Kitchen Layout -too stack or not, that is the ?

16 years ago

I attached a PDF of our possible kitchen layouts. Sorry the PDF is light, it was sent to me this way.

Anyway, my question is....should we raise the cabinets over the stove and sink (as in the 1st three pages) or leave them the same height and just raise the corner and the 2 end cabinets (the last 3 pdf pages). I don't want it too busy but I also don't want a long boring run of cabinets.

I was all ready to raise the cabinets over the stove and sink, but then got to thinking when you raise cabinets you typically have to make them deeper (~15 inches) that may create a problem when washing dishes and cooking on the stove.

Then I decided to make them less deep and return the molding back on the cabinets (that is what is pictured), but then I got to thinking that the microhood would stick out too far.

Now I am thinking maybe I should forget the whole thing and keep everything the same height.

Please advise me on what you think.

Thanks so much!!!!!

Below is PDF link....

http://freepdfhosting.com/21d74667f4.pdf

Here is a link that might be useful: Kitchen

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Comments (10)

ecdiskin
16 years ago
I looked at the pictures...first of all...nice space. I like the wine rack over the sink. I think the up down up down looks a little odd. But I'm wondering if your ceilings are as high as suggested in that drawing? If not, I'd add a little header/more molding and take them all the way up...you avoid dust and it gives the kitchen more volume. If you have too much space to do that, I'd consider (maybe just on one wall for variety) a second tier of doors so it looks like double cabinets. Just a thought! Good luck!
aceman
16 years ago
OK,

So I literally just went through this with my wife on our design. I wish we had the space you had :)

I give page 6 a strong vote over page 1 of your design. I do not like the up/down/up/down/up/down look at all on your layout. Your walls are quite long, i think page 6 will give it a nice look with the fridge, corner, and end cabinet all being higher it frames everything nicely.

Just my 2 cents.

Aceman
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kaismom
16 years ago
Between 1 and 6, I prefer more simple plan seen on 6.

One other option:
something in between page 1 and 6
You can raise the cabinets over the range only, which will give just the range a focal point, if you push it toward that.
ccoombs1
16 years ago
I like 6 much better. The simple clean lines are much more appealing. Also....a wine rack over a sink looks nice, but it's probably one of the worst places you can put it. Wine does not like heat or light. Over the sink, you will have steam rising and that would not make wine happy, and you will probably have good lighting there too. Plus the wine bottles poking me in the head while I do the dishes would really annoy me. lol!

Also...the crown returning onto it's self isn't a great solution. I had to do that in my kitchen because I didn't think ahead far enough. I didn't pull the cabinets out to 15" so you could tie the crown into the side. I don't love it, but it's not horrible. Just not great either.
mchaney1
Original Author
16 years ago
Thanks for all the input. I am planning on getting rid of the wine rack, my DH wanted one but could not figure where to place it. So we thought it could work there but probably not. Anyway, what would you think if we bumped the cabinets over the stove and sink forward instead of recessing them? There would be less corners and cuts with the molding, etc. I put a picture below of that option, please let me know your opinion.
bmorepanic
16 years ago
In order to fully open the doors on the cabinets next to the bumped out cabs, you'd need to reverse the door swings on the doors for 2 other cabs at the range, 2 at the sink and the two bordering the corner cab.

Using the sink as an example, the cab or cabs to the left of the sink and the right of the ref - one door should open away from the ref (so the knob doesn't damage the ref panel) and one door should open away from the sink (so the bumped cabinet doesn't injure the door). Same thing for the cabs on the right side of the sink - the left one opens away from the sink and the rightmost one opens towards the sink.

Almost every upper would open backwards of "normal" or be constrained to only a 90 degree swing.

I might vote to just do the hood over the range - they are normally around 21-27" deep anyway.
sandlll
16 years ago
I like the drawings, don't have any exp to help you out, but I was hoping you could tell me what size island that is? I like that in the one drawing there is room for 5 stools and a prep sink, it was what I was thinking of doing on an island, but I haven't figured out size needed...
mchaney1
Original Author
16 years ago
I think it is going to be 48" x 99". The designer had the idea to place a circular sink in the corner with a faucet that could swivel that way you could use the sink on both sides of the island. I thought that idea was pretty cool.

Please keep the comments coming!
sandlll
16 years ago
thanks for the info the island! That is interesting about the sink faucet.
cheri127
16 years ago
Great kitchen! I also prefer option 6. What Bmore says is true. We didn't leave any space between the hood and the cabinets next to it so we can only open those doors 90 degrees. It's not the end of the world but we do have to take care not to bang the doors on the hood when we open them.

Have you considered installing more drawer bases in place of some of you base cabinets? Drawers are so much easier to use than cabinets with pull-outs (one step operation vs 2 step). Just a thought.