Cooks and Kitchen experts HELP please!

6 years ago

We are in the planning phase of a new build with the plan Elberton Way. http://houseplans.southernliving.com/plans/SL1561 I would like to revise the kitchen layout but am running into some concerns and would love some thoughts.

Here is the original layout.

Here is a photo of the original layout.

I would like to move the sink out of the island, and move it to the location of the range, with a single large window above the sink, and cabinets on either side. The 4 acre lot sits next to a thoroughbred horsefarm, and I would like a large kitchen window to maximize the view.

There are a lot of tweaks of this plan online, but I've only found one that has moved the sink. (They made some other adjustments to accomplish this, which we could also do.) I love the look of it, but question the functionality. Here is the house https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/15930-Drumone-Rd-Midlothian-VA-23112/123196188_zpid/?mmlb=g,12 and photos/layout are below.

While I love the look of the kitchen below, my concern is the location of the refrigerator. It is quite far from the stove, causing a large work triangle. (The walls are 18' apart, so I'm guessing the stove/fridge will be about 14' apart.) I'm afraid that this may not be very functional. Does anyone have suggestions on how I could rework this so that the sink is at a window? For what it is worth, our appliances will be a 48" refrigerator and a 48" oven/range. I'm not interested in a cooktop in the island.

OR, are there avid cookers who have similar spacing between their fridge/sink/stove and have found it very functional still?

Any help is greatly appreciated!
Kelly

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Comments (5)

darbuka
6 years ago
What you want, is for the fridge to be near the sink, and prep space....and the prep space to be next to the cooking surface (stove/rangetop/cooktop). The mantra to follow is...ice, water, stone, fire. That is, fridge (ice), few steps from sink (water), next to prep space (stone), next to stove (fire).

Before items from the fridge are ready to be cooked on the stove, they have to be rinsed, and prepped first. Therefor, it’s best for the fridge to be near the sink, and follow the rest of the order...ice, water stone, fire. Your bottom inspiration pic, follows that mantra.
Kelly Rankin
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you darbuka. True that the flow is not a bad one, it is more the distance I'm worried about. Wall to wall is 18', so it seems like a lot of walking between the refrigerator and the stove.
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darbuka
6 years ago
But, remember...it’s the distance between the fridge and the sink, that matters. Once you’re at the sink, you’re right next to the prep space, and stove.

I have a wide galley kitchen. My fridge is across from the sink...say, four steps. I bring everything I need for whatever I’m cooking, to the sink/prep area. When the prep is done, I’m already next to the stove (rangetop, in my case). Few extra steps needed.

Click to enlarge.
Kelly Rankin thanked darbuka
mama goose_gw zn6OH
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Kelly, you said you can make changes? Can you extend the pantry wall toward the exterior? I used the original plan for this variation, but it puts both the clean-up zone and the cooktop on the back wall, similar to darbuka's kitchen. A kitchen that size can support the addition of a prep sink, so I centered one on the island.

The fridge is recessed into the pantry, making it possible to have a full-depth model without taking up as much aisle space. Dish storage is to the right of the DW, extending into the pantry if necessary. On the other side I put counter beside the oven, for landing space, but it could double as a coffee station.

The cooktop would still be farther than the NKBA recommended max of 9', from the fridge, but that's better than 14'.
With the ovens on the back wall, cooktop closer to fridge:
Fridge on left, dish hutch on right:

And here's a quick idea using the second plan you posted:
Kelly Rankin thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
Kelly Rankin
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you both for your ideas! I appreciate it! I'll have to study these options! Thanks!