Kitchen Layout Help!

7 years ago

We just moved into our new house two weeks ago and we are still trying to figure out what we want to do to our kitchen to update it. We don't want to spend upwards of 20K on a kitchen renovation - so we are trying to salvage as much as possible. With that said...it really makes the most sense to keep the current cabinet configuration as is, and add on where that random small jut out is with the half-depth cabinet and add a full peninsula.

My dilemma is the oven. This wall oven is 24" on a good day - about 17" on the inside. I am very passionate about cooking and baking, so its not something I don't use, I use it practically every day. My first idea would be to replace the single wall oven with a double wall oven, i'd have to keep the 24" width, but i would overall have more oven space. This would probably require the least cabinet manipulation. My second idea would be to pull out the stove top, cut out the cabinets under it, pull out the wall oven and convert that to a regular tall cabinet (would need a door) and install a regular oven/stovetop where the stovetop was. I'm worried we would be opening up a whole can of worms doing the second option and we'd end up spending a lot more than we are hoping to (5K - 10K).

Any advice would be greatly appreciated! I've attached my rough drawn schematic of the kitchen and room next door, and a few pictures. The pictures are old and have the built in book shelf still there - we have removed that!

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jck910

7 years ago

Looks like the oven is electric. What about reworking the refrigerator wall: move the oven and add a 2nd to the refrigerator wall & then move the refrigerator where the oven is now??

I would definitely remove the bookcase to open up the kitchen

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Comments (6)

blubird
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I’d almost be tempted to move the fridge to where the built in bookcase was. I’d use the wood from the bookcase to enclose the fridge. Although it would technically now sit outside the kitchen footprint, the fact that it would sit recessed would reduce its bulk. A new oven cab can be constucted where the fridge was, the current oven cab can be converted to shelving. You might even find you have enough room for an island with seating. Although you haven’t given measurements, it looks like a large space.

this would help tide you over until a larger redoing.
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Emily Palamara
Original Author
7 years ago
jck910 - yes everything in the kitchen is electric right now! My concern having the oven on the refrigerator wall is that is technically a walkway area, since the door to the garage is out that way. I think the flow of the kitchen would be odd with me theoretically standing over the stove right in the middle of the "walkway" so if my husband wanted to pop in/out of the garage i'd have to move out of the way. The fridge is pretty old, I see it being replaced with a counter-depth fridge in the future. Excuse the mess - but this was our second night in the house, we ripped out that bookcase ASAP!
jck910
7 years ago
Wow looks great without bookcase. Yes, I agree the ovens on fridge wall wouldn't work
jslazart
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
You're going to spend more money in the long run doing it a little now and an overhaul later. I'd live with it as is (get a Breville countertop oven for extra oven space) and save up to do it right. Or live eclectically for a while if you really need a wider oven: rip out the cooktop and oven and cabinets on that wall and install a nice range. Set a movable cart or table on either side for counterspace.
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Patricia Colwell Consulting
7 years ago
IMO a counter depth fridge would be my first expenseand really good LED lighting . Removing those bookshelves i a huge change and makes the whole space feel better. I do however agree that to spend any money on the rest of the kitchen is just throwing good money out the window. I always tell my clients to live in a space for at least 3 months and better is 6 to really understand how you use the space and this kitchen could be fabulous with a good plan and new cabinets with all drawers for base ones and then a proper space for double wall ovens ina decent size. I bake a lot and could not deal with that tiny oven and convection is a must IMO.