Calling floorplan experts -- lower level kitchenette

17 years ago

Hi everyone, I know many of you are what I consider experts at this stuff, so here goes! Hubby and I and builder and cabinet people have been racking our brains trying to figure out a different way to do the kitchenette in this lower level.

We do not like how close the stairs is to the kitchenette and how we might feel like we're stepping right into the kitchenette with the current layout.

Ideas:

*Reverse the kitchen so bar stool backs are at the bottom of the stairs. Opening to the rec room area.

*Reverse the kitchen but have a counter wall as you come down the stairs. The counter would form a "T" with the top of the T being toward the rec room where bar stools would be. No bar stools as you come down the stairs.

*Keep layout as is, but shorten the bar stool counter by 2-3 feet.

Considerations:

--The post that is currently in the corner of the kitchen bar counter can be moved.

-- The stairs cannot be moved.

-- The back wall of the kitchen bordering the bathroom cannot be moved.

-- The kitchenette can be much smaller. I just want some serving area, room for 3-4 barstools, a fridge, small sink and microwave. Don't need much storage here.

ANY IDEAS ARE WELCOME! Thank you so much for looking at this.

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Comments (5)

phillipeh
17 years ago
Probably the easiest thing to do would be to keep it like it is, but shorten the bar facing the rec room. You could possibly push part of the kitchette into the mechanical space behind the fridge. Or have the counter wall facing the stairs with cabinets along it, cabinets along the wall backing up to the mechanical room, cabinets along the bathroom wall, and opening to the kitchen facing the rec room.
homey_bird
17 years ago
I see that you have a sink by the wall in there. Is there any way for you to relocate that? If there is, then you are better off relocating the entire kitchenette. You are right in that when you go down the stairs, currently you sort of just get into the kitchen and get trapped there.
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shelly_k
Original Author
17 years ago
Yes, the sink can be moved. We haven't starting plumbing rough in, so that is not a problem. But, I don't know of a better place to put the kitchenette, honestly. Any thoughts?
bungeeii
17 years ago
Walking down the steps to a refrigerator protruding into the room will be hard to tolerate. (They always look so much smaller in the drawings.)

You might consider putting the fridge on the wall where the sink is. Put the sink on the wall that the fridge is currently on. Maybe just take the counter down that wall, put in a lazy susan to round the corner, then place the fridge there, with the doors facing you as you walk down the steps.

Instead of boxing in the kitchenette, you might consider leaving it all open and placing a "counter height table" and chairs to form a bar area where the current bar closes in the room.
crazyhouse6
17 years ago
Is the game room space required there or could that fit in the bumpout area? I can't quite read your smaller print, so I'm wondering where your walkout door is. I personally like having the kitchenette and bathroom near the back door for entertaining on the patio and kids coming in for water or popsicles. It's nice to have that area stained concrete or tile rather than tracking the mess onto carpet. Could you move the toy storage where the kitchenette is and relocate the game room, although I'm guessing that would make the kitchenette area larger than you would have liked. Just a thought...