Difficult Kitchen Layout due to placement of windows.

10 years ago

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We're remodeling the kitchen in the first floor of an old Philadelphia carriage house. The space is both kitchen and living space, open floor plan, so keep that in mind. The whole room cannot be dominated by the kitchen.

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The number and placement of the windows has been a challenge. I've attached some photos of some really rough drawings I've made of the proposed layout and current layout and a blank just to give some ideas to work from. We're leaning towards putting the range under a window which we realize is unconventional but believe it will give us the best flow and access to the corner for cabinets and storage. Not in a position to pay a pro to design for us which I realize some of you may recommend.

Any ideas would be helpful.

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sorry they aren't rotated right and kind of random throughout the post.

Featured Answer

l21430

10 years ago

Windows in a kitchen are a treat. Your idea could work. I had a Jennair with a downdraft vent in one of my old kitchens--it was actually quite nice not to have anything above the stove. Plan on cleaning the window frequently. Or calling for carry out.

I would send the fridge to the end of a run between windows. Consider a tall cabinet with your oven and micro at the other end. Or, if there's no stairs going down, build them in under the stairs. Then you can put a separate cooktop where you wish with fewer constraints (opening oven doors, fridge doors and dishwasher doors, e.g.). Minimize upper cabs to minimize the impact of 'the living is in the kitchen.' Lose the apron sink for the same reason.

If you explain a bit more about what's not working now, and the constraints around the stairs, that would be helpful.

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Comments (11)

auntthelma
10 years ago
Can the window be eliminated? If the window is not on the front façade of the house, you can perhaps close it up or alter it to better suit the range position.

We deleted a big window where we wanted our range and instead, put in two new windows on either side of it. It's the back of the house, so it doesn't alter the façade.
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Joni Spear Interior Design
10 years ago
It depends on the height of the windows. If you go to a big box store they should help with a layout at no cost. You can also put a seating banquette in the corner and have your range in an Island in the center as long as you have 36" min clearance.
PRO
PPF.
10 years ago
Plans really need dimensions, and pictures of the space from inside and out will help.
suzyq53
10 years ago
My range is in front of the window. Works for me.

Encinitas Kitchen · More Info
Michael Manney
Original Author
10 years ago
Its a brick house, so moving the windows or adding presents an expense that we don't want to take on, since the windows are relatively small we also would like to refrain from eliminating any so we can get as much natural light as possible.
Michael Manney
Original Author
10 years ago
I21430 - The space under the stairs can not be used because it is also the access to the crawl space, and there is a wood stove in the corner under the stairs. we considered putting the cabinets and appliances along the wall opposite the stairs instead of in the corner, but felt that might define too much of the space as "kitchen".

The main problem we're facing is the fact that the fridge and range ideally should fall between the windows but we also don't want to cram either the fridge or the range to close to the corner because it will limit our access to storage under the counter in the corner. We liked the idea of the range under the window because it could give us a long counter run between the range and the corner. We currently have a slide in gas range/oven so it would be possible to keep it out from the wall and run a little bit of counter behind it to give extra space between the range and the window.
Michael Manney
Original Author
10 years ago
Joni Spear Interior Design- The windows are 40" off the floor and are 32" high. I hadn't considered the big box store idea, but i'm skeptical, i haven't found them to be very helpful on projects in the past and we're in need of some real creativity. I'm planning to custom build the cabinets myself and they are probably locked into some pretty conventional sizes and design elements. the room feels to small for an island, but that may just be a my personal aversion to it feeling cramped.
Michael Manney
Original Author
10 years ago
PPF - the room dimensions are 19' across from stair wall to opposite wall and 19' 6" from front door to opposite wall. The drawings are roughly to scale with each square being equivalent to 8". Here are some interior pics of the current configuration in all its temporary glory.
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Sorry, the panoramic is pretty dark.
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RubyRoses
10 years ago
I like the idea of the range in font of the oven. use a downdraft stove or make the counter slightly deeper and install s retractable downdraft in counter behind stove. .
The above suggestion on refrigerator place mentioned balanced with a pantry is an excellent suggestion.
PRO
Kathy Okonske
10 years ago
I would just be careful of the codes in your area for the stove from window measurements. If your stove is under a window, the window should not be able to be opened. There is a danger of things blowing onto a stove that is turned on from windows. Constantly cleaning greasy windows is a consideration also. But if you have room for some kind of island for either a cooktop and hood or to put your sink and plumbing I would look at that. Instead of a kitchen or dining table, try a island with seating. There are different heights of islands to be considered.