Kitchen Layout (15x15) and Ceiling Ideas

13 years ago

Our "new" house (1957) has a 15x15 space for the kitchen with an adjoining 10x15 dining area. I'm looking to make the most of the space. We have a young family and the kitchen is not frequently show-worthy, so a fully open plan isn't in the cards, but keeping it open to the dining area is appealing to us. My wife is keen on an island and double ovens. I'd like a real vent hood and a traditional style (white shaker inset door cabinetry, crown moulding, and possibly a coffered ceiling). The existing house has a large fireplace occupying a 30"x120" strip on the left side (relative to the drawings below). I'm thinking of tearing it down completely and replacing it with a wall pantry and wall oven/micro). The second oven would be in the range. There is 48" between all the countertop surfaces, leaving a 7'7" x 3'5" island in the middle.

I'd love to hear ideas on the layout as well as design thoughts for the ceiling treatments.

Thanks for looking!

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Comments (7)

TanCalGal
13 years ago
I love the idea of a fireplace in the kitchen. Drool. I think a fireplace in the kitchen would be a wonderful feature for resale, too. Instead of totally removing FP, could you make it smaller?
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Darren Hart
Original Author
13 years ago
I should have been more specific, the chimney is in the kitchen, the fireplace is in the living room on the other side :-) The idea would be to replace the fireplace with a gas one that didn't require 30 square feet of masonry!

For the space we have to work with, I'd much rather have the storage than the fireplace in the kitchen.
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TanCalGal
13 years ago
Then why did you ask the question?
Darren Hart
Original Author
13 years ago
Don't get me wrong, I appreciate any and all feedback. I was specifically seeking feedback on the use of the 15x15 space and the ceiling treatment, rather than whether or not to remove the chimney.
TanCalGal
13 years ago
OK. Misunderstanding. I'd be against removing the fireplace in the LR, too. On real estate appraisals: gas fireplaces are not appraised as high. So, it seems you R decreasing the value of your home.
Darren Hart
Original Author
13 years ago
last modified: 13 years ago
I didn't know that about wood burning versus gas. I guess it would come down to how much value we can add with the additional space in the kitchen versus what we would lose by replacing the wood burning fireplace (which currently has a gas insert - but that's "fixable"). Of course it also has a whole lot to do with who buys the home. If it's someone who hates the mess of wood fires, the few hundred dollars in difference on the appraisal report isn't likely to make much of an impact in the sale. Buyers are strange beasts (having been one myself again recently and having just sold the last house we remodeled - you just never know what someone will love or hate).
Darren Hart
Original Author
13 years ago
One option might be to rebuild a smaller brick chimney and expose the brick on both sides. One could even conceive of a fireplace that opens to both sides. It could be a nice accent piece. I would worry about little fingers and a fireplace right behind a row of bar stools! Anyway, good points on the fireplace, thanks, things to consider.