Kitchen layout help please! Thank you!

5 years ago

Please help with and /critique proposed layout below!

I have read through a lot of discussions on this forum and the wealth of information and generosity of KDs that contribute is amazing!

We are family of four, we cook all meals. Often we have visitors and entertain.

Thank you!!!

Current kitchen has a peninsula, proposed plan changes it to an island to address some of the problems below. Proposed under-counter microwave is double-duty device: Speed oven from Miele or Bosch (so will serve as microwave and second oven).

List of desired changes and problems to fix:

- Kitchen is old/ugly -> we want nice bright kitchen that is functional (we cook a lot)
- Currently there are sofits - would like to remove them and get taller upper cabinets
- Corner cabinets were not really useful, especially second (33x33) LZ Susan, and Upper corner cabinets
- Current layout is "peninsula", so two corners - changing to an "island" will get rid of one corner and give more usable space
- Ideally would like second oven
- Would like to have powerful and quiet hood (current MW is loud and does not exhaust as well)
- Current appliances (Fridge, Range, DW) are about 1-2 years old, would like to keep them.
- Need garbage pull-out (garbage, recycle). Ideally also compost bin (will empty nightly)
- Need to have sink centered on the (expanded) window
- Would like to have outlets hidden under cabinets
- Would like to have glass cabinets so the kitchen is brighter (maybe 2 symmetrical around window)
- Need good Pots&Pans storage
- Ideally would like some sitting around the island (for social events, we will not eat there)
- Ideally would like to have some open shelves for kitchen books
- We like inset cabinetry, but can use frameless cabinets for bottom cabinets to maximize drawers - does it make sense?
- Maybe add low cabinet (with seat) below the "Low window"? Is this a good idea?

Restrictions and such

- Can expand and move window above sink (currently 33").
- Can remove partial wall (peninsula) and hide the beam (the plan assumes they are removed).
- Slab foundation, so no sink and no appliances on the island.
- "Low window" and "Patio Door" we cannot move.

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Comments (5)

cpartist
5 years ago
If it were me, I wouldn't center the sink on the island. (Although you did say you could make the window larger, so that would help)

I'd put the fridge next to the low window and yes put a window seat under the window. Then I'd put the DW next to the fridge, then the sink and then center the stove on the wall it's on now. That will give you more space on either side of the stove too.

On the upper on either side of the stove, I'd do a run of cabinets that run into the wall on the right.

Additionally if you do that, you'll actually wind up with more prep space between stove and sink because right now it's tight.

I would probably make the corner a dead corner to get better drawer space. Make all lowers drawers.

On the island I wouldn't do 18" drawers. Those are basically useless. Do two 36" drawers and divide them with dividers as needed.
A P
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you for your suggestions cpartist!

Yes, window can be moved and sized to center on the sink, so sink can move right/left if need be.

I considered putting fridge on the window wall as you suggest, but it is 36" deep (with handles) so it pushes island away by another 12" and that takes space I do not have...

The 18" drawers are actually double-garbage pullout on one side and 18" drawers on the other.

>>> Make all lowers drawers
Yes, that is the plan, thank you.

>>> and yes put a window seat under the window
Ok, thank you!

Are there good ideas for the wall behind the island? It has baseboard heating on the bottom and I was thinking that I can do a cork board "command center" there? Are there better options with that wall?
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I think youÂd do better with a corner cabinet than a flat cabinet in the corner by the windows. What kind of hood are you planning to use over the cooktop? From the look of your kitchen, a range may work better for you. Reasons? The cooktop on the island requires a vent hood above, which blocks the eye from your beautiful windows. Also, since there is no raised area around the stove, anyone sitting at the island or the table is in danger of being splattered if you are frying something. The shelves over the single oven could easily be replaced with a vent hood without losing space or impacting the view of the windows. You state that your hubby would like to make the island handle seating as well, which I think would work very well in your kitchen. Either raise the whole island or do a dual height island and add bar stools to the outside edge. You could still put the table where you are planning and it would look lovely. What are you doing with the two cabinets to the left of the fridge? Will there be pantries and a broom closet there? I might be tempted to put upper and lower (drawer) cabinets there with the broom closet at the end. That would allow a landing spot next to the fridge, while still allowing room to store cans and food in those cabinets.
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florantha - yes, I would want to protect the range from traffic more than in that last layout. The suggestions of opening up the long wall on the left are interesting, I don't think they are right for our family. We do want to keep a table in the kitchen and upon reflection, I don't really want the kitchen completely open to the family room since a little separation is nice when friends are over and the kids are watching a movie in there. I do think that the thoughts are ideas that could inspire other readers in their own planning. I am leaning toward option C (last) in the original post, but I am a little hesitant about the fridge location. I like it along the back wall because it leaves the sides of the room more open, giving more of a feeling of connection to the family room and to the outside through the window on the right wall. The room is long and my idea was to place the bulky fridge to shorten the room, not narrow it. Placing the fridge on the back wall in the corner also allows room for a bigger (deeper) fridge without interfering with traffic in the room - I'd like to maximize my fridge space without going to the expense of a large built in. But I also know that it's preferable to have the fridge on the perimeter of the kitchen. The proposed location would not drive traffice through the prep and cooking area, but perhaps it's still a bad plan? Feedback would be appreciated. For Layout C, the shallow pantry on the left side of the room is 12" cupboards, the space from there to the island is 41", the island is 41" wide, and the space from the island to the cleanup sink is 48". I've pulled the counters on the back wall so that the counters would be 30". Sorry not to have added these dimensions to the drawings.
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If you're willing to move the kitchen entry a few feet (6'?) toward the top wall, you'd still have traffic coming through, but it wouldn't pass by the ovens and fridge. In this plan you still have a snack center on the periphery, with the ovens close to the cooktop. You still have a view while you prep, and a second prep area by the clean-up sink. There's room for a small appliance in the corner between the cooktop and ovens. (Forgot that the fridge is drawn too small--the pantry on the right of the fridge might need to be a pull-out, or make each pantry smaller.) In the laundry area there's room by the W/D for a short counter over a pull-out for storage. This close to the kitchen sink, I'd skip the sink in the mudroom/laundry. I wanted to post this plan, but also want to say (and I'll take the hits) that I don't think the ovens in the original plan are much of a problem. You won't be carrying hot dishes--with the oven door open and racks extended, you'll be pivoting in a 3' arc, to set them on the end of the counter by the cooktop. Turn the other direction, and you can use the island as landing space, if you have more than one hot dish. Ditto for anything you want to set down long enough to open the oven for loading. Just yell, "Oven's open!" before you use it. If you have small kids running in and out through that entry, you can always put a latch on the sliding door, and get in the habit of latching it when you open the oven. :)
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Thanks to everyone who took the time to respond. I am so impressed with all you ability to use software to draw plans. I wish I knew how to do that. Let me address your points: The range and fridge size is a placeholder as I am still deciding between 36 & 48. I too would love bigger windows but I think there will be plenty of light in the kitchen with the bay windows looking out to south side. I think moving pantry door to either the passage or make it recessed is great and I toyed with it towards the passage to DR but I liked an idea I saw on houzz: https://www.houzz.com/photos/farinelli-construction-inc-traditional-kitchen-phvw-vp~622304 with that chalkboard that I really liked. I was hoping to have something like that. My reasoning for fridge- pantry- bar in that order was due to the need for pantry to be closer to cooking space. If I put it to end, I feel it is much out of the way. Moreover, I can use the island as landing place to put grocery that need to be put in fridge. In addition, there will be a beverage refrigerator in the bar area and if someone needs a drink, they can get that without blocking the flow of the cooking area (with range, prep sink, fridge and pantry all being very accessible).
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mama goose_gw zn6OH
5 years ago
I like the layout because a helper can unload the DW and gather dishes to set the table, without entering the work zones, but I agree with cpartist that the sink and DW need to move down:

I would skip the second set of cabinets on the island, and make the overhang 15" deep, which will give you more space in the work aisle.
A P thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
cpartist
5 years ago
Make your island 42" wide instead of 48" wide and that will give you an additional 6".

Here's what I would do.
A P thanked cpartist
A P
Original Author
5 years ago
Thank you!

Do I understand the main idea/motivation behind these changes correctly as:
- move fridge to the other side of sink so that there is a better flow Fridge -> Sink -> Counter -> Range (I really like that!)
- create larger continuous prep space between sink and range
- move fridge closer to the dining area so people can grab drinks without going through kitchen
- hide microwave from direct line of sight at the end of cabinet run

My one concern is that I loose "Pots & Pans" 36" deep double drawer in this configuration. This is one thing that we really wanted. Lazy Susan does not work well for us as Pots & Pans solution...

And I am also concerned that massive 36" deep fridge will create visual wall from the the patio/window/table to the kitchen. I would be less concerned if it was counter-depth fridge...

So I'm wondering if there is a configuration that will achieve the above benefits but leave the massive fridge in the current place?

Then it is accessible from the other side of the island (for grab-and-go) and from the kitchen, but does not dominate transition from kitchen to patio/window/table...

Thank you again!

Kitchen layout help please! Thank you!

Comments (5)

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Kitchen layout help please! Thank you!

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