Do you have a sketch of the entire floor? It helps us to see how the Kitchen relates to the rest of the home and how traffic flows in, around, and through the Kitchen.

Could you also tell us a little about you and your family? Composition? Children (now or future)?

See the following:

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[Taken from the "New to Kitchens? Read Me First!" thread.]

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There are a set of threads that form the Kitchen Design FAQs that will be useful for understanding kitchen design as well as asking for help. Read these threads to get not only an idea of the best practice design principles/guidelines, but also to understand the comments you will receive when you post your layout for comments. (The Kitchen Design FAQ threads will be posted at the end of this post.)

When you have a preliminary layout, post it here for critiquing. If you have no layout and don't know where to start, that's OK! We can help you start. Simply post a blank slate of the space.

Whether a new build or a remodel, read the "layout help" FAQ thread -- it discusses what information we need to help you get the best layout for you, your family, and your space.

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Kitchen Design Best Practice/Guidelines FAQ Threads:

FAQ: Kitchen Work Zones, What Are They?

• https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500762/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they

FAQ: Aisle Widths, Walkways, Seating Overhangs, Work/Landing Space etc

• https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500771/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc

FAQ: How Do I Plan For Storage?

• https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500787/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage

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Asking for layout help:

FAQ: How Do I Ask For Layout Help & What Information Should I Include?

• https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500789/faq-how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-what-information-should-i-include

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Humorous discussion of workflow and other layout topics:

Looking for layout help? Memorize this first.

• https://www.houzz.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

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Here are a couple of those corner kitchen designs for reference. I usually like shelves in a kitchen but not in yours. With the window and the SS hood that shelves don't complement the design. I would not use a SS hood and I would have closed cabinets to continue the design lines around the corner.

5 Barstools? Really? I'd do three.

Can you relocate the W/D?

Attached is a picture of the layout - my vantage point is the open dining/living room. Note that the exposed beams by the entrance have been moved since this picture was taken. This is a small apartment for a large family - we have a 3 year old toddler and 6 month old twins, and will need it to be functional for us for the foreseeable future. Appreciate the help!

Is there a reason for the angled wall? The island has a lot of wasted space. Why not a regular island with a table that extends out from it.

The angled wall is a cement wall that can’t be altered.

I wanted to also give a couple of suggestions
(I am not a pro!)

No to the shelves be the stove (grease and grime), unless that will not bother you.

If your condo is lacking in space, you may want to consider an island combination with a table. I suggest this because you don’t need five bar stools with such little ones. Even the three-year-old will push their feet against the cabinet and can fall backwards (I know this from experience). With a table or booth set-up you can someone corral your children during meals (haha!)

Here are two pictures, but you can change the shape of the booth to accommodate that angled countertop.

This setup may not be for everyone, but it just may suit your young family.

Good luck to you!

Oops here are the pics..

Thank you Cindy!

What rooms are in the condo? Will there be a Dining Room? Family/Living Room? Even gutted you must have a layout of the floor plan (main entry, bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.)

Honestly without a 2D floor plan to scale with all important items that can’t change there is no way to critique the plan IMO this looks like a huge kitchen in what you say is a small space , without out knowing what that space is it is impossible to get help.

Noted. I'll follow up with a floor plan later this evening. Thank you!

Natalie...somehow I missed adding the "Layout Help " FAQ above! I've since added it but I'm also putting it here. Sorry about that!

FAQ: How Do I Ask For Layout Help & What Information Should I Include?

• https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/5500789/faq-how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-what-information-should-i-include

I can see that the KD is making the hood the focal point, and going for symmetry, but I would consider making the pantry more narrow, and moving the range to the right. You would have all that space on the diagonal counter for prep.

Thank you all so much for responding. I'm attaching a picture that will hopefully give you a good sense of the condo layout (all 1-floor, spread across 1800 sf total), although admittedly not to scale. I'm very happy with the size and function of the other rooms - it's the kitchen area where I'm lost. I'm also including detailed measurements of the details governing the large open space meant to house the entrance, kitchen, living and dining rooms.

Your home is bigger than I assumed it was.

I am a practical person, trying to simplify my own household as I am refreshing it. With that in mind:

1. I am only 5’2” and I would not want an island that was so big that I had to circle around it to clean it, so if the island your designer is suggesting is going to create that issue for you and it will bother you, then a re-design is in order.

2. How easy and convenient it would be for your little ones to be able to sit at a table in the kitchen area rather than across the room into the dining room...to “help” with making cookies, crafts, playing play dough, and/or the little ones can have their high chairs at the kitchen table.

3. You may be able to fit a couple of bar stools as well as integrated table. I am not a designer and the measurements are all gobbly-goop to me haha!

I look forward to seeing what you choose!

Thank you Cindy! You’re 100% right about the island - super inconvenient size.

I liked the idea of a non-rectangular island - if only because it’s unexpected, but do you think this space needs a standard shaped island?

I also don’t love the proposed placement off the range and I think I prefer the right wall to include the fridge, pantry and all large format cabinets. Then the window wall could house the range and a long countertop. Does that make more sense?

If this was my kitchen, I would want the washer and dryer elsewhere (if possible), and an island that didn’t have the “wasted” space in the middle of your island as it is currently designed.

I get what you are saying: fridge and washer/dryer on one wall, stove and sink on the other wall. A good thing about having the fridge on the end is that you can be cooking or doing dishes and people can still get into the fridge. I’m sure people with more knowledge than I could look at your measurements to see how your idea would work. I can imagine the fridge on the left side of the washer and dryer and that wall being all used for storage, fridge and washer/dryer, with a traditional shape for the island. I’m not sure what happens to your angled wall but I think you will get some ideas in that regard.

Hi Natalie, I agree with most of the comments. I think the range wall should only have the decorative rangehood, and keep the shelves on the other walls. There are not to many wall cabinets, so you have to analize if that is functional for your livestyle.
I also agree on the location of the washer and dryer. There is a closet on the other side. I don't know if it can be moved to that area. Otherwise, I will recommend to make a closet with cabinets to close it, or maybe have the access from the side and still have cabinets doors. Washing will be very frequently and the appliances needs ventilation, so that needs to be taken into consideration.
In addition, I like the idea of having a rectangular island. I couldn't understand the angle wall that needs to stay. Are you talking about the range wall or another wall?

I don’t love the proposed location of the range and wonder whether it should be moved to the window wall. In that case I would swap for a covered hood.

The closet on the other side of the entrance door is necessary to store outerwear and shoes.

This layout has to be played out right, it can go wrong very easy.

1. Ask the designer to extend the fridge side panels to be flush with the fridge body. unify that over the fridge cabinet with the fridge.

2. Shelving gotta go. that space can be utilized better with cabinets. Do the open shelving next to pantry cabinet, instead of two out of three doors you have for upper cabinets.

3, Enclose the washer/dryer combo with two pocketing doors, this will align symmetrically with the extended side panels fridge panels. Washer/dryer will be open when in use, and will look like a pantry when closed.

4. Last but not least, I would rotate the island 180 degrees.

GOOD LUCK!

PS, here is what we did for built-in kitchen laundry:

Thank you! That's exactly the combination I'd like - adjoining enclosed laundry + fridge.

I don't know that this space needs open shelving at all (except maybe to the left of the window to allow light into the rest of the apartment).

Do you think this island shape works? I'm wondering whether a rectangle or triangle shaped island makes more sense in this space.

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Those two pictures you posted: the triangle island and chairs looks disjointed and chaotic but the rectangle looks nice and neat to me. Very functional.

The modifications I definitely want to make are:

1) Dishwasher to the right of the sink

2) Enclose the washer/dryer behind double doors - "the laundry room"

3) Change the island to a more standard rectangle w/ pull-outs

4) Extend the fridge side panels to be flush with the fridge body

Unsure about locations of the fridge, range and pantry rooms. I think their are two scenarios (as designed or scenario 2)

As designed:

- Fridge in left corner of kitchen

- Range along the angled wall

- Pantry adjoining the laundry room

OR

Scenario 2

- Fridge adjoining the laundry room

- Pantry along the angled wall for a built-in walled cabinet look along the right-hand side

- Range in the approximate location of the current fridge/dishwasher

Maybe your designer can do a mock-up for you to show your ideas. I really like your new ideas!

Just got a reworked design back. I think it's much better than the initial but definitely want to make the following modifications:

• Reorient the island so that the longer side is parallel to the fridge
• Add molding so that the cabinets extend to the ceiling

A couple of things still seem odd:

• Position of the range. Should I move it back to the angled wall? What should i do to the right and left of it?
• The sharp island corner feels like a design flaw when paired with the angled wall. Should I angle off the island?

Here is the updated design. I don’t like the way the shelves extend into the range hood wall and I wonder whether the tall thin cabinet on the left-hand side of the fridge should be a double door cabinet (like on the right-hand side). Eager to get your feedback!

I believe the cabinet to the right of the refrigerator contains the washer/dryer, and is not a pantry.

Do you want open shelving? Was it your idea to have them, or did your designer just include them?

I like Beverly’s suggestion of upper cabinets all around and an enclosed hood. It makes the angled corner less obvious.

I’m just not loving the thought of the corner range. Functionally, when I put something in or out of my oven, many times I have to get it or put it from the side instead of straight-on, where the door opens. There is no room to do this with the corner range, and it would bug me.

Taking a look at the pictures you post as inspiration, none of them have open shelves, none have the type of hood the designer is proposing. I see glass cabinet doors and covered hoods. Make sure you're getting what you really want.

Having your back to the action in the space while at the range is bad feng shui design. The placement of the range along the wall with the fridge and w/d would at least give you the ability to look into the living space to see what those younguns are up to.

The pantry is on the left side. The enclosed cabinets to the right of the fridge house the washer dryer. I could absolutely integrate a covered hood - I just don’t love the cabinets across the angled wall and haven’t seen a good option of what to do with that space.

I personally would angle off the island, especially if the range is there. I prefer your first updated design with the range on the right wall not in the corner. I think an under cabinet vent hood might also be nice and add more storage. It would help continue the run of cabinets around the corner too

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Your quandary is that you cannot find an alternative to the range in the corner. I did a search for angle range wall and saw a lot of examples for the hood and cabinets. Maybe you can try that? If you have it in the corner then I think angling off the island is probably a good idea so you don’t back into the corner or turn around with hot food to put on the island and get a corner into your belly.

Just some pics - posting doesn’t mean I love them - just some pics to spark your ideas for your good.

*hood, not “good”