Help with Kitchen layout please!
We’re building a new home and I’m so excited!
Our goal for the kitchen is for it to be super light and sunny, to have loads of storage space (we’re building on a 60acre lot and will be growing and preserving lots of our own food). The kitchen is also to be the only dining space in the house.
Currently it’s just my husband and I, but we will be joined eventually by a child or two. We entertain very occasionally and in a very casual manner.
Here are our plans as they exist so far, the top of the image is north (yes, there are west facing windows. There will be exterior shade elements).
Would love to know:
- Is there enough walking space around the table?
- How can we improve the appliance arrangement.
- Where do I store the dishes so they are near the sink/dishwasher and table, but someone setting the table or unloading the dishes won’t be in the way of the cook?
I'm also including some inspiration pictures.
Thank you all so much for your help!
Comments (233)
btydrvn
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Help with kitchen layout, please!
Comments (13)Hi, CTbert. Remember the classic work triangle-- with the refrigerator-sink-stove for its points? See where yours are? if that were my kitchen, I'd end up working in that rather cramped little corner between sink and stove (think chopping veggies, etc.) while those nice big counters outside the triangle went to waste. No way am I going to haul everything out the triangle just to haul it all back in. If it were mine, I think I'd do things a little different. I'd put the cleanup sink on the wall next to the open peninsula; the DW could go under it or to the left of the sink. Mess would move clockwise around the kitchen to pile up at the sink, but hidden by the wall. While I cleaned up, I'd be able to look out into the room and chat. My children are gone, but DH is still around, so that peninsula would also be a lunch/breakfast breakast making center. The refrigerator is directly across, so that'd work well. The toaster and coffeemaker could go on that wall/corner area also, where they'd be nicely hidden from view too. This would then leave my main goal: A really nice, pleasant, generous, well-appointed main area dedicated to prepping and cooking between the refrigerator and stove, complete with a window to look out while I worked. I don't personally always feel a need for a prep sink, but in this case--yes. By the refrigerator for peeling potatoes, dumping them in a pot of water, etc. This would give me everything I needed in a very efficient storage-prep-cooking triangle. Other, secondary work stations would be the counter to the right side of the stove, the cleanup center, and the counter on both sides and end of the peninsula. Hope this helps stoke up your own ideas a bit. :)...See MoreHelp with kitchen layout please
Comments (14)This is what I had in mind: The big window is centered between the upper cabinets and the fridge. The dining table is centered on the french doors and the wide doorway to the kitchen. The island is meant to be your kitchen table/homework space. This also fixed what appeared to be pretty tight clearances around your dining table and too many seats for a table that size. For you, since you have such a tight budget, I would recommend not actually doing an island but a table of the same size for now. If you are so inclined later down the line, you can build it in with cabinets below and a counter on top and maybe even a prep sink. Since it will be so much later, you might plan on the get-go for having the island be of contrasting materials from the perimeter. Similarly, there is a logical spot for double ovens in the future, but for now you might want to save the money and just make that a pantry. Perhaps with cabinet door sizes that are cleverly chosen so a set of them are the perfect size and place in the stack to be easily removed later and ovens put in instead....See MoreNeed help finalizing kitchen layout please! Stuck on uppers vs none
Comments (83)If what you like is a one-wall kitchen with an island, that is possible. You'd have a super long island that is 3' deep and way roomier walkways (4') around the island. If you did that, I'd just make the nook a straight windowseat. Like this: The island has legs on one end for seating like this: The bay window provides extra space needed to walk comfortably behind the island seating. I'd add another doorway into the dining room, since that is now your primary eating area. You want non-cooking traffic to be able to get back and forth without entering your kitchen work zones. And I think you'll generally like the greater visibility and circular flow between rooms. If you orient the island drawer stack closest to the dining room so it opens toward the dining room, you'll be able to unload the dishwasher directly into that. And glasses can go in the pantry, which is just a step or two further. The pantry is floor-to-ceiling cabinets and around 12" deep. That's great pantry storage - stores a ton, and it's easy to see everything with nothing lost in the back. Note that the downsides are: - You lost a hallway closet and deepened the other hallway closet in order to elongate the one-wall part of the kitchen. You wouldn't have to do this if you lose the wall ovens, but I assume you don't want that. - It's going to be complicated to vent the range hood. - You'll need to get a fridge with one door and drawer freezer so they don't bang the open dishwasher. Or make peace with not opening the fridge and dishwasher at the same time....See MoreHelp with Kitchen Layout Please!
Comments (50)The things I liked about your original plan were the fridge and second sink were at the edge of the kitchen. I find there is a lot of traffic to the fridge and second sink by my family. Everyone in my house uses the second sink as a handwashing sink. It is also closest to walking in the house from the garage at my house. Your current fridge location is ok, since people can access it from the right without walking through your work area. In your layout, people can use the main sink to wash hands or veggies if they are helping cook if you are working between the fridge and stove. To me the second sink placement on that corner of prime work space in your "work triangle" is not ideal and seems like it would get in the way and only be usable by one person. But if it has a garbage disposal, perhaps it is a great prep sink location and won't be used for handwashing as my second sink is. With your current plan, I like that the dishes and silverware are at the edge of the kitchen, assuming they are in the drawer and cabinet closest to the dishwasher. That is the other thing people go to grab a lot so you want at the edge. Though it is a bit far to grab a plate or then go to get food or drink through the work triangle from the fridge in this layout................. The bottom line is that you need to think about how you live and use your kitchen. I do not mind the fridge being visible from other areas, and I am with you on the bigger it is the better!! There is no such thing as a too big pantry or fridge to me, and if you have the space, go for it. Everyone will give you slightly different opinions on what to do where. If you are getting multiple contradicting opinions, it means there is no "right" answer and you have to go with what you like. You have a lovely interesting ceiling and room around the kitchen. I am sure whatever your final layout, it will be nice and work for you! The less plumbing,gasline changes you have to make moving things around, the less cost. Imagine how you all will use the space and do what is best for you :) lafdr...See Morebtydrvn
2 years agobtydrvn
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agoI’d prefer not to change the windows. Here’s the exterior from the north east corner. The two nearest windows are the pantry.
Kathi Steele
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agoThe biggest pond on our property is beginning to fill up! Needs about 12 more feet of water. Cow for scale. The last picture is taken from roughly my future kitchen window.
One Devoted Dame
2 years agoKathi Steele
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agoI’m glad you guys enjoy it! I will keep updating as we go along.
This week a I’ve been working on window quotes. The first one came in at $70k but with underwhelming performance for an otherwise well insulated and air sealed home. Hoping the next one comes in with lower numbers and better stats!
di0spyr0s
2 years agoThe cornflowers in our pasture is blooming. The whole field looks blue today! (Photos taken from the car window on our way past)
Kathi Steele
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agoThe driveway to our barn went in this morning! Still a bunch of grading to do, this is only road base to give us a stable area to work in while we build the barn.
Nice to see some more progress!
The cows are fascinated by Enid, our big blue tractor.
Also making some progress on the fireplace. We’re putting in a Tulikivi soapstone wood burning stove. It weighs a couple of tons so there’s a lot of structural work to make sure it doesn’t warp the floor/fall into the basement.
https://www.tulikivi.com/en/products/TU1000_50
PROMark Bischak, Architect
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agoBecky H
2 years agodi0spyr0s
2 years agoSurprise thunderstorm just added a few inches of water to the big pond and completely destroyed the small mobile shelter the sheep have been hanging out in.
Kathi Steele
2 years agodi0spyr0s
last yearWe built it! There are still a few things left to do, but we moved in on thanksgiving and it is delightful
cpartist
last yeardi0spyr0s
last yearDinner with Flash, the master bedroom, livingroom in better weather, and view of the house from the end of the drive
di0spyr0s
last yearKitchen pics and the view from my office window (the chicken likes to hang out here)
di0spyr0s
last yearThe cats learned to climb the attic ladder way too fast.
Fireplace in action and the upstairs hall bath. Still waiting on the wood slats for the shower floors.
di0spyr0s
last yearBedroom window (before curtains)
Junebug on her favorite ladder
The north wall of the kitchen (the left hand cabinet is the entrance to the pantry)
Sunny back porch.
cpartist
last yeardi0spyr0s
last yearA drone shot from last fall, when things were still green.
Bonus cute animals
I think that’s all for now :)
di0spyr0s
last yearKathi Steele
last year
bpath
last yearcpartist
last year- PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last yearlast modified: last year bpath
last yeardi0spyr0s
last yearHere are the plans,
The fridge location is working out really well! This kitchen has been fantastic to work in, I’m extremely glad to have the second sink and dual dishwashers - now that we’re milking again and making cheese we’re using both dishwashers every day, sometimes more than once.
cpartist
last yearcpartist
last yearwiscokid
last year- PRO
Mark Bischak, Architect
last yearSpeaking of cheese, this is Roman Alfredo Pasta Originale: Homemade fettuccine, Parma butter flamed in a Parmigiano Reggiano wheel table-side, Prosciutto di Parma, imported truffle.
Becky H