Since you are asking for assistance with layout, you will find most of the more experienced members on Houzz (note - some are professionals) will ask you for a floor plan of the current structure, and surrounding rooms. If you are able to draw a floor plan and provide measurements and post, the assistance you will be offered will be thorough and well considered. Some websites offer floor planning to help with planning cabinets - it might be of value to search those out. Also, some budget information would also assist those offering suggestions.

Is the room going to be a dine in kitchen or devoted to kitchen only? If kitchen only, the YES, remove the peninsula, it will afford so much more room, and, as you discussed, increase your layout options.

Yes a drawn and measured lay out is needed. Is this a total gut and rebuild from the studs? What is behind the wall the dishwasher is on? I see a typical "kitchen" desk down from the ovens, is this part of your kitchen footage technically? Is it part of your project? It's a very curious peninsula eating area for the 60's, other than the electric base board heating I don't know why they made this choice. How old is the home? Is this the original kitchen? You will save money by keeping the plumbing and venting where it is, which would motivate me to put a fee standing range where the current cook top is. Only you can answer the wall oven dilemma. Do you find them fabulous? They seem to take up unnecessary footage in my world. A list of wants would also get you more specific responses.

if the property hasnt had updates since the 60's youd want to assess everything. the kitchen appears in pretty good condition ....useable.... Rule of thumb is to wait 6-12 months upon possession of your home to give various issues time to emerge. I would save money and look forward to a designer helping me w this apparent MCM home 's kitchen

gathering images helps visualize what your space can become as well.

Mid-Century Modern Kitchen in North Druid Hills · More Info

Mid-Century Ranch Kitchen Renovation · More Info

You do a to scale drawing on graph paper to make it easier. You draw an empty space with really nothing in it . If plumbing cannot be changed mark that with an X . Show every window, doorway,where those lead and every measurement clearly marked . Then post that here in jpeg format in a comment . Now all things related to this kitchen are dealt with here in commnets . We will ask many questions but you will get great free advice if you answer those as we go along. Do you have your appliances already ? i never do a kitchen design until my clients have decided on appliances for how they cook. Ideally the appliances are in the garage on hand . There are many of us that are KDs so if you put in the work with the drawing we can help.

^^^what Patricia said.

I sure hope the OP follows through and sticks with this. It will be fun watching the professionals create! Looking forward to following this thread.

I would want to investigate why there is a soffit over the window. What is it hiding and can it be moved? Most things can be moved, but it just takes more money and extra time.

Having cabinets to the ceiling would make a huge difference in this kitchen.

I’m looking forward to the floor plan.

Nope.

There are lots of issues that need to be corrected. Extend the cabinets and center the sink on the window. You're not placing a fridge on a wall with a floor radiator.

Sounds like you are going to live in the space and get a sense for what you want and are just starting to think about what this could be. I love it. Don’t be scared off by all the requests and suggestions because they will really help if you decide to go ahead with this. Since your renovation could be as much as 9 months from now I would attack this on three fronts. What needs to be done to get the home ready for renovation? What do I like? What can I afford? First question is most important. Does your house need any upgrades or changes that will eat into your budget but really need to happen to let the groundwork for this renovation? Second, what do you like? Check out pics on this app and make a book of ideas. Then budget. What can you actually afford? Do you have an ikea near you? Some of them can do it all for you from demo to design to install to final details. Catch them at the right time and it’s a great deal. We’ve done two ikea kitchens in the past and been very impressed. Take your time with this and be excited but also realistic.

All advisors have excellent suggestions!
I give you points for placing the fridge close to the sink.
Once you commit to the "ice water stone fire" set up,all other details will fall into place.
Remember to do a walk through in the space of how you actually prepare a meal from start to finish.
You should be striving for efficient ease of motion without doubling back and retracing steps or getting in the path of other people
using the space.
You also need sufficient area to set down containers,bowls,hot pans etc safely.
Do show us your solution!

Whatever arrangement you decide on, you will be adding more wall sockets. Think about what you plan to plug into them and what the circuit is. My toaster oven and electric kettle together blow the breaker.

DM, we have the same issue in our 1960 kitchen! Anything that heats up draws a lot of power. There was a time we couldn’t run the coffeemaker and microwave at the same time, till we moved them around. When (if) we remodel the kitchen, many electrical issues will be fixed.

The baseboard heating does seem to be an issue. The cabinets seem to have been placed with the baseboard units in mind. Was the kitchen an addition or former porch enclosure? The (unfortunately painted) stone wall seems to indicate that, as well. Brick would have been more the norm on the back side of a fireplace in an interior space.

Good points and questions above. I'll add another question: is this kitchen over a basement, crawl space, or slab? The answer to that will determine how difficult it will be if you want to move plumbing (for the refrigerator, for example.)

A few people mentioned a 2D floorplan, which will help others help you. There's an example as well as other tips in this: Read Me First.

Also, I know you said you can't afford a designer, and I understand that, especially when you're looking at a big remodel. However, I feel like my designer has saved me money by preventing me from making costly mistakes and helping me get a better layout. She understands space planning, clearances, etc. In addition, she has relationships with cabinet, stone, flooring, and tile vendors, and those relationships helped pave the way to timely meetings with them. She is on site when cabinets are delivered to make sure everything is correct, which saves the homeowner from frustrating back and forth if something isn't perfect. Having said all that... it is important to find someone who you like working with and who understands and respects your budget constraints.

Their refrigerator doesn’t have an icemaker, so no plumbing required.

Wow! Ok I didn’t expect so many responses! I will try to address any questions that I can now and will work on creating a floor plan as soon as I can.

We bought this house in 2023 so we’ve had ample time to figure out what works best for us in terms of how we use the kitchen. We have a full basement and can do whatever rewiring or plumbing necessary to make the kitchen layout what we need it to be. We have already had a local company in to discuss removing the baseboard water heaters in the kitchen space and plan to reroute the pipes under the floor so we’re planning on having some kind of tile to best conduct the heat from those pipes.

This is a dedicated kitchen and while the peninsula is nice for having a seating area away from the noisy kids in the combined living and dining space, we are more concerned with creating a kitchen that will work better for us and provide space for two people working together. As it is it’s a tight squeeze when more than one person is in the kitchen.

The kitchen was not an add on. The house is one big rectangle and the white stone in the kitchen is the backside of the fireplace in the living room.

The desk area is going to be additional pantry/storage space for the kitchen and the door next to the desk leads to the stairs that go down to the basement. The dishwasher and the cabinets on that wall are on the other side from the stairwell to the basement.

We don’t have our appliances yet. I am looking at them and focused on quality over aesthetic. We are on a tight budget and would rather have basic and reliable appliances than fancy appliances that break after a few years. So no ice maker for our fridge.

A cursory examination of the soffit seems to indicate there is nothing in it apart from the light over the sink. We will check this more thoroughly but the plan is to remove it.

We will be building our own cabinets and intend to extend them to the ceiling. We will also be recentering the sink under the window. I think they centered the sink in the counter on that wall but it was one of the first things I noticed when we toured the house so it will be centered in the redo.

Our budget is not completely figured out at the moment. My elderly father sold his house and will be living at our house at least part time (he intends to live near my sisters across the state but will come here for extended visits). He loves to cook and bake (sourdough is his one true love) and he has been itching to redo our kitchen since we bought the house (we are not complaining – we have zero extra money for cosmetic fixes).

He has set aside some money from the sale of his house to redo our kitchen (yes I know it’s a huge privilege and we are beyond thankful) and is coming to visit us next week to discuss what we want in the kitchen.

He has rebuilt many kitchens and is a hardcore DIY guy so I know that if I suggest a kitchen designer he’ll scoff and suggest we buy better appliances with that money instead. I did reach out to a local designer just to see what her rates were and she said it was $95/ hour and that kitchen designs begin at 40 hours of design time. So that’s a no go for us.

I will return in the next few days with a floor plan for you all!

Thanks so much!

Tallie

What a fabulous house with so much potential! love your ideas so far and there are tons of ways to make the space functional and enjoyable to work in - hope you come back to the thread so I can live vicariously thru the tranformation ;)

That kitchen looks big but crowded and very awkward. I suspect a kitchen designer might be a good investment. You might try an on-line tool. But do look up kitchen design. 'd start by trying to define a work triangle and deciding if you need a place to eat. Given that you appear to have two halves to the kitchen, I might be looking at putting the stove part of the work triangle by the sink where you've planned for your fridge. Then, I'd consider using the back half of the kitchen for pantry and/or eating area.

If you haven't used the kitchen, it might be worth using it for a while, but then again, the whole thing looks beyond awkward.

How to Plan Your Kitchen Space During a Remodel

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Kitchen Confidential: How to Measure Your Cabinets

That is so cool you're building your own cabinets!

For ideas, head to a big box store like Home Depot or Lowes. Bring your floor plan and sit with a kitchen sales rep. for design ideas.

Just an FYI: Many posters do not read many/any of the suggestions made by others. You have had at least two professional kitchen designers here offer to help. I would lean on them before heading to a big box store. As soon as you get your measured floor plan posted you will hear from them again.

"If plumbing cannot be changed mark that with an X ."

This can be good advice or it can be terrible. There is prett much no such thing in a single family house as "plumbing that cannot be moved", it's mostly a question of cost and hassle. If spending several thousand bucks to move a pipe that "cannot be moved" results in a significantly better outcome then it may well be worthwhile to do it. Don't get locked into a bad plan by a foolish economy on the plumbing bill. -- at the same time, don't move plumbing willy-nilly without careful thought. Same goes for taking out load bearing walls. It can virtually always be done, but should always be done mindfully.

A classic 1960 house! love it!

This is my 1956 ranch kitchen . We actually traded the DR space to allow for a much better kitchen the range wall is thebackside of a huge firplce in the LR I designed this space for catering but also for hubby and I to cook together he did prep I cooked .

"She literally said they can do any plumbing changes needed to return the best layout and that everything is accessible via the basement. People need to read the comments."

And sometimes "people" post comments intended to be generally, rather than specifically, helpful. Please feel free to skip.

The advice, endlessly reposted (though not specifically in this thread), that you should avoid moving plumbing has led to any number of dumb design choices.

Since you are building your own cabinets, I also have a cabinet in the corner near the sink like you have. I have trouble reaching into it since I am not tall. I am thinking of making that one pull out like a drawer so I don't have to reach so far to access the corner.

Imagining your Dad, perhaps baking sourdough into his sunset years in your home, one arguement for a wall oven is it is easier for older people with joint issues to get items in and out and check on things while they are baking without having to bend down. That said, usually the least expensive option of all is to use a free standing range. You can slide it into the same space you would a slide in. They are less expensive than a wall oven and cook top, and less expensive than a slide in range.

Yes, everyone on here says to get a designer. Well, it is easier to spend someone else's money. Sure the argument is it saves you money - you won't make mistakes, you get get some discounts. However, that is only correct if you have a certain budget to start with.

You are clearly smart about your priorities, sound very resourceful, and if you really give folks on here exactly what they are asking for as far as a drawings, you will get the best free advice anywhere. Don't worry about going to Ikea or Lowes for free design. The people on here are golden.

I'm excited to see the space transform. It is great that you are not concerned with having seating in here. It opens up more possibilities for appliance placement. And your pantry area across from the basement stairs is wonderful storage. Compared to my kitchen, your's is large!

I agree with @Kendrah - posting an exact layout - with every measurement required - will get you great advice. There’s a ton of experienced, talented designers here who will keep you from making big mistakes. And give you a great layout. Your dad sounds like an angel!

My comment rgarding plumbing was before we understood no problem I need to see the plan how can we ever help with no scaled plan to work with I have no idea how any help can be given with no parameters. I would love to know if building cabinets is something thye have experience and tools to do so. Not as simple as some imagine . The more info we get the better the outcome

There are a ton of on-line planners. No need to actually buy the cabinets. If the cabinets are DIY, you can solve problems of space that is a bit wider/narrower than a standard cabinet. But a design tool will help you visualize plans. My experience with on-line tools of this sort is that they can frequently be bad, but there are a lot of them out there, so you can probably find a good one, even if the first is lousy.

Create-a-Kitchen by Cabinets.com

IKEA Kitchen Planner

Ikea talked me out of using their cabinets because the sizes their sizes are all standard, my kitchen old, and the need for too many fillers. I'd caution you about getting advice from a tool or company that uses fixed size cabinets when you have the skill and access to build custom sizes.

Looking forward to your floorplan. You'll have a valuable asset in this project. A live-in experienced craftsman who is contributing funds. But the big money saver is the quality labor he'll be adding. At this stage you can consider all options towards getting a finished product way beyond what most could consider without a massive budget. Labor can be 75% of the cost of a major renovation.

Ok! I did my best to make a floor plan of the kitchen and the adjacent rooms. I can make adjustments if there's anything I've missed but I wanted to try and get it done and posted before the chaos of the week starts!

Here's one with the current layout:

And here's one without any of the appliances or cabinets:

Thanks for all your help!

-Tallie

Now we need all the meausurements clearly marked please and I hope I am wrong but does not look to be a scaled drawing I suggest you use graph paper and use the scale of one square = 6" then that will be to scale and don't forget to add the measuremnts since counting squares is a PITA when we try to help BTW I have done Ikea kitchens for close to 25 yrs and have never used the planner it like many software design tools has limitations that I would always need to over ride . I have done some pretty odd shaped kitchens with IKea but it takes time and a good understanding the cabinets . This we can help with but trully to build cabinets you will need skills that you need to make sure you have

@tallie29 - That's an awesome overview to help us get our orientation to the rooms. But, you'll need to give measurements for each individual wall, jogs in the walls, how much space is on either side of the window, etc. Then you will get incredibly detailed plans from folks on here that are realistic about appliances and cabinet sizes and functions. Otherwise it is just anyone's guess as to what will fit where.

Ok I measured again and this is what I came up with:

We don't want to take out any walls or anything and if we can avoid moving around the vent for the stove that would make life easier but if it needs to be moved for safety reasons we can figure something out.

Let me know if there's more I need to add. I appreciate the feedback and am happy to keep working on any additional measurements or information needed.

Thank you again for everything!

-Tallie

Here's a very amateur, basic stab at layout which will hopefully impel the big guns to come blast it up with their way-better solutions for you :) The kitchen is narrow and really a long hallway sized chunk of it is given to walkways.

I just now saw that you plan to have shallow pantry space on that far right section, which makes sense. As someone who craves generous walkways that don't require anyone to skootch past ever, I have avoided putting anthing 2+ feet deep on the wall next to the fireplace bump out (where fridge and stove currently are) and see that as shallow pantry storage instead. For me, I would not want to be cooking in an aisleway and don't see that as a good place for any active kitchen tasks.

I think your layout looks very good, Julie.

I agree with Julie's point about not having major cooking tasks happening in a pass through area, mostly for safety. Making the major action happen in the U makes sense.

I have lived in a lot of older homes and/or small homes that are short on storage. I'd still want a lot more storage out of this kitchen. And, because you are making your own cabinets, you can play with custom sized shallow cabinetry that can still hold quite a lot, add more counter space, and leave space for a pathway.

Where I placed the shallow uppers and base cabinets, you can store your dishes and silverware. That allows someone to set the table without having to walk through the cooking space. The countertop is great real estate for placing prepped ingredients out of the way, a cake to cool, and other items you don't want in your immediate work space.

My brother has shallow pantry storage at the top of his basement stairs in the same location where yours could be. He is able to store his table pads in there, tons of groceries, dog food and treats, loads of items. I would not give that up.

👍 Julie

Those ideas are great! However, depending on the clearance it would leave for a pathway, I’d want counter depth rather than shallow counters next to the chimney. Much more useable for an additional prep space.

i wouldnt give 183 inches to shallow cabinetry. to Meghan's point on the far left of the 102 inch section.. try to budget for full depth pantry cabinet with rollouts....a tremendously efficient use of space there. I would personally like a small bistro table or something in front of the 93 inch wall....nothing there right now...just cut back the shallow cabinetry around the dining room passage [use about 2/3 of 83 in wall -thats enough] and you have a nice spot for small table..... there is a lot of sq footage not really being used . alternatively wrap counter /cabinets from the stove around to 93 in wall for a continuous set up.....turn the 83 in wall across from garage door into landing w hooks/ bench/ some closet maybe. more of a transition area than solely kitchen storage.......once you get a deeper pantry you have more options for the space. if budget is somewhat restricted.....create the best overall plan and the way this room is configured, you can do sections over time.

dont underestimate the value...both aesthetically and practically from running cabinets around the corner from stove onto the 93 in wall..it will be a nice view from the living/dining...laying out food/ display w glass doors/ storage also.... and so on.

here's a version..many sorts of cabinetry for this kind of spot...great enjoyment over time.

Plymouth Bathroom Transitional Modern Update · More Info

I also think that since the chimney already sticks out, it makes sense to bring the countertop flush with it. What is the depth of your current desk? If it doesn’t feel cramped in there you could keep depth similar for storage.

Hi all! I thought while we wait to hear from a few more professionals I would share what my aesthetic wishes for the kitchen are. I am so tired of the all-white, shiny, picture-perfect kitchens that I see all over the place. I miss the coziness of the cottage kitchen – with worn wood, warmth and herbs hanging to dry.

I don’t want a kitchen that feels perfectly curated or like it belongs on a magazine cover. I want a kitchen that feels like the heart of the home. I really want a kitchen that feels like it’s made to be used and not just a showpiece. My hope in the overall design of this kitchen is to create something that can appeal to a wide range of people while still feeling inviting and homey.

Here are some images of kitchens that I really love:

I love the look of butcher block/wooden counters but I don’t think they’d be as low maintenance and long lasting as we’re looking for. I’d love to incorporate some natural wood either in the cabinetry or in some open shelves around the stove hood.

I love statement range hoods – especially ones that feel old world/rustic. I know our kitchen isn’t huge but, if possible, I’d love to find a way to add some uniqueness to the hood range to add to the coziness of the stove area. Even if it’s just a nonstandard shape or style I’d be happy.

I don’t mind white in the kitchen; I just don’t want an all-white kitchen. I’d be happy having a different color of cabinets on the bottom and then white on top.

We have talked about having a similar cabinet and counter area as the picture @herbflavor posted in what is currently the desk area, whether that’s a built in or a piece of furniture.

As budget does have an impact on these kinds of things, my number one hope is to create something that feels like it can be adapted to many styles and tastes because the bones/foundational aspects of the kitchen are warm and neutral.

As someone who has always had limited funds I have come to appreciate spaces that allow a quick refresh from things like textiles and pops of color from accessories rather than spaces that are so customized to one person’s vision that they can’t easily be adapted to a new tenant or owner.

While we intend to be in this house for many years I want to do my best to find a balance between a kitchen that will bring me joy and a kitchen that will appeal to the people who will live here after me.

As always I appreciate any ideas and feedback people want to offer!

-Tallie

Love your vision and def love a cottagey kitchen - my approach would be to keep the basics as simple/refined as you can and then have fun with the details that can be easily changed. But for sure function first so if it were me, I’d really focus on layout and getting that right - tons of amazing help on here for that

totally my opinion but i think the oversized hoods and different color cabs top/bottom are pretty trendy, I’d avoid them for that reason but just a me thing

For your compact and closed off kitchen I’d scale back the hood statement. Start with your floor finish decision and then build up from there. All of your inspiration pics show wood floors - is that what you will have?

I've lived on a shoe string budget and designed for myself and friends small sized kitchens. You already know to make this a practical layout first and worry about style latter. Here are some thoughts on your inspo pics:

Realize that your pics are slivers of large kitchens. When taking these styles into a smaller space it is not just a matter of shrinking a larger kitchen style. You have to rethink everything.

1. Open shelves. Because the kitchen is small, it is hard to find a cleaner space for them away from cooking grease. So all of your belongings get caked with grease or just with steam and then dust. And, because dusting them is a major PITA, they do not appeal to a wide range of people. Yet, here are some compromised ideas for your kitchen.

Build upper cupboards with a small shelf beneath for glasses, small bowls. You will get the best of both worlds - cabinets and open shelves. .

If you really want loads of open shelving as in your pics, have them be the uppers of your pantry space where the desk now lives. It is the farthest place from your main cooking area and will likely collect the least amount of grease.

Open shelves are easy to build, easy on the wallet. But, if you are a great thrift/facebook marketplace shopper, your desk area is a great space for narrow free standing cabinetry to give you your collected look. Again, they won't give you as much storage as a closed cabinet with roll out shelves.

2. Two toned look. It is very trendy and isn't going to appeal to many people by the time you sell your house. (Neither will a cottage look or open shelves, so do you really want to appeal to others or make this YOUR home?) However, I do argue that a two toned look can be purposeful in a small kitchen, especially if you are going with darker wood cabinets. Use them as a base and something lighter on top. It really opens things up and makes the space bigger. Though, is this a concern of yours if you are a maximalist?

3. Wood counters. You are on a budget and they are the most budget friendly counters/ Period. They are fantastic for wearing well, you can sand out stains and cut and burn marks. Please consider them. I don't love them in a wet space. (I've read a ton about this, Brits are fine with it most Americans are not.) In my galley, I used wood on one side and a different material on the other. It really helps the space feel larger to not have the same counter on all sides of a smaller kitchen. I think it will help your budget a lot to do this too because you can have a more expensive counter and need to use less of it. And, it can combine a bit of your cottage itch with another material too.

4. The fancy sculpted hood. Your kitchen is small. It gets bulky. It will look dated - it almost does now. It will soon be a past trend that is less appealing to many. Find other ways to make your range area have the cottage vibe you want. Build a sensible wood hood painted the same color as your walls and cabinets. Hang plates from it, hang copper pots (if you can score them at thrift stores, they are expensive), add cozy cottage to the outside.

Here is a tutorial for a hood "slipcover". Costs $40 + inflation! And when you go to sell it is easily removable. Love that the tutorial has pics of it decorated differently in many different kitchens. Seems you and your dad can have fun with this.

https://www.hartleyhomedesign.com/hartley-home-blog/2023/3/9/diy-range-hood-slipcover 

I really appreciate how Heidi Callier designs a kitchen. She'd be good inspiration for you: Good layout, practical for the space, then she adds cozy finishes, and throws in just a bit of impractical things like open shelves here and there. Her kitchens would be good for what you could build and then layer your own maximalist decor on top of.

Good advice Kendrah! And I like Kendrah's inspiration pic of the green kitchen with the range surround (with the recessed shelves). I could see your 'u' side of the kitchen being a different cabinet finish/color than the opposite pantry/storage side.