Kitchen reno: open-plan or kitchenette with utility
Evie
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
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herbflavor
2 years agoEvie
2 years agoRelated Discussions
please help review my kitchen reno...feedback on plans please!
Comments (15)Here's an idea: All perimeter counters and cabinets are 3" deeper than standard: -- Counters are 28.5" deep. This gives you more workspace as well as more room behind the sink for a faucet and to clean behind -- Base cabinets are 27"D. If your cabinetmaker does not offer deeper base cabinets, then pull standard 24" base cabinets out from the wall -- Upper cabinets are 15"D. This should not be a problem - most cabinetmakers today offer 15"D upper cabinets. All zones are nicely separated, which allows multiple people to work in the Kitchen at one time - preparing a meal/snack, cooking, and/or cleaning up. There are four defined Prep Zones, with potential for others throughout the Kitchen. There are 3 Prep Zones on the island - two of which are adjacent to the prep sink. The third is around the corner and while it is not directly adjacent to a sink, it's close to both sinks. There is a 2-bin trash pullout next to the prep sink. The Cooking Zone is on the wall for ease of venting. It is surrounded by ample work/landing space. There are two cabinets on the left for tray storage and pot & pan storage on the right. Additional pots & pans can be stored in the island. The Cleanup Zone is on the perimeter where dirty dishes are hidden from direct view from the Dining Room and Family Room. Both DWs flank the cleanup sink. There is also a 2-bin trash pullout b/w the cleanup sink and the range for easy access from both the Cooking Zone and the Cleanup Zone. Dish storage is located in several locations near the DWs and all to the left of the cleanup sink. This is so your dishes are located near their point of use - the Dining Room. Dishes are also stored near the DWs for ease of unloading. Finally, dish storage is located where someone can set the table or load/unload the DW without getting in the way of those preparing & cooking. Since you have a large family, you probably have more dishes than most (I grew up in a large family - six children as well - and we had more dishes than most.) Dish storage is located: -- A 24" Dish Hutch is to the left of the sink/DW. It has a 15" deep upper cabinet that goes to the counter above a 27" deep base cabinet. I recommend the first 6" to 9" of the upper cabinet be either a drawer or two or separate doors from above so you can open the doors above even when there are items on the counter. A nice thing about this arrangement is that if you are short or while your children are, dish storage is lower than in standard upper cabinets. Instead of starting 18" above the counter, storage starts 9" or so above the counter. [Note, I originally made it 36" wide, but then I remembered that you have a Utility Shaft at the end!] -- There is a 42" dish drawer in the island for additional dishes. The drawer faces the sink/DW side. With an aisle 51" wide, you should be able to have both the DW and the drawer open at the same time - nice and easy for putting dishes away! -- Finally, assuming the Utility Shaft is not as deep as the counter, I propose putting a tall dish cabinet in front of it for additional dish &^ glass storage. The refrigerator and freezer are on the periphery so both those working in the Kitchen and those just looking for a snack or putting away groceries can access it without getting in each other's way. They are also located so non-Kitchen workers do not have to cross through the working part of the Kitchen to get to them. The MW drawer is located on end of the island - near the refrigerator/freezer and a water source. Most MW'd food comes from the refrigerator or freezer and many need water added to them when MWing. As with the refrigerator, the MW is located such that both Kitchen workers and non-workers can access it without getting in each other's way. The Pantry is located just outside the main Kitchen work area. A walk-in/step-in/reach-in pantry is a much better use of space for pantry storage - it's more flexible, it costs much less, and storage is more efficient. The island has seating for eight. Two seats have 18" of knee/leg space for tall family members or visitors. The other six seats have the minimum recommended 15" overhang. This will be find for short to average height folks. There is a 12"w x 27" tall Utility pullout for broom, dustpan, swifter, etc. If you prefer, it could also be turned 90 degrees so it's a 27"W x 12"D cabinet. To the left of the pantry is a Tea/Coffee/Beverage Center. It's located outside the Kitchen proper to allow anyone to make tea/coffee, etc., without encroaching on the Kitchen's main work area. If you'd like, you could add a bar sink and, possibly, a refrigerator drawer or under-counter beverage refrigerator. Note that a bar sink is smaller than a prep sink, so it will not take up as much room. A bar sink is usually small b/c the most use it gets is to fill glasses for water or to fill a coffee maker, etc. Prep sinks, on the other hand, get a lot more use and more space is needed so they are generally larger. . . Zone Map:...See MorePaint color advice on kitchen reno that will create open floor plan??
Comments (2)The blue and green and brown are going...once 2 walls separating kitchen are gone it will all be open. It's gonna be a large space and new color will have to go down hallway too. Not sure what will look best with the carpet, trim and kitchen cabs. Go all one color? Go a darker hue of same color around cabinets/foyer? Do an accent wall? Keep it simple and just paint same color for everything?...See Morekitchen Reno plans, what do you think?
Comments (40)I think 24" is fine for a dish hutch, and you will also be able to store flatware, linens, and extra dishes in the drawers. Just make sure there is no center stile in the upper cabinet. Also, you can put an inexpensive MW on a shelf, incorporated into the pantry, as long as you include the correct clearances. I have my $80 Walmart MW in a cabinet with a door. You need at least 36" to pass between the end of the peninsula and the fridge, or the pantry cabinet. A dining table needs to be about 3' from a wall. The way the seating is drawn on your table, I can see that you might not need that much space, but the people accessing the seating on the back side will still need space to get to those seats. If you have an available table, and some large boxes, you might want to mock up the layout to make sure that both table and peninsula will fit. Your plan shows filler between the fridge and wall, so I'm assuming that's part of the final cabinet plan--having custom options is great!...See MoreComplete Kitchen Reno. Floor Plan?
Comments (11)This is a blank slate of the floor plan. The kitchen is over an unfinished basement and we have significant freedom to move water and gas lines. There is a ceiling obstruction that extends from the alcove on the exterior (left wall) across the room to the right (wall abutting the dining room). Two beams extend from the alcove across, and there is a dropped area of ceiling that is only 81” high in the area directly across from the alcove (it’s 47 inches wide). I have a young family with 3 kids between the ages of 5 and 9. We have lived here 10 years and intend for this to be our forever home. We like to gather in the kitchen and do a fair amount of informal entertaining. My current kitchen is chopped to hell and is not functional. I want more functional counter space and better function on the whole. I prize making functional use of all space. I do most of the cooking, and my husband is kitchen helper and is often doing clean up and dishes while I cook. Thanks for the tips regarding what info I need to provide. If more is needed please let me know. And thank you!!...See MoreSuki Mom
2 years agoEvie
2 years agoKendrah
2 years agoEvie
2 years agoEvie
2 years ago
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