First stab at Kitchen Plan

10 years ago

I'm a lurker. I did a minor kitchen remodel at our last house 10 years ago. This forum was a great help (still in the Finished Kitchens Blog). We are now in a different house in a new city and a minor redo will not do. The 1980 kitchen with scary laminate cupboards, tile counters with thick brown grout lines, original porcelain sink with the rust hole by the faucet and mauve/gray linoleum floors (apparently a 1990s upgrade) have done their service to the families who have lived here.

This is my very rough idea using Excel. This is a split level home. Everything on this level is shown on the attached photo. The ceiling is not flat. The opening between the family room (three steps down) and the kitchen will be closed. There is currently a wall between the dining room and kitchen with a pocket door. There is also a wall between the living room and kitchen and a coat closet that sticks out and is less than three feet from the two stairs coming up from the front door. The plan is for all of these to come down to make one big open space.

The thing that cannot change is the windows. We live in a subdivision, but we have a great, private backyard. The view and the light from all of those windows is a must keep.

Each square on this plan is one sq foot. The total area is 25'4" x 25'6". The distance between the East Wall and the window on the south wall shows on this plan as 12", but it's actually 17".

I've seen islands in this model of home done all different ways. I want/need an island, but not wed to this one. The sink is roughly where it has been. The refrigerator and range are currently on the interior wall between the kitchen and living room so the gas and electric and water would have to move. I am thinking of putting the microwave in the island.

Sorry this is so long. After lurking on here it seems more information is helpful to all of you experts. Sorry if it is too much!!!

Featured Answer

sheloveslayouts

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

our last house was a tri- level very similar to yours. our lot was a prominent corner in our neighborhood so i always felt on display when the blinds were open and so i often kept them closed. Would have loved the kitchen at the front and private dining/living with big windows at the back.

heres a rough drawing:

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Comments (6)

sheloveslayouts
10 years ago
have you considered putting the kitchen at the front of the house and the living/dining at the back to make the most of the view? also, the view from the entry would be lovely and not just the virw of your kitchen.

we have a nice view out the back and we moved our kitchen to the front to take advantage of it. my kitchen is open so i can face the back windows while i work. view is maximized this way.
jenniferh66
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I have not considered that. My first reaction is no, but I will sit with it a bit and see if that changes. That would definitely require window changes and that is more than we can do financially at this point.

It would be very different. I've been in at least 8 homes like this that have been remodeled and none has the kitchen in front. This "tri-level" model is very common here and I grew up in the same model of house and have been stalking open houses when this model is for sale so I've seen a lot!
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jenniferh66
Original Author
10 years ago
I appreciate the thought and the drawing, but the front window is only 24 inches from the floor so a front facing kitchen would mean windows and stucco and not something we want to tackle right now. With the arches in front I'd be looking from the sink into the eaves of the front porch and the post between arches. When we redo the roof the arches are going to GO, but that is not in the near future.

Benjesbride or anyone else, any thoughts on my original layout?

Thanks!
scone911
10 years ago
I think it's best to start with a description of the sort of cooking you do, how many people you regularly feed, any entertaining needs, and your budget. There is a read me that should be helpful:

http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638784/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first?n=82
Erica L
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I'm by no means an expert but a few comments based on what I've picked up on here:

1. 36" (it appears) of clearance between counter and pantry is too narrow. Also corner pantys seems to get negative comments.

2. Same goes by fridge.

3. Have you considered counter depth fridge?

4. Most people aren't fans of raised bar islands or ones on an angle like that. I will add we used to have one and just put in a huge one level rectangular island and it seems so much more practical.

Hope others chime in for you!