Hallway kitchen needs a place to eat!
Comments (63)
Willie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoI am really glad I posted. I love all of these ideas, and I most likely will attempt incorporate them - of course in the budget - but really, I didn't think I can get so many great ideas. I feel thankful. abbyjean are you a writer- I really like how you described this. I can only wish to have a family gathering- but after my mom died, 4 years ago, it seems like they died with her, because I don't see or hear from any of them, except the two who are helping me in this move - but their time is limited, as well, and I respect the space that they need, because it is emotional for them, as well. They are the ones who have the family gatherings, but I am not invited. Things got way too awkward over the years. However, I believe things can change, and there is a good reason for everything, and everything and everyone has their time. Okay, kitchens, rooms, space, that's what I meant to discuss here. gustaruygers This sounds like an awesome approach, and I may do this. Thanks!
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abbyjean
7 years agoSometimes you just need to let others.....like you did by posting here....step in for just a moment and tell you what they see as it is easy to be blinded by so many things. Fresh eyes give fresh ideas and then you get to pick and choose what seems to make the most sense for you. New beginnings are the best and we wish you luck!!!
Willie Pelissier thanked abbyjean- Willie Pelissier thanked MarleneM
BLee
7 years agoA round dropleaf table for 2 people or one with extra leaves might fit in somewhere (round because no sharp corners to run into, looks especially nice in a corner. With chair seats that fit all the way under the table, little space needed when not in use). They are available as small as 30 inches diameter.Take a look online at "International Concepts" With an oil cloth tablecloth it could be useful for art work, perhaps?
i have had buffet parties with 18 people, including a huge wheelchair, in my 450 square foot apartment. This my 24 inch table in a corner. It normally lives between my tiny kitchen and hall, fine for two when I use 2 chairs from living area.
Set for two with salad plates. Hall to left, kitchen to right. Have fun with your decorating!Willie Pelissier thanked BLeedaneejela
7 years agoI think that the kitchen is adorable...I will have similar, only without upper cabinets.
Layout looks pretty good, flooring is beautiful.
To make it perfect for two, I would get rid of the current table together with the cabinets above. I would put there table like one of these:
I think your space even allows a bit wider table then those one the last two pictures.
I would do more changes in the living room to make it feel more personal.Since you two are both artists, I would try to reflect that with unconventional arrangement, colors, style...depending on your taste, of course.
Here are few examples of small living room that I find beautiful and filled with character:
Willie Pelissier thanked daneejelabaileysr
7 years agoTake a look at the IKEA Norden table. It's a gateleg table that folds down to 8"x30", and can open up to 68x30. My daughter uses one in her super tiny Manhattan apartment, keeps it tucked away as a little credenza type table, and when they have dinner they unfold it right in the middle of their living room. It works really well. We matched it with some nice folding dining chairs from Walmart, and when not needed the chairs tuck out of the way too.Willie Pelissier thanked baileysrWillie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoI hope this expands to large, because I spent a while making this floor plan, let's see if everyone can see this. I also made another as I don't have the measurements, but to show perspective of the size of the rooms, I put how the furniture I have will fit. This floorplan shows how much room I will have to work with. The couch is actually a futon. I have seven deck boxes so I hope they will all fit. I do not want to put anything in the basement, because it does get water. I am bringing a freezer, and food storage cabinets, because I buy in bulk once a month, so the "back room" is more like a storage room. It's hard for me to believe that this house once had 8 people living in it at once. I have more I want to add about your comments, but I wanted to get these up :-)happyleg
7 years agoThank you. About water getting in basement, make sure all gutters are on house & have extenders. Window wells on basement windows. Clean the gutters. That the dirt is slopping away from house. Make sure foundation is ok & no cracks. I do this at my brother's house.
Willie Pelissier thanked happylegRamona
7 years agoyour diagrams are a good start and they open up fine. Now you need to add measurements. 8 people in two bedrooms. wow. we used to live close, but not that close.
Willie Pelissier thanked RamonaWillie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoOkay, good, they do expand. happyleg - the furnace is right there at the bottom of the stairs, and me having cerebral palsy, I am extremely clumsy. I am hoping a wall can go there. I have the tendency to lose balance on stairs - the house I am in now has a hole in the wall where I fall into them (with pictures covering them!). I won't want to fall into a hot furnace. I all ready asked if something can be done about that, but when I get pictures, I am posting here, because you never know what clever ideas can be come up with. The house I live in now- as I said I basically live in the basement- and the furnace is off to the side, where my dad built safety walls around it. abbyjean I love this! Fresh eyes! It does help an artist. I used to love critiques in art classes. That's almost what this is. MarleneM I like that! BLee This gives me hope I can make things work. daneejela thanks for thinking it's a nice kitchen. I like the encouragement. I'm so used to using the kitchen table when I bake- I got that from both my mom and grandma, where we sit at the table and fill cookie sheets with cookies. Being this actually was my grandma's kitchen, just oddly redesigned to what you see here, I just wonder. Thank you for the examples - I like seeing there is hope! Ramona Thank you for your understanding. Well, the way I spend time at the computer is unconventional. I do art work on the floor, but when I need some inspiration, I run to the computer, get inspiration, and go back to artwork. I don't even know how I will do this at the "new" house. I honesty want to take all of the walls down and have it an open space, but there is no budget for that, and I asked if something like that can be done all ready, and the answer was no. I have a feeling i am going to end up in the basement, but I don't know how the winters will be - being it is half finished. You are right, i will go where most won't go- that is a good call. I have to remember reality and budget - but that's where the creativity starts. The house is actually being painted - my aunt hired someone to paint it all white. I have a feeling I am going to have to make faux walls to decorate and paint at this point. I don't know how to explain it, but I need to be in an artistic environment. When there was a family discussion about this house, months ago, I said I need to be somewhere I can be free to express the art I do. This is not a temporary house, either. I am there until the end. It's just going to be me and my significant other living there. It went from me having a place I can be artistic in to - just certain areas. I am thankful, and yes, there is a yard. I told them I need a yard, because I work out outside most of the year, and even in the winter I like to be in a yard, a private yard. The hardest part of this is- my mom originally intended for me to live in the house I currently live in. Last year, I was told that I need to consider other possibilities. Originally, I wanted to actually move to AZ. They (aunt and sister) said it's too far. Then, they suggested FL. I was okay with that. Then, they decided that was too dangerous for me. So- this was the result- me moving into my grandparents house. It's just been shocking and traumatic in the past year. I honestly think it's all going to work out beautifully, but I have so many questions and curiosities. I love decorating - decorating gives me life, but what happens when I am restricted to what I can do? I'll be fine if they knew me better and let me be the artist I am like my mom did, but at this point, I feel like an outsider. I know they love me in their own special way, as they do a lot for me. That is where I am focusing. Being thankful goes a long way in life.
Willie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agohappyleg - yes, those things are being taken care of. Over a month ago, I went there to "inspect" and I sent a list to my aunt and sister of how the condition of the house is. They thought I was exaggerating, until my sister went with her significant other to inspect it, and saw I was spot on. The house is getting the foundation, windows, paint, floors all taken care of. I am blessed. Ramona Yes, I have to get the measurements- probably next week when I go there to rip a carpet up. There is a bonus room upstairs, so it wasn't that crammed, but it makes me glad I was born after this. My mom sister and aunt were upstairs, grandmother, grandfather, and brother in their room, uncle and other brother in the other room.
kay
7 years agoYou are a floor plan rock star! I recently tried to make one with an app - it made me so crazy I had to delete the app.Willie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agokay lol thanks! I used adobe illustrator and photoshop - I never did this before - I made the arrows out of text ---> but joined them together. Everything else was just squares, except the circle. LOL I wanted to color everything in, but I didn't want to make it confusing to look at.
Ramona
7 years agoPlease, no colors on floor plan. That will just confuse all of us and make it hard to think creatively. I understand about falling. I do it all the time. That bonus room may be your salvation. Perhaps the food can go there? The art supplies?
I certainly hope you do not wind up in the basement. Deep breath. Fixing all this will take time. We don't want you to fall into anything!!! Same for myself. I just hurt myself very badly on June 6th and spent 16 days in hospital.
Everyone should have such a pretty kitchen.
Willie Pelissier thanked RamonaUser
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoWhat is your style? You mention deck boxes so a photo of one of those would be very helpful as I'm not sure that they are what I think they are. :)
I'm sure you can make this home your own. I bet there's hardwood under the carpet. The kitchen, while feeling a little small to you, actually (if you count the desk area) has plenty of counter space. I'm not sure why the microwave isn't above the desk, though....maybe you can find one that fits. When we did my moms house, we mounted a cheap one by putting a normal depth shelf on the existing shelf that was only UPPER counter depth...that's the main reason that regular microwaves don't fit, is the depth. So that's a cheap and easy fix. Your cabinets and counter look to be in good shape, although I am not crazy about the handles. But if they work, that is a minor thing to switch if you feel like it.
I feel as if your living room might be a little wider than it looks as you have your futon about the same depth as your bed, so measurements will help tremendously.
You have a clean blank canvas to work with. And those of us with a very restricted budget tend to be more creative out of necessity, I think. I am a thrift shop/spray paint queen ;)
Agreed about basement stairs...they seem much more difficult to navigate than regular stairs.
Hang in there....you have some great ideas so far.
Willie Pelissier thanked Usererinsean
7 years agoJust have to add this....when I was first married I had a "murphy table". Didn't call it that but was a table that was hinged at the wall and folded up when not in use and a cupboard door closed it off. Was made by our local carpenter. Was only big enough for three or four people but was handy to get out of the way in our little kitchen. You have gotten some good ideas and I am sure with time you place will be a good home.
Willie Pelissier thanked erinseandecoenthusiaste
7 years agoGalley kitchens are my favorite. I would be happy to use that kitchen desk as my computer station with a small microwave in the opening above, so the counter top opposite would be clear. This would help keep the living room for sitting and entertaining. Sell your computer desk and buy something more useful with the $$. We'd love to see those deck boxes you keep mentioning. They sound to me like they'll take up a big footprint.
Willie Pelissier thanked decoenthusiasteWillie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoRamona - I won't mind being in the basement, as I have lived in the basement for 26 years. I'm just used to an open space - but that is at this house I live in now. However, since I will have an actual whole house, I will like to use every room, but I paint a lot, and when I paint, I am on the floor painting, and the same goes for the mobiles I make daily. You will see in the pictures I post that I paint poster boards to decorate the ceilings and walls with, and i paint the clothes I wear to match. kjbjw - Very interesting question, but I have to post examples. I don't have a style as in the styles that are in Houzz. I want to say I have a style I evolved. I have a theme every year, and everything revolves around that theme. As I mentioned, I paint the clothes I wear to match the environment I am in. I have been doing this for 26 years. Each day, I have a celebration. For the celebrations, I match certain color schemes to coordinate with the mobiles I hang from the ceiling. I also use table cloths to hang around to accentuate the color or colors I am wearing that day. I posted pictures of some of the rooms I did in the profile. All of them, except the last room, are in the basement. I am an installation abstract artist. I also have a Youtube channel where I post videos of each day. I am constantly redecorating every day. I really love decorating. So, for 2016, I call it "Sweet16", where I have "sweets" decorating the rooms I use/ live in. I own a third of the house I live in, so this third is all me - which is basically the upstairs bedroom and the basement. Here is the basement, and yes, that colorful person is me.
Here is some of the deck boxes behind me -
I have the paintings on them, too. This picture was from when we celebrated the birth flower of may- the Lily Of The Valley. Instead of using white, I used blue and yellow as an abstract form of white.
Here is another view of the deck boxes- I change the paintings around depending on what colors I am wearing. This picture is from Pina Colada Day- I use orange instead of brown for the pineapple, because I don't like brown, and it is banned from the palette I use. Today, we celebrated "Kool Aid Days". Since Kool Aid comes in many colors, I used all colors, happily. I also have different meanings in the hair styles I do- I use leis in August, because August is a tropical month to me. Everything I do has a meaning behind it.decoenthusiaste - Yay! a galley kitchen lover :-) Yeah, I don't like where that microwave is, but I am bringing one. That one looks too small for me. I mainly use microwaves for most of the meals I do. I have 7 small meals a day, and I prepare meals ahead of time, which will be interesting in this kitchen. The computer cabinet I have is custom, and for the price my mom paid for it, it's a keeper. It was a hard find. I love how no one knows it's a computer cabinet or knows there is a computer in it. I also love how it is extra storage and I can hide things in it. Trust me, it is very useful.
More deck boxes where the Raggedies live, and the computer cabinet to the right, closed, of course.Oh yes, there is hardwood floors, and I know no one is going to like me saying this, but I don't like hardwood floors- they are brown, and brown is not a color I like. I avoid it at all costs. I have attempted to embrace it, but it's too ugh for me.
I really never thought I was going to be sharing so much in these posts!
When I do this move, I am obviously keeping the "Sweet" theme, so I am going to decorate with what I have. I all ready started painting for 2017 two months ago to get a head start. I wanted to push the move in date to the end of the year so I don't have to decorate everything twice within 3 months, but if that's what I got to do, I will do it. I may only be able to decorate the basement and room I am sleeping in. I am going to miss the mirrored walls I have, they are big helpers in "duplicating" the designs and spreading light around the room.Ramona
7 years agowood floors do not have to be brown. They are healthy from a cleanliness and chemical point of view. They can be bleached or painted white or white washed. I don't like brown either.
Willie Pelissier thanked RamonaWillie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoHopefully that will be the case with me :-) I rather white in this case.
decoenthusiaste
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoThe boxes look useful but not comfortable to sit on! With the room measurements and the exact sizes of the boxes, we might work out a reasonable arrangement of them. Which room do you envision them in? My friend uses huge interlocking colored rubber mat/tiles behind her checkout counter - I think they could work to cover your brown floors, and they come in bright colors like the ones you've painted for your installations.
Willie Pelissier thanked decoenthusiasteWillie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoOriginally, the deck boxes were going to have cushions made by my mom, but she got sick, so that never happened. Every thing I own is in those boxes - 40 years of photo albums, every birthday card, every school paper, every drawing/sketch pad/journal, plus a few magazine collections, loads of scrap books, and art supplies. I don't want to display those things. A lot of the photo albums I made are made out of poster board painted with whatever theme that year was. I once attempted to have a book shelf, but always wound up covering it with something as I don't like the look of displayed books or a library look LOL. When I need to reminisce, I know where everything is. I am having recent organizing issues, too, and I am going to have to get even more storage than I have. The deck boxes are all going to have to be on the first floor. They are extremely heavy, and they unfortunately have no wheels. Most likely I'll have a few in the living room, a few win the back room, and a few in the bedroom. he basement I live in now has a nice small staircase that leads to the back yard, so getting the deck boxes out take about a half hour with my SO. We took three out so far to the garage to experiment using dolleys. It's going to be interesting getting them into the car.
I love those interlocking tiles! I love the idea of covering the floors with them. They are nice to walk on, and if they get messy, I can just take them off the floor to wash them in the sink. I want to see if they are available with out that puzzle look, but either way I love them.
suezbell
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoI'd put the computer station on the "table"/ shelf in the kitchen beside the fridge and put a small breakfast sized table -- perhaps a drop leaf table -- in the living room even if it means getting rid of some living room furnishings or crowding the living room furniture to do it. You can always push a dining table against the wall when not in use.
If you don't have a table that would fit, make a few trips to your nearest Habitat for Humanity Restore Store till you find one at an affordable price that will.
This table is from WallMart:
Other big box stores would likely carry small tables, too -- KMart, Target, Big Lots, etc.
suezbell
7 years agoInteresting -- unusual -- window arrangement in your kitchen. Curtains above the stove would NOT be wise for fire safety reasons. For this window, in order to have privacy after dark, you might consider adding white cup hooks spaced above the window to which you could add some kind of window covering when the stove is not in use -- something easily added and/or removed. (Until you find a more permanent solution, a piece of an inexpensive shower curtain (with hanging holes already in place) might work for this. One curtain could be cut to cover both windows. You could keep a step stool underneath the "table" beside the fridge to place/remove the curtain above the stove.)
For the window over the sink, consider using a double curtain rod and adding a valance that would hang down to the height of the TOP of the window over the stove to create visual balance, then add full length curtains behind that to open and close as needed for light/privacy.
If you wanted to add color to your kitchen, you could invest in a few sun catchers for those windows as well.
Willie Pelissier thanked suezbellsuezbell
7 years agoI, too, had to downsize -- widowed, age, health and income reasons; it's difficult but it can be done. One thing I learned is I had no choice but to quit collecting "stuff" and, in order to have enough space for what I needed to keep, I ended up giving away "stuff" I rarely, if ever, used, including clothes.
If and when you are able to do any remodel, you'll need to know which are weight bearing walls. One thing to consider at that time would be to move the fridge into the room you'll be using as your pantry with your freezer and remove that wall and add use that end of the kitchen and the hallway as a dining space. In the meantime, putting a small table where the kitchen door enters the living room near against the same wall with the ac would likely be your best choice.
Willie Pelissier thanked suezbellsuezbell
7 years agoSomething else I've learned is to use as much vertical space for storage as possible. My 4' wide cedar chest is now on its end on a dolly in the corner of my bedroom. Shelves over doors and at the top of the wall can store less frequently used items without adding more storage containers.
Willie Pelissier thanked suezbellsuezbell
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoYou might consider investing in gel mats for the top of the wood storage boxes to make them more comfortable for sitting. Any pillows or cushions you add could then be focused on being decorative.
One last thought: If you're on a tight budget, you might want to consider not redecorating as much of your space on a frequent basis; instead, pick one wall -- perhaps the end (ac) wall in the living room -- and focus only on decorating that wall -- or a pair of sheets of sanded finishing plywood or other panels hung like paintings from hooks at the top of the wall -- and also decorate with a centerpiece for the dining table you place next to that wall.
Good luck with your getting your new home like you want it..
Willie Pelissier thanked suezbellWillie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoWow suezbell - you are chock full of ideas! I like a lot of your suggestions. I have a feeling I am going to be moving a lot of things around, because of all the good advice I am getting. I am curious to see how everything can look. I didn't know about habitat for humanity stores, I have to see if there is any around where I live. That window over the stove is not original. I don't know why it was put there. That used to be the wall my grandparents hung all of us grandkid's artwork and accomplishments. I love the idea for privacy with that. In the next week, I know i will be throwing a lot of things away. I go by the five year rule- if it wasn't used in 5 years, it goes. I do re-use a lot of things, though. I will love to remodel, but I doubt that will happen, unless there is a such thing as a bored contractor that wants to volunteer for free LOL. If I were to remodel, I will want all of the walls down, and have a nice open space, put spiral staircases in for even more space, but that's just me dreaming here, so excuse that LOL. I pretty much need to be creative and make this work with what I have with some creative additions, like the tables suggested, and placement of where things can go. Gel mats sound nice for the tops of the deck boxes. They some how lost the original intent of places to sit, because I wind up putting things on top of them, where I display some art I like at the moment. Your last thought sounds like something I was thinking about- having an accent wall. I really don't know how much liberty I am even going to be having living in this house, but like I mentioned, mirrors work wonders for me. I have a nice collection of them, and all one wall needs to be is decorated, where the mirrors, when placed right, repeat the designs.
User
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoYou might want to look into some tutorials on painted drop cloths as "rugs". I have never done it but it seems to be easy enough and canvas drop cloths are inexpensive. You could even put them on the wall if you prefer clearer floors.
http://www.curbly.com/users/diy-maven/posts/4769-how-to-turn-a-drop-cloth-into-a-fabulous-rug
Willie Pelissier thanked UserWillie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agokjbjw This is crazy! I was looking at something like this a few weeks ago! The people eon this web site are like reading me well, because i have so many comments of things i have looked up! I am in line with the universe or something!
Willie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoIt's been a pretty exhausting week for me. I have been over the house almost every day. I did manage to get the measurements, and I finally added them to the floor plan as seen here. The crazy thing is I haven't done much but sit and visualize, while my SO was ripping the rugs up. It's just so much to take in! Here are some more views: This is how it looks going to the kitchen from the living room. This is how it looks looking from the kitchen to the living room.Also - when we were there, my sister was there, too. I found out that my uncle is going to move the air conditioner to the middle of the living room wall, and move it up, so no one hits their head on it outside. I told her about this desk thing, and how I operate in the kitchen. She made some of the same suggestions as here with getting a drop leaf table, but also thinks maybe I live here first to see how I function in this kitchen. Also, just to keep options open, to think of ways I can improve this space. The kitchen will be getting a new floor, because the dishwasher and refrigerator leaked and warped this one. Also, I am looking for suggestion about the window treatments. I know there are films that can go over windows, but what fil is out there where I won't see motion outside? I want it so I get all of the natural light in, but block all visuals outside. Its a busy street, and I don't want to see cars driving by. It was all ready bothering me. I am not into looking out windows, in fact, if I can have a windowless house, I will be happy, but at the same time, I love natural light. Any window suggestions that will suit me are welcome.
baileysr
7 years agoIf you want to block street view but still let light in, maybe you want "top down bottom up" window shades. They allow you to raise the shade from the bottom, so you can completely block everything low, but leave the top open.Willie Pelissier thanked baileysrUser
7 years agoBlinds look like this:
http://www.blindsaver.com/product/blind/detail.do?eid=9673&groupName=cordless&groupType=Option
It's a good solution for you, and will give less of a fussy look for you.
Willie Pelissier thanked UserWillie Pelissier
Original Author7 years agoThese might be good for some windows, but I also don't want to see airplanes. I'm kind of trapped with train tracks in the back yard, a very nearby airport, and a busy street. It's like transportation land LOL.
Joann
7 years agoIf you have an Ikea Store nearby, I would suggest you go and look at their many ideas for furnishing a small home. Enjoy your family home.Ramona
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agosheers over some of the windows will let light in and mute the visuals. Other light fabrics can let in light and mute the outside.
You could get up/down shades and cover them with sheers for maximum adjustment
If some windows need replacement, be sure to get double pane. They really mute the sound. I was astonished how much when I moved into my house. It is quiet anyway. But if I want to shut out lawnmower sound, closing the window works.
Sheer Linen Curtain - White | west elm · More Infoeverdebz
7 years agoBlackout lining on up/down honeycomb shades [though money], good for sleeping and noise control. Inside mount / neutral color.
Over those, sheer or semi-sheers as said, to let as much light and air in as you want. In a fun color?
everdebz
7 years agolast modified: 7 years agoI thought you might like to see this, and an Ikea cart in blue. Maybe that for you under counter, etc... ?
PRO / Sarah Phipps Design: "We put the new counter top material on (stainless steel sheeting cut at a local metal shop and glued on with mastic and attached with the original stainless steel bands.) And then I rolled an Ikea cart into the blank spot."
Shack Attack · More Infobaileysr
7 years agoThose lifting coffee tables are great in small spaces. My daughter uses a cheapo version from Walmart in her small apartment, and it works really well for laptops, snacks, and even meals.
Ramona