Kitchen Layout Advice Needed...

5 years ago

I'm trying to figure out our kitchen layout before we get new countertops. We don't have $60K for a new kitchen, so we painted our existing cabinets. Next up is the countertops/backsplash. We have a very narrow, short island that does get used a lot for food prep and as a "buffet" for meals for family (6 of us) to serve themselves at meal time. We all sit at the large square kitchen table for all meals. I'd love a bigger island and do away with the table (seats 8) but I'm not sure I have room.

OPTION 1: I'd love to TURN the island so it faces the family room.

But doing so will mean refinishing our floors (which isn't necessarily a bad thing...they're 23 years old but in pretty decent shape for having 4 kids...3 of which are boys).
I'm not opposed to refinishing since our first floor/kitchen "refresh" changed our color palette from golds/burgandy/warm tones with dark cherry floors...to cool/white/grey tones. I'd do more of a complementary color on the floors (dark grey?) and the banister/staircase

OPTION 2: Or do I put a peninsula off the end of the counter nearest the family room and lose the island?

But that blocks off access to our sunroom and our door to our outdoor living space/deck.
We also have a 2nd full size fridge in the sunroom and it would block off access to that as well.
Turning the island will also mean relocating the fridge...but perhaps we could put it where the "desk" is that is really just a catchall for junk/paper/bills, etc. (?)

OPTION 3: Leave the island as is but widen and lengthen the worksurface/countertops.

Get rid of the highback stools and instead have ones that can slide UNDER the island top (no back)
The extension of the island would have to have some sort of "legs" to support it

HELP! Any advice you have is welcome! TIA

Featured Answer

felizlady

5 years ago

If you have a furnished formal dining room in the house, you can get rid of the casual table in the kitchen. If that kitchen table is the only dining table you can use for guests, you must keep it.

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Comments (7)

Melissa Dukovac
Original Author
5 years ago
We have a formal dining room we never use 😒
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biondanonima (Zone 7a Hudson Valley)
5 years ago
Without a measured floorplan it's impossible to say for sure, but it doesn't look like you have room to rotate the island unless you eliminate the desk area and move the fridge. I don't see any other good place for the fridge to go, so I'm guessing there isn't one. Eliminating the desk would certainly give you room to lengthen the existing island, though, or perhaps add a nice shallow pantry cabinet.
Melissa Dukovac
Original Author
5 years ago
Thanks. The door next to the kitchen table is a huge walk in pantry so I really don't need a pantry cabinet and i just don't think we have many options. Apologize for not giving measurements, but thanks for weighing in...
calidesign
5 years ago
For a family of 6 you need a full sized dining table, whether it is in the kitchen or a room nearby. Adding a bigger island with stools doesn't replace that. With stools you are all sitting in a line, without interaction, and what would you do when you have people over? I would widen your island and lengthen it so you can add storage to both sides of the island, incorporate your trash in a pullout, but keep the countertop the same size as the cabinets. You can fit a whole row of extra cabinets or drawers along the backside. That gives you more storage and a larger work surface. You also wouldn't have to redo your flooring. Changing them to any color of gray is a big down grade. Replace your table with a rectangular one with 8 chairs so you have plenty of seating there. If you have a formal dining room that isn't used, set it up as a playroom, an office/homework area, a second sitting room, etc. So many possibilities.
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RedRyder
5 years ago
If you want to have a slightly larger countertop on the island, you don’t need to add legs unless you’re adding more than 8 inches, which you shouldn’t do. I would get a gorgeous stone for the entire kitchen and focus on the kitchen table and chairs. Get a fixture to match the adorable pendants in the kitchen. Get a lighter wood table (farmhouse?) and lighter chairs. If you want to refinish your floors you can do any stain since your new kitchen theme is neutral black and white. Have you seen what type of countertop you’d like?
hu818472722
5 years ago
I think adding another row of cabinets to your existing island so you can increase the size as well as add more storage it would make the island more functional. People can stand around an island as easily as they can sit. If your aisles were wider counter seating would work better and turning the island would mean putting your fridge out of the work triangle. A longer dining table with a linear chandelier may fill the dining room space a little better as the large square looks off center and heavy on one side of the dining room. Please, no grey floors, too much grey with no contrast would be really bland.