You don't have room for an island that seats people. You said you have 19' which is 228".

Perimeter counters take up 25.5" so 228 - 25.5 = 202.5

You need a bare minimum of 42" between the perimeter and the island if no one helps you cook in the kitchen. If they do, you really need 48".

202.5" - 42" = 160.5"

An island with seating requires 42" so that you have 15" for the seating plus overhangs, etc.

160.5" - 42" = 118.5"

With seating at the island, you ideally need 60" between the island and the table in the dining room but in a tight space, you could get away with 48".

so 118.5" - 48" = 70.5".

Most dining tables are 42" wide.

70.5" - 42" = 28.5".

The issue is you need a bare minimum of 36" between the dining table and the wall so people can get up and move around. You only will have 28.5". Even if you only have a 36" wide dining table, you're still short on the bare minimum for between the table and wall

This is so helpful, thank you!

@cpartist if we opted for a peninsula instead of an island that sat people, does that change this at all?

GOT MONEY?

We're not seeing a whole floor. The op used the words " Formal Living room"

So the question is........is there a family room, and if so, where?

I really don't like seeing ONE portion of a house. But frankly, if you're going to gut a kitchen? Gut it and get something for the disruption and money. Rarely is there.....lets, just take out this wall: )

Have a generous casual space. That functions.

Best? The op shows the entire living floor - once the dining wall is gone? What the heck is formal? Answer? NADA. Could you add some wall separation between kitchen and all purpose dining? Sure. But really.....why bother with more than it takes to hold up the ceiling, center an opening.

@JAN MOYER thank you so much for the insight! The house is a colonial split level with the foyer, family room, powder room and mudroom half a flight below.

A rough sense of the full downstairs here:

Well. That helps.

The question is obviously one: More like many.

How do you use the spaces now, do you mind the obvious separation of kitchen from family room and down a half flight? How often do you use a formal living space? What's the budget, how long will you stay in the house, and much more.

is there a garage entry and where?

Sure, I'd be happy to help with your kitchen remodel floor plan! Here are some general tips to keep in mind:

1. Think about the work triangle: The work triangle is the area between the sink, stove, and refrigerator, which are the three most frequently used areas in the kitchen. When designing your floor plan, make sure these three areas are easily accessible to each other without any obstructions.
2. Consider the flow of traffic: Think about how people will move through the kitchen and how you can create a smooth flow of traffic. Try to avoid placing obstacles in the middle of the kitchen or creating narrow walkways.
3. Maximize storage: Plan your storage spaces carefully to make the most of your available space. Consider adding cabinets, drawers, and shelves to keep your kitchen organized and clutter-free.
4. Lighting: Adequate lighting is important in the kitchen. Plan to incorporate both natural light and artificial lighting to create a bright and inviting space.

With these tips in mind, here's a possible floor plan for your 19'x14' kitchen remodel:

• Place the sink under a window to allow for natural light and a pleasant view while doing dishes.
• Put the stove and refrigerator on the same wall, but leave enough space between them for a countertop or prep area.
• Add an island in the center of the kitchen for extra counter space and storage. This could also serve as a casual dining area with the addition of stools.
• Place cabinets above the stove and refrigerator for extra storage space.
• Consider adding a pantry cabinet or a separate pantry if you need more storage space for non-perishable food items.

Here's a rough sketch to give you an idea:
sqlCopy code|------------------------------|
| Window |
|------------------------------|
| |
| |
| Sink |
| |
| |
|------------------------------|
| |
| |
| Stove Fridge |
| |
| |
|------------------------------|
| Island |
|------------------------------|

I hope this helps get you started on your kitchen remodel floor plan. Good luck with your project!

Jan’s plan really makes sense….but Jan, you’re gonna get it from all the folks who HATE any suggestion of removing the “formal” spaces😉🤣! If you prefer to keep the kitchen’s footprint smaller, as in sena01’s suggestion, maybe you can find a longer, rectangular table that is on the “slim” side…..that way you’ll have more space between table searing and island. Good luck!

I think a "formal" living room just collects dust so I kind of love the idea of bleeding the kitchen/dining into the full space!! Was wondering if eliminating that area though would impact resale though?

Seriously? Is there a worse conceived build EVER than a split level? No. There isn't. It's why we don't build them anymore!

There isn't anything formal today, unless you are living in a Georgian Colonial and have a housekeeper! How dressed does anyone get to go out to dinner?! Even in NYC......it's jeans, High end, 400 $$$......but jeans.

Ask me when , other than a major holiday, an anniversary...you got dressed up to go to the home of another, beyond nice slacks and a great sweater? Be HONEST.

If you are going to worry on resale? "Worry" about the lack of a decent, enjoyable kitchen instead: )

Jan, splits continue to be popular in the upper midwest, where the frost line is 7'. A split foyer allows for a fully finished lower level with full sized windows, as opposed to a full basement with egress windows. Where I live, the terrain is flat, precluding the possibility of a walk-out. We lived in a split foyer for 30 years, and loved it.When we were house hunting a year ago, the majority of the homes listed (even newer homes) were splits.

Though the 3-stair version that the OP has is not an example of efficient split design!

You're in Fargo!!!!. Okay.......the OTHER planet : )

Yes, I realize the "lower level" is exceedingly important there as well.

Yes. Been there, had a client there. Did we build a split? No. We built a stone Georgian , essentially in a cornfield. Not kidding.

I, also , like where Jan is going. Open the whole level up . With careful planning, you can have a nice size kitchen a dining space and even a casual seating area. You should be able to create a nice great room .

Do you have pictures of the space?

Since you haven't lived thee yet, how do you think you would want to use these spaces?

Are you more formal? Casual?

This will be a great project!

@Debbi Washburn Thank you!!! We're absolutely more casual, love to host dinner parties with friends and family with everyone mostly gravitating to kitchen area -- nothing too formal. Was thinking we might be able to put a couple of armchairs in next to a dining table if we opened it up as well for a nice small seating area for cocktails or reading a book.

Think about the work triangle: The work triangle is the area between the sink, stove, and refrigerator, which are the three most frequently used areas in the kitchen. When designing your floor plan, make sure these three areas are easily accessible to each other without any obstructions.

I'm going to disagree with some of what you're saying and I'll explain why. Yes we need to think of the work triangle in that ideally no appliance should be further than 9' from the other two; meaning sink, fridge and stove or cooktop.

However, nowadays even more important is to think in terms of work ZONES and also think in terms of not crossing work zones. We take food out of the fridge/pantry and move it to the sink to rinse before prepping between the sink and stove/cooktop. When done prepping, we move the food to the cooktop to cook it.

Place the sink under a window to allow for natural light and a pleasant view while doing dishes.

Considering that 70% of most peoples time is doing prep and not standing in front of the sink, this doesn't necessarily hold true anymore. We spend maybe 10% of the time loading the dishwasher and cleaning the occasional pot.

Put the stove and refrigerator on the same wall, but leave enough space between them for a countertop or prep area.

See above where I talk about work zones and how we tend to prepare food. No one wants to take food out of the fridge, shelp it across to the sink to rinse and then have to shlep it to between the fridge and cooktop to prep it. Extra and unneeded steps.

Add an island in the center of the kitchen for extra counter space and storage. This could also serve as a casual dining area with the addition of stools.

An island only works if you have enough space for one. As designed right now, the OP does NOT have enough room for an island.

Place cabinets above the stove and refrigerator for extra storage space.

Or better still, place a good vent hood above the stove so you don't wind up with grease, etc all over the kitchen.

Consider adding a pantry cabinet or a separate pantry if you need more storage space for non-perishable food items.

Again, a pantry is great, IF you have the space to add one. Where would YOU suggest the OP add one?

Jan as usual is definitely onto something good. :)

@cpartist Well said!!

This looks like you have the room for a great kitchen/dining and even a lounge area! Find yourself a good kitchen designer and start laying it out - all of it.

If you post the plans up here everyone will jump in to help!

You all have been incredibly helpful — I cannot thank you enough! Based on feedback I pulled together two options that I’d love input on. My biggest concern right now is how the space functions and flows. Note: We would like to avoid having to go through the expense of putting in a beam so both plans keep in the 9ft load bearing wall that comes in from the left. Both plans also leverage the bottom ”room” as a dining room.

Opt 1: Leaves existing kitchen windows as is at their current sizes. Note: Refrigerator would be 14’ from the stove, is that too far??

Opt 2: Involves changing the top right room double window size in order to run cabinetry under it + make the two kitchen windows symmetrical, centering the stove. (top right window is currently 31” off the floor and you cannot run cabinetry under it).

Thank you!!

How about using part of the old kitchen as pantry?

I don't know if I would eliminate the door to outside - Is there a deck/patio? Entertaining space?

I would also move the ref out for the walkway and towards the doors so it is in a more open area. I don't think the ref is too far away ( the distance to the sink is much more important ) .

I'm sure others will have their opinions too

Theres currently no door to the outside on this level, just a window. We have a door to a sunroom/outside from the family room down a half level/ground floor.

@sena01 what a creative idea to add a pantry there!! my wheels are turning