What would you change about my kitchen/dining area?
Hi Houzz community,
It's time for a change! Shoot me with some ideas to update my space. How would you change my kitchen/dining area? We have a toddler... please excuse the bibs.... I'm excited to see what you suggest! :) You can't offend me!
Comments (165)
ffpalms
last month
tozmo1
last monthRelated Discussions
What should I change about my kitchen?
Comments (12)I think the three kitchens are pretty equivalent in equipment. I'm assuming that out of sight in the first one is a full sized (30") Miele oven? It depends on what you want. Which has a bigger fridge, or if you like the freezer drawers in kitchen #1, whether the grille bothers you in kitchen #3, whether you'd rather have a separate cooktop and wall oven or a range. Which has more storage. Whether you like an open kitchen or a galley, etc. (Galleys are great to cook in, but don't have the social element that open kitchens do.) Which color you like best. Viking isn't in such good odor currently, but if it's there and it works it should be fine. The design is nice. The third apartment looks older and lived in, and not so well designed. More homestyle than architectural. I wouldn't throw over the third apartment just because it wasn't brand new, if the price, location, amenities and view were right, but the pot filler sitting like a navel in the middle of sheet stainless? Not pretty. Hm... Looking again, maybe it is a new kitchen. If so, it's a bit, um, yellow-beige. It might look a lot better in person. Also, in my opinion, a built in espresso maker is an attractive toy. If you have continental breakfast with cappuccino every morning, it's useful. If you only make espresso for twee little dinner parties, not so much. But considering the sizes of these kitchens, it doesn't waste enough space to get really mad about it. Keeping all the stainless in kitchen #2 spotless and smudge free, and the same for the gloss white in kitchen #1, might be a big problem if you don't have daily help. Especially in kitchen #2 if you allow people to sit at the island and their shoes hit the stainless. From that point of view, the bland kitchen #3 would be the easiest upkeep. In terms of quality, I think they're all in the range you're looking for, so the thing I'd really really check out, like bring a ventilation expert with you when you go see, is the hoods. Make sure they really vent to the exterior. See how much they really draw, find out where the exhaust exits and what your responsibility, vs. the board/association/freeholder or whatever, is for keeping it clear of nests and other maintenance is, and find out if the hood isn't adequate for you what you are or are not allowed to do to improve it. For instance, are you allowed inline blowers? (Is that a stupid question for an NY apartment? I've only been in NY for four days in my life and was baffled the whole time.) Oh. I guess that's an assumption, that you'll be able to see before buying? I know some people buy from abroad. Consider we're talking apartment in New York with big kitchen, however, my guess is this really is the equivalent to a house in Beverly Hills. In BH, people tweak their new spaces to suit themselves. This is why I think the ventilation is the most important thing. You're not likely going to be able to change the ductwork or anything like that, and it's probably not worth the money and hassel even if you could. The rest can be altered slightly. For instance, I agree with Rococogurl that putting in a Wolf rangetop would compromise the design of kitchen #1, but it would still look fine, and might be just the thing to make it less clinical. (And the Miele should be fine to cook on and keep the architecture intact.) As for the rest, I'd think those other things, like location, parking (if you have a car), amenities, rooms, bathrooms, location, storage, view, location, square footage, outdoor space/access and location, are more important than the specifics of the kitchen....See MoreWhat would you change about this layout?
Comments (19)Dunno if you want another pair. These are variations of your plan with bonus expenses. For traffic reasons, I'd more the doorway to the dining room up by the cleanup area and I'd for sure move the door to the backyard - either by cutting a new door at the edge of the family room or replacing a window with a door in either the family room or dining room. Sometimes I don't think more cabinets = more capability to cook efficiently. I'm not so sure that making the kitchen a lot bigger is a good answer here. So this shows two variations of the dining room wall and the stair wall and the island. By closing off the existing door to the dining room and replacing the exterior door with a window, you could use a round table in the nook area (with or without a banquette). The island can be longer than it was. The blue markings show a 12" (could be 14") deep pantry on the dining room wall, the oven slides over, the island becomes a little shorter than the gray version and I moved the cooktop onto the stair wall - giving you an island that only has a prep sink on it. The gray version has a very long island, shown with cook top and prep sink. Unfortunately, that comes combined with less defined pantry space. But you get a really long back counter that could have every countertop appliance ever made. On both versions, the stair wall cabinet run is a little shorter and ends in a tall cabinet that faces the family room - meant either for decorative items (tall, open cabinet about 30" long and wall cabinet depth - glass doors and lights) books (30" open cabinet, no doors, wall depth) or storage of child foods (30" closed cabinet) with cereal, snacks, etc. Aside from flattening the cleanup run, I took the wall cabinet off between the sink and family room - shelves holding everyday dishes would be much lighter visually and leave the cleanup person connected to family room activity. The remaining wall cabinet is a little deeper than normal (13-15" deep) to accommodate glassware and service dishes that you may want out of sight....See MoreWould you look at my kitchen and living area again?
Comments (20)I do not remember the backsplash at all. I just have a vision of looking into a kitchen that does not look like a kitchen from the entry. Did you go back through all your old posts on your kitchen remodel. I bet it was done before Houzz took over. I remember your frustration of opening the front door looking directly into your kitchen and what to do about it. I do not remember when it was. I do remember it was a long thread with lots of comments....See MoreWhat would you change (or not change) about your walk in pantry?
Comments (27)I don't have a walk-in but I love having a spot on the wall in my pantry (a plug) to hang my little dyson stick vac. The rest of my cleaning items (steamer, vacuum, brooms etc) are in a place a little more remote but it's handy having the vac hanging on the charger since that's the one I use at least every day. I would also keep a convenient spot for my step ladder, even though I'm not exactly short, it's still handy to have near the kitchen. My current house is an old farm house [it completely lacks storage] so the few little closets I do have end up storing lots of random stuff so I have drawer for batteries, flashlights, extension cords, tape, random household tools/nails (so I don't have to go out to the detached garage to hang a picture or change the batteries in a kid's toy.) Not saying that is ideal persay, but depending on your situation and floorplan just something to consider. Oldbat's pantry is gorgeous, but I think I'd go insane when nothing was ever put back in it's proper spot! LOL perhaps it's just easier on my anxiety to just have it a free for all to begin with!...See Moreffpalms
last monthThe concentric circles represent the vaious tones from your cabinets, countertop, backsplash, appliances and floor. The art with the same tones helps pull everything together.
Girlmom101
last monthFirst 2 doors are on. We ended up keeping the original doors.
We ordered gold handles.
Jenny
last monthGirlmom101
last month
PROBeth H. :
last monthlast modified: last monthffpalms
last monthThese aged brass pulls have a more rustic look that would look great against both the white and black cupboards. Also, they don’t have an open end that could snag clothing.
Jenny
last monthffpalms
last monthshirlpp
last month- PRO
Beth H. :
last monthlast modified: last monththe gold are way too modern (and overdone) for your style. stick traditional or maybe even cup pulls for the drawers?
https://www.myknobs.com/Cabinet+Hardware/Cup+Pulls/_/N-category+Cup_Pulls
you could try spraying what you have. but amazon has some nice choices.
(10 for $25) check Cosmas (and if you scroll down, a hundred other sellers will pop up)
I Love this style (koofizo maybe?)
Cauldham 10-pack
Girlmom101
last month- PRO
Beth H. :
last month ffpalms
last month
kazzh
last monthGirlmom101
last monthLittle update... we're getting there. Man, does this take a long time. Please excuse the mess
tozmo1
last monthlast modified: last monthWonderful progress! It's going to be beautiful. Now that I see the bigger picture, get a can of Rustoleum and spray the top hinges white and the bottom hinges black. The hinges aren't decorative and to my eye, distract from the hardware that can be decorative. When I spray painted my hinges white I also sprayed the screws. The easiest way I found was to stick the screws into styrofoam and spray them. If you have a few nicks when you reattach, touch it up with a bit of white nail polish (a tip from a contractor).
RedRyder
last month
Helen Jacobs
last monthffpalms
last monthI like the utility of the styling on your first shelf. That shelf in particular should be for things you reach for often. For the upper shelf, you might want to display less used items, and perhaps lean a small art piece that will help tie everything together.
tozmo1
last monthGirlmom101
last monthUpdate... just waiting to put bamboo window treatment up.. and a few more touches
ffpalms
last month
tozmo1
last monthlast modified: last monthGirlmom101
last monthThank you all so so much!
This is the coffee bar on the opposit wall. Still need to order a coffee grind canister and a wall mounted mug hook.. maybe black mugs?
ffpalms
last monthBlack mugs would look great. These are from Target and also pull in the colors in your dining room.
RedRyder
last monthffpalms
28 days agoThe black and white looks so crisp and clean. I love the choices you made. The Before and After is incredible.
stiley