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Remodeling Design Dilemma Kitchens

Kitchen Design - Awkward Space

3 years ago

Greetings All!

I would like to remodel my kitchen but don't want to keep the same layout as it there is a lot of wasted space and weird usefulness.

A previous owner decided to add a space onto the house that bridged the existing kitchen to the garage and added a French patio door. The garage door didnt exactly line up to the house, so they "made it work" This caused the no consistent room size that is throwing me for a loop.

That and all the scattered windows and doors has me reeling at how to design this space.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

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Comments (8)

decoenthusiaste
3 years ago
This wold be for a table at the end of a run of cabinet with all drawers.

Here's the idea on an island with counter height stools
The Woodshop of Avon · More Info

The Woodshop of Avon · More Info

You could exchange the French doors for a sliding version to keep the floorspace open. You could just move the range peninsula on the 'west' side if you don't want any dining space. Although we can't see what's on the wall opposite the garage door, you could gain great storage by taking drawer counters to the 61" window and putting them in the peninsula. You might change to an induction cooktop with more storage drawers and put a stacking oven/micro on the fridge/micro wall. Drawers handle so much more stuff than shelves do and are more accessible.
Casey Neuharth
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks! Interesting idea. I love the info about drawers and I tend to agree with the wasted space.

There is nothing on the wall opposite the garage door and I am siding the house this spring and can remove the window next to the garage door if there are other ideas that make use of that.
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The biggest problem with the original space was the lack of countertop/work space. Moving the refrigerator will definitely help. I'm guessing you'll add a dishwasher too? Maybe a mini (24") so you can also have a narrow cabinet for baking sheets or a pull-out spice rack. Looks like you might have room across from the kitchen on the opposite wall for a 12 in deep floor to ceiling pantry, the width of the kitchen for extra storage. And a small rolling cart with a butcher block top could be stored by the window, but brought out into the center for an extra work area. Depends on how much you need to store, and how much you cook. If you're in New York or something and don't cook much. I'd keep things pretty minimal.
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Thanks for the catch, got it uploaded now.
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OK, so it sounds to me that you are trying to do this little kitchen on the sly. I'm going to say you need a drain for a washer/dryer and sink. Yes you have one where the sink is now, but I'm advocating moving the sink. If it is possible to move the window near your sink, I would. I'd put a stackable washer/dryer in a cabinet to the right of that window. I'd have lower cabinets along that wall with a corner easy reach wooden lazy Susan. Then I'd put the kitchen sink under the next window (yes, have the window above the sink). The dishwasher to the left of the sink and then more cabinet space, then a counter depth full size refrigerator/freezer also in a cabinet (which could have an icemaker) and a pull out cabinet. The seating area would be in the middle. In the space between the doors, I would put pantry storage. It might have to be two 42" wall cabinets stacked on each other with extra depth (yes, you can do that). Check out Starmark cabinets. They've got all kinds of great organizational cabinets and even a bread board. Their reputation is good and they appear to have quality cabinets. I know about them because I'm designing a new kitchen for my small space and have researched about 40 cabinet manufacturers. You could have your microwave under the counter or on top. Code requires a landing space within a certain number of inches from a fridge, which is why I put some between it and the sink. It's always nice to look outside while at the sink. Also, it's probably not that much to move the windows up or replace them (worth the money). Smaller appliances cost as much as the full sized ones, so I wouldn't compromise on the fridge/freezer. All this being said, if you cannot move the windows, then I would put a storage cabinet where the current sink is, a bench seat under the window, then sink, dishwasher, stackable washer/dryer in a cabinet. Left of the next window would be a refrigerator and cabinet space. The seating area would still be in the middle. The narrow depth pantry space would be the same as previously mentioned. Since the whole area is small, it's not far from the fridge to the sink and you still have landing space around everything. Good luck with your project! Oh, and you can get counter top induction cook tops (2 burner) and wonderful convection microwaves, both plug into regular wall outlets. I get that you just put those windows in, but it's still better to replace the one near the current sink than to have a horrible layout. Can it just be lifted the 10" you need, having it start at counter top height?
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mama goose_gw zn6OH
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Would it be feasible to 'fill in the blank' in the area of the window you spoke of removing? You could extend the kitchen into that space and have the minimum aisles and island with seating. If you need a support post for a new beam, it could go between the sink and range. You'd need to use a narrow base cabinet on each side of the post, but the space in front could be used as a slot for cutting boards.

Short wall and sink area would stay m/l as is. Normally I'd put the DW on the other side, but when the door is open it would interfere with traffic from the entry. Adding a sink to the island, to make that the primary prep space, would help. This is rotated, and not exactly to scale:

If another support post is necessary, it could be added on the back of the island, and cabinets rearranged, but only three seats would be used:

It would be nice to have some counter space beside the fridge, so the MW could go in an upper cabinet:

ETA, a quick idea using the existing footprint, but it would mean adding plumbing and possibly some imaginative venting if you can't go straight up:

NKBA guidelines

New to Kitchens? Read me first.
Casey Neuharth
Original Author
3 years ago
I would love to fill that space and make it a true rectangular room, but if you look, the garage door is inset into that external cavity which is why they did it to begin with. It gives me a two car garage but only if I pull one car in and then the other. The first car being stuck until I take the later out again.

It’s a mess.
Casey Neuharth
Original Author
3 years ago
Wow. I love the bottom picture idea! I could make that work.
mama goose_gw zn6OH
3 years ago
I was thinking the garage must have a window, because how could you get a car in there if that was the door? Oh, my.
Casey Neuharth
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you all for the assist on designing this weird space.

Here is what I ended up doing. 😊
Casey Neuharth
Original Author
2 years ago
FYI - A couple doors and drawer fronts are on back order.

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