what would you do? kitchen help
6 years ago
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- 6 years agolast modified: 6 years ago
- 6 years ago
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what would you do with this kitchen?
Comments (16)Some more issues from buehl that I figured I would respond to on the forum so that everyone could benefit: (1) Assuming you have a counter-depth and not built-in refrigerator, the aisle will be approx 6" narrower b/w the island & refrigerator...making it only about 34" since most CD refrigerators are closer to 30" deep or so (ours is 31")...plus you have to have room behind it for the plug, anti-tip device, and air clearance, so plan on an additional 1" or so. You may even have an issue getting the refrigerator in/out w/o taking off the ref doors first. This is definitely NOT an aisle width you should start with...if there are any problems that make it even narrower (like what happened to me), then you'll really be in trouble! I recommend adding at least 3" to the aisle width.The range will stick out into the aisle somewhat. Not a big issue, but an FYI. 2.) How big an overhang is your KD putting in? Is it 15"? That's the minimum overhang recommended for counter-height seating. 3.) As to the outside door...can it be a sliding door? I'm asking b/c you really don't have room for an inside swinging door as well as seating at the island. The other option is to have it swing out, but some municipalities don't allow that. MY responses: 1) The CD frig we chose (KA with no ice maker on the door) is 30" depth with handles (although that is only at the very center because the doors are curved) while the stove (Jenn Air duel fuel 36" pro style range) is 30" deep. I am not too concerned about the range because most of it is in the aisle between the cleanup sink and the island. However, with the frig I still think that 40" (really 42" because the KD has said that the 40" included 1" granite overhangs) should be enough. I don't think two people will be standing in that aisle at once or if they need to pass, they can go around. . . 2.) Right now I have a 12" overhang. I think we will start by putting a piece of plywood or old laminate from craiglist over the island and see what kind of space we feel we need. . . I know 15" is min recommended, but I've measured a couple from friends' house (you know you're TKO when. . .) and I've never really had a problem with a 12" overhang. Unless it is a main eating area. I figure this will more be like a place to hang out, not sit long term. Although I could be wrong. 3.) The door is a concern. Especially since we can't put it where Buehl suggested--there isn't room on the property to have stairs if we put it that low down the wall.) Our solution (from bmorepanic) was to go with 48" French doors so that the doors would only open 24" in. Also the active door will be on the right (from outside) or down the wall so that most of the time when one door is open you will walk out and have nothing in front of you. We considered sliding doors, but a 48" sliding door means only every having a 24" opening, which means you must by code here in MA have another 36" door elsewhere (we currently have a 32" door). Also I don't find 24" sliders to be a great product. We considered an out-swing 36" regular door as well as a 48" French door outswinging. Here in MA--it is allowed by code. However, DH doesn't like them. I love it that men don't have to give reasons for what they like or don't like (or at least mine doesn't!) Is this perfect? Probably not. Will it be OK? I hope so. I am having second thoughts on whether I need a prep sink (DH keep trying to talk me out of it), especially given how small the island is. I also have concerns about the MW--will we hate bending over. I'm trying to minimize how much we use the MW in general (cook more, heat up less, less processed food), so maybe this will help? There also doesn't seem to be a concensus on the GE profile website about how much space you need around a convection MW sitting on a shelf in a cabinet (we're not buying the uber expensive built in trim option for something behind and under an island.) Also, I think the sink base needs to increase to 33" to accommodate a 30" sink, which means i need to steal 3" somewhere--probably from the 18" drawer base (moving down to 15" should be OK). Some dimensions not shown in the photo: From Right to Left: L shape cabinet depth: 24" Aisle: 42" (in reality 40" with 2" given for granite overhang) Island cabinet depth: 21" for sink base and MW shelf base Overhang: 12" Aisle to door: 56" Total: 155" The island will be 33"W (including overhang) x 57"L...See MoreWhat would you do with this kitchen?
Comments (9)Jillius- the living room is 14' x 15'. The dining room includes the original, original kitchen space so it is a bit elongated, but not nearly so long in relation to the living room as I have it drawn! The combined kitchen and dining room would be larger than the living room, but we would be opening up the smaller archway between the two so I think it will look okay. We stretch out our table for large gatherings frequently so we need the space there. The room at the back of the house is our office/laundry/sewing room. The previous owners used it for a type of family room but I don't want it for that. It is awkwardly large for what we are using it for but there isn't much else to do with it. Someday I would like a large craft/laundry table there and some built in cabinetry but for now....It would make a nice sized kitchen, but is too out of the loop. The front bedroom does have a door to the foyer and one to the hall by the bathroom. It doesn't serve much purpose but my daughter loves to have two doors on her room:) Some day we will use it for a guest room. Thanks for your input!...See MorePlease help - What would YOU do in this space?
Comments (10)Sorry I've taken so long to get back here. Thanks for your responses! There's so much good info that I want to respond to, but it's taking me a while to sort it all out. First, I should address one big concern. If we do make the eating area our only dining space, we still have the living room up front that could become a dining room if we ever felt we needed it for us or resale. I am concerned about the eating area being narrow, and if we go that direction, I'm pulling the peninsula in by several inches to gain at least a little more room. rhome - you're correct, we do have an island now, but it's kind of small to me (2.5 x 3.5). I don't know if we can make it much wider, so if we made it longer, would it seem ... spindly? Anyone know how much space I should have around an island? One of my annoyances with my current kitchen is being unable to open the cabinets opposite the dishwasher while the dishwasher is open. I guess, with the new storage I'll be adding, I could try to store things there that don't tend to go through the dishwasher. :) lavender_lass - I appreciate your worries, but I didn't find your first response negative; you brought up valid points that do need to be thought about, and we have. Also, I love that you woke up thinking about my kitchen! I wake up around 3 a.m. every night/morning with thoughts about the kitchen circling relentlessly through my brain. That's a new thing for me, and I am not loving it. The dining room wall isn't load-bearing, and doesn't contain any ductwork, or anything else that can't be moved (The benefit of an unfinished basement), so that can definitely be moved. The reason we can't change the windows in the eating area is because we somewhat recently put money into replacement windows there, and that means the foot, it is down, on reworking that area. But the dining room has the old windows. I'm glad most don't think the pantry is a crazy idea. I like that I'll be able to bring some things up from the basement (and then maybe we'll finish that space if we ever get through the kitchen.) More thoughts to come, and I'll take a stab at drawing up an island layout....See MoreKitchen help: what would you do?
Comments (21)Is the circled area the partition you have since removed, or was it just spindles/shelves that were removed between the base and the soffit? If the base is still there, what is the width of the opening/doorway? I like the idea of putting shallow cabinets on the blank wall, to make up for storage lost in the removal of the uppers. Looking at the sink wall, I'd guess the floor space available in the U is about 8', so there really isn't space for a rolling island like raven's--maybe a rolling cart that is 2' deep, but then there is no room for storage and seating, which would be at least 40". YMMV, but at least 30" deep is better for prep, if there's no ledge along the back to contain items. I'd still recommend keeping the peninsula and extending the countertop for seating (15" minimum overhang for comfortable counter-height seating)....See MoreRelated Professionals
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