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Kitchens Remodeling

Can this island be bigger?

last year

Major kitchen reno. The kitchen layout is attached. I want at least an 8ft long island but this one is just under. Do you think we should/could make it longer? There is a column to the right bottom corner of the island (pictures as a little square)- it is off to the side and not incorporated with the island. To the right of the island is a staircase so it can't go too far to the right but maybe another 6-8in? Anything else you may do differently?

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Comments (9)

PRO
Joseph Corlett, LLC
last year
Start countertop shopping now and make sure your top will fit in one piece please.
PRO
Adama Engineering
last year
Get in a structural engineer to investigate getting rid of those posts. Or a better kitchen designer who would incorporate them into the island design. The halfway measures shown are the worst possible choice for dealing with them.
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I can understand that making a difference in what you might want...But does someone leave daily and can grab the trash and take it out on the way? Or use it as an exercise opportunity? (running up and down our stairs is nearly the extent of my 'fitness routine' and I welcome it as such) I don't know how old any kids in your household might be, but mine seem to always have energy to burn (even if they don't always realize it or want to use it) and could do 4 floors in no time. I'm not trying to be flip, or discount your concern, but I'd still value the larger sink over the 2 more gallons of room in the trash.
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Hehe, got a tidbit from someone looking over my shoulder while I was in this thread. She's a bit of a clothes horse.. She suggested a full closet gallery. Cut the bedroom down to 12x16 (you only sleep there anyway if all your closet is elsewhere), leaving the south wall open for a 4x16 shoes and shiney/jewlery section. Run the bathroom and closet long like I originally suggested with the even 8x18 division, closet also on the south end. Run the south end with lots of windows (frosted of course) for natural light with benches/storage under the windows for folded clothes, breaks/divisions between windows tall boys of storage for smalls like socks, ties, scarves, unmentionables, ect. The full run of the 18 feet along the bathroom wall being for hanging storage. With breaks for a couple dress dummies. All with bottom to top shades on the windows, with additional lighting worked in too. She wasn't sure how to work the bathroom.. I had to remind her it needed at least access from the bedroom to count as a master bath, lol. But I thought it an interesting off the wall addition to suggest here. I thought my own suggestion of two longs instead of two blocks a shake up. I do like the two blocks as is as well.
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Kitchen Island size
Q
Comments (37)
Thank you all for your input. Lots of things to think about. Will update when I have news to share on progress. @onedevoteddame, I like the idea of lemon and lime trees. Unfortunately, we live in the northeast so it can’t grow here. I thought of growing them indoors and even thought of other plants (like indoor olive trees or calamansi which are small Asian limes), but I can’t keep any plants alive. I’ve killed about 100 stalks of bamboo the past few years so I’ve given up. @thinkdesignlive, we don’t like the clerestory window. We think that a 7’ window which faces south should give us enough light. My husband is adamant about keeping the stove where it is so I would need to work with that. He doesn’t have many asks with this home building process after all. I think I will move the fridge to the side where the sink is and do narrower cabinets on the other two walls like mark suggested. I have a collection of plates. A lot. I can probably put them there.
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Should I keep sink centered in island or make it bigger?
Q
Comments (10)
Yes that is what caught my eye too. In the overhead plan, I can see that the sink is centered in the island, but it is off center slightly to the cooktop. I can tell by your perimeter cabinet design that you probably like things symmetrical. I do too. That said, I would do the bigger island, end lined up with the perimeter, with the sink centered. A little more prep space next to the sink is always a good thing. Because it is a big work sink with two faucets, I think it will function (and look) best in the center. That way two people can work side by side at the sink with there own faucet and have the same amount of prep space beside it. To me having the sink look obviously off from the cooktop will look way better and more planned then having it just slightly off center to the cooktop. I would also add a few more inches to both isles, but at least on the refrigerator side.
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cpartist
last year
Why the L shaped island?
honey_pie
Original Author
last year
We did have a structural engineer and we are able to recess a beam but were told we would need to posts. Our kitchen designer did incorporate one of them. The island isn't L shaped. It's rectangle the cabinets are L shaped to ensure space for seating. The granite slab will fit the island we have confirmed.
cpartist
last year
It still creates an L shape. Why not just have seating at a rectangular island?
HU-249558342
last year
Why not create that larger island with the second post? Instead of a really awkward pinch point?
Lyndee Lee
last year
I would rather have a visible beam at the ceiling than a post in the middle of the floor. When I see such a post, I think OK, it is a basement but in above ground space, my brain says steer clear of this structural problem.
sena01
last year
Can you turn the island 90 degrees? the way it's arranged in your layout a large part of the island is outside the kitchen.

I'm not clear about the numbers written over the cabs. If these show the width of the cabs, there seems to be a lot of narrow cabs. If you're planning a 33" corner cab consider a 36" instead, as a lot posters find 33" ones hard to use. Also an easy reach corner upper instead of an angled one may be better.

I came up with this assuming that you'll have a eating area on the south.

On the island there are 2x24" cabs facing the fridge, 2x36" cabs, one facing the dining table, one facing the range wall plus 15" o/h.
HU-918119203
last year
The simple answer is yes, it can be larger. The aisles on both sides of the kitchen are wider than necessary.

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