Kitchen Layout. Function vs Symmetry

5 years ago

Hello,

As part of our remodel, we get to make a new kitchen from scratch. I am searching for opinions about functionality and symmetry. It is an L shaped kitchen with a large island embedded in a larger open room with a living and dining space. Layout and 3D views are as follows:

Details:

30" base cabinets with 15" wall cabinets.
Pre sink in island, dish sink on outer wall with window.
36" range flanked by 36" counters on each side...with 30 inch wall oven and microwave.
36" refrigerator

So symmetry vs functionality:

The pantry cabinets on the west side of the kitchen give the north a non-symmetric look...kind of skewed to the right with looking at it (second picture). Is this a problem?
The island is NOT centered on the range, but I think that is OK?
The prep sink is placed with some space on the fridge/pantry side for prep-staging. Then plenty of prep space on the range/dish sink side for prep. Obviously not symmetric at all...but perhaps more functional.
The east wall (third picture) with the dish sink has two wall cabinets on the left, and one on the right. I would think this is also not a problem, but it again not symmetric.
Finally I couldn't think of how to use the corner of the L. We put some open shelving given the wall oven is a bit cramped in. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!

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Comments (5)

acm
5 years ago
Function over symmetry 100%.

Not seeing problems with most of this, except the wall ovens, which look stuck in and which kill all useful functions in the corner. Unless you are a total baking maven, I'd switch to a range and get some decent cabinetry there instead. The zone between stove and sink is the most valuable real estate in the kitchen (where most prep happens, etc.) and you have destroyed that zone completely.
Muriel Thompson
5 years ago
I agree with acm. I think you could put wall ovens to the left of the pantry and move everything else on that wall to the right. But current oven placement is not very functional.
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Brandie May
5 years ago
I have had this same debate with myself many times. I would center the range with the island, move the oven over a bit so its not against the corner and have open shelving on both walls of the corner (not the best photo).
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Randy
Original Author
5 years ago
Hmmm...The real motivator for the "wall oven" was to get the microwave off of the counter..which seems like a really bad solution stepping away from it. I should just ditch the wall oven all together and go with an under-counter oven next to the range....or in the island, and maybe an under-cabinet microwave? Or perhaps a built in microwave as part of the wall cabinetry?

Also...I had thought that the "prep" area would be on the island rather than the area between the dish sink and the range. Does this work out functionally? Perhaps islands don't work out as good prep area in practice?
H L
5 years ago
The island does not need to be centred on the range!