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jenseattle_gw

Need your help (and creativity!) with layout

jenseattle
15 years ago

Hi everyone!

My husband & I are re-doing our kitchen and will likely start demo/construction in the next six months. We have been playing around with some layout options and would love your input on a few things. Here are some notes:

1. We are working within a tight budget, so we're constrained to the current footprint (8.5' x 12'). We looked into knocking down walls, moving windows, etc. and it's just not feasible.

2. There are only the two of us living here and I'm the only one that cooks. We only use the kitchen for cooking (don't need any eating space or other work space).

3. Our house was built in 1942 and we want the kitchen to feel like it "fits" with the rest of the house (a small bungalow).

I got some great design advice on IkeaFans (we're using Ikea for cabinets), but I'm stuck on a couple of points and hope you can help. In the layouts below, you can see that the wall to the right of the entrance from the dining area is currently empty. What I would love to do here is to use this space for baking and store my kitchenaid mixer and some other supplies. I've been looking at hutches with slide-out work tops/shelves and think this may be a nice solution. Given the placement of the window, we're confined to 18" depth in whatever goes there. Your thoughts/ideas are most appreciated for this space.

I'd love to hear any overall thoughts on the layout. This design swaps the current placement of the fridge and range to gain additional counter space and a pantry by the fridge. Obviously, with the limited space, there are only a certain number of designs that would work. ;)

Some images:

1. The layout we're working with: http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8d834b3127ccec40a042d47b000000025108CbMmjJs5bg9vPgA

2. A 3D version of that layout: http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8d834b3127ccec40aa0d7471800000026108CbMmjJs5bg9vPgA

3. Photo of dining-to-kitchen view:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8d834b3127ccec40ad7db868700000026108CbMmjJs5bg9vPgA

4. Photo of area I'd like to put hutch/baking center:

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8d834b3127ccec40aa099475600000026108CbMmjJs5bg9vPgA

5. Photo of current range/fridge placement (to be swapped in new design):

http://im1.shutterfly.com/procserv/47b8d834b3127ccec40a24e6c65b00000026108CbMmjJs5bg9vPgA

Thanks very much for your feedback and thoughts!!

Comments (11)

  • remodelfla
    15 years ago

    I think you might have trouble finding a hutch only 18" depth which really isn't much for baking anyway. It looks like you have almost 3'. What if you were to put standard depth cabs for about 30" the curve the granite/stone/countertop in to meet the window? That would give you more depth and not impede on the window frame.

  • jenseattle
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    I've found a couple 18" hutches, but agree it's not much space. Unfortunately, the window is so close to the floor that cabinets can't be extended there and there really is only 18" b/w the "hutch wall" and the window. It's becoming the albatross of our kitchen remodel!

  • remodelfla
    15 years ago

    Don't extend the cabs to there. Let's say it's 3' from the door to window. Build them to 30" for example; then curve in the granite to the window frame. You can fill in the space with a filler. I don't think it'll look weird with the countertop butting up against the window frame even though it's above the height of the bottom of the window. If I had a decent CAD program I'd try and draw it for you.

  • jenseattle
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    That's an idea we considered, but our thinking was that the cabinets would look odd positioned that way and would cut off a lot of the light from the window.

    Here's a hutch we thought about:

    http://www.homelement.com/products/Dining-Room-Furniture/Buffet-and-Sideboard/Camden-Light-Server-American-Drew_11159.html

    We have (I think) about 4' along that wall, so there's decent space length-wise, we just lack depth there.

  • remodelfla
    15 years ago

    We must be thinking of different things because with what I have in mind it wouldn't block the window at all. I probably didn't explain it right, unless you're worried that the cabinet depth that didnt' reach the window would block light?

  • laxsupermom
    15 years ago

    I saw a kitchen in one of those British kitchen porn magazines that I'm always poring over with basically what remodlfla described to tackle a problem window. It looked great, but then don't all new kitchens look great in those mags? I'll try to dig out the mag for you. I'm a newbie so I don't know how to post yet, but if I find it I'll make DH post it.

    That's a cute hutch. Especially for a wineaux like me:) I don't think there's enough room to roll out dough on it though.

  • remodelfla
    15 years ago

    Kinda sorta like this:

    I apologize for the pathetic pic. I have to do my work on Excel

  • jenseattle
    Original Author
    15 years ago

    I'd love a link to that magazine if you find it--we're so "stuck" on this one part of the layout.

    Another option is to build a bench out of cabinets and create a nook with table like this:

    {{!gwi}}

    {{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}

    {{!gwi}}{{!gwi}}

  • laxsupermom
    15 years ago

    I looked and looked and couldn't find it. I think it may have been a February issue of one of the British ones as I remember flipping through it during an extra week of playoffs practice. I'm sorry I wish I could've found the pic for you because I remember thinking what a great way to preserve the light from that window.

    OTOH I do like the table idea. At my previous house I had a butcherblock topped table in my kitchen that I did all my dough rolling on and there was enough room for child helpers too. HTH.

  • Buehl
    15 years ago

    I think this is what RemodelFla means...

    In the shallow part, you could put a ceiling to counter cabinet there for a hutch-like look that would also provide you with much more storage attractively. Then, the rest of the counter space b/w the "hutch" and the door could be 24" or 30" deep with 12" or 15" deep uppers above for even more storage.

    OR...if you want a lot more storage, have you considered a run of 18" deep pantry cabinets along that portion of the wall? (Personally, I would rather have the additional counterspace + storage provided in upper & base cabinets)

  • Buehl
    15 years ago

    Oh...and I can't think of a reason why you couldn't have some cabinets under that shallower counter. You'll probably need some filler to clear the window trim, but a set of drawers or roll out trays/shelves would be nice there.