Please help me design a better kitchen.

10 years ago

last modified: 10 years ago

We bought this house from the builder about 8 years ago, so the kitchen is not really that old. On the first look, the kitchen does not seem bad (though its small by GardenWeb standards) . But the floor plan does not work at all. I feel stuck inside the small U , there is wasted space in the two lower corner cabinets , no food storage and very thin cabinets on the sides of the stove , making them useless.

Now we are looking into updating the kitchen , and I'm trying to make a preliminary layout (which we plan to take around while shopping). I

Our base needs are:

a. More storage /more drawers. Current two corners are a waste.

b. More usable counter space.

b. A 2-person kitchen.

c. Food storage - a tall pantry cabinet ??

d. Lazy Susan in one corner.

I plan to change the U shaped design to an L , and add floor to ceiling pantry cabinets on the long side of the L. I was hoping to add a small island parallel to the longer side of the L. But no matter how I try to arrange the stove-sink combinations , I'm not able to find a design which seems to work.

Here is the current kitchen :

On the lower end , there is a half wall, which we plan to remove . The column cannot be removed.

Here is my proposed change (cannot do much with the planner ). This plan opens up the layout a bit , but I'm not sure it adds more storage and/or counter top. I could really use some help here. Thanks in advance.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

rashmi
Original Author
10 years ago
Lily'smom , I will reply with your queries in detail later , but thanks for pointing out the missing table . I'm going to edit my post to add it back in (we need the table, but will be buying a smaller one - preferably a square one).
rashmi
Original Author
10 years ago
Seems I cannot edit my earlier post , so quickly posting the proposed layout here (just added a table):
Related Professionals
Colorado Springs Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Ontario Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Fort Dodge Kitchen Remodelers · Leominster Kitchen Remodelers · Plattsburgh Kitchen Remodelers · Phoenix Kitchen Remodelers · Stockton Kitchen Remodelers · Jonesboro Custom Countertops · Daytona Beach Custom Countertops · Vicksburg Custom Countertops · Portsmouth Custom Countertops · Barnstable Custom Countertops · Platteville Custom Countertops · Sheboygan Custom Countertops · Honolulu Custom Countertops
cpartist
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
Sorry but you don't have room enough for an island. Especially in a 2 person kitchen. You have 10' 8" which equals out to 128" total.

Your perimeter cabinets with counter overhang will equal 25 1/2".

So 128" - 25.5" = 102.5"

For a 2 person kitchen you need a minimum of 48" for your aisle between the perimeter counters and your island. That's countertop to countertop.

So 102.5" - 48" = 54.5"

You need a minimum of 3' walkway on the other side of the island, although 42" is better.

So 54.5" - 36" = 18.5"

Somehow I doubt you want an 18 1/2" wide island. :) Maybe a rolling cart would work, but an island, no. Even turning the island 90 degrees will still only give you an island that's only 18. 5" deep and actually narrower when you consider you'll need 3" for overhang. So no it can't work either way.
rashmi
Original Author
10 years ago
cpartist , thanks a lot for the calculations . But please note that the lower "wall" of the kitchen will be opened. There will be nothing other than a support pillar ,once we remove the half wall at the left.

I don't think my current plan (the very first pic) was very clear. Moving left from the fridge on the lower wall is first the current entrance into the kitchen, then a support column , and then a half wall , and finally an outside wall with a window. We will remove the half wall, which will open the kitchen up.

Will an island still not be possible ? I'd gladly attach a better drawing with better measurements , if someone can please suggest a better tool/software (I didn't like the Ikea planner so much).
mama goose_gw zn6OH
10 years ago
Since the support column needs to stay, you could keep part of the wall, and position the table against it, either a half-wall or a full height wall--I'm imagining an open shelf with a round clock above the table, kind of like a retro diner. The dish storage by the slider is 15" deep (or whatever works with the slider), with a low cabinet on the other side, under the window. Two people can work in the kitchen--the clean-up is separate, so the DW can be loaded or unloaded without interfering with prep or cooking.
cpartist
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago
I was going by the WIDTH of your kitchen which is 10' 8". Your measurement on the outer right side. Are you saying that 10'8" will be wider? You would need another 1 foot within the work space of your kitchen so the width of your kitchen was 11'8".
smm5525
10 years ago
Can you just post a simple sketch with dimensions and mark Windows, openings, posts, etc. Just draw it out on graph paper.