kitchen layout with or without wall?

6 years ago

We're building a new house in a secluded neighborhood on a wooded west-facing lot. One of our priorities was a home with lots of natural light, so we used floor plan #1 for most of the house and used floor plan #2 to add a courtyard adjacent to the front entry featuring 5 big windows. This created some cascading effects for kitchen design that I'm puzzling through.

In floor plan #1 the kitchen was L-shaped with a corner pantry access. We decided to remove the wall so that natural light can spill into the kitchen and LR. We are ok removing the wall because the pantry will have plenty of storage and counter space.

However, the architect then moved access to the pantry from what would've been the corner of the kitchen to an entry way across from the front-hall closet, which felt like a weird flow. So we asked to have the pantry door moved back into the kitchen and the architect placed it next to the stove. In the image below, we asked for the door to be moved closer to the hallway (red arrow) so we had enough counter surface to the left of the stove. Now I'm wondering if removing that wall was such a good idea because it occurred to me that counter space near the stove is more functionally important than pantry counter space. Thoughts?

I did ask about sliding the kitchen toward the front of the house and placing the pantry door closer to the dining area but the design coordinator talked us out of that for reasons I can't remember. Something about the location of the fridge door and centering of the island.

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Mark Bischak, Architect

6 years ago

Get a kitchen designer before you make bigger mistakes.

I would like to argue with Hallett's point about architects and kitchens, but it is kitchens like this that reinforces their argument. Thank you for using "most".

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Comments (12)

PRO
HALLETT & Co.
6 years ago
Only one plan posted...
tophino
Original Author
6 years ago
There is only one (final) plan to display. I think I made it confusing ... we blended #1 and #2 to get this final plan. Hope that makes sense
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PRO
HALLETT & Co.
6 years ago
Terrible kitchen, completely out of proportion to the pantry and the overall size of the house. You need to work with a kitchen designer- who is doing your cabinets? Most architects (note I said most) are terrible at designing kitchens- get a kitchen designer now.
PRO
Woodhaven Renovations
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
I agree. It seems the pantry area needs to be dedicated for the kitchen and the new pantry should be incorporated into the cabinetry with full height/depth cabinets around fridge. This will push the island back, making the home feel larger and giving you a much needed window in the kitchen.
tophino
Original Author
6 years ago
Good to know about architects and kitchen design. I was wondering that when I saw where he initially placed the pantry door. Would it help to post the entire floor plan to get a better sense of scale? We've toured a model home that has this footprint and the proportions seemed fine, although we increased the square footage a bit in the living area and one of the bedroooms. The pantry sizes in our area trend large because of the combination of geography and natural disasters we deal with. But I agree, that pantry is large no matter what. The builder told us there is a movement to create a functional pantry for small appliances with counter space.
tophino
Original Author
6 years ago
anj_p
6 years ago
I don't think your courtyard is adding much for you except expense. From what I can tell, that porch is covered, which means your windows will only get direct light from the time the sun is below the roofline, and then it will be rather blinding (assuming you have no tall plants/trees).

The best light you will get is from the south, so that means your master bedroom and dining room will have the best light in the house.

I would add windows all along the north wall in your dining room at a minimum. I would also add a window in the corner of your living room to get more southern light.
tophino thanked anj_p
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
6 years ago
I had you in mind Mark. I also put a lowercase a on architect. You’re a capitol A architect.
Jennifer K
6 years ago
The builder told us there is a movement to create a functional pantry for small appliances with counter space.

So a kitchen for working and a kitchen for showing off?
fissfiss
6 years ago
This is our kitchen layout in our remodeled 1978 townhouse in the mountains of Colorado...mind you, we had to squeeze a powder room into the pantry space, too! Our pantry space is not closed off...and it does include the fridge....this is a second home for us..the kitchen is adequate, but not ideal. We love to cook, so it is a bit small.
tophino
Original Author
6 years ago
Ok, sold on getting a kitchen designer involved. Thanks everyone. @Jennifer K they didn't quite put it like that, but yes. The pantry is supposed to be a working area where you can leave out small appliances. We also live in an area where people prep for natural disasters so that's part of it too. @fissfiss I need to make better friends who have second homes like yours :) For the home we're building, I definitely need those emergency counter top landing zones next to the stove.