Kitchen layout needed

7 years ago

I have to make a decision on the layout of my kitchen. I’m hoping you guys can help!!

The kitchen/family room is on open 28 x 40 room with 14‘ ceilings at the center height. . The kitchen is in the back of the house with one window over the sink. The pantry is to the right of the window. I will have a 9’ island. My dilemma Is deciding on the best placement of the stove and refrigerator. The refrigerator will be French doors, but it will not be counter depth, so I want to make sure the doors will open completely. I can move the dishwasher to the right side of the sink (I am right handed). Please give your opinions of the best location for the appliances. I want my island to remain appliance free. I’ve thought that possibly if the refrigerator is to the right of the pantry, that since the garage is behind that wall, the framer could fix the wall so the ref would sit more evenly with the cabinets...but I’m fine if it sticks out too. Thank you in advance for your help!

Featured Answer

damiarain

7 years ago

Yeah, that corner pantry is messing up the layout. You have a lot of space to work with so you have lots of options!

1. L-shaped with pantry cabinets at the end like Sina mentioned. Below is a quick mock up of a version of that.

2. Create a walk-in pantry 'behind' the kitchen. A bit trickier given the cathedral ceiling (although frankly I think the corner pantry + cathedral ceiling looks a bit ridiculous already - at least this brings in the wall entirely). Below is a version of that

Another thing - can you enlarge the window? Given that it's the only one on that whole wall, double or triple-ing it up would really add some great light to the space

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Comments (10)

PRO
Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
7 years ago
The issue is the corner pantry. It's creating an obstacle for a good design. Corner pantries are awful in terms of kitchen design, so if possible rethink it. It would be better to do a classic L-shape with the island, putting in a cabinet style pantry instead (which will provide better storage and take up less space)
PRO
User
7 years ago
I’d suggest working with a good Kitchen Designer. The current layout is a big obstacle course and does not functionally work to cook. I’d suggest making yourself familiar with the NKBA’s 31 Rules of Kitchen Design in the mean time. It will help you to see why your design needs work. http://starcraftcustombuilders.com/kitchen.design.rules.htm
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Kim
7 years ago
Those are excellent ideas damiarain!
Kim G
7 years ago
I had a corner pantry in my last house almost identical to the one the OP is proposing. I HATED it! It seemed to be all corners and really not very efficient. I really like the behind the kitchen panty damiarain is proposing. Both of those are great ideas, but you can’t beat a nice walk in pantry IMHO.
just_janni
7 years ago
Corner pantries are terrible places where canned goods go to die (and get lost forever) I have that pantry now - HATE IT.
alex9179
7 years ago
I agree that the corner pantry should be deleted. You're losing prep space by your range because of it, along with the other negatives mentioned.
emilyam819
7 years ago
Oh, gosh. Corner pantries arw bad to begin with, but with the sloped ceiling, it is 1000x worse.

Please post a while floor layout.
Buehl
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I disagree with others about corner pantries -- I have one and it's great! Like anything, it's the execution that makes or breaks it.

No pantry, corner or otherwise, should be an obstacle in the middle of the Kitchen and the work zones, especially the primary work zones (Prep, Cooking, Cleanup).

In my case, my corner pantry is on the perimeter and does not cut into workspace.

In the OP's layout above, the pantry is in the middle of the Kitchen and that's what makes it "bad", not the fact that it's a corner pantry.

Oh, and the depth of the shelves also can make or break any pantry...if they're much deeper than 12", you're going to "lose" things in the depths.

This is also one of the reasons I don't like full-depth cabinet pantries that are:
- Wider than 18". At 18" (or less), you can see everything by looking at the items from one side and then the other side.
- Not pullouts (a pullout has shelves attached to the door so they pullout automatically when the door is opened).
- ---- With pullouts, you simply pull open the door and all the shelves come with it. Now, all you have to do is scan the shelves to find the item you're looking for. If the pullout is 12" or less, you only need to look from one side. If the pullout is > 12" to 18", you can look from one side and then the other. Nothing can get lost
- ---- If they're not pullouts, you have to open/shut roll out tray shelves (ROTS) to find what you're looking for. Even worse is if they're stationary shelves at 24" deep -- things very easily get lost in the depths!
Buehl
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I like Damiarain's idea of the pantry behind the Kitchen -- but I would try to get a door in the Kitchen instead of in the hall. The hall will work, but a door inside the Kitchen itself (facing into the Kitchen) is better -- even if it's at the end of the range wall run.

I also agree about widening the window -- make it as wide as you can and still have sufficient storage in the Kitchen.

Even better? Make it counter-height. (See the following thread: [https://www.houzz.com/discussions/counter-height-window-pictures-please-dsvw-vd~2484108?n=66[(https://www.houzz.com/discussions/counter-height-window-pictures-please-dsvw-vd~2484108?n=66) )