Looking for feedback on kitchen layout (for storage + entertaining)

4 years ago

Hello! This forum has been an invaluable resource in planning my upcoming kitchen reno, and I'd welcome feedback.

About us:

Adult couple, no kids yet. Live in a converted-factory loft.

Downstairs is a wide open living/dining/entertaining space of about 1,200 square feet, and we're expanding the kitchen to take over a roughly 10' x 20' corner, with an L-shape layout and 4' x 10' island with seating for 4.

Goals include:

Increase cabinet and storage space (we have about ~ 120" of base cabinets and 48" of uppers in our current kitchen)
More room to entertain. People gravitate to our kitchen even now, so space to hang around the kitchen is essential.
Better flow and zone planning. We don't cook very often, but I value being able to move around with ease when I do. Our current kitchen is a galley with the fridge at the very end — really poor layout that makes us feel like we're constantly in each other's way, like when someone needs a drink while someone else is cooking.

Open to feedback about zones, appliance layout, dimensions, where cabinets are placed, etc. We won't be moving any walls or columns, and the following appliances have been purchased:

36" counter-depth fridge
30" wall oven / microwave combo unit
24" dishwasher
36" induction cooktop, with downdraft vent
24" under-counter beverage center

I'm also planning to purchase/integrate the following, although we're not yet committed to these (financially I mean; I do have my heart set on them):

45" workstation sink
pull-out trash, recycling, and compost station
~ 30"-wide, 18"-deep appliance garage (set back into corner, see mockup below)

The top/North wall will be tall cabinets, while the left/East wall will be base cabinets only with open shelves instead of uppers.

The East wall also features a roughly 7" bump-out (under the partial loft, along the 74" section at the top left of the 2D drawings) that MAY be able to be reduced to a column, but not sure. If not, my plan was to put shallow (18"?) cabinets along that 74" stretch.

Here are a few not to scale mockups (the top one is a bit outdated: I changed the placement of the oven, decided to delete the pot rack, and added a slim cabinet to the outside of the island next to the beverage center):

What do you think?

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Comments (6)

emilyam819
4 years ago
The kitchen triangle (fridge, sink, cooktop) is too spread out, and the beverage fridge and island cooktop invite random people into your triangle. So you should put a beverage center roughly where the dishwasher is drawn, which enables you to slide the sink closer to the fridge. (Ideally, your cooktop would be against the wall and sink in the island, but since you already bought the downdraft, I suppose you have good reason and don’t want to change that. )
Buehl
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I agree on the cooktop -- it should not be in the island. Downdrafts are lousy vents, so be prepared for it not to do much good, especially if you use the front burners. It may work OK for low-smoke/low-steam/low-grease/low-odor cooking on the back burners.

You say " no kids yet "...if you are planning to have children, don't create an adult-oriented/entertaining-oriented space like this. You will eventually be teaching them how to help out (cleaning up, etc.) as well as, I assume, at the least the basics of cooking. In fact, once you have children, you may find yourself cooking a lot more! Meaning make this a place where you can prep/cook, not simply a place to stand around with nothing really going on in the Kitchen.

Just a note that if you're planning an "entertainment" Kitchen as opposed to a working Kitchen, then the location of the cooktop makes even less sense. Cooking not only puts hot food/steam/smoke/odors in the face of anyone sitting there, but it's also the zone used the least of the three primary work zones.
- 70% or more of your work & time is spent prepping
- 20% or less is spent cleaning up (includes mostly non-sink work)
- 10% is spent cooking -- actually standing in front of the cooktop to stir or add ingredients (most people don't stand there and just watch food cook)
So, what zone should be in the island? The one you spend the most time in -- the Prep Zone. Usually people want to be able to visit while working in the Kitchen and since you spend the most time prepping, that's where the Prep Zone should be.
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Sabrina Alfin Interiors
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Swap the sink/DW with the cooktop. Downdraft vents are not great and rarely do the job well. They're really only a last resort if you have no other option. Otherwise, looks pretty good! I might also swap the fridge and the pantry. I think it will look better.
decoenthusiaste
4 years ago
More drawers and fewer shelves makes for more accessible storage, especially if you're attempting to put cabinets in a converted loft with extra high ceilings. Here's why...
mainenell
4 years ago
You will not be able to reach the microwave in that location. You need more counter front edge between counter on left and wall ovens to be able to access any part of that corner.
Buehl
4 years ago
I think that's a toaster oven -- but the same comment holds. Even more, do NOT use it in that location for a variety of safety reasons.