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bibiana_steinbauer

what would you change?

6 years ago

What would you change about this kitchen? Building similar houses and always trying to improve. Let’s hear your ideas! Feelings will not be hurt :)

Comments (39)

  • 6 years ago

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  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    @User There is a hood over the cooktop. It’s hidden. Thanks. Like the fridge idea.

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Over mount sink would be a turnoff for me...

    Always Improve thanked HALLETT & Co.
  • 6 years ago

    More interesting details in backsplash and on island.


    Happy Valley Remodel · More Info


    Always Improve thanked Shasta
  • 6 years ago

    "Building similar houses and always trying to improve."

    Are you a home builder?

  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    @millworkman I’m a doctor that knows nothing about design. Started building houses after an opportunity came up.

  • 6 years ago

    Prefer the fridge located on the far left of the cooktop wall (in place of the cabinets). Current location impedes walkway and is too close to the island. Sink directly opposite the cooktop isn't optimal. 90% of world's population is right-handed, so (left to right); trash cabinet, sink, DW, glass and dishware storage. Symmetrical, at the cost of function, doesn't work for me.

    Always Improve thanked chiflipper
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    @Shasta, awesome idea! will work on backsplash and island. It will really lift up the kitchen

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Don’t put appliances next to each other. I would use a dark color counter top on the island

    Always Improve thanked N Dobos Architecture
  • 6 years ago

    @chiflipper Excellent advice!

  • 6 years ago

    Different flooring. That looks like a grey laminate; would prefer a light natural wood.

    Always Improve thanked latifolia
  • 6 years ago

    Overhang of the island countertop should be deeper so it gives more room to people sitting...especially if you are sitting across from the sink.

    Always Improve thanked plf12652
  • 6 years ago

    Love it - I would just put the ovens on the far left of the long wall and add leg supports with a deeper island for chairs.

    Always Improve thanked Lynda
  • 6 years ago

    @plf12652 what would be the ideal depth of the overhang. They did 10" on this one

  • 6 years ago

    I absolutely love it!
    I would however also move the appliances.

    Always Improve thanked Tami Johnson
  • 6 years ago

    Could you please share the color of the cabs?

  • 6 years ago

    Refrigerator at least 18" countertop away from either ovens or cooktop.


    Deep double stainless steel sink positioned so you're looking at/out of a window when you're working there.


    Island base the same color as the base cabinets if base cabinets are painted.


    IF you put a sink in an island and an overhang for a bar/seating on the other side, then the island needs to be deeper with more countertop space behind it for that to be practical.


    Always Improve thanked suezbell
  • 6 years ago

    Are you able to share the colors on the cabs?

  • 6 years ago

    Wider island with cabinetry on both sides.
    Gas range.
    Fridge not next to ovens.
    More electrical outlets on the back wall.
    Better looking and brighter light fixtures.
    Larger sink.

    Always Improve thanked felizlady
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    It's a nice looking kitchen. I like the colors and materials. just a few things:

    I don't care for sinks in islands, but if it has to be, then make it undermount. A drop in like that looks cheap.

    Make the island bigger. why is it so thin? anyone doing dishes would have splashes and water going over the edge onto the floor. And trying to prep food, I can see things flying over the back edge. there isn't a lot of useable counter space.

    Plus, that area behind the sink is useless since no one on the other side could sit there. So, you basically only have enough room for two people, or 3 kids, to sit comfortably at the overhang. have you actually sat there on a chair? is there room for your knees? 12-13" is more comfortable. But you'd also need a wider island to balance it.

    The fridge could have gone to the left side, and then you could have a double pantry.

    Not everyone likes induction. most cooks prefer gas.

    the laminate flooring was the first thing I noticed. In a kitchen of this caliber, I would expect a nice hardwood or a natural stone or porcelain tile floor.

    and if you really want nitpicky, hide the outlets vertically towards the top (or in your case, toward the bottom)

    ** What is the height of the upper cabs? they look rather high. 18" from the countertop is standard.

    If you have a 5'2" woman, how is she supposed to access those since that's where plates and glasses would go?

    this handle placement is weird. it's too high. have you ever tried to open a long door while only accessing the very top? pantry handles should be placed in the middle, where the X is.


    as for the long one on the far left, I'd make that a tall pantry. inside you can have pull out drawers. having the half pantry here looks a little odd.

    Always Improve thanked Beth H. :
  • 6 years ago

    Agree with a lot of the comments. The pendants are not attractive,and were an opportunity for color. The cooktop opposite the sink is not ideal, nor the fridge near the oven. It all looks blah to me. And the island is too narrow.

    Always Improve thanked RedRyder
  • 6 years ago

    Very nice. I would prefer matching or black or wood for island cabinets. The white doesn't seem to go. Need landing areas near fridge and ovens. My balance is poor, I don't want to rotate to the island to put down a hot dish or heavy item from fridge.

    Always Improve thanked lopipopi
  • 6 years ago

    The big things for me are the fridge and ovens next to each other and the upper cabinets are too high. Other things I don’t like are brass and the pendants are unattractive, (IMO). But those are things I could change. I too would prefer the sink to be on the perimeter.

    Always Improve thanked mainenell
  • 6 years ago

    @Tami Johnson this is an IKEA Bodbyn grey kitchen. It's a rental house on a very tight budget due to location (extremely rural area). I am actually impressed with this kitchen from IKEA.

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you for the info.

    Always Improve thanked Tami Johnson
  • 6 years ago

    @millworkman @Beth H. : The upper cabinets are up higher than standard. I am average height and can't stand preparing food with the cabinets in front of my face. I ran into this article and decided to go with it https://www.houzz.com/magazine/how-high-should-you-hang-your-upper-kitchen-cabinets-stsetivw-vs~105441789 What are your thoughts?


    The bottom cabinets are all drawers so all plates and glassware can nicely go in there.

  • 6 years ago

    By the way, this kitchen cost $8500 including appliances.

  • 6 years ago

    I think the cabinet style looks too traditional for that layout - I would have done a more modern slab door. Agree with others that I’d make the island deeper for more comfort seating.

    Always Improve thanked Val B
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Always, but that's you. What's average height? for a man? so you're 5'8" ? have a friend who is 5'2" come in and have her get a stack of plates out of that upper cabinet. forget the 2nd shelf!

    I have cabinets on both sides of my stove and don't find them 'in my way' at all. (btw, I'm 5'7" and have to stand on my toes in order to reach the top shelf. my cabs are standard height from the countertop)

    So you built it so the drawers stack the plates and glassware. nice. that's good. hopefully if you have short tenants, they'll appreciate that! If the other cabs are too high for them to work with, then it's useless.

    Does the kitchen come w/induction cookware? I hope?

    otherwise, I think it looks great for the budget you had to spend. and since it's a rental, I understand you installing the laminate. However, if building for sale, I would go w/wood.

    and the island is still too thin. in the future, double up on the cabs so that the width is doubled (if you have the room) and do a larger overhang where people can sit comfortably.

    Have you sat on a stool at your overhang. do your knees fit ok? or is it a little tight? Now imagine if your tenant is 6'2". would it still work?

  • 6 years ago

    @RedRyder agree with you on the pendants. They are hideous. What color pendant would you have used?

  • PRO
    6 years ago

    Overall it's a nice looking kitchen. Although I don't love the color of the cabinets, some might. I would prefer to see a white perimeter, with the blue/gray island. I think it will appeal to more people that way. Change the location of the fridge to the left of the cooktop. Change the sink to an under mount. Make the island wider with more of an overhang for more comfortable seating. I think the upper cabinets are too high. 18 inches is standard but those look really high. I'm only 5'1" and that would never work for me. Lastly, change the floor. It screams cheap laminate or vinyl.

    Always Improve thanked Design Girl
  • 6 years ago

    @Beth H. : I'm a woman and I'm 5'7 like you. Maybe I'm just claustrophobic and love the extra space. ;)


    I agree with you 100% on the floor. Would never put laminate on a house for sale.


    I will double cabinets on the island. It absolutely looks cheap so thin.


    Thanks so much for all your thoughtful responses.

  • 6 years ago

    Always, good for you! building homes on your 'off' time. lol. Overall it's a nice job. i'm sure any renter will be thrilled

    Always Improve thanked Beth H. :
  • 6 years ago

    I would have made the island larger/wider.. also, i would have used some open shelving instead of all the cabinets. Particularly around the stove. would have made it more grand look with a boulder backsplash.

    Always Improve thanked Danielle Cottom
  • 6 years ago

    For a rental and at a cost of $8500 for the kitchen, I think you have a winner (except for the island....I’m only 5’2” and I would not be comfortable sitting at that island). I do not like laminate at all and could nitpick at a bunch of other things, but being a rental I think what you have there is great.

    Always Improve thanked User
  • 6 years ago
    last modified: 6 years ago

    Agree that the kitchen is a beautiful kitchen for $8500. I'm impressed.

    I don't know your rental market. IME in my market that kitchen would work for annual rentals up to about $2500/month even with the shortcomings mentioned above. Over $2500/month, the tenants will want better storage, and a more functional kitchen as mentioned in the comments above. In my market, $2500 or less is average 3/2/2 (or 4/2/2) SFR or TH or villa in middle income type neighborhood in the suburbs.

    I noticed that the upper cabinets appear to be 30 inch high cabinets rather than 42's which is okay under $2000/month but not above.

    You are doing a great job of researching what others see when they look at your kitchen. I think the comments above have been illuminating. I agree with all that mentioned the wider island and moving the refrigerator to the left. The cooktop is good for a rental - not so much for selling.

    Naturally you would need to research what your rental market responds to with your kitchen.

  • 6 years ago

    I would incorporate some glass doors into that top bank above the sink to break it up a bit and lower them. Maybe go with 42”. Agree that they seem too high.

  • 6 years ago

    Thank you LORD that I have a kitchen. Indoors. With electricity...for a stove, oven, refrigerator, dishwasher(!), lighting, heating, air conditioning. With a floor that isn’t dirt. Walls and ceiling that aren’t cardboard. Etc.....
    “What do you have that you did not receive?”