Is there a better way to layout this tiny cottage kitchen?
Hi, I'm wondering if there is a better way to layout this tiny cottage kitchen. Both windows have lake views. The appliances are smaller - condo sized. I feel like we need the little cabinet beside the stove for safety reasons as it's our main entry door. A range hood will go under the wall mounted cabinet. There is also an island with stools. We are likely going with IKEA.
The kitchen could wrap around in an L-shape. That would mean reducing the big window size to counter height. However, the lakeside of the cottage does look nice with two windows of the same size.
Any thoughts and suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks!
Comments (8)
Jillius
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago1) You can't put a fridge right against the wall like that. Fridge doors need to open wider than 90 degrees for the fridge drawers to be able to pulled open. That's why you always see fridges with a skinny (9-12" cabinet) between it and the wall.
2) You are correct that having a stove so near a door is not great. Your skinny cabinet between the stove and door helps some, but it's still not ideal.
3) One thing that would fix both the fridge and stove is to reverse everything on the kitchen wall (see below). Then the fridge has all the room in the world to swing open, and the stove is super protected from through traffic. The only issue is that reversing everything doesn't play well with the window on that wall. Can that window be shifted?
4) Can the door be moved closer to the bathroom? There does seem to be space for that, and that would give you another foot or so for the kitchen wall.
5) I would extend the island all the way to the wall (see below). That gives you another good-sized bank of drawers in the former-island-now-peninsula and a very generously-size work counter. You would have to raise the window you don't want to raise, though.
6) If your island is only 30" deep, you cannot have seats at the island. Standard-depth cabinets are 24" deep, meaning if the total depth of the island is 30", then the overhang is on the side with seating is jus 4-5" deep depending on if you pick a 1 inch or 2 inch overhang on the other side of the island. Overhangs need to be 10-12" deep to be comfortable. You'd either have to make the island a minimum of 36" deep or, as I'd suggest, eliminate the island seating and just push the table against the island (see below).
7) Especially if you do not turn the island into a peninsula, you have VERY few cabinets here, and most storage is broken up among small cabinets (which is not ideal -- wide cabinets/drawers are much more flexible). I tried to think where you could squeeze some more storage in. See below.
I added some floor-to-ceiling cabinets and a console table behind the couch.
Chris thanked JilliusChris
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Layout help, please! Tiny '20s kitchen, big problems
Comments (88)Look at Bmorepanic's layout on Fri, Mar 12, 10 at 12:09; it has a similar layout for a range on that wall...only with more work room. You really need more than 12" next to a doorway for safety's sake. While 12" may be Code, that doesn't mean it's best, especially if you have/are planning to have gas. There also isn't much workspace room overall next to it...I know it's better than what she currently has, but that doesn't mean it's enough or that it can't be even better. Another consideration...be sure to have at least a 24" overhang if you have the range (or cooktop) in that location. I do not recommend seating behind a range or cooktop, but if you insist on doing it, at least make it safe! Venting will also be an issue...for truly adequate venting, you need an overhead range hood...in this case, you'll need an "island range hood". [The majority of downdrafts are ineffective. Telescoping downdrafts are better, but then you have a vent in front of anyone sitting there and it's only effective for items right next to it and shorter than it by several inches.] About island range hoods... First, island range hood's are more expensive than wall hoods. Second, an island hood will hang down in front of anyone working or sitting there, will block the view to/from the DR & Kitchen, and will put the noise of a hood in your visitor's ears...and if you put in a raised bar, it's even worse b/c your visitors will be sitting another 6" higher and closer to the hood. Third, island range hoods need to be larger and/or stronger than wall hoods b/c of the increased air currents...meaning more $$ and more noise. Noise can be cut down by getting an even stronger hood and running it on low, but that adds yet more $$$ Fourth, that hood hanging down will most likely be a "commanding presence"...unless you get a low profile hood (meaning a thin hood) and/or glass (which means cleaning it often)...but those hoods have even less capture capability b/c there's no place to trap smoke/steam/grease/odors/etc. for venting out...so that means an even larger hood and more power and probably mounting even lower. IMHO, it's made even worse b/c the area is so small...a large hood will overwhelm that small peninsula. There are three main differences b/w BmorePanic's layout & JohnLiu's: Seating on the DR side of the kitchen. Is there room to take 24" of counter + seating space out of it? I can't tell from the pictures. Refrigerator location...I like John's location better b/c it puts it on the periphery and allows outsiders to get to it w/o interfering with those working in the kitchen DW location....I like Bmorepanic's better...it keeps the DW out of the Cooking Zone and out of the best Prep Zone...also across from the range. Why is that the best Prep Zone? Two reasons: (1) Because it's directly across from the range so going back & forth is easier and (2) It's out of traffic coming in/out of the kitchen. ......See MoreTiny '20s kitchen returns!! Vote for a layout!
Comments (52)There was some mention by someone of turning the fridge around to open along the doorway from the hallway. Was that done or is she keeping it as originally designed. What I'm asking, I guess, is what is the size of the side of the fridge, that the cabinet will be backing onto and how much space does she have in the DR for it. Would it be something that she could add after the fact? I'm worried that there may not be enough room in the DR, with tables and chairs, for anything extra. For me personally, I wouldn't want my china cabinet in my DR to look like my kitchen cabinets. If you can make it look like an unfitted piece of furniture, with a wooden counter top (to mimic a buffet/hutch combo), a light inside to show off the china and give glitter to the glasses, sure, then I would consider it. But Ellen has met the same problem as me, we don't have a buffet/hutch because they are expensive and look too formal for my taste. (I use something that my uncle made in grade 12 woodwork - he is now 78 - its 60 years old and still holding up)....See MoreLayout Help - Kitchen in Beach Cottage
Comments (28)Angela, Your kitchen sounds like it will be a dream for those lucky enough to stay at your beach house. As it happens, I am going to Ocean Isle in a couple of weeks (having looked at beach houses from Sunset to Corova) to stay in a new 6-BR house. We have never gone with more than 2 other families (having gone to the beach every year for the last 20 years -mostly in NC but occasionally in SC), so we have never been more than 12-14 or so. When I go to one of these large luxury rentals, what I expect is a kitchen stocked with enough dishes to feed a crowd (and some non-breakable for the kids), serving dishes, a good assortment of pots and pans (especially one large enough to boil massive amounts of shrimp), 2 good size refrigerator/freezers, 2 dishwashers, coffeemaker, blender (got to make those frozen drinks, you know), food processor, mixer, toaster, microwave, good assortment of utensils, and a good assortment of knives. (I'll think about anything else I would be disappointed not to have.) Anything else is just a plus. As you probably know, most kitchens in beach house rentals in NC do not come with dish detergent, saran wrap etc (although in many there is enough of such items to get one started). I personally do not think you need a bread maker. When my kids were little and we baked, we baked brownies and cookies and usually bought the mixes as we didn't want to waste precious beach time doing anything too complicated. I also don't think you need a jello mold for the same reason. (Jello molds are for jello desserts, although I suppose you could use them to make other kinds of desserts or anything you need a mold for.) If you want, I can give you a report about our rental house's kitchen once I am back. Who knows -maybe I will rent your house next year. Have fun with this enjoyable project!...See Morecan you help with the layout of my tiny kitchen! please???
Comments (1)Sorry for the duplicate! It didn't seem that my initial post had been posted. Sorry!!!...See More
bpath
3 years ago- PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
3 years agoI love this look and you would not need to change the window and what great place for coffee in the morning
Chris thanked Patricia Colwell Consulting
mama goose_gw zn6OH