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Comments on Kitchen Layout - Please!

14 years ago

Hi,

I am re-doing my kitchen (it needs re-doing :)).

Main Goals:

- move cooktop off island

- bigger island with seating (narrow stools, mostly to be used by kids/ breakfast)

- 2 ovens

- better layout and finishings for eventual re-sale (10+ years from now)

Basics:

- 4 person household, 2 school-age kids, no cooks (although I'd like to)! Homework done at kitchen table.

- there is no traffic pattern through the kitchen really (2nd opening to formal dining room rarely used)

- the entire back length of the house is open - kitchen to left, kitchen table in middle, family room to right. No need to open any walls (I want to keep the formal dining room).

Layout drawing details:

- not to scale, it's 168" (cooktop wall) x 166.5" (sink wall) area

- appliances/sink are in black/bold text

- corner cabinet is one cabinet, I actually have been drawing each wall separately, and then combined/rotated for the layout to post here. I'm trying to work out the cabinet details (drawers/pull-outs, sizes, etc.). Sorry for the upside-down text.

- I am moving cooktop gas line and moving/adding plumbing for a pot-filler above the cooktop and for new frig location, and new venting for hood

- I am hoping to widen kitchen window and make counter-height (thanks to GW!!). Depends on cost.

- hard to see, but there is a 4.5" filler to left of frig to aid in left frig door opening (although a friend of mine has the same layout and says it's fine with a 1" filler - I know it depends on the frig as well, but I'm liking the layout with the 4.5" filler (30" uppers around hood)).

- aisles - I have a friend with 39" distance b/w island and sink/DW - we have never noticed any issue with space; also, I realize 42" behind island seating is tight, but I don't foresee these being used often (I plan to get those narrow stools that will fit right under). For some reason, I'm set on a 37" wide island :)

- I do not want a prep sink as I do not think I'd use it.

Planned finishes:

- all new stainless appliances

- stainless apron front sink - single bowl (looking at Kohler Vault)

- outer cabinets - maple w/ espresso glaze

- island cabinets and cabinets by table - cherry w/ espresso stain/glaze

- counter - granite w/ earthtones, not too dark, ogee edge

I'm hoping to avoid any major regrets - both with general layout and cabinet layout!!

THANKS!

P.S. I have 2 files to post... so bear with me...

Comments (14)

  • 14 years ago

    This next picture is directly the to the RIGHT of the picture above (follow the big yellow arrow / star).

    The cabinetry in this area contains a beverage frig and garbage/recycle cabinet for folks in the family room. The center upper cabinets will be 15" deep w/ some kind of glass / no mullions (I need ideas on opaque glass).

    I do NOT want to use this as a desk (as I have that now and it's nothing but a big mess). I plan to make the den (next to the family room) the place for all this kind of mess.

    BTW, the upper corner cabinet in the kitchen will be an angled cabinet, also 15" deep with some kind of opaque glass / no mullions as well. I want something to break up the cabinetry but don't want to have to put decorative things in there.

    Thanks again!

  • 14 years ago

    Is this the layout you are considering?
    Is the scale more or less right?
    I am sorry that the cab labels are not readable when I post it at a usable size.

    I can redo this later, or someone else can, to a larger scale with readable labels, but for now, is this correct?

    I can redo this later, or someone else can, with readable labels, but for now, is this correct? Scale really makes a difference. Is the relative size of cabs, windows, and so on correct? Are distances correct? Between cabs and sliders, for instance? I think there should be more room for the door at the bottom right, for instance. But that much space between cabs and sliders?

  • 14 years ago

    A few suggestions:

  • 14 years ago

    As well please be careful with the depth of the pantry. If it's just shelves I would go 12" deep max. If you have fancy pull outs you can go deeper. I currently have a pantry cupboard 18" deep and the things in the back get lost and are expired when you I them.

  • 14 years ago

    First, thanks for taking the time to read and comment!

    Bellsmom - yes, that is generally the layout. The bay/sliders are actually directly adjacent to the sink wall (so about 4" to the right of the cabinets, then the angle part of the bay starts. I've struggled with various design tools (my personal computer is out of commission and I can't get most programs to run on the kids' computer). I can't say the scale is perfect (e.g. 36" cab on one wall may not look exactly the same width as a 36" on a different wall (since I had to shrink the images to get it to fit). Sorry about that!

    cam349 - The pantry cabinets will be all pull-outs (24" deep). I actually have a small pantry closet w/ bi-fold door right now where the frig is in the new layout. I had to get rid of this to make room for the cooktop. Also, sink will be centered under the window for sure. Island seating - I considered an option where I had a 33" drawer bank on the left side facing the cooktop so there wouldn't be a stool there, and then wrapping a seat around the right side. Is this kind of what you're suggesting? When you say "try to keep the cabinets on either side of the island the same width" -- can you clarify? Meaning the pantry wall vs sink wall, or the island cabinetry itself? I will think about your other suggestions as well! :)

    Thanks!

  • 14 years ago

    I'm hoping to get more feedback, now that the weekend is over :).

    Thanks!

  • 14 years ago

    I'll bite.

    I had a pantry cabinet with pullouts in my old kitchen and hated it. Its really hard to find things like canned goods since you are looking down at them from the top and sometimes I had to pullout 2 or 3 drawers to find what I wanted. How about a few pullouts on the bottom - or just nice large drawers - with top cabinets that come down to the counter? They will make it easier to spot what you need and I love the look.

    I would also try to get the doors on the wall cabinets on either side of the sink the same size or very close. Have you seen cabinets on display with the same size doors that you will be using? I found that some sizes just looked to fat or too thin for my taste. I think 15 or 18 inch doors look good, anything else looked funny to me.

    I think a 15 inch drawer will be too small for much - especially if you will have framed cabinets. Make sure you know how much interior space they will actually give you.

    What will you use the beverage fridge for? Most of the ones with glass doors are made more for wine and do not get as cold as you would want for milk, beer or soda. Do a search on the appliance forum. A more practical and versatile solution might be refrigerator drawers - easier to get things out of too - without stooping.

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks! I appreciate alternative ideas since you don't know what you don't know! :)

    Pantry cabinets - I will see what kind of other options I have! I am replacing a pantry closet (34" wide x 24" deep), so I would like to have at least comparable storage space. I actually like the look of cabinets that come down to the counter as well. I'm just not sure it will provide me the same amount of storage. But I will look into it!

    Cabinets on side of window/sink -- once I get the estimate for my counter-height window, I can revisit the upper cabinets. The width of the window may change.

    15" Drawer - I think the drawing may have been too small. The smallest drawer is a 19" drawer to the right of the cooktop. I went this route to get 30" uppers to the left/right of the hood. My other cabinet layout options had a 12" upper (along with 24" cabs to the left/right of the hood). I thought the 30" uppers was a better option??? I'm struggling with the cabinet layout though!!

    Beverage frig - my husband and I drink a lot of soda. We have 4 12 packs in the frig at any time. Since we are going with a counter-depth frig, we decided to move the soda to the bev frig. I think this might be nice when we have parties too. The people in the family room can just go to the bev frig for drinks (and put their cans in the recycle bin that's right there as well), rather than walking back to the main frig. This was my rationale anyway!

    Thanks!

  • 14 years ago

    This is just an attempt to transfer what you had to a scaled drawing.
    Please check it and let me know if dimensions are wrong.
    I was unsure just how far the big sliding door is from the cabinets and how wide it is. However, if the cabs end where I have them, that doesn't matter.

    If this is correct, I and hopefully some other more capable people will play with it tomorrow. I really don't know much about layout, but I'll give it a try.

  • 14 years ago

    It must be later than I think. I posted the entry above without the layout.

  • 14 years ago

    Wow! Thank you for doing that! If I can figure out a good tool that works for me, I can make necessary changes. I'm guessing the pictures I posted were just too busy to read -- sorry about that!

    Sink wall - looks perfect

    Cooktop wall (168" total) - the 36" cooktop is actually going to be in a 42" cabinet (well, it will have an angled post on either side using 3" on either side totaling 42"). Also, there is a 4.5" filler to the left of the frig, and the frig space is 37" total

    Back wall - the left-most 24" will actually be 30" for the microwave and 2nd oven.

    Bev frig wall - the bottom will actually be 30 + 18 + 24 (bev frig) + 30

    THANKS!

  • 14 years ago

    Before I post the corrected dimensions, a few more questions:
    1. How far from the end of the cabs on the sink wall to the sliding door?
    2. How wide is the sliding door?
    3. Where will you eat meals? Do you want a table and chairs in this room?
    4. Are the correct dimensions of the kitchen area 14' x 24'?

    Sandra

  • 14 years ago

    Thanks again!

    1. How far from the end of the cabs on the sink wall to the sliding door?
    There is 4.5" to the right of the cabinets til you get to the bay area which contains the sliding door.

    2. How wide is the sliding door?
    It is 78" including trim (71" w/o trim). Note this is just the door. The door is contained in a bay area, with 2 windows on either side. The entire width of the area with the kitchen table is 138" (so say from the island to the family room).

    3. Where will you eat meals? Do you want a table and chairs in this room?
    We will eat meals at the kitchen table, so yes I will have tables/chairs in there (the table will be centered with the sliding door center).

    4. Are the correct dimensions of the kitchen area 14' x 24'?
    The wall opposite the sliding door wall is 27' long to the opening to the right of the bev frig run.

    I saw an ad with some free design software so I'll see if I can track that down....

    Thanks!

  • 14 years ago

    Well, I think this is close to the look of your proposed kitchen. I really hope some of the layout gurus come in to help you. I am bogled by where to start. I'll see if I can think of suggestions.

    People here use several layout programs. Some pretty good ones are free. Search the site and you will find them, I am sure. Until you have one, maybe this will help.

    FWIW--Here's is more or less your proposed layout