(Dis?)functional kitchen layout, seeking feedback
I'm getting ready to start renovating a small mid-70's rancher and would love to get some feedback on layout. The house will be gutted and interior walls moved, but I don't want to move or alter windows/exterior doors. Attached are my plan views for the kitchen and the whole house for context. Does this kitchen layout look functional in terms of work flow?
I'm still taking inventory for storage design purposes, and I should have more detailed plans including dimensions and elevations soon. Wrt aesthetics I prefer open shelving to solid banks of uppers, and I'm trying to make the space look taller by running some narrow columns of cabinets from the counter to the ceiling. The 16" deep cabinet on the left above the DW has that depth to house a microwave, and much of what comes out of the dishwasher would be put away directly into it, so I'm not too concerned about the loss of counter space there.
The kitchen we have now (different house) is a super efficient U-shape, but is so narrow that only one person can comfortably be in it at once. This layout seems spacious to me in comparison. I just want to make sure it will work and not be awkward for some reason.
One thing I'm thinking is that the fridge and the DW should switch locations, although I like being able to recess the fridge into the adjacent room (and that doesn't interfere with the doors fully opening on this model, I checked). I don't really want to give up more space in the mudroom adjacent to the DW wall though, and the fridge sticking out there would make the entry to the kitchen too pinched, I think.
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We are a soon-to-be-retired couple and don't anticipate a lot of traffic in this kitchen. When cooking together we would probably be working on opposite sides of the peninsula.
Do you see anything that could be better here? Thanks for taking a look!
Here's the whole house (the room cut off at the top is an enclosed porch):
Comments (20)
mama goose_gw zn6OH
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agoThat's an awkward location for the fridge--prime prep space is usually between the sink and range--but if you add a prep sink to the peninsula it could work. You would have two work zones--prep and cooking, and separate clean-up and dish storage. At any rate, I'd suggest moving the DW to the end on the left, or making the sink a couple of inches smaller and putting the DW between it and the fridge, to make unloading easier. As you age, I think the position to the right would be more comfortable for loading (DW would need an end panel in either location.)
If the house is on a slab, or you don't want a sink on the peninsula, then make the peninsula shorter and use a CD fridge on the left. You'll be prepping over the DW, but that's better than having the fridge in the prep space. (Oops, I don't know how the prep sink ended up as a second mudroom sink.)
live_wire_oak
4 years agoThe Rule 4 violation is a big issue. You need a Kitchen Designer. And to possibly grab some space from another room.
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Seeking Feedback on Kitchen Layout
Comments (6)I like the original kitchen layout, but I can see moving the powder room closer to the garage. Are you planning to have a basement? The powder room might work better, if you flip the sink and toilet and have the door open into the powder room, but against the garage wall. Less of a direct view into that area from the kitchen. Moving the bench back against the laundry room area would allow you to do this and buffer the laundry area a little from people using the powder room. Just an idea :) From Kitchen plans This post was edited by lavender_lass on Fri, Jan 24, 14 at 16:33...See MoreSeeking feedback/approval of overall kitchen/addition layout
Comments (9)Re. septic, we recently had the property surveyed, and have spoken with the town sanitarian, so we know what we have to do in that regard (addition to the side = too close to neighbor's property; we have an acre & most of it is in the back). Great point about "tunnel-like" if the fridge is there, hadn't considered that. Yesterday, I tried to start all over again taking everyone's feedback into consideration. Harder than a Rubic's cube! Am now thinking it makes sense to shorten the addition wall jutting out on the left from 3' to 2' (would definitely need support post/wall somewhere in the middle), put the dining room table a few feet out from the left side picture window (if you look at our current layout, it's really just moving it a few feet fwd, wouldn't feel like it's right in the middle of the living room, and I'm flexible with what the living room furniture would consist of - know I could make that work). That leaves an open run from the left living room area to the addition to adjoin a second table for company, but now the peninsula doesn't work - too close to the table/s. Also, move the desk area to the back right wall side of the addition where I had proposed the dining rooom table, and put a pantry cabinet or closet where the desk proposal is instead (I do like the desk that way more in back of the house). Major problem now is that the kitchen seems to be getting too small again?! Revised kitchen layout proposal??? I'd be happy to keep the sink and range generally where they are now (DW is to left of sink); do want to see into the addition while at the sink - that run of counter could be half wall with support post/wall near middle (but lose upper cabinets unless have thick header with small high cabinets above), or it could be full wall with pass through window-like opening above sink. However if the window is too small it doesn't look right, but the bigger it is, the more upper cabinets are lost; move the fridge anywhere it makes sense; would love an island - a peninsula seems more realistic - main function as a serving buffet with a couple stools on the far side; and although I see the benefits of a prep sink, I've never had one - am willing to do without. I've been working on this for 4 months now; can't believe how hard it is! Thank you, thank you, thank you!...See MoreSeeking feedback on 2 kitchen layouts
Comments (8)One suggestion for Option A is that if you are going to have stools at the island, do you need a breakfast nook? if you don't, you might have the laundry open to the hallway and build in a desk under the window all the way across that wall. It would also be OK to get a wider fridge that is counter depth and extend it even further toward the window. Maybe there would be room for a shallow broom closet on the end of the fridge. As #Sabrina Alfin Interiors noted, swapping the end cabinet with the fridge makes a lot of sense....See MoreRedesigning bungalow layout - seeking feedback!
Comments (6)Hi A. Wu: first of all, your home, from the photos you’ve provided, looks lovely and very light and bright. Regarding the idea about enlarging the living room windows, is there a view to be opened up? It doesn’t appear that you need them for additional light. Might not be worth the expense…. I quite like the layout you have currently which creates separation between the living room and the bedrooms and bathroom. It is more private. To create the illusion of more space in the bathroom, change out the tub for a shower and, instead of a door with a swing, have you considered switching it out for a sliding door? You could mount a barn door on the hallway side of the wall …. Are there times when two people are in there using sinks at the same time, if not, it probably isn’t worth the expense to go to a double sink vanity (even with stealing room from the hallway, it looks a bit tight for 2 adults to be standing next to one another). What is the room off the bedroom? Could that be made into a dressing room? Could you gain additional closet space in there? If you change the kitchen, do ensure you have room for walkways - as previously mentioned, minimum is 42” and wider is better (especially for 2 or more cooks at the same time). For the fireplace, get an expert in to provide advice - it is in a weird location, so I can see why you would want to remove it. Hope you find this helpful....See Moremama goose_gw zn6OH
4 years agolast modified: 4 years ago
auntthelma
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agodavid_danaan
4 years agodavid_danaan
4 years agomama goose_gw zn6OH
4 years ago
Newideas
4 years agoNewideas
4 years ago
PROMDLN
4 years agoNewideas
4 years agodavid_danaan
4 years agoNancy, thanks for your thoughtful comments.
The laundry room will primarily function as a mudroom to contain wet dogs, so that door is needed. There is no door from the garage to the inside (and the garage is going to be a wood shop). Groceries will come in the front door, with space to set stuff down in the entry.
I'm attaching what I think is the layout we're going with. After a detailed inventory of my stuff I've done away with the inaccessible tall cabs flanking the range. That's a good point about open shelving there. I do have some in that corner, intended for frequently used oils and condiments. All the base cabinets will have drawers, and I'm trying to limit wall cabinets to exactly what is needed.
I also tried layouts with an island to eliminate the hallway - the wasted space bugged me on principle - but we just didn't like the traffic flow, the island hood in the middle of the room, and the cook being so 'on display.' I like this layout because it's just open enough for the cook to be connected to the social space when standing at the range, but not so open that it turns the entire space into an enormous kitchen. The hall is wide enough to function as a gallery, which could also be a cool use of the space. The room at the other end of the hallway appears to be an enclosed patio that was made part of the finished space. It's built on a slab and has its own subpanel. That's a whole other story. We don't yet know what we want to do with that space, so we're leaving it alone for now.
Nancy in Mich
4 years agoI can certainly relate to containing dogs! Our last house had a black walnut tree where squirrels hung out to taunt our three dogs and to eat. They tossed walnut rind all over the place, and that green outer part is toxic to plants, so growing grass was spotty even before the dogs tore it up chasing the squirrels. We were remodeling the kitchen and the 10 x 10 room next to it that had once been a porch and that was 30" lower than the kitchen. I hemmed and hawed about how to use that odd space and ended up with a dog washing station next to the back door that solved our muddy paw problem.
It had a pull-out kitchen faucet and eye bolts that were set into the framing that held the dogs in place until I could get to them. It saved us so much mess! I wonder if you moved one of the doors, if you could fit something into the laundry room like this. Unless your doggos are small enough to lift into the laundry sink, or you don't have mud! Those two doors kill me because they make the whole side of the room usable only as a walkway. My current laundry room is also a walkway, so it may just be my own sensitivity.
I like the use of the long hall as a gallery. It has one advantage, and that is that it can be a calm space where clutter does not migrate because it is separated. That is one problem with "great room" design for me - no place for the eyes to rest as you look past the couch and lamps and into the kitchen. Any "stuff" out automatically looks cluttered. I have one, too. We ended up adding a wall/kneewall combo to partially cut off the completely open space between our kitchen and family room. So I can appreciate your hall as gallery with no door to the woodshop.
With your open floor plan, I think that you will really appreciate the room at the end of the hall It can be a place where you "do" stuff, where projects can be left out between sessions working on them. Conversely, it could be a very quiet and calm retreat with no bustle, media or visual clutter.
It looks like you have a great plan for a fine smaller home!
mama goose_gw zn6OH