If you plan to dine in current dining room space, what will you use the bumped out space for?

Hi Dilly

That's one I'm stuck on. Because I can't change the window line in the nook (and the windows at 18" off floor) I don't know what use I could have for that space other than a small supplemental dining area with round table and chairs, which I don't really need. Also what makes that space difficult is the door leading out to the balcony makes it the path of travel to get food to the outdoor dining area on the deck. So a decent sized table makes it awkward and tight to use that pathway.

Can't put any built ins there.... What to do?

I'd love to hear any clever ideas for that space.

Nook...Since you will now only have one Living/Family Room, you could use it for a small sitting room. Add a comfy chair or two and a small table and you have a quiet place for a cup of tea/coffee, a good book, and a great view.

Kitchen...with the main sink & DW in the far island, where do you plan your dish storage? In the back of the 1st island?

Personally, it doesn't feel "right". I'm trying to put my finger on what it is I don't like about it, but it's a bit elusive right now. I think it might be three islands (yes, I know, one is work table, but still...).

Do you have a layout that shows the dimensions of the space? The current layouts do not have much information regarding measurements.

Why don't you use your dining room? Is it because it's not open to the kitchen...or is it the room or location? If the space itself just doesn't 'work' as the dining room, opening the wall may not solve your problem.

Have you considered moving the kitchen to the dining room location...and maybe having the dining room where the den is, now? With the view of the atrium? That would give you a little nook/reading area off the kitchen and room to expand the dining room table into the kitchen space, when necessary.

Just an idea :)

Themi's family probably doesn't use the DR that often for the same reason we didn't in our old Kitchen/DR. The DR is off by itself, closed off from the kitchen and isolated (yes, some people like that, others don't). Plus, with a table in the kitchen closer, you're more likely to use it - even if there isn't enough room for it (our situation). It will definitely get used more once it's opened up and there's no other table available other than the work table. In our case, we use our DR all the time now.

That said, I think your idea of switching around the rooms is definitely something to consider. With the kitchen where the Den is now and the DR in the current kitchen, if you still take down the wall b/w the current DR & Kitchen, it gives you a FR/Sitting Room/Homework or Craft Room space that can be utilized if the the DR table needs to be expanded when you have a large gathering with sit-down seating. Or, you can use two tables in those instances and everyone will still be sitting together.

OTOH, if it's your goal to be able to see the kids working at the work table while you're working in the kitchen, it probably won't work.

If you want your kitchen to be a central hub, shouldn't it be comfortable for relaxing and chatting? Tossing out quick ideas without trying them out, how about

In the bay, a chair and ottoman with side table facing the kitchen it's really part of? Oversized so both kids can pile in with Dad?

With three adults, one of them an employee, two islands might work well. I don't know; outside my experience. But--one good-size island? Four people can work very comfortably at my 39x54" (not large) island, and another 3 or 4 can work on my L counter, which would all fit in the left end of your kitchen. Make yours big enough for people to sit and chat at?

On the atrium end, your family work table, but make at least a couple of chairs comfy enough to relax back in with a book while the kids play?

Hi all

Thank you so much for the thoughts!!

I will get a better layout with dimensions posted....

Buehl
I would store the dishes is the undercabinets of the counter where the current DW is located. There is a window there, so no uppers. I think Thats the best option to keep the dish storage close to the dining area, out of the other zones, and reasonably close to the DWs new location.

You are spot on for the reason why we dont use the current DR. There is a closer table. The sad thing is, the table we currently have in the nook is actually a tiny, child sized, table and bench that we used for my son's outdoor play table at our old house. We just moved and didnt want to buy anything with the upcoming remodel, and didnt have any other table that would fit. So we just stuck it there for him, not us.... It's actually a lovely wood set! Well, I sit at that tiny table 80% of the time. Literally 18" off the ground on a pint sized bench. Because its convenient, even if it's not comfortable. :p. also, the DR is currently carpet, which is difficult for a dining area. Especially with kids. So if my son is eating, we are in the nook together

I don't want to put the kitchen in the den because I want the kitchen to be "in the mix" so to speak, with the main living area. If we move to the den, it will be cut off from the rest of the space. In the current location, once the wall is removed, you will have a sight line to all other common areas from the kitchen. We want to keep that visibility.

Im def open to one big island!!

Like the idea of a comfy chair to relax with coffee in the nook mi will take a pic of the space so you can get a visual.

I dont know if theres ebough space for a comfy chair next to the work table... Will need to explore further...

I was asking if you wanted to move the kitchen to the current dining room and put the dining area in the den. That way, you would see the living room and dining room, from the kitchen...and wouldn't have to navigate around the dining room table, when going from the kitchen to the living room. It all depends on how you use your space...I love to watch movies on the weekends and have easy access to popcorn and drinks!!! :)

Lavender_lass - we'd like to keep the dining room where it is because of the view.

here is a layout with more dimenions. The perimeter counter depth is all 24"

I don't know about this exactly either. The false structural beam was so annoying (because I kept avoiding it) that I finally just erased it.

You're going to end up with a very large kitchen - about 14'-6" by 24'-11" plus two bump outs (of space) - one adding almost 4' by 15'-9" to one long edge and the top bay of ?7' by 10'.

This might sound harsh, but in your drawing, it feels like you're cramming in all kinds of design concepts and filling up every square inch with every dream you've ever had. Everyone does this at a certain point, so you're just being normal for a kitchen remodeler. Try to write down what's important to you and focus on that for the next drawing.

I don't expect you to like this drawing exactly, it's just pushing around to see what you like. People spend a lot of time talking about zones and spacing details without much talk of why its important.

To pick out something wrong with "flow" with what I drew, it's a long, long way to that cleanup sink from cooking. You become the judge as to how much that matters. I drew cleanup that way partly because it leaves more room around the dishwasher door when its open. And partly because it puts a lot of dish storage at heights that are good for you. Does that make up for the distance? Dunno, you get to judge that!

I would put the kidz area in the bay. This is partly for supervision and partly so they feel part of the family instead of tucked around the corner away from the adults. They have views of interesting stuff. Also, they have pathways to the dishes, water, ref and hopefully a micro that do not cross with the official working chefs.

I can see doing it the other way, too - but I wouldn't. Kidz jail until homework is done - locked in the corner, glorious view of a blank wall with a tv blaring that they can't see. Give them little tin cups... (and no, I'm not being that serious!)

The "business end" is tucked away (nothing to see here, move along). Counter for anywhere from one to 4 chefs with enough local storage for prep gear and pots & pans and food.

So other stuff!

I would try some other plans with different thoughts about doors to the atrium. Possibly also thinking through moving the door in the kitchen to the back yard.

I have some qualms over that beam. In the existing conditions drawing, replacing that particular wall means the beam would be in the middle of the stairs. It's actual site is important to your kitchen design.

I not sure you can do the entertainment island. I think that placing stools towards the dining room will make it just too tight for a dining room table. You'd need to have at least 5 feet between the edge of the island and the edge of the dining table to make that ok-ish. There aren't measurements for that shown, but in your current dining room, move the edge of the table about 5.5 feet from the common wall to the kitchen and see what that feels like.

Try, really-really-really try not to put the sink or the range in a corner or near the corner. What it does is make it a single person place - for the corner and 2-3 feet of counter on either side of the corner "L".