Layout help needed

18 years ago

I love this forum (fairly new member) and have seen what a great help everyone has been to others! I am hopeful that I can receive great ideas from you as well.

I am going to put new cabinets, countertops and flooring in my kitchen. We are a family of 5, and we are not able to move walls with this project. Appliance movement would be considered.

I am planning to use Showplace Cherry Hamilton or Covington (style) in a close to natural stain with caramel glaze. My white appliances will be staying - they are all new in the last 3 years. I'd like a dark granite or solid surface countertop, and am looking to use Amendoim solid wood flooring to tie in the oak trim and family room cabinets (adjoining) with the cherry kitchen cabinets. I am a little nervous about the various woods and how that will look together. Wondering if I should paint my oak window and door trim a creamy white.

But, my biggest question at this time is the layout. My kitchen works really well for me, with the exception that when we entertain, everyone hangs out around the island in my work space. I would love to have maybe 2 or 3 seats at the island, or maybe a peninsula. The initial drawings that I've tried for a peninsula seem to cost me storage space. I need to maximize the storage. My initial drawings for an extended island cut off the entrance into the kitchen from the front of the house. I'm hoping that you have other ideas that I've not thought of. Or do I need to give up my wish to have the extra seating.

The other change is that the desk area is not needed anymore. I'd like maybe a serving counter buffet with cabinets above it. Something that would look like a piece of furniture.

I'd love anyone's thoughts on how to make the kitchen work for me. It's a rather common layout, so I'm hoping others have worked through this and come up with a way.

I've drawn my current configuration it on graph paper (with the exception of a potential island extension). In some cases it's hard to see the measurements. Current space between island and DW and island and range is 36". Between island and wall next to fridge is 39 1/4". The actual pictures (link posted below) will help. My kitchen table is 40x60. Let me know if there are other measurements you cannot read or need.

Thanks so much!

Here is a link that might be useful: Pictures of kitchen as is

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Comments (5)

remodelfla
18 years ago
It's hard to tell exactly since I'm straining to read the dimensions but I think you could lose the island and add a 4' peninsula at the end of the sink wall cab run. That would allow you overhang seating for 2. Do you have room to scootch the table down a bit? You might be able to add a 2' leg at a 45 degree angle at the end of that peninsula which shouldn't impede on the traffic flow through the doorway and would give you another overhang seat. Basically, that gives you 3 24" cabinets which should more then offset the loss of the island. If you add base and wall cabinets or some furniture type piece in lieu of the desk, you'll be adding the extra storage you need. This is just an off the cuff notion. If you post your exact overall dimensions it will be easier to help you. Welcome to the forum! You're going to love this place!
suzatwork
Original Author
18 years ago
Here are two very preliminary layout drafts done by the cabinet company - one with peninsula, and one with angled island. The dimensions are easier to read on this. The linked pictures in my post above are good to see what's in the kitchen currently.

Peninsula version:
{{!gwi}}

Island version:
{{!gwi}}

After some thought on the peninsula draft, I don't like the sink in the corner. That would be the first thing people would see as they enter the kitchen. Also, they messed up the measurements on that wall - there would not be room for a 36x36 corner sink base on that wall in that configuration. And I taped out the angled addition to the island and it doesn't leave much space for people entering the room. It's almost a blockade of sorts.

As an aside, the island is currently where I do the bulk of my food prep and baking. I'm wondering how much I would miss that space if it was gone. The corner between my sink and range is too small for this task. Would an angled corner there provide more usable work space? And if I did that, would I want an angled upper cabinet? It seems like items in the cabinet would be more difficult to reach and see (deeper). Has anyone gone from a square corner to an angled corner? Do you like it?

I would appreciate some more thoughts on layout. Thanks!
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remodelfla
18 years ago
It depends on your main objective. With the island, you don't get the overhang seating you want but do keep convenient prep space (to your range). Would you consider a small freestanding prep island (think John Boos) if you used the peninsula layout? Even with the peninsula, I prefer the sink configuration under the window.
cambro5
18 years ago
your layout is a little like mine except my kitchen is skinnier (11 feet) and I don't have room for a table on the other side of my peninsula. If I had the room for an island, I would do that - especially if I had room for a table right there. It seems much more open.
rhome410
18 years ago
I would much prefer the island, but there is no room for seating with aisles that narrow. It looks like you might be trying to fit an overhang on for that, but the aisles are already minimal, especially considering there will be traffic from other rooms and the entry trying to get through there.