First rough draft and kitchen suggestions?

5 years ago

Hi all! So this is just the initial draft working with our architect. My requests: a triple window overlooking the forest on our back property. These will be 12ft ceilings. First thing we noticed was the lack of cabinet storage. We haven't nailed down the stove but hubby is wanting the wolf range w dbl oven and I know that's going to require a larger hood taking up even more cabinet space. I've been looking at induction cook tops but again no decisions yet. We don't cook a lot right now but may have more time as time goes by and we have more time at home. We really don't need a large mud room so was thinking of closing off the door to the pantry where it currently is and accessing(from the hall)a new larger pantry w butlers pantry for more storage. I have lots of serving dishes, crock pots, soui vis and the sort to store in this area. Any suggestions greatly appreciated!

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Jazz Lover
Original Author
5 years ago
Kitchen Dimensions are 19'6 x 12'6
Jazz Lover
Original Author
5 years ago
Here's a closer look at kitchen plans... again rough draft so not too much details there yet.
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I was so excited to see your kitchen, virtually identical to mine! Yours is a little wider though and a little shorter. I like the original layout, I think it is lacking a little in counterspace but perhaps the table makes up for it. If I were you I think I would make the table completely movable and never fix it, in fact our solution during our reno is to have an "islandette" that is stored under the counter on one side so that it can be rolled out and used anywhere when necessary (also saves on some expensive base cabs but you still get the storage underneath it!). I have to admit that though building in the fridge does make your other room very strange (which I think you could absorb with the closet) I would kill to have a place to build in my fridge, unfortunately it just sticks into the space making it even narrower! Have you considered making the kitchen area a "U" shape and putting cabs/counter on the left wall as well and maybe getting rid of the table? Then you could do a counter-depth fridge and save your other room's closet space, just a though... I agree with many about the half wall but if the living area is not really formal and that is what you want I would say go for it, after all there's no reason to do something just like everyone else and clearly your house is one of a kind! Good luck!
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Too Many Hallways! Do you plan to use the secondary BR on the first floor as a study/office? Is that why you have a tub in the bathroom on this floor? (Quite a hike.) If this is the family powder room, sink and toilet will do. Where will your children play or have friends visit? I'd skip the formal DR and enlarge the "Breakfast Room" -- which is the "All Meals Room" in my house. You are right that this open plan does not need *both*, but I'd prefer an enlarged family eating space. One you subtract the 'walk through' space from it, the LR is very small. Back Hall is too much 'hall' and too little "Family Entrance" and "Laundry". Where's the laundry/slop tub? (My house rules permit no dog that will not fit into this tub.) Where's the laundry chute? No door to the back/side yard here? Don't waste outside walls on closets. Do put windows in at least two walls of every room that can have them. Yes to larger bathroom on second floor. Does one house need three tubs? SMALL, strung-out Kitchen; might be enough upper cabinets IF there were a pantry. (I'd rather have the cabinets.) Wasted space between end of kitchen and front BR. Rotate the MBR 90 degrees. Put closet(s) between it and bathroom. MBR to Closet to Bathroom in one rectangle.
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Also remember one important thing. Humans are very adaptable. It's how we've survived so long. However one thing that adaptability managed to do is make us believe that we have something that works well, when in reality we can do better. For example, your island is a barrier. How much better would it be if you didn't have to walk around that small island every single time to get from your fridge to your sink? Right now you don't think it's a problem because you've adapted. Those who have MW's over the cooktop think it's ok because they've adapted. I have one in both rental's right now. I have to reach up every time to grab hot bowls out of the MW (and I'm vertically challenged). I have adapted though so really don't think about it. However, I know that in reality for me a drawer MW works better because I'm not reaching up. In my rental kitchen here in FL my corner butterfly sink is literally right next to the stove. There is no space between them. And to the left of the sink, is not enough space to prep. The only space to prep is to the right of the stove on the peninsula. However, I've adapted. I wash my stuff, and then carry it past the stove to the peninsula. I grab utensils and bowls from all over the kitchen since there is no place close to put most of the stuff I need. However I've adapted and now that I've been cooking in this space for several months, I tell people it's not as bad as I thought it would be. But the reality is, that if I had a well laid out kitchen, DH and I wouldn't be constantly bumping into one another (especially at the sink) and all movements would flow better. I wouldn't be dripping water and who knows what on the floor each time I cooked. I wouldn't have to keep running back and forth between the sink and the only prep space. So really think about whether you've adapted or if your kitchen really is the best laid out it could be and the most efficient.
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Comments (21)
OK - move the kitchen to the back wall, and put the dining area where your pantry/laundry are showing now. That will give you more space to move your greatroom wall to be even with the master bedroom wall at your entry/foyer. Once that's moved, put your laundry back there in the newly created extra space, rethink the layout of the "guest bath" which, right now, requires your guests to walk around the stairs and through the greatroom to get to it. Put the pantry between the kitchen and garage, or in a corner of the garage. That might shorten one of your bays, but would probably be fine. That way, you get the view out the back from the kitchen, you have a NICE space (dining) on the front of the house, your laundry is where you need it, and your pantry is where it should be (near the kitchen, near the garage).
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emilyam819
5 years ago
I can’t get over the stairs taking up so much space. Is that something you wanted?

Definitely not loving this kitchen as drawn. If you change the pantry entry from the mudroom area to make an L shape counter , fridge should be closest to mudroom, then stove, with prep sink on island.
User
5 years ago
It's pointless to waste effort on something so obviously in the early sketches of design. So much needs to change, and will change, as all of the other problems are fixed. This isn't even close to being a jumping off point to put effort into.

You'd do better starting with all of the Read Me threads on planning for a kitchen remodel. Then find an architect and not a drafter. There are some major issues designed into that plan that should be designed away before you start the kitchen design process.
Buehl
5 years ago
Regarding the pantry...it should be:

(1) Close to the garage entrance so you don't have to traipse through the house with groceries

--and--

(2) Close to the Kitchen so you don't have to hike to it to get what you need while preparing a meal.

So, while the current layout accomplishes #2, it does not #1.

.

Mudroom...Do you have children now or plan to have them in the future? If so, you will eventually need a decent-sized Mudroom. I wish we had had one while our kids were growing up -- it would have eliminated a lot of clutter in the Family Room! (If only we had had a site like this when we built in 1995!)
User
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
It's supposed to be a retirement home, but isn't. It's not going to work without redesign to everything. Not just the kitchen. The kitchen and baths can't even function at a minimal level as is. It's whole house design do over.
Buehl
5 years ago
Thanks GreenDesigns -- that information would have been useful in this thread. After you posted your comment, I went looking for earlier threads from Jazz Lover and found one that had more information than this one! For others:

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/first-draft-on-floor-planexperts-plz-weigh-in-dsvw-vd~5597555
Buehl
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
FYI...this is what Live_Wire_Oak was referring to:

New to Kitchens? Read Me First!
- [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~5500754[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~5500754)
.

(The links below were taken from the Read Me thread above)

Asking for layout help:

FAQ: How Do I Ask For Layout Help & What Information Should I Include?
- https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500789/faq-how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-what-information-should-i-include
Humorous discussion of workflow and other layout topics:

Looking for layout help? Memorize this first.
- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first
.

Kitchen Design Best Practice/Guidelines FAQ Threads:

FAQ: Kitchen Work Zones, What Are They?
- https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500762/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they
FAQ: Aisle Widths, Walkways, Seating Overhangs, Work/Landing Space etc
- https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500771/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc
FAQ: How Do I Plan For Storage?
- https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500787/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage
Jazz Lover
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks all for the input. Meeting with architect(and not designer as some have suggested) and will be armed with all kinds of tools to make this better! Thanks all and I'll come back and post the revisions or the new plan.

First rough draft and kitchen suggestions?

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Jazz Lover
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emilyam819

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First rough draft and kitchen suggestions?

Comments (9)

Jazz LoverOriginal Author

Jazz LoverOriginal Author

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emilyam819

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Buehl

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Jazz LoverOriginal Author

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Jazz Lover
Original Author

Jazz Lover
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Jazz Lover
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