kitchen layout idea. help needed

8 years ago

Hi
My wife and I are trying to figure the best way to lay out an island. Kitchen is not as wide as we want but we have to work with what we have. Ideally - she would prefer a shorter vertical island overlooking the rest of the room rather than a long horizontal island (eg. drawing 1- red box)... Problem is the shorter vertical island is nearly impossible to allow proper clearance from fridge or from dishwasher. With the other option (ie. Drawing 1 - Original sketch).. she thinks we can squeeze in a breakfast table.. I personally think that’s too much furniture in that room. So I think we’re left with a much longer horizontal island (ie drawing 2). I prefer the 2nd drawing look given the constraints and simpler design to allow our family to sit around a great view of the surrounding trees outside of the window. I would appreciate all of your feedback to help us make smart decision that we won’t regret.

Featured Answer

mama goose_gw zn6OH

8 years ago

You don't have clearance for anything but a narrow island, which will be a barrier between the fridge and sink. That long island, stuck out in the middle is not in a good spot for convenient prep. It would make a nice buffet server, but how often do you need to serve a buffet?

Do you now have a peninsula? That would make more sense in this kitchen.

Can you use part of that space in the bottom left corner for the kitchen?

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Comments (13)

Reg A
Original Author
8 years ago
That left corner is a hallway leading to garage so not really usable space for the kitchen. Peninsula could work but breaks the open kitchen concept we were anticipating. Any other suggestion?
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sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
Are you willing to change windows, demo walls and move a door? If so, you can probably get a nice sized island.
Reg A
Original Author
8 years ago
Problem is - We already bumped out the big window wall and moved the sink windows. The drawings reflect current state. We were promised room for a big island by doing this ... and clearly that’s not the case, problem still exist
Jennifer K
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Me, I'd skip the island and make a u-shaped kitchen with the open end towards the table.

But if you must have the island, then a long skinny one is as good as it gets. And... you must move the fridge to the other side of the room at the end of the sink's cabinet run. That will put it convenient for prep and convenient to the table. Your work corridor (from fridge to sink to stove) should be between 42" and 48" wide. The other side of the island can have a slightly narrower pathway. Your island should not stick out beyond the end of the sink's cabinet run. And the pantry can use the old fridge space which will make it much more usable. Something like this:
I didn't fiddle much with the pantry since you seem to have a number of rooms over there and I wasn't sure what they were.
sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
What is the sill height on the large window? Is it low?

Were you planning on a breakfast table AND island seating? Is there a formal dining room nearby as well?

Are you interested in demoing the hall and pantry walls to get an island?
cpartist
8 years ago
I'm sorry but you do not have enough room for an island with seating. Possibly one just for standing at, but definitely not for seating. Minimum width of seating area for counter height is 15" of leg room, not 12".

You have 11' 11 1/2" or 143.5" total.

Perimeter cabinets with countertop overhangs are 25.5" so:

143.5" - 25.5" = 118"

You need a minimum of 42" of aisle space in your work zone and that's for a 1 butt kitchen.

So: 118" - 42" = 76"

The absolute minimum aisle width if there's no seating and no work zone is 36". For seating you want a minimum of 44" behind the seats.

So: 76" - 36" = an island of 40".

And as stated, ideal practice is to take food out of the fridge, bring it to the sink, prep between sink and cooktop and then cook the food. And you don't want any barriers between zones. The island would be a barrier between the sink and the fridge.
emilyam819
8 years ago
Can you make the pantry a reach-in or is that a bearing wall?
Reg A
Original Author
8 years ago
Thank you all for the feedback - will incorporate as much as possible some of your feedback
mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years ago
If you're considering moving the fridge to the top wall, it's not going to fit unless you use a smaller sink, or place the 30" sink off-center to the window. It doesn't look as if the window trim is included in the 5'3" measurement between the windows--so, 3-4" trim, and the DW will need a return panel to support the counter top. Also, if you'll be using a fridge surround, you must account for both side panels.

To disguise the off-center sink you could center the faucet on the window. And if you move the sink only three inches to the left, you might consider using a 36" corner susan, with a 24" drawer base beside it. You'd need to change the cabinet beside the range, too.
tonyflybaloney
8 years ago
It seems like you have plenty of space that perhaps you could add either an attached table at the end of the island or extend the island out further and have counter height seating. Photos attached for inspiration.
zmith
8 years ago
Your plan will work if you move the refrigerator and obliterate the giant pantry.
Jan
8 years ago
You can have a work island with no seating. How close is your dining room? You don’t want two sets of table and chairs next to each other.