HELP! 5 Foot Wide, 11 Foot Long Dining Room & Reading Nook?
Kaylah Burton
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years agoKaylah Burton
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoRelated Discussions
Kids bath: Window or Extra foot in bedroom?
Comments (14)Thanks for the responses. My daughter has a full sized bed, a nightstand, a longer dresser (under 5 feet) and a tall dresser (2 1/2 ft wide). I will post a pic of the layout later when I get back from finishing my Christmas shopping. Oaktown, in your 5ft wide bath, does the tub sit on the exterior wall, so the window is in the tub area? That is one of the options if I go with the 5ft wide and keep the extra foot of space in her bedroom. I don't love the idea of a window in the bath- and with the shower curtain drawn (they like shower curtains vs. glass) It probably won't be effective. If I go with the 6ft width, then the bath will be on the long wall, and the window will not be in the tub area, it alongside the tub....See More8-foot wide kitchen?
Comments (14)The problem of repurposing an old kitchen for a new use can be a thorny one, esp. a long narrow one. Witness the recent thread about where to distribute appliances in a modified kitchen and whether to start over elsewhere. It's ironic that we Americans have to think "how can I use the old space?" when we plan big kitchen additions. I'm not guiltless here--we have repurposed our corridor kitchen and put in one of those additions, but we worked 2 years to get the plan right so we didn't leave behind a marooned oddball space. The old kitchen has become a working hall between old house and new kitchen and routes people away from front door and kitchen. We worked in the old 8 foot wide kitchen for many years. As long as a room like this is not a frequently used hall also, it works, although some rules of civility must be agreed to. The 4 feet across is a good thing, although losing 6 inches on one side to a deeper counter wouldn't bother me (I don't think). Don't put dishwasher on the long sides unless you have to because it bisects the space when open and adults cannot move around it without extra caution. Don't go at the corridor project with a "sky's the limit" attitude and let go the idea of a fancy showplace with bare countertops. If you want a working kitchen you have to be very disciplined in deciding what you absolutely need and what is only a want. Don't let yourself be romanced by mega-ranges and refrigerators--examine the modest European model of space usage. Also assess what kitchen functions can be off-loaded to adjacent spaces....a second sink along a transition zone? dishes storage in dining area? large pantry items stored in adjacent closet? or storing "good deal" yet to be used foodstuffs in garage (from the Costco big shopping trip)? Adjacent to our old corridor kitchen we built an insanely big storage cupboard over the basement stair. We ignored the unreachable top of it but used the bottom shelf for picnic stuff, canning stuff, etc. Also, remember that a refrig can be pushed into the wall behind it to cut out 3+ inches of depth. If there's a window, it might be possible to make a bump-out so sink area has space for good faucet and items arrayed around sink. Examine the many kinds of customizing inserts and such for cabs and drawers. Consolidate as much space as possible for each function--two large lower drawers instead of four smalls. Next to range, try doing what we did--put knives and utensils into the countertop, freeing up two drawers for other uses. (The drawers were shortened to allow this adaptation.) This idea is one I gladly give to the GW to those people who aren't embarrassed to show that they own utensils and knives -- everyone who sees it loves it. Also put a niche or shelves over range to hold oils, salt and pepper, etc. Making the range a cockpit area "rocks" as noted above. There are examples of corridor kitchens out there to study. Look hard. Biggest challenge will be to make it work for two cooks, if you need that. Don't put range or sink into a corner because that guarantees that one cook will have to stand to the side waiting for the other to do something. Even look at the recently posted West Coast architect's corridor kitchen with the zipper door. I suspect that was close to 8 feet across....See MoreDo you like or hate your 4-foot-wide island? Can I see a picture?
Comments (46)My island is 9' X 5' all counter height I love it. Sorry, I do not know how to post photos. But others' photos give you the picture. I have seating on one 9' side, and the sink on the other. I have plenty of walk space all around and it is open to the family room. The TV is visible from the sink. It is the hub of my home. The disposal switch is inside the sink cabinet. Yes, the kids tend to throw everything on the island and it is the landing spot for groceries, so I have to be diligent about making sure it stays tidy. It is a gorgeous showstopper so I wouldn't change a thing....See MoreFoot nook/step in the shower?
Comments (18)Gwyndill, how high off the floor is your foot niche? Yours looks a little higher than I was thinking, but it's hard to judge from the photo. I'm considering doing something similar. I'm thinking 16-17" would be good, plus angle the bottom downward very slightly. The other option is a triangular better bench for the corner, open on the bottom....See Morefreedomplace1
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