Kitchen Design & Layout Opinions/Critique Please
rgator2
5 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (149)
rgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agopwanna1
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Please critique my kitchen layout
Comments (2)that looks like a pretty awesome kitchen. Just a thought. We were going to put our sink in our island and then we rented a cabin that had the stove in the center and we loved it. It really keeps you from missing what's going on while watching what's on the stove. Plus it's easier to cook with family or friends if they can come around the big center area and cut or be on another burner...just an idea. The counter that you have that steps up, if it were mine I wouldn't have the extra piece going toward the dining room. I think it would be akward and in the way. I would prefer it more open. Plus you really won't need it. Just an opinion....See MorePlease critique my kitchen layout
Comments (13)Granite-girl, No, the estimate was for cabinets, labor & sink. It seems high to me too but this is the first estimate so I don't know if what I'm wanting to do is going to cost this much. I've got other companies I'm working w/ so I'll be able to compare. I'm wondering if the 2 pantries and all the paneling w/ molding detail around the island is making it go up in price. I had an appt. yesterday AM and noticed the initial quote on the desk before some changes we made was around $17K. So after 2 hr appt. the changes I made increased the price $6K!! YIKES... The only changes were the glaze finish which is a 15% upgrade, the additional pantry which includes tearing out a coat closet & fixing wall w/ door, wood veneer w/ molding detail on island, corbels, wider crown molding, a mullion door at bar & decorative detail on spice pull outs next to oven. Does these changes seem like a $6K increase? I like the design except for bar area. I really would like to make the wet bar a desk for laptop, phone etc... I'd like to have a place for a chair and 3 drawers on right side. Not sure if there's enough room between wet bar & island. It's 40" between the two. Does that seem tight if someone was sitting in a chair to pass behind? I've chosen granite for countertops. The quote for granite is $3630 for 77 sq. ft of Level I granite. Additional $540 for Level II w/ standard edge....See MorePlease critique our kitchen layout options
Comments (16)Mama_Goose: thanks for the reference pictures, with that style hood I like how it looks with the cabinets spaced away from the hood, it makes it feel more open. Buehl: We have a few more cabinets available than what I've shown in the drawings. In total we have: 4 - 30" base cabinets with doors and a drawer 1 - 30" base cabinet with drawers 1 - 36" sink cabinet (in my layouts, I turned a 30" base cabinet into the sink to enlarge the walk ways 1 - 18" base cabinet with drawers 2 - 24" pantries that are full height 1 - 24" base cabinet with just doors 1 - 40" upper cabinet 1 - 46.5" upper cabinet 1 - 20" upper cabinet 1 - 20" upper cabinet that is short because it goes under a load carrying beam. I also have a 60" base and 60" upper cabinet set that have different dimensions; the base cabinets are 1.5" shorter than the others and the uppers are 3" taller than the others. I have no idea why anyone would do this. The pink walls are load bearing walls. The load bearing wall between the kitchen and dining room would be easy enough to open up, but the one in the living room - kitchen area is not so easy. Benjesbride: I like your layout, but unfortunately we need 4 bedrooms and the office. My husband works from home most days so it's important the office is a separate room (although it doesn't need to be as big as it is now). We've played around with putting the kitchen in the office; but then we'd need to build walls in the current dining room to make that a separate office and I'm afraid that would make the house feel closed off. Zsmith : I'm not a fan of seeing the kitchen when you walk in either, but have kind of resolved myself to it unless we're willing move some load bearing walls. If it weren't for the cathedral ceilings in the living room, the kitchen would work well in the corner where the cherry built-ins are, then put the living room in the kitchen. But that would leave half the living room with cathedral ceilngs and half with 8' ceilings and that would just be weird. (Right?) The dining room is the only space we have for eating (it is not a formal space); we used to let the kids eat breakfast on the floor on the weekends but that ended when we got a dog. I agree that I'd like to create a separation for the entryway. I want to be careful that I don't specialize the dining room for just a dining room in case we change our minds in the future. I was thinking about doing something like this for the separation (someday):...See MoreKitchen Layout - Critiques and Help.. Please!!
Comments (12)Aisle Space - All measurements are counter to counter, so we are 2” below recommended 42” aisle space. We have lived with that spacing in existing kitchen between stove/ island and sink / island, so think we are OK there. Just because you lived with spaces that are too small doesn't mean you need to continue to live with spaces that are too small. If you're spending the money to redo the kitchen, do it right. Realize that 42" is minimum aisle size. Also while your counter space might be 40", what is the space between fridge handle and island counter or dishwasher handle and island counter, or stove handle and island counter? See? When I made it 42" between counters, it was the bare minimum. And having only 3'2" with cabinets behind the seating is too little space. Countertop Overhang - Regarding 12” vs 15” island countertop overhang for seating, I’d like to hear other opinions on that. I think 12” should be fine. Thought I saw 12” recommended somewhere as a min. Our basement bar has 10” overhang and that seems ok. Cabinets behind island seating won’t be used for everyday storage, so not too worried about difficult access if someone is sitting at island. 12" is minimum if you have a bar height counter. If you're using counter height, then 15" is minimum for comfortable seating. The problem with anything less is your knees don't have a place to go, so when you go to eat at the counter, you're having to lean over uncomfortably. I have that now in our rental and even though I'm only 5'3" it's uncomfortable sitting there for dining or doing anything else. Add to having too little overhang, you now have cabinets behind, and no one will be able to walk by when someone is sitting at the counter. So someone comes in from the garage and now the person sitting has to stand up to let the person pass? Dishwasher location - We went back and forth about this one. Our KD also recommended we keep the DW next to the sink. We wanted to keep the sink centered in the window, but guess that is not a big deal. No it's not a big deal. How often do you stand directly centered looking at your sink in relation to your window? Our thinking was that there would be no more spills on the floor than we have with present setup, as we presently load from the left side dirty sink, over the floor, to the DW. With DW in the island, with DW door open, there is only a 12” gap between end edge of door and sink cab. So it’s a wash. But it’s a lot less work to keep it next to the sink, and with the strong anti-island feelings from many, there must be more to it than I think, so will reconsider that one. The new layout now shows the DW next to the sink. As I mentioned, it's also having to turn 180 degrees every time you want to put something in the dishwasher. Another thing? If you ever decide to sell, having the dishwasher behind you would be a HUGE negative selling feature....See Morergator2
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoDebbi Washburn
5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agorgator2
5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agorgator2
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agojust_janni
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoJ Williams
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoJ Williams
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoVirgil Carter Fine Art
5 years agomcoledesign
5 years agomcoledesign
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agolyfia
5 years agorgator2
5 years agoartemis_ma
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoVirgil Carter Fine Art
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agoVirgil Carter Fine Art
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoloobab
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoKathleen K
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoSmall Town Friendly
5 years agorgator2
5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agocatlady999
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoMark Bischak, Architect
5 years agoHU-117736408
5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agorgator2
5 years agolast modified: 5 years ago
Related Stories
KITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: A Designer’s Dream Kitchen Becomes Reality
See what 10 years of professional design planning creates. Hint: smart storage, lots of light and beautiful materials
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN11 Must-Haves in a Designer’s Dream Kitchen
Custom cabinets, a slab backsplash, drawer dishwashers — what’s on your wish list?
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen of the Week: Industrial Design’s Softer Side
Dark gray cabinets and stainless steel mix with warm oak accents in a bright, family-friendly London kitchen
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNKitchen Design Fix: How to Fit an Island Into a Small Kitchen
Maximize your cooking prep area and storage even if your kitchen isn't huge with an island sized and styled to fit
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNA Designer’s Picks for Kitchen Trends Worth Considering
Fewer upper cabs, cozy seating, ‘smart’ appliances and more — are some of these ideas already on your wish list?
Full StoryKITCHEN CABINETSA Kitchen Designer’s Top 10 Cabinet Solutions
An expert reveals how her favorite kitchen cabinets on Houzz tackle common storage problems
Full StoryBEFORE AND AFTERSKitchen of the Week: Bungalow Kitchen’s Historic Charm Preserved
A new design adds function and modern conveniences and fits right in with the home’s period style
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNHow to Design a Kitchen Island
Size, seating height, all those appliance and storage options ... here's how to clear up the kitchen island confusion
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN10 Ways to Design a Kitchen for Aging in Place
Design choices that prevent stooping, reaching and falling help keep the space safe and accessible as you get older
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGN10 Common Kitchen Layout Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Pros offer solutions to create a stylish and efficient cooking space
Full Story
Mark Bischak, Architect