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dksmorgan

remodel kitchen for better flow

6 years ago
Ok. Need input. Will be remodeling kitchen in about 6 to 9 months.
We have gone around and around on what to do. We want to keep resale value in mind as we will probably be selling to downsize in the next 5 to 8 years.

Current layout causes bottleneck at the frig. Also doesn’t have overhang for counter stools on living room side. Don’t like the constant traffic through the kitchen. The bar on dining room side has an overhang but very tight room between counter bar stools and dining table chairs. I currently have short upper cabinets over both bars, on window wall and on frig wall with microwave over stove.

So. Future layout Uses entry way for all traffic from living room to kitchen to dining room and on to utility room and garage. Allows for 1 wide entry into kitchen. I am somewhat concerned about cooktop on stove without any backsplash. I do loose the coat closet in entry way in order to enlarge the opening to dining room. This new layout would only have upper cabs on the window wall. Microwave will move to utility/pantry out of kitchen as we do not use it and a shelf will be added in the small 2’ pantry closet in kitchen to hold the convection toaster oven we use every day.

Two dining room tables are just left from last house and both are no longer needed will keep the largest if I don’t have room for both.

So send me your comments. Both good and bad. I’m ready.

Yes we do have quite a small budget but live in the south and things are more reasonable than in the west and northeast.

Comments (16)

  • 6 years ago
    Adding pics of kitchen and dining room
  • 6 years ago
    More pics dining area
  • 6 years ago
    Pics entry way
  • 6 years ago

    What are the measurements? I would consider an L shaped layout with an island if you have the room.

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    From your comment about the backsplash...do you plan to keep both sides of the U shape open with no wall or does your plan put in a wall between kitchen and dining area? Is it basically overhang seating on one side of a two peninsula U-shape? How many people are in your family?

    I am not usually a big fan of a main sink in an island, but this is one of the times that I think it would make sense instead of the U-shape If you want both sides of the kitchen open. That would put the cooking surface and the fridge on the back wall,; perimeter prep space would be in front of the window. There could be seating on 3, 2, or one side of the island depending on what you need.

  • 6 years ago
    Measurements are shown on the layout drawings
  • 6 years ago
    I do enjoy both sides open to the living area and dining in area.

    It’s just my husband and I except 3 or 4 times a year when we have about 15.

    Having trouble visualizing an island instead of u shape. Could you upload a sketch of the design?
  • 6 years ago

    You are missing a measurement from the window to the counter edge .by dining room. What is the overall dimensions of the kitchen that you are planning.

  • 6 years ago

    I think your 'possible future' layout has potential. A couple things to think about though:

    • where will you put everything that is currently in the front hall closet? Are you getting rid of it so the hall will be wider? If so, what about a shallower closet instead?
    • put the dishwasher to the right of the sink so it's closer to the dining room and the dishes. You can put it on the dining room arm of the counter if it won't fit directly beside the sink anymore.
    • put the stove on the living room side so that you can watch tv while cooking instead of staring into an empty dining room.
    • let the seating overhang on the living room side be at bar height. That will give you room for a bit of backsplash for the stove and even room for a pop-up, downdraft vent.
    • skip cabinetry in the blind corners of your kitchen. Install drawer units that, respectively, face either the living room or dining room. You'll love having some dedicate storage in those rooms and you'll avoid the expensive and less-than-wonderful corner cabinet "solutions" inside your kitchen.
  • 6 years ago
    The kitchen is nominally 12’ x 12’.
  • 6 years ago
    Jennifer K. Thanks for the comments. I will not miss the storage if the closest is gone. I wonder if future owners might need that storage.

    We did talk about having the stove on the living room side. So would there still be bar stools at bar height on the LR side? Then leave the bar as counter height on the dining room side?

    Our thought on the new dishwasher location. The dishes would be handed over the counter rinsed in the sink then put into dishwasher on the left side. Would worry that the dishwasher door would interfere with standing at the sink. We did move the base cabinets inward about 8” to allow more room between bar stools and dining chairs.
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    I am not sure that is a good location for a stove....no wall. Wanting both sides open is going to limit things a bit.

    Think about the kitchen as completely open with 12 feet across the back if your given dimension is correct, but your diagram indicates less than 12 feet on the window wall???

    Starting on the back wall with the sofa: 21” cab—30” stove—50-52” ”prep space—38-40” fridge wiith side panels. The window should fall within the prep space???

    There would be a 48” aisle minimum, then a deeper island with seating. The sink would be centered in the island or the back window with a dishwasher on one side and a trash drawer on the other. The longer the island....more room for other cabs.

    The stove is against an outsude wall for easy exhast with venthood.



  • 6 years ago

    Yes, bar height counter on LR side and regular height counter on DR side. More often than not, the DR side will act as a buffet or servery rather than seating (at least in my world!). In fact, I'd probably skip counter seating on the dining room side entirely. There are seats at the table less than a yard away and counters are nice for standing at or leaning on.


    One other thing I'd do is get rid of the soffits and take the cabinetry to the ceiling. That will allow you to get rid of the uppers on the LR side of the kitchen since you won't need the storage. Also it will make sitting at the bar more comfortable and improve sight-lines between kitchen and LR.


  • 6 years ago

    As you design the kitchen, you should keep in mind that you are selling and design a space that considers modern trends. You want it to be a selling point not ”what were they thinking” like a stove in a peninsula. Resale is another reason to look at an island design. What you propose is not going to have the appeal over an island. People will not want to pass dirty dishes through an opening and walk around a 12’ peninsula when an island would give better flow. Additionally, most people are ripping out bar height counters in favor of one level countertops...much more practical, comfortable, and safer.

  • 6 years ago
    Thank you both for your comments. Yes we plan to remove the soffits however the living room side will require a header to remain since it’s a load bearing wall.

    I really wanted originally the island but due to budget I can’t move my sink. And I’ve had a few designers suggest walking In the front door directly in the kitchen may not be advisable.
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    A galley with an island will use less cabs than the U-shape, I think...did a rough guesstimate. If that is the case, you would save money that could offset the added plumbing costs. Is your house on a slab or crawl space/basement?

    I get the designers’ concern...it would not bother me, but I was so tired of working in my small kitchen....I opened up walls too for visual and physical space.

    One thing turned out to be true for me...my kitchen remodel was all about trade-offs and compromises. Good luck on your project.