the corner and open the wall up as much as possible. You can create a peninsula that wraps around the wall into the dining room. You could add stools but i personally would treat it as a buffet table: wine storage, tall doors for platter and serving trays ect.

Also go with a smaller sink base so that you can fit a DW to the right of the sink.

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Comments (6)

User
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Magic doesn’t exist. You can’t get more space without making structural changes and adding space. Are you willing to invest the budget and time to get what you say you want? If not, stop wanting things you can’t have.
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The kitchen is an add on (added many years before I purchased the home). I assume the measurements are accurate. I sketched it the carpenter I talked to added the measurements and asked me to look for inspiration as I was not totally sure how to create something g beautiful out of something so awkward without remodeling over half the home. The kitchen sits on a frost wall so it is a bump out from the remainder of the house. It's seems weird because it is weird. Visually it makes no sense at all. That is the reason for most of the budget money going to structural cost else where ( releveling the home, replacing joist that were cut, shotty electrical and so forth). So im trying to work with what I somewhat have. Half of the kitchen is not accessible from the underside of the house so moving plumbing would mean excavating costs and so forth. Another reason I don't want to fool with the 15ft wall. I can't even access it from the basement either. It is a solid brick wall and dry walled over. I wish I could tour you all. It's a noodle scratcher. So from the edge of the counter on the pantry wall and backward to the wall wanting to be removed is accessible from the basement. Electrician state he could cut into the underside of cabi and feed a line that way.
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PRO
Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
6 years ago
It's hard to say, especially without a full house plan. For example, where does that hallway lead? Closing one of the entryways would be your best bet because then you can create a U or L shape along those walls.
miss lindsey (She/Her)
6 years ago
Have you consider apartment size appliances? Specifically the fridge. If you pull the fridge to the left and don't reduce its size you'll have about 42" of free counter. That is much more useful than 18" and 24". If you do reduce its size, you can gain a few more precious inches.

I definitely recommend base drawers for the most versatile and useful storage.

Investing in a large cutting board that lays across your sink gives you a couple more feet of counter space for prep or serving. Store it on top of your fridge!

Other than that, learn to think small. Go with the McDonald's model of assembly zones and hold yourself to that.
decoenthusiaste
6 years ago
Well, you have to access the dining room and basement from there, but could you close off the hall door? Place a counter depth fridge left of your current location and add counter space across that end of the kitchen. drawers or appliance trollies can salvage the corners.

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mama goose_gw zn6OH
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Maybe close up the DR entry, but make it a counter-height pass-through. Considering the hike from some kitchens, to a DR through a butler's pantry, you don't have that much of a walk, and it gets you counter exactly where you need it, if you can switch the fridge and range.

ETA, alternate cabinet layout:

Can you post the exact measurements of each wall, door, and window?

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