Updated room layout and could use more input
Patty C
last month
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houssaon
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Swag update...need more input
Comments (4)Would it be possible to simply get some yellow and white gingham ribbon and trim the shade, perhaps down the sides and across the shade above the scallops? I guess you could use some fabric in a gingham to do the same thing. Or you could be funky and stamp on yellow squares with craft paint to make a yellow check pattern on the shade. I think a valance would be too much....See MoreI'm getting there - More Layout Input needed
Comments (6)Briana and LL - thanks. LL - yes - the big X is the frige (and it's about the only thing that I didn't type out with a label - oops.) Mthouse - I actually had it that way originally but we tend to entertain more casually than formally so I envision people hanging out in the keeping room and at the island more than toward th dining room (which currently is a playroom). In my previous designs, this was corner was an L and it just felt too far away from the rest of the kitchen. However, I think you made a GREAT point about unloading groceries. Thanks for the suggestion. I love the 'idea' of a butler's pantry (they are beautiful) but I just don't think it is right for how we live....See MoreAnswers to questions about layout - need more input!
Comments (5)First......What are the full dimensions of your space? All the walls, windows, doorways, etc. Very good reasons for switching. Traffic...OK Architects...yes, they're very good at designing structural elements and adding "interest", but when it comes to functionality, they pretty much get an F. The majority of architects are poor Kitchen Designers. A better idea is to get the general structural setup of the space and then design a very functional kitchen and tweak the architectural items to fit the layout. If you rarely used your kitchen (and yes, there are some people who have kitchens for "show" only), I would say go with what looks "nice" over functionality if that's what you want. But, you do use your kitchen, so I think functionality should be considered. For me, functionality usually trumps form. YMMV "island & range are on axis with the french doors"...is anyone going to notice this one way or the other? If it is noticeable, will it look too symmetrical and/or contrived? Sometimes this type of thing can actually look "too much" and stops being a nice feature and becomes more "show" or "commercial" looking. Aisle widths...if the measurements are cabinet-to-cabinet, then your aisles are actually 3" narrower than you think. Counter edges usually extend approx 1.5" beyond cabinets (to direct spills away from cabinets & doors to protect finishes). This means a 42" aisle is really 39" and 44.5" is really 41.5". With all the traffic you will probably have when you have get togethers, I highly recommend a minimum of 42" and, possibly, 48" aisles. Zone issues... Trash & Recycle...You need the larger trash bin and the recycle bin in the Prep & Cooking Zones more than you need them in the Cleanup Zone. Also, if the small trash bin is under the prep sink, every time someone needs to use it...prepping or cooking...the person at the sink will need to move out of the way. If it were me, I'd put the double-bin trash/recycle pullout in the Prep Zone and either put in a 12" single-bin trash pullout or a trash can under the sink in the Cleanup Zone...assuming the double-bin pullout is not also easily accessed from the Cleanup Zone (ideal setup). Cooking Zone/Range work & landing space if switch w/sink...do you need those shallow walls that flank both the current sink location and the entrance to the new sitting room? If not, you would gain approx 4.5" per wall that could be used for work & landing space. 18" is a little small, especially since both sides are 18" (i.e., there isn't one side w/more to make up for the lack of space on the other side). I suspect they're "architectural interest" items, at least the one b/w the DW & stair area. (This also applies to item #6.) Island orientation...have you also considered turning the island 90o clockwise so the seats back into the new Sitting Room? That might enable you to leave the range, refrigerator, etc. where they all are now. If you can provide the dimensions of the space, I could play with your layout to see how it would work... (Dimensions: overall length & width of the room, doorway/opening/window widths, widths of each section of wall space) If you can also reduce the width of those walls flanking the new Sitting Room, you add inches for the aisle b/w the island and walls. No comments right now. Moving refrigerator...aesthetic as well as function...unless you have a true blank slate and can make any changes you want, you will have to compromise on some things. In this case, ask yourself when is the refrigerator used the most and how can you mitigate the impact of the move (compromise). For example, it was mentioned that you could have a beverage refrigerator for drinks and condiments that is close to the Breakfast area. Generally, drinks and condiments aren't used for cooking but are used for meals and usually all that's needed from a Breakfast area is drinks & condiments! So, perhaps you could make the compromise on the refrigerator location functionally by putting it closer to the island workspace and have a beverage refrigerator for snackers. As to the "symmetry", I actually think moving the refrigerator is better b/c it balances the rather long wall on the Breakfast area end. You have a lot of partial walls cutting up the kitchen space, so work with those walls and use the refrigerator to at least "balance" them....See MoreWould love a little more input on my layout pretty please....
Comments (18)If there is to be no prep sink in the island, I'd do this. It gives you separate zones for clean-up, prep, and cooking without crossing into the other zones. It gives you a landing place from the fridge. You'll notice I made the sink more like a 32" single. The sink in your plan is way too small. With 32", someone can do clean-up on one side of the sink while someone else does prep on the left side. With only one sink, you really need a larger sink that allows for this type of multi-tasking. Even if only one person is working in the kitchen at a time, it's nice to have room for both tasks so you don't have to move things out of the sink continually. If you do what I like to do, which is keeping the DW door open while prepping so I can load items directly into it which makes clean-up a lot faster, your 4-foot aisle is wide enough to walk around the DW to get to the fridge. With 24" cabinets + 15" overhang for seating, the aisles is a bit tight at 42" instead of the recommended 48". This might be OK depending on how often you believe people will be sitting there when people need the bathroom or want to access the fridge without crossing through the work zones. Or it might be really annoying. You would need to consider traffic flow and how your family uses the kitchen to decide if the tighter aisle will be a problem. The sink off-center on the window is fine. You can find many photos of kitchens with sinks not centered on the window and they look fine. Also, this means that you will have plenty of room to prep in front of the window. Since most of us spend more time prepping than any other kitchen task, being in front of a window while prepping can help make things more pleasant. I encourage you to at least consider a prep sink on the island. An area without a sink often isn't used for prep work like people think they'll do because of having to wash, then carry the items across the aisle to prep on the island, and then carrying prepped items across the other aisle to the range to cook. You could always have a cutting board cut to fit into the prep sink so you have more counter space there at times where you need the extra space....See MorePatty C
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