Should I move stairs?

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Design dilemma. My kitchen is small. I cannot put an island in kitchen because the basement stairs take up a ton of space. I can move basement stairs to go underneath the 2nd floor stairs and then I would have plenty of space to add a kitchen island. Problem is that then the basement is cut in half. I was hoping to do a large open entertainment space in basement with wet bar, theatre seating etc..., so moving stairs would hinder this. Would you rather have a nice open basement layout OR a kitchen island? The attached photo shows basement layout and highlighted area is where new stairs would need to go. The other walls are movable without huge cost per contractor, but obviously moving the stairs adds quite a cost. There are utilities in the 10x13 area in bottom right, which cannot be moved. I'm leaning against moving the stairs. What do you think?

Move basement stairs- cut basement in half for kitchen island

Leave stairs- huge basement entertaining space

Featured Answer

acm

4 years ago

Are you just tossing this idea around, or have you spoken to a contractor? messing with stairs almost always adds tens of thousands of dollars to any project...

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

Anne Kellet
Original Author
4 years ago
I dont have the final eatimate yet, but im meeting with contractors. GC I met yesterday initially stated very high cost, but later said the move would be easier than expected. So tossing the idea out there for now while I wait go hear back
Related Professionals
Lawrence Interior Designers & Decorators · Fergus Falls Interior Designers & Decorators · Tallahassee Architects & Building Designers · Greenville Architects & Building Designers · Saint Marys Architects & Building Designers · Montrose Architects & Building Designers · Little Rock Design-Build Firms · Atlantic City Design-Build Firms · Saint Marys Design-Build Firms · Albuquerque General Contractors · Waycross Flooring Contractors · Chicago Flooring Contractors · Minneapolis General Contractors · Toledo Cabinets & Cabinetry · Cody Cabinets & Cabinetry
BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA
4 years ago
It would be helpful to know more about the kitchen in weighing these options.
Anne Kellet
Original Author
4 years ago

I've attached the kitchen layout. So the kitchen is essentially 10-13 with the stairs. Right now there is a closet where the proposed stairs would go, so I'd be getting rid of a closet. IF I don't move the basement stairs, I want to have someone build me a custom pull out table for the kitchen cabinets like the one below.
littlebug zone 5 Missouri
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Seems like a lot of money ($20k? $40k? $60k?) to spend just to get a kitchen island. And we have no idea what your needs are for your basement entertainment area. Personally, I have no desire for a island set in my kitchen to be in my way, but obviously you want what you want. We sure can’t make that kind of financial decision for you. Well we COULD, but . . .

Is there another dining area in addition to the one you show that’s open to the kitchen? Could you move those patio doors further to the right to whatever room is over there?
palimpsest
4 years ago
If this is an older house, the other issue is that the new stairs would have to be compliant with new codes, and many older stairs are not. If you are putting the new stairs underneath the other staircase, the upper staircase may need to be made code compliant to fit the basement stairs underneath, so you could really be opening a can of worms. Newer stair codes tend to make the staircases wider, with deeper treads and shorter risers than many old staircases and that all takes up more room overall.
BlueberryBundtcake - 6a/5b MA
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Unless you really, really want an island, I'd leave the stairs. I might get a Boos block or kitchen cart over against the stairs that could be rolled/slid over if more prep/counter space is needed. Or I've also seen tables similar to that pull out one but that fold down from the wall and look like art when folded up.