New house, small kitchen
Meghan C
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
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Poplar and Fig
5 years agoRelated Discussions
New house. Small yard. Need Privacy!
Comments (11)Sounds like you bought my house. We are on 1/8 acre, the house behind us is at a higher elevation. Our municipality only allows 4 1/2 foot fences. We built a berm at the back of our property, put a fence on top, installed a 1 foot high lannonstone wall about 3 feet in front of the fence, back filled that with soil and planted a row of purple leaf sandcherries on top, an elevated planting bed or so to speak. I'm letting the sandcherries grow up into a tree form, I have four of them lined up along the fence with an evergreen arborvitae in the corner for contrast. While the sandcherries won't give us total privacy, it's enough that when they grow they will obscure the view from the neighbors kitchen window to our patio, at least during summer months. And, they add a nice touch of color to our yard. I have another sandcherry that I cut down every year to keep it's shrub form, it blocks the view of my garbage can (at the corner of the garage). Our patio is next to our house. We also planted a popple, aka quaking aspen tree closer to our patio. There are pros and cons to this tree, but it's definitely fast growing. You aren't supposed to plant it close to a house simply because as they age they tend to hollow, but we lop the top off every year to a managable height so it grows wider than taller limiting the risk to our house. They also tend to send shoots around the yard, but easy enough to mow over. The tree gives us privacy from the house behind us, but only shades the area next to our house/patio, so I still have sun in the back part of my yard for gardening purposes. The back of my house faces west. If I could go back, I'd plant a serviceberry "autumn brilliance" in place of the popple - the roots are more shallow and not invasive. We originally had Techny arborvitae along our back fenceline, but as slow growers they filled out in width more than height, and tend to take up too much room, though I did like the fact that they were evergreen. Another thought is Canadian Hemlock for an evergreen privacy screen. While this is technically a tree, it can be easily shaped into a hedge form for total privacy, though I have no personal experience. I'm thinking of planting one in another area to screen another view. Between my fence and patio I left about 3 feet planting space, and planted a staggered row of privets, the Cheyenne variety, to provide privacy from the neighbors to my north. The first year they were twigs, this year they were nice and full and almost reach the top of my 4 1/2 foot fence. Next year they will exceed the height of my fence and hopefully in two years we'll have privacy. They can be shaped into a hedge form. For every 12 inches they grow, cut them back 6 for full growth top to bottom, otherwise they tend to get leggy. There are pros and cons to privets as well, do the research before planting. A fast fix for privacy is the annual morning glory on a trellis. We did this for a screen this year, and I couldn't have been happier. William Baffin rose is a rambler, grows into a high arching form if you have a nice sunny area maybe in a corner of your yard - the key to making your yard feel more private is by adding height to it. A nice patio tree is the Rose of Sharon. Place trees strategically any where you want to block a view. Whatever you do, DO NOT plant the hyped up fast growing Cottonwood trees. They will destroy sewer pipes, foundation, etc. and your neighbors will soon be your enemies. LOL. Another view: "Cheyenne' Privet hedge first year: Privet hedge second year: Morning glories on trellis: Popple, 2nd year? This is what we started with: Not my yard, but nice example of mature sandcherries in trimmed up to tree form:...See Moresmall house layout - kitchen location/remodel
Comments (15)I'd shut off the door to garage/car port if not used, leave the doors into LR if possible - are they glass to let more light into the 'unsun room'? if not, I'd put in glass doors, and put sheers on the sunroom side. put in a skylight, close off the doorway into the kitchen and make a doorway into DR (where windows are now). and use the sunroom as a TV room study/office, computer room??? then in DR you'd have a partial wall ( along sunroom side) to put shallow cabinets. pantry cab? hutch with glass doors for dishes? I'd keep the kitchen where it is to see out that window into backyard (I love that myself). I'd keep the sink where it is - put as much window over it as possible - no upper cabs over sink wall. on the turn from the sink to the right I'd run cabs with stove toward the end of that wall - and if you really need a peninsula area (for dh to sit and talk to you while you cook - or you to talk to him while HE cooks) just put a nubby one at the end there part the stove (coming off of what is now door to sunroom and). put the glass doors (maybe not sliding tho) to the left of sink area/counter. on the other wall (counter and fridge now? I can't read the wording on the LO - bad eyes) I'd put a counter depth fridge with a bit of cab/counter on either side of it for a landing pad. another possibility would be to swap the stove and fridge - setting the fridge back into the ? area in the sunroom. then you could also look out the back glass door while cooking. tho I think I'd like the fridge more on the other wall - out of work area (in case dh/ someone wants a drink/ice etc while I'm cooking) - and so dh could sit at counter top and talk to me. I doubt dh would be sitting there to talk to you while you are taking things out of/putting into the fridge - lol!...See MoreNew House/New Kitchen - HELP greatly appreciated!
Comments (9)I liked looking at the total picture, though some of it was hard to read. I agree that if you can post it bigger, you will get more responses. I still think 54" is too big between perimeter and island and then on the other side which is a major walkway, you only have 42". Also within that major walkway is a major appliance which will make things busy there to begin with. I assume your small children will use the backdoor that leads to the mudroom and then into the kitchen. The other thing that bothers me is that it looks like a long walk to get to the outdoor dining from the kitchen. I see you have double hung windows for a pass through but a slider could be easier. Personally, I don't like the prep sink bisecting that island, I'd want it a little closer to one end. You want that big island space for homework, school projects, cookie making, etc Since you are building a custom home, you want to customize it for you. Think about how you live. Do you live in Maine and the outdoor dining will only be used a couple months of the year so access is not that big a deal or do you live in California where you might use it everyday and direct access from the kitchen would be important? Where will the kids be playing, will you be able to see them if in you're inside? Think about your daily routine and how you will move through that house as well as your kitchen. Does it make sense to put a backdoor where the pass through is? Does it make sense to switch the office area with the pantry? Only you can answer those questions. I wouldn't be afraid to beef up that island -- make it deeper, it looks like the space can take it and it might seem more appropriate too just food for thought...See MoreHow can we make room for our new addition in our small house?
Comments (2)^Agree with eld6161. First priority is the baby (congrats!). Use one of the secondary bedrooms for the nursery. Next is your husband's gaming space and a distant third is entertaining overnight guests. I know the need to nest is strong, especially during pregnancy, but I don't think taking on the basement rehab now is a good idea. As mentioned above, put those guests on a sofa bed or in a nearby hotel until you get the basement reno done - after the baby is born. Do the basement reno when time and budget permit which may be longer than a couple of years :)...See Morerantontoo
5 years agocpartist
5 years agoMeghan C
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoOliviag
5 years agogirl_wonder
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5 years ago
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