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Design Dilemma Kitchens Remodeling

kitchen remodel, design dilemma

5 years ago

I want to remodel my kitchen and need ideas.I want the kitchen to be warm, comfortable, homey, practical,efficient with a fabulous, rustic charm. I want a large kitchen island with my sink and dishwasher and pullout trash. Plan to knock the wall with the fridge down to a half wall but need to find a place for the refrigerator. I am thinking of wood cupboards with staggered heights and depths on the vaulted wall with the stove. Also wood floors and quartz countertops. My biggest problem seems to be how to make the island work with the floor to ceiling bay window. Willing to put in smaller windows and custom made cabinets in that area....but still not quite satisfied. photos are of current kitchen.

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Laura

5 years ago

That’s a big project. I think you need a professional kitchen designer.

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Comments (12)

rantontoo
5 years ago
Fridge wall: half the height or half the length of the current wall?

Staggered height cabs are not as popular as they used to be.
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Thanks everyone for your honest feedback. Let's assume I go with the single level island, which disposes of this dilemma. I have a similar question that I would love Houzzers to weigh in on. Our kitchen opens up to our family room, which has a dated fireplace (see picture below -- the furniture/fan/decor items are from the previous owner and everything has been changed except the fireplace). Our plan is to paint the wood mantle white, replace the front of the fireplace with an all black front, and replace the tile with the same tile we are using for the kitchen backsplash. All of this would be done professionally. Originally I thought that there was no way we could carry the herringbone pattern onto the fireplace because there would not be enough space around it for the pattern to show up nicely. Now I'm not sure because I will have more space around the fireplace than the space under the window in the picture I posted above. So now I am wondering whether it might look good to tile it in a herringbone pattern. What do you all think? The alternative would be to use the same tile, but lay it horizontally in an offset pattern. Although I really dislike this style in the kitchen (I know most people love it but it reminds me of subways), around the fireplace it reminds me more of brick and less of a subway. I think this would be the "safer" option, but I wanted to see what everyone else thought. Is it weird to use the same tile in different patterns if you can see both the fireplace and the kitchen backsplash from the same spot? Or would it be a nice coordinating but not matchy-matchy look?
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That kitchen makes no sense at all. You have only 3 mimsy little sections of countertop to work on (besides the island). But the island is clearly designed primarily for eating. Think of this: When you're baking or prepping a turkey, where do you put the big stuff as you work? You have no counter section big enough to hold the turkey pan and the bowl of stuffing as you fill the bird, no counter section big enough for a cookie sheet and a stand mixer. And don't suggest doing the raw turkey on the island, because there is no sink there for it and the island is for eating; you don't want raw turkey goop on the island. You have no continuous countertop flow between the sink and the stove (because of the oven), so every drippy thing has to be carried across the floor because there's an oven in the way. Slip hazard. And with the freezer, pantry, and wine/coffee bar 25 feet away, it gives the sense that the whole 625 sq. ft. space is kitchen. There's no place to put a dining table that allows it to have its own space. It will always look like a kitchen table, caught in the cross traffic between two 6-foot doorways. Do-over.
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I would remove the existing pillars and mantel, they look too crowded against the windows. I would install a clean and simple modern tile around the fireplace. I think you could pull off the TV mounted once you get the pillars and mantel out, install a lower ledge to help protect the TV from the heat of the working fireplace. Lowering the ledge/mantel and with today's TV mounts should allow the TV to be positioned easier for viewing. Do your research on TV mounts, most of todays TV's are super light but block for it in the wall if necessary, particularly if you think you will be moving t he arm mount around often. You will get your depth from the TV and the ledge mantel so dont worry about creating more with trims and moldings. Best of luck!
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Here is an idea for you. Minimal framing and it would open up the kitchen space: 1. tear out the pantry and the internal walls of the powder room and the powder room sink. 2. Frame in a pocket door and solid wall for the powder room, reorienting the door. 3. change up the sink in the powder room for a very minimal thin sink hung on the wall across from the toilet and change the toilet to a round bowl that takes up less space. 4. Frame in a new wide archway to the dining room that is next to the stairwell 5. eliminate the existing door to the dining room 6. counters along the exterior wall with sink under window and cooktop on exterior wall for venting 7. countertop along dining room wall anchored by a double oven 8. refrigerator and pantry along opposite wall from sink - can make pantry depth of standard depth fridge to save on appliance cost - pantry can be doors with shelves all around or cupboards with pull outs. 9. island with 42" space to sink area and aligned with dining room opening 10. not to worry about work triangle with fridge because island becomes prep space see sketch:
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Jillius
5 years ago
Can you post a floor plan of the whole floor this is on?
Daisy S
5 years ago
So why posting this dilemma again? There was some good observations and advice before...such as why two eating areas so open to each other, etc...
PRO
JAN MOYER
5 years ago
You need a kitchen designer and NOT less than 75 k. Not a cabinet seller A KD
PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Amen to that .What you want and what you should have are not always the same.
PRO
Diana Bier Interiors, LLC
5 years ago
You have a very large space, and lots of questions about how to design it. It would take someone a LOT of time and effort to design your kitchen, so you probably should hire a professional to put it all together. First go through Houzz and create an Ideabook of kitchens you love, noting what features you like about each photo. Then your KD will have a good idea of what options to offer you.
lafdr
5 years ago
Can you post a pic of the fridge wall facing it. and the space on the other side? I understand wanting to try to come up with ideas before meeting with professionals. Sorry so many people are just telling you to talk to a designer and not offering comments. It is obvious one can talk to a designer or architect and not post here........but that is the point of posting here, getting feedback from more than one perspective for free :) before and while you talk to professionals. I do like all of your cabinets.
Pa P
5 years ago
Do you intend to use the green space for a kitchen table set?. What size is this area? If I add it to the 19’ feet what room length would it make the room? Thanks
sandk
5 years ago
Search for pictures of whistle shaped islands and see if you like that type of idea. I wonder what surprises the fridge wall might be hiding?
Pa P
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Rough Mock up. 1 square= 1 ft. Not sure of some measurements. 12’ island. Pull out cabinets store plenty either for goods or dishes. You will need to adjust some placements for better galley and cabinet clearances.
Pa P
5 years ago
Gin...just saw this .https://www.houzz.com/photos/contemporary-remodel-of-an-victorian-single-family-house-san-francisco-ca-contemporary-kitchen-san-francisco-phvw-vp~40273761
Contemporary remodel of an Victorian single family house - San Francisco, CA · More Info

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