Bad 70s layout & Big awesome in the way windows

10 years ago

We just bought a 1970s house on a small lake/pond. We LOVE our fishbowl house, but the kitchen is a headache. I went to school for interior design and I scratch my head at it. I have a few layouts that we are considering, but I wanted to throw it out there for some other advice.
The kitchen dims are approximately 19L x 12'D. Our entire work triangle is shoved to one side and then the kitchen is divided by the peninsula so we don't really have access to use the space where the kitchen table is located (to long a walk for practical purposes). I'd love an island behind the sink, but it's not practical. We also want to lower the wall behind the stove to open up into the dining room.
Any ideas on the layout? I want to spread the 'stations' around the space so the four of us are not on top of each other doing the kitchen tango...as we call it.

The first three pictures are from the real estate listing. The second set are right after moving in. We took down the uppers over the peninsula, removed the nick nack shelf above the kitchen table and removed the pole/fence. We know we need new floors, cabinets, the works! We just want to do the house and the view justice.

Featured Answer

leelee

10 years ago

You might have room to raise the height of the cabinets to get extra storage if the soffits could be done away with.

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Comments (13)

leelee
10 years ago
Beautiful view. Is this your full time home?
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leelee
10 years ago
What's behind the bump next to the fridge?
emmarene9
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
A spacious kitchen or a separate dining room; which is more important to you? I don't see how you can be happy feeling so cramped in your kitchen. I would love the compactness you have. Most people want a triangle that is not too large. It seems like the only choice is to take room from the dining room.
apple_pie_order
10 years ago
Time to get out the graph paper. Or use an online planner such as Ikea's or google Sketch Up.

I think your goals would be best served by combining the breakfast nook and U kitchen area into one large kitchen, and open up to the dining room with a half wall in between. Change the windows to span one long wall above the counters. This would be a big, expensive remodel.

Best Rd - Kitchen Island and Window Wall · More Info
PRO
Ellsworth Design Build
10 years ago
With a formal dining room it seems a large island with seating pushing into the existing breakfast room would work, and you wouldn't need to change the window? But yes this kitchen needs a complete rethink. Can't be more help without a floor plan.
Randi
Original Author
10 years ago
It is our full time home :-)

The soffits do contain some pipes that we don't want to reroute. We are removing the center one though to give some more head room in the center of the kitchen.

The bump is a hall closet that is useless and we are removing, so that will add extra space.
Randi
Original Author
10 years ago
The windows are all new so we don't want to mess with that idea. It is also not our forever home. We'll only be in it 5 years at most, so we want to make smart decisions for our family and resale.
PRO
Studio A Home Designs
10 years ago
Miranda, Where are you located? We are a small residential firm located near Cincinnati, OH. We specialize in projects like yours; renovating/ updating homes, creating open floor plans, capturing views.
Randi
Original Author
10 years ago
It seems some of the ideas were ones that you all presented are similar to the ones that I have been toying with in my design program. Open the wall between the dining and kitchen, island with seating, etc. Here is what I had come up with below.

Thanks everyone!
Randi
Original Author
10 years ago
Mary V...funny that you say that because it is a Michigan house.
apple_pie_order
10 years ago
Do you have a photo showing the outside back of the house with the windows and deck? Also, the as-is floor plan with dimensions marked would be useful.
Randi
Original Author
10 years ago
Thanks everyone for your help! I think I got it.