Temporary Kitchen?

5 years ago

Hello all!
We have a unique project... we purchased land for a home for our family and a casita for my parents. Long story short, we are having my parents home built as a modular and then will be doing a traditional stick build for ours. We are planning on building the garage (likely 4 car for both my parents and us). Originally we were going to leave that space above the garage unfinished with the possibility of finishing in the future, however, considering how long it will take to build our stick built home (we are just starting on the planning phase), we are considering the idea of finishing the space above the garage and living in there while we build our house. The challenge we will likely run into is with the county. Ultimately, my parents home will be considered an ADU (accessory dwelling unit) and our home will be the main home. I don’t believe we can have 2 ADUs, so we will probably have to take the kitchen out of the space above the garage. We weren’t planning on making it that fancy anyway, but does anyone have experience or insight as to how easy/difficult it would be to convert a functional kitchen into a kitchenette? Probably taking out/changing the 240v as well? Our county considers the 240v line as a rough in for a kitchen and therefore would have to consider the space as an ADU.
Any other suggestions would be welcomed as well!!
Thank you in advance!

Thank you!

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Comments (7)

emilyam819
5 years ago
What if you build a wet bar (small sink, undercounter fridge). Nobody has to know if you plug in a microwave, a hot plate, or a breville oven.
Colleen Violette
Original Author
5 years ago
We plan on being there for a long while... with a toddler that won’t be ideal for sure..!
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anj_p
5 years ago
I don't know the rules...but if your garage is attached to your "home", can't it be considered the main dwelling? Or are you absolutely not attaching your garage to your house? (Could be easy to do with just a breezeway...
JJ
5 years ago
You could wire it so the 240 could be dropped down into the garage for an ev charging station.
Ron Natalie
5 years ago
The electrical code calls a kitchen: a place with a sink and permanent provisions for cooking. So as far as the NEC is concerned, if you take the fixed stove or whatever you have in there out, even if you live the power behind, that's no longer a kitchen.

That's not likely to be the ADU-determining factor though, the International Residential Code (used in some form in most places) just says a kitchen is an area used for the preparation of food. You'll have to ask your local building department what their threshhold for that is. Frankly, power availability isn't likely to do it. Having a stove or oven, probably would. Refrigerators and microwaves are probably a gray area.
Bruce in Northern Virginia
5 years ago
Wiring 240 volts to a garage is very common now, either for EV charging or for using larger power tools (welder, compressor, etc.). I don't see how wiring it for 240 volt power would change the character/use of the building. However, if you install water service, water heater and DWV I think it might generate some interest and questions from the building department.

In some cities they also allow only one connection to the city sewer system, so you have to figure out a dwelling layout that enables you to eventually have the garage, house, and ADU sewer lines come together and properly drain.

Bruce
wdccruise
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
"does anyone have experience or insight as to how easy/difficult it would be to convert a functional kitchen into a kitchenette? Probably taking out/changing the 240v as well?"

IKEA makes the inexpensive line of KNOXHULTcabinets that could be used to construct a kitchen/kitchenette in the above-garage space. I don't see why a 240 volt connection would be necessary. There are plenty of 120 volt appliances. For example, you could install a 24" two-element induction cooktop in a counter, set a microwave/convection oven on the counter, and place a compact refrigerator under a counter.

"We plan on being there for a long while... with a toddler that won’t be ideal for sure..!"

??