Kitchen aisle too wide?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Dear Houzz Community,

I'm reaching out because it's been 18 months of major renovations/restorations on my 1938 Hawaii modernist home designed by architect Albert Ives. This is my forever home, but also a major fixer or what I like to call my "needs one of everything house". We turned a corner in November 2020 when we finished renovating the kitchen and master bath, both of which were complete guts. I'm very happy with the outcome of almost every choice we made EXCEPT the width of the aisle through our kitchen. We wanted to keep it wide as it is a major thoroughfare for foot traffic and activity, but now I feel like it looks way out of proportion with the "U" that makes up our peninsula, range and other prep area. We've been living with it for 4 months now, which I know isn't long, but I just cringe every time I'm in the kitchen and really regret our decision. The aisle is ~4'6", which I know is within the range of suggested widths, but I just feel like I would be so much happier with more like 4'. We have two young children who I know as they grow will take up more space, so I'm hoping that further down the road I'll feel better about the layout, but it is really bugging me to the point where I think daily about ripping it out and redoing it. This is my 2nd major kitchen remodel so I guess I'm looking to those with more experience to lend some suggestions and thoughts. I've posted some photos that show the aisle and what feels to me, the "stubby" U. TIA!

Featured Answer

ci_lantro

5 years ago

Post a picture of the finished kitchen with the refrigerator installed and the dishwasher door open & laying flat.

The problem isn't 6". The problem is having the busiest part of the kitchen--sink, dishwasher & refrigerator--located along the thoroughfare thru the kitchen. I don't see how making the pinch points 6" more narrow helps anything.

We've been living with it for 4 months now, which I know isn't long,

No, it isn't. You haven't enough time to adjust to the new normal. And you probably haven't had more than one full sized adult working in the kitchen many times, either. Give it a year. If you still think the aisle is too wide after a year, you can get a dog. My dog thinks that the mat in front of the kitchen sink was put there just for him. :-)

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Comments (12)

PRO
JAN MOYER
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
Who can tell? Post the floor plan and dimensions! The flat plan from which your cabiinets were ORDERED.........AND THE SIX INCHES you are worried about.
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PRO
Patricia Colwell Consulting
5 years ago
Really 6” is not IMO worth fretting over and I also think if this is a main point of traffic the width could have been even wider IMO 48” is the min. I like to work with.
Tara
5 years ago
Consider this.....if anyone needs crutches or to use a walker or wheelchair, the wider the better.
PRO
HALLETT & Co.
5 years ago
I made my main aisle 66" in my last house and the same in my current- much easier for multiple adults to work in.
Andrea C
5 years ago
I agree that 54” for a thoroughfare seems about right. I don’t believe that the real issue is the width of that aisle, but how far the points of your kitchen triangle are from each other. By estimating from your pictures, your refrigerator is 9’8” from the range. NKBA recommends that no major appliances are more than 9 feet apart, which is why the extra 6” seems to be critical. The sum of the distance between your work centers is about 24’6”, less than the recommended 26’. Given that your kitchen is not that large, it points to the inefficiency of the kitchen. I do think you did a great job with the selection of the finishes. A really nice looking kitchen.
Jennifer Hogan
5 years ago
I had a 15' x 10' kitchen in my last home with uppers and lowers on the back 15' wall and on the 10' side wall with an 8' peninsula with only lowers that was open to my family room.

That left a full 6' aisle and it worked better than any other kitchen I ever had. There were times we had 5 or 6 cooks in the kitchen and never ran over each other.

I think your thoroughfare is just fine.
N H
Original Author
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
As requested, @JAN MOYER here is the kitchen drawing and @ci_lantro some photos with the appliances/drawers open into the aisle that feels cavernous (to me), while there is plenty of counter space I guess my feeling is that perhaps we should have made the aisle narrower to increase the length of the U where the "arms" of the U are 44.5".
kculbers
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
My kitchen main aisle is 7 foot and I love the space. I agree that you need time to get used to your “new normal”❣️
Andrea
5 years ago
I think it is fine. Crouch down in front of the open bottom drawer and see how much space is left behind you. Can someone easily walk by? If so, then you saved yourself a bottleneck.
cat_ky
5 years ago
It looks fine to me too. I think it is a problem, of just finishing, and not used to the new layout yet. In 6 months, you will love the way it is.
PRO
JAN MOYER
5 years ago
Without seeing the rest of the house floor plan for any other possible path??? Don't obsess on the six INCHES. TAKE OUT A RULER...and leave well enough alone : )