Please help me make my beach house kitchen work!!!

14 years ago

I really have no business asking for help with another kitchen since I haven't posted finished photos of the first one yet (just a few more decorating items to complete) but I can't help myself. The kitchen in our new beach house is, IMO, a disaster. DH thinks I'm a jerk whenever I complain about it because it's big and pretty (twice the size of the one at home) but it's so dysfunctional that it puts me in a bad mood every time I cook in it. I cannot in good conscience tear it out and start over no matter how much I would like to. It's only three years old, has painted/glazed Kraftmaid cabinets, granite counters and a honed marble floor. Not my taste but nevermind. Therefore, I'm trying to find a way to modify it without spending too, too much money. The chepaest and easiest option would be to buy a John Boos table (24 x 48) and put it in front of the range but I'm worried it will get in the way. Here's the layout.

I missed a few details. There is a DW next the sink (in the corner), the 24" base cab in the peninsula is a beverage fridge and next to that is a 27" undercabinet microwave (that I also don't like). At the end of the run is the trash/recycling cab. The large 48" monolith across from the sink is a side by side fridge and next to that is a 36" pantry cabinet with some pullouts.

The two things I can't live with are the lack of drawer space (note the large base cabinets...small pullouts inside...sheesh) and the 8 ft aisle between the penisula and range. I hate prepping for a huge dinner with my back to everyone so I always prep on the penisula then haul everything over to the range. So, I was thinking I could take out the penisula and add an island with a prep sink. Here's a first draft of what I think I might like to do.

Of course, I have to make sure that there's stone under the penisula counter but I believe there is since this house wasn't built on the cheap. I could salvage the trash/recycling pull out and beverage fridge from the penisula and install them in the sink run next to the dishwaher. Then I could put two large drawer bases in the island as well as a small trash pullout next to the prep sink. If anyone sees any glaring problems or more creative solutions and would like to share, I'd love to hear what you have to say. Thanks.

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Comments (9)

mtnrdredux_gw
14 years ago
I much prefer your new layout. I don't know how the peninsula may have been affixed to the floor? Also, if the depth of the bev fridge would work in the sink run.

But I'd do it anyway.

Once you hate something you can't stop being annoyed by it ....
Adrienne2011
14 years ago
I think if you want our help, we'll need to crash there for a few weeks to get a feel for how the beach... I mean... kitchen... works.
Otherwise, our advice won't mean anything, really.

:o)
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pinch_me
14 years ago
I'm all for blowing up peninsulas! Made my day to rip mine out. I like the new plan better, too, but like Adrienne says, hard to tell for sure from here;-)
trailgirl
14 years ago
I'm kinda agreeing with Adrienne2011. Time for a GW fieldtrip?
cheri127
Original Author
14 years ago
Sorry guys. We're in the MidAtlantic. Wrong time of year to enjoy the beach here.

Any ideas for the island? I was thinking of doing the cabinets some fun color since the house has a Cuban vibe and maybe a wood countertop. Or I could do a stainless steel countertop with just the "table" part of it in wood. Not sure how it works to put two materials together.
lyvia
14 years ago
Hmm. I would make the island more T shape than rectangle. Keep the edge across from the range the same to be the top of the T, but make the "stem" a little narrower on each side. Then move the seats even closer to your prep area, and get a little more clearance room behind the seats. It would be set up for better interaction that way. You may have room to make it longer if you need more storage. Or you can keep it cozy (seat two on each side and one on the end). Maybe you could repurpose a piece of the old peninsula granite for the stem of the T.
chicagoans
14 years ago
Your island prep sink will need plumbing, which will mean tearing up more of the floor. :( Do you know what's under the floor? Is there a level under the kitchen where you can easily get to the pipes? Hopefully it's not on a slab; that would mean more work and possibly routing out concrete.
cheri127
Original Author
14 years ago
I'm hoping that the plumbing can be handled from underneath the house. There's a large crawl space. If not, then there goes my whole plan. I haven't been under there yet to see which way the joists run.

My first thought was to do a T shape but I really want a few large drawer bases so the whole island has to be at least 4 wide, preferrably 5 ft. If I deepen the overhang to 30" there should be plenty of leg room for 4 people. The aisles are around 54" on the long sides and 68" at the short side. I can't remember how much space is recommended behind a counter stool.
cheri127
Original Author
14 years ago
I have just been totally inspired by Alabamamommy's island. If I didn't do the prep sink and had a gorgeous butcher block counter there and a set of SZ fridge drawers, can I get away with having the island between the sink and main refrigerator?