Hi there, fellow cape owner! Mine is 54 yrs old, and has similar sized rooms (kitchen and dining room). Have you considered a movable island? The benefit of taking down the wall between kitchen and dining room is that you only need one aisle between dining table and kitchen island, instead of an aisle between table and wall, and another aisle between wall and island.

If the island was movable you could have extra room when you need to extend the dining table. Just an idea.

Thanks for the idea, Pam. That's something to consider. I was thinking that the island might provide the extra seating since there isn't much space left to extend the table.

Thanks for your input, Karen. To answer your question, yes, I think we are staying in this house as we retire. We could buy all stainless, I guess I have always liked the look of the appliances being the same color as the cabinets... but I'm not sure how much longer "bisque" will be made.

Thanks, ShadyWillowFarm. Our house certainly isn't "state of the art", but we are mostly comfortable except for the dining room :) Yes, we have a couple of contractors in mind, but always like to get lots of opinions!

Considering the side entries to the kitchen, I don't think you have enough room for an island, even if you remove the wall separating the kitchen from dining room. Guidelines say that one should have 36", at a bare minimum, around the entire island. And that's tight, so more would be better.

Rather than remove the wall, perhaps you could consider expanding the opening. That way, when you have a large group for luncheon or dinner, you can orient your table the other way and add the leaves. It would infringe a bit on the kitchen, but it might be okay - since it wouldn't be an every day configuration (?)

Here's the concept:

Thank you, Mannon Floreat. This is a great option! We might actually have the 36" island clearance, but as you have noted, using the side entries could be difficult.

I think your plan is doable, but if budget is an issue, I have a small island in my 12.5 x 12.5 kitchen. It is moveable - or was before I put the quartz top on it - now its pretty heavy:) I have three stools at the island, but technically, by best kitchen standards there is only room for two adults, so not adding the space you want.

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~110720042

https://www.houzz.com/photos/my-pics-work-in-progress-phvw-vp~109854052

I plan to increase the passage about 16" (one stud) because my fridge sticks out into the doorway and it is a problem getting food from kitchen to dining room - especially when pulling things from the fridge too.

It does look like there is a heat unit in that wall - not sure if that is a problem or not.

As for appliances - I would replace with stainless as they die. I have white and prefer it over stainless, but some whites don't work with the white cabinets if the colors are off. Other times, white works fine. A friend of mine with a new white kitchen has white appliances, and they look great. I am not fond of microwave over the range. A stainless vent hood would look better and work better. If you want to stay with white appliances, you can get an unfinished wood hood with vent insert and paint it to match the cabinets - very pretty buy more costly.

Cute house. Can you sketch a whole floor plan with measurements for the kitchen & dining?

Will you be replacing cabinets as part of this renovation? If not, I’d get the bisque. (I hate stainless and it sticks out like a sore thumb. Can’t wait for all my stainless to die so I can get white).

Before you do anything, ask yourself this question--how many times during the year do you have a large gathering in the dining room? Is it worth knocking down the wall and having a kitchen in your dining room for 2 or 3 meals a year?

I don't even know if you can get bisque appliances. You can hardly find white anymore, and they cost more than the stainless.

I have bisque appliances, but the newest one was purchased in 2011. I think you can still find them on the big box websites--as special order.

We opened the wall between the kitchen and DR in our 1920's bungalow. Love it! It has improved the traffic flow and open feel, without exposing the kitchen to the LR.

I like Manon Floreat's suggestion, but I would put the fridge on the other side, and leave the range on the current wall--you already have a 220 box there, and the DW is better situated to the right of the sink for prep. Dish storage would need to be to the left of the sink, since the open DW door would block the other corner, although it appears that you have space to stand there in the existing kitchen.

The MW can go in a cabinet to the left of the fridge, leaving space over the range for a proper hood. If you need a standard depth fridge, you might consider recessing it into the stud space. (Red rectangle.)

I'd also take out as much of the dividing wall as possible.

To accommodate standard 24" deep bases and a comfortable seating overhang, an island needs to be 40-42" deep, depending on the counter overhang on the working side (1" to 1.5") and thickness of the back panel (.25" to .75"). NKBA recommends a minimum of 15" for the seating overhang, and 24" elbow space for each seat. So this is how Karen Rose's island would fit into the OP's 12' wide kitchen--assuming the island follows the NKBA guidelines.

The guidelines are just that--a set of rules that provide optimal working conditions, but they aren't all part of the safety codes that must be followed. My kitchen is ap 13.5 x 13.5, and I included a 3' x 5' island, which leaves between 40" and 36" on three sides. The fourth side is open to the DR, where the wall was removed. I wouldn't even attempt to put an island with seating in a 12' wide kitchen, unless the perimeter was an L (not a U), and the island was for working or seating--not both--so no deeper than 24-30".

Given a choice between separating the fridge and range for a better layout, or squeezing in an island, I'd move the fridge.

Karen, your kitchen is gorgeous, and I'm happy it works for you, as mine does very well, for my family, despite the fact that I 'relaxed' some of the guidelines. I even have the DW between the sink and range, in my prime prep space, because there is no space to the right of my sink. I have adapted, and it works for us. :)

Hi Karen...your kitchen is beautiful! Do you mind me asking the name and source of your rugs?

Good Luck goose on your remodel!

If the dishwasher is the appliance that has died, you could get a new one that requires panels that match your cabinet.

I did that in a previous house by going to a local custom cabinet maker with an existing door so he could match the style and finish.

That way, you can delay any SS vs bisque decision.

However, I will add to say that, while I loved my SS cooktop, I hated my SS fridge. Cooktop was small (compared to fridge) and cleaned easily with Weiman's SS Wipes. Fridge was horribly difficult to get smear free and smudged instantly when DH used it--and we don't even have kids who are stickier, I understand lol. Also, your pictures make your kitchen look like warmer color tones and SS is a very cool color so may not look the best with your existing colors of cabs, floor, etc.

Your idea of opening the wall and, if you really want an island, the movable one as recommended sounds like an excellent solution for your situation! You've been thinking about opening that wall for 30 years, so maybe it's time!

Love your photo! We thought about taking that fridge wall down years ago but it seemed like it would create other problems and be too costly. The other side of that wall contains our only coat closet and a built in bookcase. That adjacent room is also a "step down", and not level with the kitchen as it was a breezeway. Thanks for all your help ShadyWillowFarm!

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC-- You've asked an important question... we do regularly need more space, probably at least once a month on average, but being "in the kitchen" is something to think about. I've always liked the idea of leaving the mess and enjoying a separate space to eat in. Thank you for your help!

mtnfever (9b AZ/HZ 11) I HAVE been thinking about getting rid of that wall for a long, long time!! Now that we are seriously considering it, I'm not convinced it would be an improvement but we'll get a couple of designers to take a look for us. I appreciate your comment about the SS being a "cool" color. I prefer the bisque even though it may not be trendy. Thanks a lot for your help!

Another point to consider, Susan, is when you take down the wall to open the kitchen is it visible as soon as you enter the front door? I don't think that is a good idea. There was another homeowner on the Design Dilemma board who designed a home with an open layout, and the line of sight from the front door was right to the refrigerator! Not a good idea.

But you do have a good idea to get a professional kitchen designer to help you through this very large and important project!

You could try a round table in your dining room. A 60 inch round can hold 8 - 10 people. A 72 inch round can hold 10 to 12 people. 72 inch might seem too big.

That's a great idea, Karenseb. And it would also be a good excuse to buy new tablecloths :))

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC- The space wouldn't be immediately visible from any door, but if we do open up the two rooms that new area would comprise almost half the square footage of our first floor... which may present us with other things to consider. I appreciate your insight. I'm beginning to feel like this house needs to just be what it is, or be gutted and rearranged!

Diana makes a good point about sight lines. Susan, can you see the wall with the scroll-work piece on it when you come in the front door?

Karenseb, that is a good idea! I suppose one could get a 60" round with leaves that expand it into an oval for the larger gatherings.

Anyway, lots of good feedback here. I know these things take time, but I hope you let us know what you decide and post pictures of the outcome.

I think your kitchen is super cute and love the under cabinet shelf vignette. It looks like you've got some Kings Crown glassware. I have a couple of pieces from my grandmother and am now inspired to add to them!

Manon Floreat- If you came in the front door, you would first be in a small foyer leading to the living room. You'd have to shut the door and turn in order to enter the dining room-- so you wouldn't immediately see that wall.

That shelf you spoke of is an interesting story. The cabinets above it are shorter in length than the rest of the uppers. When the house was built, they were made shorter to accommodate a washer and dryer below them. Since we weren't interested in having laundry in the kitchen, we opted to have base cabinets built in that space instead. I asked for that shelf to be built in an effort to visually (sort of) even out the length of the cabinets. It's a fun spot to decorate, and I'm glad you got some inspiration. Thanks again for your thoughts!

Since your foyer is next to your dining room, you could open up the wall between the foyer and dining room. When you have extra guests, add a card table to the end of the dr table and use that space in the foyer to get extra room.

you might even be able to open the wall between the kitchen and dining room half way up and add 12 deep cabs under the opening in the dining room with a 30 inch deep counter on the top with 12 inches hanging into the kitchen for two stools. It would maybe 48 inches wide.

Karenseb- The other side of the dining room wall is the staircase. I like your thinking' though! :))

too bad!

You'll have to relocate the baseboard heat, but expanding the opening a la Joanna Gaines; raising the top of it and widening the sides will give you a more open feeling. Then go with the expandable round table. Have you considered flipping the den and dining rooms? That might be a less invasive/expensive option. What's the difference in the size of those two spaces?

The round table is a great option. As far as the heat, I was hoping it might relocate to the base of the island, but an island may not be possible. I think the den is too small- it's 9' x 9'. Thanks for your thoughts!