Starting Kitchen Reno--need layout advice
km51571
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
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Advice on Kitchen Layout/Ideas (First Kitchen/First Home)
Comments (6)Luckily, I still had Firefox open so I didn't lose the hours of work I put into it...so here's my reply...again! Ideally, kitchen work flows from Refrigerator/Pantry --> Sink --> Range. However, some common sense does have to be present in that you don't want the refrigerator too far away from the range if you can help it. For example, if you have a refrigerator + 36" counter + 36" sink + 24" DW + 12" cabinet + range...that's probably over 9'...but you can usually do better than that. You also want to be careful where things like the DW are placed...you don't want it in the Prep Zone or in the direct path b/w the range & sink or refrigerator & sink. So, with these comments in mind... First a question...do you need the eating area in the kitchen? You mention a DR...would you be willing to give up seating in the kitchen for a spacious work area? If so, a couple of the plans below will give you that. If not, well I did some w/seating as well. I know you put appliances in specific locations, but if you're open to other ideas, how about something like the first two? They both maximize counterspace where you really need it...between the range & sink for prepping. While they both move the sink out from directly under the window, the still leave the sink very near the window. Since most people spend 70% of their time prepping and only 20% cleaning up, a prep space in front of the window seems like a nice setup. In one case, I added a corner pantry with 12" deep shelves & 15" deep shelves. Most people find that 12" to 15" deep shelves are deep enough and that 18" or deeper are too deep...things get lost. Myself, I have a corner step-in pantry similar to what I put in for you in Layout #1. All my small appliances except my toaster oven fit on the 12" shelves. The 15" shelves provide deeper storage "just in case"...it turned out my potato bins are 15" deep...so it was perfect! [Drywalled pantries are usually less expensive, btw, than pantry cabinets.] In the second layout, I added 5 feet of 18" deep pantry cabinets instead. With an 18" deep pantry cabinet, you have approx 16" to 17" deep shelves inside (account for front & back wall depths). In the third layout, there's a 33" pantry cabinet. (More on the third layout later.) This gives you 3 options for a pantry. Here are the first two layouts that are different than what you specified...note how open the kitchen is with these layouts and how much counter & cabinet storage you have. Layout #1 Layout #2 Layout #1A (Layout #1 w/an eating area) This next one has a small eating area...basically, room for two. It allows you to have a little more room for counters/cabinets than the full-size eating area. (It also shows you more options for seating in the kitchen.) Layout #1B (Layout #1 with small eating area) Layout #3 tries to give you the appliance arrangement you specified while also giving you some decent work space. However, notice how the refrigerator/pantry wall, especially, is "heavy". You come very close to creating a "black hole" corner b/c of the bulk of the refrigerator so close to the window wall. The other issue is that the DW is in the path b/w the sink & range...which is also the space that's most logical for prepping. This first one has the small eating area. It allows you to have a little more room for counters/cabinets than a full-size eating area. Layout #3 Layout #3A Full eating area (like in Layout #1A) ... Which is my favorite? Layout #1. I think it has the best of everything...lots of pantry storage + lots of cabinet & counter space and better balanced with respect to counter space than the others. If some seating is a must, then Layout #1B....See MoreHelp! Kitchen Starting Sooner than Planned! Layout Question
Comments (28)Love your views! How about a U with a long, tall wall like this: This gives you a prep/cook zone that is protected from traffic. It also gives you more prep surface. The peninsula nearest the DR could also be used as a buffet area. The fridge is balanced by the oven/MW column. The placement of these appliances could be swapped so that the fridge is closer to the prep sink. Or you could move the prep sink to the seating peninsula and have it do double duty as a bar sink when you entertain. Another option is a galley lay-out with a ginormous island with cook top and prep sink. The island would be 51" to 54" deep, seating at the dining room end. Something like this: If you said, I missed it. Do you have to work on the contractor's accelerated schedule? A kitchen remodel is a big deal and expensive. My advice is to take the time to get it right so that you have no regrets later....See More1983 Kitchen...would love some advice please to start my planning
Comments (25)This post and photos were from the previous owner, before we actually moved in...we have now been in for about 5 weeks. Making a few changes elsewhere first and now on to planning out the kitchen. After living here and feeling things out, the closed off kitchen doesn't feel so bad. I have a dilemma now that I am going back and forth on, to open up the kitchen to the back den or leave it with same footprint and remodel it. One pro for leaving footprint is that the kitchen is not a pass thru for grandkids to run back and forth, con is that means I can't pass thru either. I need to make decisions because we are adding more hardwood flooring and if we open up the kitchen it changes things. Does using the same footprint really make a big difference in cost, time, etc of the remodel? Last kitchen I did, I gutted and changed entire layout, part of me just wants to keep things simple and stay true to the original design. Not spend the money and time making huge changes. I guess being a little older now, the big kitchen remodel isn't as exciting as it was the last time. Of course I want it to be beautiful and functional but simple as well. Thanks for any advice...See MoreHelp new kitchen! Keep layout? Start fresh?
Comments (23)My two cents, sorry I'm going to be harsh. You need to rip it out. It looks like it was "updated" to sell the house. The cabinets look original wood painted over in that awful color. The appliances then where given a makeover with "new" panel fronts, they are also awful and go with nothing. The backsplash and countertop was to make it look "current"?!??? Anyway, you should live with it for a moment because it needs to be completely reworked. The kitchen has seen better days. The biggest obstacle or deciding factor that I see for the overall aesthetics is your floor. Is this the floor throughout? Are you up for changing? That range is beautiful and can be a great centerpiece for your kitchen once the layout and is reworked. I know you mentioned not wanting to knock down walls, but the hallway at bottom where the sink is might be a contender or at least opening that and taking out the wall on the other side of the hallway to living room? Close the corner opening and open up the middle section near the sink and add seating on the opposite side of sink. Add full wall cabinets where the range is or where the fridge is to give you storage that will be taken away from opening the middle section near sink. Or moving the range to be centered on the back wall with a cabinet depth fridge and pantry cabinet flanking on the ends. You have lots of potential/possibilities just need to see how the space works, what your needs are and what your dream kitchen looks like. Good luck and congrats on your new home!...See Morekm51571
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