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jennifer_rice0

Help!! kitchen flow with island

4 years ago

Hi folks!! Man I need some help. I live in an old 1920s Tudor style house with the most terrible kitchen. We are doing everything we can with a fabulous designer to maximize the space, but I’m struggling with the latest flow, concerned that my addition of an island (which is MUCH needed counter space) will interfere with the access to and from the fridge. Your thoughts will be highly valued!

For reference- the walkway from island to sink is 36 which isn’t terrible, and also, the island will be reduced now to 5 ft instead of 6 for easier navigation.

Would this work?

Comments (4)

  • 4 years ago

    Eek, is the island fixed or moveable? What if you took the cabinet off the end and gave it a drop-leaf or gateleg side you could extend when you need to bake or do other extended tasks?

  • 4 years ago

    An island is not the best choice for every kitchen. This island is blocking access across the kitchen and I suspect you will learn to dislike it intensely after a very short period of time. 3' is (my opinion) too narrow in front of the frig. Suggest reducing range to 30", and picking up extra counter there. Also, consider getting rid of the floor to ceiling pantries (I assume pantries?) and gain a LOT of counter space there. Base cabinet pantries/drawers hold a ton.

    Just a few thoughts. Hope your remodel turns out wonderfully!

  • 4 years ago
    last modified: 4 years ago

    the two things that are creating handicaps in terms of space shortage in the working area of kitchen are the ultra wide opening into kitchen and the L shape bench at other end. You have almost nothing to work with and the table /island creates issues . I think I'd have to compromise with myself and adjust/work on one end or the other of the space . I'm not that keen on the L shape bench but I will take a guess that you want to leave that for what its worth. The bottoms of windows would allow quite a bit of revision to work this end of room differently (cabinets and counter) but you must have ruled that out. so I'd shrink the arch/ create some wall to configure a section coming off fridge side or sink side. I would have to guess the big wide arch opening isnt even original.

  • 4 years ago

    @kats37 it would be a fixed island, which makes me more concerned. Also, I agree I’ve thought that maybe the floor to ceiling pantries could be changed somewhat to include some additional counter space on the other side. We did reduce the range as originally it was 36 but I’ve decided 30 makes more sense so that helped too. I do love the nook and seating as we use that all the time now and feel a working area over there might be too separate.

    I was thinking of possible extending the counter on the sink side too to a “L” shape to add some additional counter just not sure how cohesive it will look with the dining room..