Design delemma for kitchen

8 years ago

I’ll apologize up front for the long rambling explanation! We are renovating a house that part was built in the 20’s but then added on in the 50’s, and 80’s. we tore out a breezeway that sat right in the middle of the house and added a living room which runs right into the kitchen area,

making sort of a great room. The total living room space is 21 x 24. This opens right into kitchen/dining room which is 21 x 21. Our delemma is the best way to lay out the kitchen. the South walls of the dining and living area are almost all windows (& French door) looking out on beautiful pine trees. So we want to put the dining table on that side. We are trying to situate the kitchen with an island on the north wall. Currently there is the small wall that is 7’10” forming an L shape with basically 21’ for the length. There are two windows on this north wall that are 29” wide. We can move these windows together making a big window area anywhere on that wall or separate them. Because of the need for frig, pantry, stove with vent, and the two windows I have very little space for upper cabinets. I know open shelves are very in right now, but we have multiple fur babies and hair that floats through the air so really need cabinets with doors. I’m including rough drawings of some of the different options we’ve come up with...none of which really excite me. Suggestions? Help? Please!!!

Featured Answer

mama goose_gw zn6OH

8 years ago

last modified: 8 years ago

I like Kathi's idea of an L shape, but with the DW and clean-up sink near the china cabinet:

The clean-up sink is near the bathroom plumbing, so might save on costs. Dishes can be kept in a drawer stack across from the DW--if you don't need the seat on the end, the dish drawers could be wider. I included uppers on that wall, which could also be used for dish storage. Pots and pans could be kept in the corner susan, or in the wider drawers between the susan and the range.

The MW is conveniently located in the island, across from the fridge, then a nice-sized prep sink and trash pull-out. The narrow slot could hold cutting boards. Primary prep is on the island, but there is a nice secondary prep area between the clean-up sink and range.

I drew a framed pantry, which could add the sense of separation from the great room which Jillius mentioned. Framed pantries are generally less expensive than cabinetry, but you could use cabinetry with ROTS. The fridge is near the living area--with the proximity of the pantry and MW drawer, it provides easy access to anyone who wants a snack or cold drink.

Since there are no uppers around the range hood, I drew a hood which is 6" wider than the 30" range, to help capture and contain the steam and grease plume. Love benjesbride's window on each side of the range!

Version with wider dish storage drawers on the island:

The shallow space on the front of the island could be used for shelves for spices or oil bottles, convenient to the range. I adjusted the range down 6", to give you 30" drawers on each side.

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Comments (12)

sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
Just a heads up: I think the front-to-back dimension on your drawing is shortened just one foot to 20' I tried drawing something and it wasn't quite fitting :-)
Sharon Edmonds thanked sheloveslayouts
Jillius
8 years ago
Here's the image upright:
Sharon Edmonds thanked Jillius
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Kathi Steele
8 years ago
Generally, the work flow for kitchens is fridge to sink to stove. I would think about an L shaped kitchen with the fridge on the guest bath wall, then around the corner on the long wall is the sink, then the stove/range/ovens.

You have enough length for an island, but not enough width.

I have compiled several articles that are germane to kitchen remodeling...

Kitchen websites that are helpful

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~4306041[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first-dsvw-vd~4306041)

http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.design.rules.htm#.Wq1aeWrwaM8

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638270/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638304/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638376/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage

https://www.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/things-you-added-or-removed-that-you-love-regret-in-your-kitchen-renov-dsvw-vd~4273188[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/things-you-added-or-removed-that-you-love-regret-in-your-kitchen-renov-dsvw-vd~4273188)

[https://www.houzz.com/discussions/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting-dsvw-vd~5332686?n=90[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/10-tests-for-you-and-your-contractors-first-meeting-dsvw-vd~5332686?n=90)
Sharon Edmonds thanked Kathi Steele
sheloveslayouts
8 years ago
Here's just one possible layout. I put the counter seating on the less-busy side of the island to try to keep it out of the sink splash zone.
Sharon Edmonds thanked sheloveslayouts
Jillius
8 years ago
If your kitchen area is 21 x 21 and the great room is 21 x 24, that is 945 square feet total. If I'm understanding correctly, the two space are completely open to each other.

In that case, I suspect what will be a very important feature of your remodel will be some plan for how to provide some room definition within such an enormous space.
Would you be open to some kind ceiling change and/or a large framed opening between the two spaces? Here's two examples to consider (two pictures for each home).
Sharon Edmonds thanked Jillius
Kathi Steele
8 years ago
Mama, if the table is right there, do you need seating around the island? Can you just put in more cabinets on the back side and leave the seating in the dining area??

Do you think the island encroaches on the walk way to the hall??
Sharon Edmonds
Original Author
8 years ago
Thanks for the input!! I apologize for the upside oriented drawing (thank you Julius!) I tried to edit, but couldn’t get it done. A couple things I left off because I was already rambling on and on. There is actually a ceiling change between the two rooms...there’s a beam right on line between the two rooms. On the living room side the ceiling is vaulted up to the ridge beam 15’-ish high. On the kitchen side, we have beams surrounding the room as is dictated by the old original structure tying in to the new. So the plan is to have flat ceiling 24” out all the way around kitchen & dining (8’4” height) with a shallow barrel ceiling over the whole area. Thanks Kathi Steele for all the articles, very helpful. Thanks also Mama goose. Options I had not considered. Also have included the layouts we have considered which I mentioned in the original post and aren’t very creative. Thanks again!!!
Jillius
8 years ago
Could you post some pictures of both spaces? The more photos/views of the space, the better. Including the windows, doors, and ceiling details (the beams, transition, etc.).
Sharon Edmonds thanked Jillius
mama goose_gw zn6OH
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
Kathi, if Sharon prefers having storage over seating, then shallow cabinets on the back of the island would be a good solution--but she might want to interact with family or guests seated at the island. Either would be fine. There is about 48" between the corner of the china cabinet and the corner of the island, so I don't think that's a problem area, and there's ap 60" between the island and table. IIRC, 60" has been the recommended minimum space between back-to-back seating. On paper it doesn't look too tight, but it might be more practical for the OP to mock it up with tables or boxes, then decide if it will work for her family.

I drew a very long island, but if fewer seats (or no seats) are needed, then the island length can be reduced. Lengths of available stone slabs might also drive that decision.
Sharon Edmonds thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
Sharon Edmonds
Original Author
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago

Here’s some photos. you can see we’ve added the living room (new construction) but for kitchen we had to replace all subfloor so we’re down to bare bones. But it’s time for plumbing and electrical so I need to get my plan done as close as possible. Mama I love the second drawing, and Kathi you’re right, I don’t need a ton of seating in the island but I would like to have rooom for 3 or 4. Also, I don’t have to make the built in china cabinet go end to end on the wall if walking space is an issue? also, the small wall between the bathroom and kitchen is not there yet.
So these photos are taken standing at the far end of the living room, through to the kitchen. Not ideal, I know...other photos of kitchen were taken prior to all the tear out. I can get more specific kitchen photos if it will help?
hbeing
4 years ago
can you do all drawers under the countertop instead of upper cabinets?