Help with kitchen/dining/living room layout

13 years ago

Hi houzzers, we'd like some help with the layout of the kitchen/living/dining area in our loft condo. Attached is a floor plan (sorry for the small size) and photos with staged furniture -- we're not crazy about the layout they went with. We'd like a 6-seater dining table, a seating area for guests, a sizable island in the kitchen, maybe even a office desk area somewhere.... all without blocking the outlooks from the giant 17-ft windows or cluttering up the space that much! Also, we're wondering what the best use of the under stair area is. Your suggestions and ideas are welcome!

Featured Answer

R Robulock

13 years ago

I work in construction and I can tell you that I never like a house on its original plan. I always like to make a floor plan more suitable for our lifestyle and different than everyone else on the block.

Your dining room will have to stay in the kitchen area so that you are not traveling too far with food and it will be an easier clean up. Now your family room looks like a good size. In the pics you posted, I can't see how that would be called a living area with just 2 chairs, where is the TV? Dining room in the kitchen where the island is in the pic. Now you can work with a biggger living area to seat your family and guests.

Under the stairs, I would put a desk / media center for the laptop, bills, etc. You can also put a bar. And last, you can use the space as a book shelf. See below.

I hope you like the ideas.

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Comments (7)

R Robulock
13 years ago
Good luck, I know that you are limited because of the layout.
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Udara Fernando
Original Author
13 years ago
Those are great ideas - thanks! I especially like the idea of putting a desk below the stairs like in the last photo. I should've mentioned -- we are going to use the upper level foyer (in the floor plan, you can see this between the stairs and the master suite) as our family room, so the TV etc. will go up there. We do want an island, but I agree that the dining table should be closer to the kitchen than the seating area.
kathy
13 years ago
What is beside the foyer? The plan shows a closet but nothing else. I would assume that this would be your best place for an office.

For the main living space, CAD software or even pencil and graph paper are your best friend. Make a drawing to scale and cut out to scale templates of table chairs sofas etc. Place them on your drawing, moveing around to till you get something that works.
good luck!
Udara Fernando thanked kathy
R Robulock
13 years ago
Good point Kathy. I would definitely use it as a small living room because no one wants to see just an office when they come into someone's house.

However, Kathy is right, you can have a set of club chairs and in the middle a nice low cabinet disguised as a desk like these below. No one has to know what is inside. I like the cabinet in the bedroom as a desk. Modern and rustic. This way you can use the den for just lounging and seating.
Udara Fernando
Original Author
13 years ago
That area beside the foyer is used as the 2nd bedroom. A queen size bed and two nightstands fill it up (it's only 150 sqft), and we need a good bed in there since when our parents come to visit, they stay for a while (they live abroad) :)
R Robulock
13 years ago
Got it. Good idea, an extra bed in the house is a great idea for guests.