Can you critique my kitchen layout?
Hi,
We are remodeling a kitchen entirely and looking for advice on how to make it more functional.
We will not personally live in this unit -- we will likely rent it out for the time being and then sell it in ~1-2 years, so our goal is to greatly improve both the functionality and aesthetic while maximizing rentability and resale value. So "how do you live?" doesn't apply here since I'm designing it for others :)
See the photo for what we have drawn up so far, but it needs work.
Some background on renters: People who rent/buy in our neighborhood are most typically older couples / empty nesters. I would assume most of them cook a decent amount, entertain semi-regularly, and probably have their grown kids come to stay over the holidays.
What's to the left outside: The left side of the drawing opens up to the patio (which is also where the garage is -- so expect that people will come in through this entrance with their coats/shoes/groceries). The patio is raised relative to the interior, thus the stair/landing.
Do people need an eat-in area if the dining room is far away? The dining dilemma: The area currently marked "Family Room" feels family-room-esque in that there's a fireplace and it seems like the natural place for a TV/sofa. So I anticipate most people would use it this way instead of putting a dining table here. However, the other available room for a true formal dining area is to the right (off drawing) closer to the entrance of the house. I'm not totally sure which room most people would choose to use as living vs. dining, but if they put the dining area by the entrance, it seems like a long way to go to eat dinner. Personally, eating dinner at a banquette/cafe table feels more appropriate than at a bar, but I might be in the minority.
-- Do you think it makes sense to squeeze a dining nook here, as drawn (esp given the distance of the potential formal dining room) or is it too tight of a space? Should we just line that wall with more cabinets instead?
-- Does the mud closet / bench make sense as is, or should I free up the left wall and do a closet along the bottom wall?
-- I'm thinking I'll replace the prep sink on the far right with a large pantry. Should I move the fridge to the right wall to be right next to it?
-- Where would you place the microwave? (I'm not sure if the island is wide enough for dishwasher, sinks, AND microwave)
-- Should we enlarge the depth of the island?
-- Assuming we should also increase the space between the island and cabinet wall?
As for appliances, this is what we're thinking but open to feedback based on what you think most people are interested in buying:
-- Likely a range
-- No wall oven
-- No warming drawer
-- Counter depth refrigerator
-- True ventilation hood
-- Open to recommendations on sizing
-- Built-in pantry (not sure if we have enough room or not for a walk-in; if not, at least a step-in where the prep sink area currently is)
We are pretty flexible on most fronts about what can be moved around. Since we are ripping the whole thing out, we want to get it as "right" as possible!
Let me know if I've missed any important details, and thanks so much in advance for any advice!
Comments (17)
PROSharon Brindley Designs
3 years ago
Paul NY 5b-6a
3 years agoRelated Discussions
Critique my lighting layout for open floor plan kitchen
Comments (17)The Cree 5" retrofit is already out. I've been using it with my customers. It's not inexpensive, but it really is great. I did get my hands on an LED module for low voltage halogen cans. It's bigger than an MR16, but that's fine, as there is room in the can. This one puts out about 60 lumens per watts- with a total of 8 watts of LED. So that's only 480 watts. The next generation, sometime in November, will be putting out at least 80 lumens per watt. If not 100 lumens per watt. Color temperature will affect the light output. But that's all you'll need for a normal kitchen. The only drawback is the does CRI. I'm not sure what the module will ultimately be. But I know it's not as good as Cree's. As for where to get a housing, go to a local lighting store. They should be able to take care of you better than any warehouse store....See MoreNew Build: Can you critique my kitchen
Comments (27)Overall I like your kitchen layout. You have good zoning -- no barrier island. I like that your proposed island will have very spacious seating & the chairs/stools will be out of the way. Given your wide T island I'd leave the prep sink where it is, since it allows space to work on both sides. Where your inspiration photo shows a wine rack, you could instead install a beverage center refrigerator to keep them out of your main R/F. Your current R/F location is not good for access to food for cooking & prepping -- I'd move it over in the same run closer to prep sink & range. Your oven won't get a lot of in/out traffic but your microwave might. You do want a microwave close to your R/F. I'd consider a 48" range with two ovens to eliminate the oven stack. If you don't want a range, then I'd put the oven stack next to the R/F with landing space on both sides. You have the opportunity for much more pantry space in your utility area off the kitchen, on both sides of the passageway. I'd get rid of the pantry in the kitchen itself for more countertop & drawer space. I'd move your cleanup sink left a bit, to line up with the island sink & to give you more clearance for the dishwasher. Have you considered a large single bowl sink? We love ours. Pans go in flat, & we can use a dishpan for small items or to get a two bowl effect. Our Miele dishwasher does just about everything, including stemware, so we use our sink for big jobs & just a few hand washed items. About your powder/guest bath, you really could use one off the foyer. All the ones you have now are clearly for family, except for the casita, which is too far away for usual company use....See MorePlease critique my kitchen layout
Comments (19)Are you interested in another layout? If so, I came up with one using your inspiration pantries (2). You may have already tried it an nixed it, but I thought I'd draw it up (I enjoy doing this). I wanted to make a comment about the pantries--ventilation! As you may or may not know, there's a fairly recent thread concerning ventilation of pantries and having venting both high & low. Your inspiration pantries inherently have just what seems to be needed--open at top & bottom! So, in addition to looking unique, it's also a well-ventilated design! First, here's the layout: Changes: * Added 2 pantries on either end of the range wall similar to your inspiration picture * Centered the 36" range and 42" hood in the remaining space--gives you 31" of counterspace & 25" of upper cabinets on each side of the range/hood (For adequate venting, it's strongly recommended that you have a hood at least 6" wider than your range or cooktop.) * Moved the MW oven over to where the pantry was * Moved Refrigerator to where the MW was * Moved the DW to the other side of the sink so the DW & Range don't interfere w/each other when both doors are open...this may not be necessary since the aisle has more than enough space to have them both open at the same time, you just wouldn't be able to stand in front of them if they're both open. In its new position, you also will not be trying to prep while someone else is trying to load the DW and if the DW is running, you won't have to prep in front of it. * Required the move of the wind chiller to the other side...this is the main reason I don't like the move for the DW Comments: With two 36" wide pantries (total 72"), you gain quite a bit of additional storage space that is also very flexible. You could even hang a broom or mop on a side wall. I showed 15" shelves b/c that depth gives you the flexibility to be able to store small appliances, dishes, pots & pans, etc. as well as dry goods. You maintain a good work flow: Refrigerator-to-sink-to-prep (island)-to-range You have plenty of workspace around the range as well as on the island Zones are somewhat separate...the only real overlap is the prep & cleanup b/c you only have one sink. However, I don't think you really have room for a prep sink--it will rob you of necessary counterspace; plus your kitchen is small enough to allow easy access to the sink from anywhere in the kitchen. If you can corral your dirty dishes to the right of the sink, that will leave you the left side for prep. (Dirty dishes will be coming from the table in the Nook so the right side is the natural place for dirty dishes) -- Prep: 38" x 42" of counter space -- Cooking: Two counters 31" x 24" each -- Cleanup: 38" x 42" of counter space Landing space for MW and refrigerator is the island The refrigerator and MW are in a position to make them accessible from both the kitchen and the Great Room without interfering with the kitchen work flow and zones. Putting the MW cabinet b/w the wall and the refrigerator helps the refrigerator not block the Great Room doorway when open I didn't change anything in the Nook It's not that this layout is better, functionally than yours, I was just trying to give you something closer to your inspiration picture/pantries. Just some food for thought!...See MorePlease critique my kitchen layout
Comments (29)Honestly? I don't like any of the options with the peninsula on the "top". It does not create a well-thought out workflow of Refrigerator --> Prep Sink --> Prep Zone --> Cooking Zone. You're continually crossing through other zones just to make a simple meal. The DW is in the way of the range The "anchored island" creates a much better Kitchen workflow-wise. If the range could go on the top wall, then the peninsula on the top would work better. But I assume you do not want to change the window (to windows flanking the range), so that's out. FYI...I don't like the "detached island" in your original post either -- it's too small to be useful and there is no way 5 seats would fit! Each seat needs 24" x 15" of space (24" linear space & 15" of clear leg/knee overhang space) Two seats cannot share a corner as you cannot share leg/knee space For that design, you'd need an overhang of 15" + 24" + 1" = 40" (1" is for decorative door/end panel on the backs of the cabinets). If you have that much, then you have room for 4 seats (only 2 along the back, not 3) -- except you then need a 54" aisle b/w the island and the sink run of cabinets. While that aisle is not label, I don't think it's 54" (but it might be, I don't know for certain) So, a 4' island can only fit 2 seats. (I think you realize this as your layouts appear to have eliminated those extra seats.) That small island also looks like it was plopped down just to say you have an island -- not a great look. Why am I stating all this since you've (fortunately) backed off from the detached island? I'm hoping your husband can see the analysis and realize that his idea of the detached island, while nice to think about, is not feasible in reality....See MorePaul NY 5b-6a
3 years ago
Isaac
3 years agoTeresa
3 years agoThank you both for the helpful feedback!
Based on your suggestions I'm attaching my revised drawing.-- Moving range across from sink
-- Expanding space between island and counter
-- Removed dining nook and made island more of an eat-in area
-- Changed prep sink area to reach-in pantry
-- Moved fridge
Still stumped on the corner -- do we just do a bench/mud closet along the left wall and leave an open space on the bottom where the cabinets end? Since it's going to be the main way in and out of the house I do think there needs to be some area to take off your shoes and drop off coats.
Let me know any thoughts on this revision! Greatly appreciate your advice.
Elaine Kroeger
3 years agoTeresa
3 years agoTeresa
3 years agoHere is the latest revision. (I would swap the trash and dishwasher.) does this look better?
suezbell
3 years agolast modified: 3 years ago- PRO
Sharon Brindley Designs
3 years agoIt’s still fairly blurry. See attached and questions highlighted in red.
- PRO
Sharon Brindley Designs
3 years ago suezbell
3 years agoTeresa
3 years agoTeresa
3 years ago
mama goose_gw zn6OH
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoIf your desired consumer group is older, empty nesters, then for
higher-end rental or resale, I'd suggest a wall oven and separate
cooktop. If you put the wall oven next to the fridge, you can complete
the corner with an appliance garage. MW drawer might also be easier for seniors to use, and appliances should still be in good shape in two years.
Even though L shaped seating on an island is not the ideal dining situation, your little space at the end will not be comfortable for four seats. The NKBA recommended minimum elbow space is 24" per seat, with 15" minimum knee space. Your perpendicular seats share knee space. I'd make the island longer, with seating on two sides. NKBA guidelines.
Teresa thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
Sharon Brindley Designs