Possible to put a second sink in laminate to improve layout?
Katie
4 years ago
I'm thinking of buying a house with this kitchen and floorplan below, and then give it a secondary sink in the existing laminate until I have the money to remodel the whole thing:
Can a plumber/contractor cut into existing laminate to place a sink where I show here below? It also means cutting into ceramic tile below the cabinet for pipes. The house does have an unfinished basement for moving pipes.
But this would be only be temporary until I have the money to do a full remodel into something like this below:
I haven't posted here in several months, because I gave up on making my existing house work and started looking for a new house instead. So, I want to thank everyone who let me see the issues with my current house and that it didn't make sense anymore. I think the size of the kitchen in this house for sale, along with the position of the kitchen in relation with the rest of the house, give it potential be a multi-cook kitchen for our family of eight. If I buy this house, a few years will probably go by before I have the money to do this major remodel. Do you think this temporary fix of adding a secondary sink to the laminate is possible?
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second guessing a few layout decisions
Comments (9)I think the prep sink will go un-used because it'll be awkward to reach -- I think it's especially akward because it's placed under shelves. Of course, I'm very short and would have more trouble reaching it than would most people. I think a prep sink is unnecessary in a kitchen of this size. I would flip the stove and the main sink (and lose the prep sink). Placing the main sink in the more central position will eliminate the "dripping vegetables" question. Of course, that means that the dishwasher is going to have to stay pretty much where it is, putting the dishwasher catty-cornered to the sink. Acceptable, but not ideal. I'll also second the idea of going down to a 30" range. Yeah, 36" would be nice, but not at the cost of other items in the kitchen. 30" is standard; it isn't petite. As for extra-deep counters on the sink side -- why? You're gaining a bit of extra counterspace, but it's in the clean-up area -- it'd be more useful in the prep area. And under the cabinets, that extra depth's largely wasted: You'll get the extra storage from the 14" and 18" cabinets . . . but no extra space underneath for the sink and the dishwasher, and a corner's always a problem anyway -- this one's just deeper to reach into. I would move that extra depth over to the penninsula. There the extra countertop would mean more, and you'd have real extra storage in those cabinets. Although I agree it's a natural clutter-spot, I would keep the small cabinet by the fridge -- but I'd make it organized clutter. I'd keep a basket for mail, several hooks for keys, maybe a shelf for sunglasses. You know what I mean -- oragnizational items to keep whatever clutter you have in your house (for me, it's paper -- mail, coupons, etc.). Be sure you have an electrical outlet in that spot; it'd be a good phone charging area. I was going to suggest a banquette, which I personally love, but i see that your husband is against them. Would he go for a half-banquette? That is, put a bench against the wall (which would save space), but have two chairs on the opposite side, and he could always sit in a chair? I would consider going down to a smaller table, but that's not something you have to decide today. You can start with what you already own, and this is easy to change later if you find it cramped....See MorePlease critique and help me improve our layout
Comments (43)funky - I totally agree with the practicality of the extra sink, water by the cooktop, the baking area and as a beverage center for parties. Ranges, I don't like them much. The simple freestanding ones are out of the question, spills run down the side into the netherworld between cabinet and stove...yak, shudder! The slide-ins don't create that type of mess and cost less at the outset than built ins, but if either the cooktop or the oven stops working, both need to be replaced, not much of a savings there. We currently have a GE top of the line slide in range in which the oven racks keep falling off the guides as (can anyone even believe this?) the oven walls have started to bow out. So much for "American made" and "top of the line" in today's appliances. Also, we're aiming to achieve a minimalist scandinavian look, and ranges, even the slide-in ones just have so much bulk to them. As to occasionally bending down, it's probably good for us, and just doesn't bother me. I'd say the bending when filling and emptying the dishwasher is much more of an issue, as we do that repeatedly each day and often for a prolonged time. If my DW would butt up to tall cabinetry in my kitchen plan, I'd elevate the DW center to counter height, the way Europeans build theirs right into their cabs, now that would really make a nice difference. benje - I've seen that kitchen, it's very cool looking. An open galley like that is what my dream home would have, so practical and no corners. And yes, it would look and work fabulous in our family room. But, he problem is, the family room would not look good in the old kitchen space, for one the space is just too small. Secondly, the almost wall to wall and floor to ceiling window and sliding door in the current family room are what make sitting there and gazing into the backyard ideal. We also enjoy these views from our kitchen, as we can see through the family room into the backyard. The reverse would not be the case, the kitchen cabinetry would block the view from people who are sitting on low couches. In the current kitchen, the window sills are at ca. 37" and cannot be changed (beneath two of them sits our tall AC). anyway there is no view out the side yard, and we will not add a "picture window" to the front of our house. So, no, I don't think we would ever use this space as a family room. Nice try though benje - thank you....See MoreHow can I improve my layout?
Comments (17)Thank you for your thoughts, buehl! I had considered moving the microwave to the desk area but it seems so far away. I liked the idea of having it next to the fridge since I often will microwave something out of the fridge or out of the pantry nearby. Making that upper cabinet deeper would also work well next to the fridge wall. But again, I don't have any real purpose for that desk corner- other than junk collection and occasional dessert serving at parties. Those cabinets mostly contain school papers for my kids and host of miscellaneous stuff. My vision regarding a hutch style was something like this- minus the glass cabinetry. We use the counter next to the fridge for drinks at parties. Obviously I could change things up and our entertaining isn't a weekly thing, but it has worked well like that in the past. Actually moving drinks over to the desk area may happen since I currently keep wine glasses and other specialty glasses next to the fridge where the microwave may go. As far as the ducting in the pantry, I was thinking that I would just have them put cabinetry butted up to the ducting and I would lose the dark corner. Not a big deal if I gain better storage configuration within a functioning cabinet. The other issue is that the ceiling of the pantry does not go as high as the ceiling in the kitchen, again due to duct work. I was going to ask the cabinet maker about making false fronts or more shallow cabinets so that I can have a nice built in consistent look in line with the other cabinetry above the fridge and microwave shelf. I'm thinking I need to cut away some drywall to have a sure idea of what is behind there before he comes on Tuesday. Buehl- the selves in my pantry now are 10" and yes, I have a lot of clutter on the floor. I do have some baskets in there, but admittedly, it isn't organized. I'm sure I could make better use of the space within the closet, but I'm also thinking cabinetry would just look nicer. My problem is my dream kitchen is much larger and much more grand with large lengths of countertops, lol. Something like this But what I have space for is more like this. Buehl- Many of my older relatives had kitchens with those little shelves next the sink! I actually just read a thread where you recommended a counter top level window and I LOVE Michelle16's windows on this thread. Counter height windows. Something like that would tie into the windows we have in our kitchen table area and the bit of extra space behind the sink would be awesome! We just built a beautiful pavilion with fireplace next to our pool last summer and a view out there would be nice!...See MoreHelp with Kitchen Remodel to improve layout
Comments (23)I tweaked your space and did my best to meet space guidelines, but I don't know how feasible this is. The two big assumptions are that you'd move your laundry machines upstairs and that you'd change your formal dining room to a "study" like all the new build homes seem to have at the front of the house. I basically created an entry hall from the garage entry to the stairwell. mudroom lockers are recessed into the former formal dining room. Powder room is moved to the laundry room in as small a footprint as possible. I moved the back door to the present kitchen window and I assumed you could put a large new kitchen window on the patio wall with a clean up sink below. I was thinking the cabinet to the right of the clean up sink could be a pretty built in hutch-look unit. I think everything else is self explanatory. I hope this sparks more ideas......See More
Katie
4 years ago
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