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pepperonipizza

Kitchen design disaster

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

Folks, I have created a design disaster. I have a small 1960's ranch. I started a kitchen remodel, did lots of designs, chose one with the sink in the island and the cooktop behind it, appliances on the back wall. Then I realized that thanks to the more open floorplan which removed a wall between the living room and the family room, you could now see my refrigerator from the front door! Not what I was going for! In fact, if the fridge and the double-ovens are anywhere on the back wall, you will see them from the front door.

The kitchen is 18 ft. long and 11 feet wide. It faces the dining room (the original family room with corner fireplace). There is no wall in between. The sink and cooktop are 36", the pantries are 48" the cabinets on either side of the fridge are 30".

Having moved the plumbing for the sink and the gas for the range, the position of the range and the sink can't change, but I want the big appliances to face the back of the house, not the street, so that that they will be hidden from view of the front door and entry hall. This means shifting the position of the island without shifting the position of the sink. This puts my sink at the end of a peninsula. I need to know if this will be too weird. Thanks for your advice.


This is the future design leaving the sink at the end of the peninsula.

Below is what happens if I put the appliances on the back wall. I could put either a peninsula or an island in the center, but in this design, there is a 42" walkway on the left, and nothing but a wall, no appliances.





Comments (27)

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Sorry, am new to Houzz, can add more photos if that will help. The second and third photos represent the problem design with the appliances on the back wall.

  • PRO
    7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    The sink still makes sense since it is centered to the cooktop. Just be mindful when you hang your pendent lights, so the positioning and distance between each looks balanced as well as functional.

    Also, have you considered a decorative range hood en lieu of the short cabinet? This will give your kitchen a custom feel as opposed to builder grade design.

    Hope this helps!

    pepperonipizza thanked User
  • 7 years ago
    Do you need an island that big? Why not make it the same size as the center wall ?
    pepperonipizza thanked fancyxx
  • 7 years ago

    Not sure what you mean about the center wall, Fancyxx. The island needs to be big enough for the sink, DW, and trash, and if I do that, I can put a walkway on the right side of the island rather than converting it to a peninsula. The question is the sink on the left end of the island/peninsula. That part I cannot change.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Which ever you go with, I would highly recommend you put a deep fridge panel on the opposite side of the pantry/fridge if you plan on anything of any weight going into that deep fridge upper. Having a deep fridge upper unsupported on the one side at the front will lend to that side drooping at the front. I've seen it on many places.

    pepperonipizza thanked Design Loft Bracebridge
  • 7 years ago
    I would end the island where the fridge begins in picture 2 and use the remaining space as a walkway
  • 7 years ago

    The Kitchen That Ate The House, And Became the Whole House syndrome. You need to rein in your wants and stop the ever expanding universe. And put back some walls.


    You can fix this. Just hire a real Kitchen Designer to give you pushback on some of these bad ideas that you have let run amok and destroy the house.

    pepperonipizza thanked User
  • 7 years ago

    Thank you, Fancyxx, I understand now. The photo does not show it well but I think that design does as you suggest. I appreciate your thoughts.


  • 7 years ago

    Not a fan of the double ovens adjacent to a doorway (no matter what that door may be). When the doors are open, they block access to that doorway, plus they seem "crowded" against that side wall.

    pepperonipizza thanked Michelle misses Sophie
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Based on your description and replies, it sounds like you are a "form over function" person (i.e., looks are more important than function). Is that correct? There's no right or wrong answer, just the answer about what's more important to you and your family.

    Could we see a sketch of the entire floor? Where is the front door?

    pepperonipizza thanked Buehl
  • 7 years ago

    How about you panel the fridge?

  • 7 years ago

    I wouldn't like the functionality of your "revised" design - especially the sink on the end of the peninsula and the oven location. The refrigerator location I could take or leave. Would you consider opting out of the double oven, for a single one that could be located under your cooktop or in the cabinetry opposite the refrigerator?

    pepperonipizza thanked Sammie J
  • 7 years ago

    Yes, I considered paneling the fridge. Am not willing to spring for the really fancy options, but could possibly do the kind where the fridge sticks out from the wall to allow the doors to open. I have to put it on the right to have room to open the doors, which leaves the double ovens on the left within view of the front door and entry hall. Am also starting to count up how many upper cabinets I get in each option.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago



    This diagram corresponds to the first photo. The front door is at the top left. There is a wall separating the living room from the kitchen-dining area, and the fridge and double ovens are stationed along this wall facing the back of the house. You cannot see them from the front door, entry hall, or living room. There are two pantries on the right wall, near the living room. From the entry, you would see the pantry doors at the near end of the kitchen, and you would see the sweep of upper cabinets on the back wall which faces the front of the house.

  • 7 years ago

    If the issue is just that you don't find appliances attractive and therefore don't want them to be thr first impression of your house (is that the issue?), then getting a panel-ready fridge would solve your issue, no?

    pepperonipizza thanked Jillius
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago



    This diagram corresponds to photos 2 and 3. The appliances are on the right wall. You could put the ovens or the fridge near the front and back respectively. The pantries are on the back wall in this diagram, facing the front wall of the house. If you take out the pantries, you can put one on the right wall, and turn the island into a peninsula. You get very few upper cabinets with this plan. But you get as much counter space on the right of the sink as you do on the left of the sink.


  • 7 years ago

    Can you add a wall to enclose your entry?

    pepperonipizza thanked zmith
  • 7 years ago

    Buehl, hope the drawings help to illustrate the situation. I am not impractical, I want the function, but in the original design, which is not pictured, all the appliances were on the back wall facing the front door. Looking at the kitchen alone, it was functional, and there were two upper and lower cabinets on either side of the cooktop, very symmetrical and functional. But when I came in the front door, my eye went straight to those appliances as if they were the centerpiece of the home. It's not a big house, but I began to realize that in every house in the neighborhood, there was a wall designed to hide the fridge from the front of the house. Joanna Gaines hides the fridge, even in a small home like mine, even if the rest of the kitchen is on display. Hillary Farr hides the fridge. The Property Bros. tend to do the same. Seems like something to consider very strongly.

  • 7 years ago

    I could potentially put French doors from the entry into the living room. It would slow down the way the eye travels and perhaps focus more attention on the living room. That would be a compromise and some people would say it's better than taking out counter space on the one side of the sink.

  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Yes, Jillius, you have summed up the issue correctly, I do not want appliances to be the first impression of my house. Using the panel ready fridge on the right wall would hide the fridge but not the double ovens. It would limit me to placing the pantries on the back wall facing the street, unless I turn the island into a peninsula. And if I do not turn the island into a peninsula, it would take out 11 feet of upper cabinets. I guess the question is whether the space on the one side of the sink is worth those sacrifices.

  • 7 years ago

    SammieJ, the single unit with cooktop and oven would lend itself to a better appearance of the kicthen in some ways. However, on this point, I was strictly functional. It hurts my back to pull things out of a lower oven, so I picked the wall oven instead.

  • 7 years ago

    I that think you are focusing on looking at that wall because you are in the midst of the remodel. If your diagram is correct, the living room is front and center and where the eye is naturally drawn when walking in. Now, if there is a crowd in the DR or kitchen of course someone would look that way, after turning right and walking toward it. Your attention is immediately drawn because this openness is new to you and you’re looking for it. Once you are done and furniture is in place, I think the original plan will look best.

  • PRO
    7 years ago

    second design is best, but you have to take care of the oven with filler and fridge is missing panel as well

    Forrest Hills,NY · More Info


  • 7 years ago

    I have an architect friend who has done 2 houses similar. In her design, the dining area was separate to the left of your table. The island faced the front living area (stools and all). The sink and cooktop were in similar positions. The fridge was on a wall to the left of where your dining table is, but close to the island.


    Point being there was no issues with the kitchen and appliances being visible from the front door or vestibule.


    From the 2nd drawing, there is nothing next to the ovens but the end of the cabinet. True?


  • 7 years ago

    I would not like the sink right on the edge of the peninsula since in my kitchen, both sides of the sink are often used at once. Dirty dishes stacked on one side and clean dishes drying on the other; two people chopping fruit/veggies on either side; etc.

  • 7 years ago

    " I do not want appliances to be the first impression of my house. "


    They won't be. I agree with bbtrix who said " the living room is front and center and where the eye is naturally drawn when walking in. Now, if there is a crowd in the DR or kitchen of course someone would look that way "


    Once you create beautiful focal points in the living room and entry I hope you feel better. Realistically, I think most people when walking into a home for the first time just kind of notice nothing, until they relax enough to look around. They will be looking at you, and hunting for a place to stow their shoes and jackets, and greeting other people they know...and then by the time they notice the fridge they will be well into the room and being offered a drink :) The next time they will be taking in the various details, but mostly refrigerators are overlooked.


    You're safe!

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