Help me layout my kitchen cabinets

3 years ago

We are renovating our 1917 rowhome kitchen. We are moving walls/powder room/HVAC, and opening up the kitchen to the dining room. We already have construction drawings, but now I need to finalize the layout of the kitchen cabinets. Here are a few notes:

1. New window on sink side can move. The existing window must stay in place.

2. Fridge wall is a party wall, no window options available.

3. Powder room cannot move. It took a lot of versions to get to a place where we are ok with the powder room location.

4. Random, but...We have cats and will be getting a dog at some point this year. Where do we put the water/food bowl?

5. Where do we put the trash/recycle bins?

6. Would love an appliance garage of sorts - somewhere to hide our toaster/coffee maker/nutribullet which are used daily.

7. We also have other small appliances which aren't used as often but would like to store somewhere (mixer, food processor). Should I store these in the pantry, or somewhere else?

8. Where do I put the microwave? I'd really like to avoid putting over the stove, but am not totally opposed to that if it makes the most sense.

9. We are a small storage closet in this design. There are no other closets on the first floor. (We have coat cubbies near the front door for coats/shoes.) I'd like a small closet/nook to keep the stick vac/broom.

10. Where should I put lighting (pendants/recessed/etc).

11. The ceilings are high (maybe 10-11 feet). Should the cabinets go all the way to the top?

With these things in mind, can you help me layout my kitchen? Also, do I need to select a cabinet maker before I can do the layout? I've never renovated a kitchen before, so appreciate all the help I can get!

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Comments (4)

Stephanie D
Original Author
3 years ago
A few more notes:

1. A friend recommended doing a 30 inch wide counter. The drawings above include that on the sink wall. What do you think? My friend LOVES her deep counter. I'm wondering if it would look odd in our space. We could also do 30 inch on the other side (but not both, because need clearance for the French patio doors).

2. Stove and fridge can move. Would like to keep sink where it is.

3. Planning to "hide" the powder room by adding paneling/paint the same color/style as the cabinets (thinking a light taupe grey to match cabinets by front door). So, essentially making that powder room look like a cabinet.
4rbnglw
3 years ago
I saw this Houzz article yesterday about a row house kitchen redesign. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/kitchen-of-the-week-clever-redesign-for-a-cabinetmaker-stsetivw-vs~144036212?utm_source=Houzz&utm_campaign=u15367&utm_medium=email&utm_content=gallery4_5&newsletterId=15367
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mama goose_gw zn6OH
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
I'd do the deep counter on the fridge wall, and include a standard-depth fridge for more cold storage. MW's are deeper than standard uppers, so a MW to the left of the fridge would also work better with deeper counters, as would appliance storage. The fridge door on the right won't open fully against the stub wall--if you put the pantry against the wall then the fridge, you shouldn't have that issue. Appliances can be kept in drawers.

Can you place the new window beside the existing window, or widen the existing window? I'd do that, if possible, then put the sink in front of one window, with the DW to the left. Keep in mind that if you use deeper counters on that wall, you'll also need a deeper hood. Normally, I'd put a trash pull-out under the prep counter, but you need wide storage drawers, and if you use a 27" cabinet which would open under the peninsula overhang, you should have a cabinet a good size for a trash pull-out on the end. Or, put a trash pullout under the sink, and drawers in the end cabinet. I like to keep dish storage out of the prep zone, but I don't see a better place.
Stephanie D thanked mama goose_gw zn6OH
Stephanie D
Original Author
3 years ago
Mama_Goose, thank you so much! I think that's a really good point for making the counter deeper on the fridge side and putting the microwave on that side in an upper cabinet. However, I feel like the counter on that side will primarily be cannister storage, and not really prep space. My friend recommended the deep counters because it gives her an extra six inches of prep space. So, something for me to think about.

I'm curious why you moved the dishwasher closer to the peninsula. One thing I dislike about my current kitchen is there is no long run of counter in the prep space. Moving the dishwasher closer to the peninsula makes the prep space more chopped up. I really want a long run of counter for prepping in the new design.

I love the pictures you included in your response. Can you share a link to the picture in the lower middle? I LOVE those cabinets.