Need kitchen design input- TIA!
I have a small kitchen with and intrusive cinderblock chimney. We want to take down the wall between the kitchen and dining room to expand the kitchen. This is a small starter ($400k) home but in an expensive area, however it is our “forseeable future” home as well. The kitchen/dining area is 50% of the ground floor of the home. As such I would like to try a little harder than the “free design” the wholesale cabinet lady put together. I have been playing in the IKEA planner. So while the measurements are accurate the look is clunky because I am trying to create a more custom look in the planner that is limited to IKEA dimensions.
I am not committed to a cabinet line or GC. Some HVAC will need to be relocated $$ and I would like to enlarge the window in the brick exterior wall $$$, we also need to bring 200amp service into the house (underground) although we already have a panel installed to accept it $$. And then there are the soffits, which are an unknown. I would like them gone but could settle for hiding them.
As you can see just changing the floorplan is adding up, so I will have to decide where to cut corners. Our budget is modest at $30-40k. I am not fancy and would be satisfied with wood counters in an improved layout and we could do soapstone in a few years. Aesthetically we want white shaker and unshiny black countertops. We thought that covering the chimney in brick veneer and making it a feature might be cool. Any hood we place on the chimney will have to be recirculating.
Functionally we are vegetarian so I need massive amounts of prep and chopping space compared to others, but I don’t need a ventilation system. I also use a TON of spices and currently have 2 12” uppers FULL and half a shelf in the pantry. We now have one of those black hole closets-as-pantry 56” x 27” x 8’ that houses recycling, brooms, pantry. So, by volume we are probably going to be LOSING storage space with this remodel.
Hoping to enclose back porch as proper mudroom at some point. Maybe even now if we can make savvy kitchen decisions. There is alot of stress on our poor dining room as it is used as entryhall, mudroom, dining, and only flat work space in entire house.
Rough idea of whole ground floor (800sq.ft.) 8' ceilings in whole house. :(
Existing kitchen, back door to porch is used as our primary entrance/mudzone so the dining room is a closet, entry hall and only flat space in house. Hoping to enclose back porch as proper mudroom at some point. Maybe even now if we can make savvy kitchen decisions:
Dimensions without stuff:
What cabinet lady came up with since I told her I would love an island:
Thinking of using chimney more as feature wall with faux exposed brick, poor little window becomes an orphan as we move sink down to accomodate fridge. Didn't bother with uppers, playing with layout.
How it is into dining room
weird confluence of basement, side door and half bath
Most of dining room is visible from living room, so would love to NOT see dirty dishes.
Comments (8)
PROPatricia Colwell Consulting
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agojoslin99
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Problems & frustrations with the kitchen designer- Need input
Comments (22)Live-Wire-Oak, I thank you for your post. I finally do get it at last that it does not matter if the white is perfect but what matters is how everything in the kitchen goes well together giving that elegant pretty look. The recent kitchens posted made me realize this and the new reveals came at just the right time. The KD and I talked when he came by for his sample doors and he had more changes he made but I told him I did not have time to go over them if I had to order only today before the price went up. I needed to do my work as I like to get done right away what is given to me to please my clients. He agreed that if I could not decide which white door but I still loved the Shiloh Flat Panel beaded inset cabinets, then I should wait and pick out my counter first and then decide how the counter, floors and cabinets look altogether. Apparently each change takes him hours as he does it manually. I explained to him that I had told you to leave everything the way it was but take away the blind cabinet and kept the Lazy Susans. He told me he was trying to make the new kitchen better with other cabinets a little bigger but he sees I did tell him that. He is sorry he heard me tell him a 36" opening and saw all my emails and pictures of the refrigerator I wanted but he remembered the one I had was 33" wide so he wanted it to look build-in so drew the lesser space. I felt bad since he looked like he was going to cry and I told him, timing was so wrong and the pressuring was not good for me and if he gave me the designs right way a few months ago, we could have worked together to tweak it to be what I wanted and then had more time to pick out the right white door and counter but I am too busy to do it right now as my clients are my priority at the moment. I guess I would be more comfortable sitting in front of a computer with a designer making changes to show how it affects my room and my budget. I am that much closer to having my new kitchen with new floors as soon as my tax season ends. I am now finally seeing the forest and not lost in the trees. I did reread all the posts above many times and plan to before looking again after tax season. I still love the Shiloh beaded Inset door in the flat panel. I remember when I picked out my home office desk about 19 years ago. I walked in the store and fell in love with the beautiful Scandinavian teak desk that had a big rounded edge in the front to have more room to go over paperwork with clients. I did not like the price but was told I could get a cherry veneer. I ordered it on the spot and I still love it. When I chose my home, I had looked at 10 houses and disliked them all. When I was faxed the layout of my townhouse, I loved it. When I finally decided to be open to a townhouse, I loved the outside as they all look a little different where I live. I loved the inside layout and the way the home office is separate from the rest of the house. I loved how clients did not walk through my living area and have a bathroom to use in the home office area. I loved my private back yard with the privacy fence and woods in the back. I loved the location and how it was only 6 miles from where I was living and near so many highways but still country like. I went home to measure everything and came back the next day to be sure everything would fit. I then knew this is where I wanted to live and I am still happy here even after over 16 years. BUT when I chose paint and floors, I could not see how it would look as I could only see a small sample and I have been needing help. I get lost in the trees like you said which is so true! I was able to pick the BM Bone White color on the wall as a painting designer on the paint forum of Garden Web told me it only looked dark as I had a big spot on a big white wall and it was actually very light and peaceful and I should just go with it. I then thought, I would listen and I love my wall color. I am finally seeing that once everything goes well together, I will be happy and the perfect shade of white does not exist. I just want someone that listens to me and I guess maybe I need to communicate better what I want since I am a number's person and not a spatial person. The kitchen designer told me when I am ready, he is still willing to work with me if I want to call him and gave me another card. I felt bad since he thought I was buying today but I wish he would have realized that I needed to pick out a counter to tell which door color would be for me and he should have emailed me the new changes to have time to go over them to be sure I liked them. I should have not let myself be pressured and told him that it does not matter if there will be a price increase, now is not the right time as it takes me awhile to go through the process of finding what I want. This forum made me realize it was the whole picture I needed to see and not the individual pieces that would make my kitchen come together. I just wish I had room for an island but I wanted to live where I live and you get so much less for the money. I just reread my post and I can't believe how long it is. I type over 100 words a minute on a big screen computer and I eat my meals as I post. I am eating dinner now before getting back to work. I will leave it as I want to be able to go back and read these posts over and over again before I get back to choosing my kitchen when tax season ends. Thank you!...See MoreNeed Input on Design for Facelift-Pics
Comments (6)Since you do not like your cooktop on your island, it may be easier to move to the wall with a full range (the window wall is my plan). Then you can leave your micro and other oven combo alone. You also may do with one less cab under your island to give you some room for seating. The island top can be the size you have basically. It is hard to say for sure because I can't see how wide and how many cabs you currently have for your island. Since you are re-doing the counters, it gives you some leeway on changing/moving other cabs too. You might want a narrow one between the dw and stove, perhaps to fit cookie sheets. That would give you some elbow room for the cook to be away from the sink. You seem to have a little room to extend that run. You can put some open shelves on the side of uppers if you want them to extend equally, or better yet, move the uppers down to make room for a larger sink window when you get to it later. You might want to try the local Habitat for Humanity Restore or other architectural salvage place for a new window at a really reduced price so you can do it now. You will get a better deal on labor if you do as much of the work at one time as possible. I got a more than $1k specialty window, brand new, at the Restore and it only cost $149 a few weeks ago! What are your thoughts for a backsplash?...See MoreDesign input for kitchen/dining remodel - bright but with character
Comments (0)Hello! I'm finally pulling the trigger to properly remodel my 1950s pre-war home's kitchen. I gave it a $200 facelift with painting cabinets, walls, trim & some fixtures 7 years ago and now I have some budget to work with. Sorry for the long post and copious photos. Hope someone is able to share their opinions! My home layout is *not* open plan. Living, dining, and kitchen are all closed off with an arch or doorway between them. Living room is 12x16, kitchen is 12x10, and I'd like to open a bit of the wall between them to give it a bit more of an open feel, use the open counter or step-up counter with bar seating to replace my breakfast nook, and add some pantry cabinets where the nook is now, which is much needed. Couple of questions: 1) pros/cons to the step-up bar? It will be on the same wall facing my dining room, so I'm thinking maybe the step-up would visually separate the seating area from the dining table, and make food prep on the other side a bit more hidden. but I'm not so sure. 2) Any tips to blend the 'old' with the new? i.e. my old wood floors with my new kitchen. I want light colors-- light cabinets/counters/walls, you name it. But I'm struggling with this 'cheap-o' white look I see in a lot of cabinets etc. I also am struggling with color scheme. I have original (knotty) pine thin plank flooring, with a slightly warm/honey tone. My current pref for colors is light greys, soft blues, and whites. They don't go too well together and I can't seem to decide on kitchen flooring, etc. because of it. 3) Flooring options: I plan to put in ceramic or pocelain tile (maybe wood plank tiles?) in the kitchen to replace old laminate. I'm struggling with how to pick a flooring that will not be jarring next to the old wood, but warm ceramic tile colors look so 80's to me. Every kitchen image I like has natural wood floors throughout the kitchen and rest of house. Would you recommend trying to match my old 50's floors? Or do you think I can get away with a different color wood-look tile? Note that the kitchen scheme will now have to flow with the dining room theme if I open up the wall, so I'm trying to pick good neutral colors for cabs (probably white), counters (white or white/gray/beige combo), and flooring (still stuck on this one). 4. I love the look of farmhouse apron sinks. I've heard mixed things about maintaining and cleaning them, breaking dishes, etc.. I hate cleaning. I see you can also do stainless apron-front sinks, which are gentler on dishes. Are they just as annoying to clean? Should I stick with something less exciting? Pinterest inspiration board: https://www.pinterest.com/emcelvaney/kitchen-remodel/inspiration/ This one design in particular is my favorite-- I like the mixture of colors & textures and it feels balanced in modern/urban/traditional styling-- but they have a brick accent wall and I don't. https://www.pinterest.com/pin/381539399675859327/ Here's some current pics: Note that I'd move the range/stove & microwave down to the wall (maybe keep a 1ft space against the wall for a narrow cabinet for spices & pots/pans to prevent wall crowding), and then remove top cabinets and open up the wall for the other 5'. Likely widen the doorway a bit further where the lightswitch is to give a more open feel. view from dining room to kitchen. Planning to repaint, redecorate, and get a new table, buffet, and wine/liquor storage (open to ideas). The wall shown here would be opened 5' towards the left and 1' more on the right, probably leaving the bottom half of the wall in place (contractor recommendation) Potentially a header would remain because this may be a load bearing wall, unfortunately. Counter would step-up and extend into dining area with 10-12" overhang, or keep at counter level (thoughts?) Planning to replace dining table with more rectangular, farmhouse-style table. I repainted the original wood cabinets 7 years ago which made them bearable but it's time for them to go. Where the wood table & yellow chairs are I would get wall cabinets or a pantry I'll need food/stuff storage since I'm losing the cabinets on the right wall. bar cart will go. sink/dishwasher/fridge will stay in place. Would like a farmhouse sink if possible (white or ss?) Will raise cabinets to full height for more storage. Flooring from dining into kitchen. Will replace kitchen flooring with ..?? I like natural wood better than ceramic/porcelain tile looks. Could I do porcelain wood-look tile planks? Maybe going perpendicular in direction and with a slightly darker color? One potential quartz counter sample that I thought might work with both the 'white/gray' theme I had in mind but blending w/ the warmer wood floors in the dining room. Thoughts? Here's a few pics of a sketch I designed in a rudimentary and free tool. Ignore colors and cabinet config mostly, but it gives you an OK idea of what I'm trying to do with layout...See MoreIts me again....Refining Kitchen Cabinet design looking for input
Comments (8)I like your new design a lot. Not a pro or expert, I think the pullouts would be fine near the range. i am wondering about your far left cabinet next to the fridge. is that your pantry? You have drawers, then a small middle cabinet, then a tall top cabinet, and at The very top glass. Are the long top parts full depth (24”)? Are they pullouts or just cabinets? my concern is that the middle cabinet is too small to be really useful (or are those just big doors designed to look like separate cabinets)? Also if not pullouts the 24“ depth may be tough as things will get lost in the back. I’d personally want either shallower uppers (and maybe combine the middke and top to be 1 larger cabinet), or full pull outs....See Moreemilyam819
5 years ago
Nancy in Mich
5 years agoHow about this... Working off of your design with the range in front of the brick wall, put a floating little island (fold-down wings for extended surface?) next to the cabinet to the right of the range, along the wall. Do as AFritzler suggested and put the fridge near the dining room and the sink under the window. Now, with a wheeled island, you can pull it over to the fridge when it is time to pull out all of the fresh ingredients that you need. Then you may push the island to wherever it is convenient to chop, after going to the sink to rinse. Keep cutting boards, knives and colanders in the island. You can now chop watching the kids out the dining room window, watching something on TV from your portable island, or in a spot of sunshine or cool breeze - whatever you like. Then wheel the cart over to the stove. Have your spices on the island, too, and it will all be right there. Once everything is cooking, wipe off the island and scoot it back to its corner. Or you can put it at a 90 degree angle to the sink during washing up to have aan easy place to reach to set pots to dry.
I had an island like this from Lowes. One side of the top folded up or down to increase or decrease the work surface. One end had pegs for hanging tools. the other end had a door with shallow spice shelves behind it. The front side had a door on either end and shelves in between them that went from front to back, so you could reach the kitchen towels I stacked there from either side. In your case, with all of your spice needs, you might want the backside to also have shallow shelves for spices, oils, and condiments (behind doors) and a work surface extension that slides out from under the stationary one.
The white thing on the left is the island. Front.
Here is the back, with fold-down top extension. This little island made this small kitchen usable before we remodeled it. Yours could be sized to fit right between the end of the counter and the basement door. You would have to scoot it out of the way to get to the drawers under your pantry, but that is probably okay. You could make it with standard cabinets on a sturdy base, or have it custom made with just the compartments you want. If you want a recessed top extension, Lee Valley might sell something like that.
Your kitchen is wide enough to leave the island in the middle sometimes, too. It is just inconvenient to walk around a stationary island to go between the sink and range. That is why I am making it portable.
You may also want to go with a counter-depth fridge, as Astrid C did in Her little SoCal Spanish Kitchen
joslin99 thanked Nancy in Mich
mama goose_gw zn6OH
5 years agolast modified: 5 years agoFirst, I love your colors and decorating style! Is there any chance that the wall that runs along the half bath could be extended 12", or so, without causing a pinch-point at the side entry? If you could gain a few more inches on the 6' wall, you could put the range on the L, in a more protected spot, and vent it to the back wall.
Then, use a shallow pantry cabinet beside the chimney, to ease the entry from that side, and use a mobile, 30" deep, worktable/cart against the exposed brick. Similar to Nancy's idea, it could be pulled into the work zone when needed. Shallow shelves above would help it look more built in, or you could use a hanging system for frequently used pots and pans. (Image at end of post.)
Also, if your fridge is standard depth, you could pull the bases on the back wall out to the depth of the fridge box (up to 30"), to give you more counter space in the prep zone. But, that would depend on extending the range wall.
ETA, layout using measured plan:
joslin99 thanked mama goose_gw zn6OHjoslin99
5 years ago
damiarain