What to do with this space?

9 months ago

last modified: 9 months ago

I have a dilemma with how to best use an approximately 8’ x 7’ space between my kitchen and laundry room. (Yellow area in floorplan image.)

I had initially planned to use it for my desk, but I have opted to put my desk elsewhere.

One idea is to make it an extension of the kitchen as our kitchen is rather small. Some ideas I’ve had (in theory I could do more than one of these):

- secondary pantry

- coffee station

- beverage fridge

- baking/secondary prep area

Things we CAN’T do due to electrical/plumbing:

- move the oven or fridge

- add a powder room

- add a second or bar sink (as much as I would love to!)

Edited to add: Our child is college age and away at school none months of the year.

So…What is the best use given that it’s behind the oven/pantry wall? And would you use the same cabinets and counter as the kitchen?

Featured Answer

Toronto Veterinarian

9 months ago

I'd use it for additional pantry, for food, paper products, countertop appliances, a chest freezer, etc. I had a pantry about that size, and it was great for storage of lesser used food items, as well as those other things I mentioned.

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Comments (13)

WestCoast Hopeful
9 months ago
This would be a really nice little seating area so someone could sit and relax while talking to someone cooking.
Villa Lopez
Original Author
9 months ago
Thanks @WestCoast Hopeful but since there‘s a wall with the oven and pantry, a person sitting in that area would not be able to see someone cooking. If seated at the existing table, then yes that person can talk to the person cooking.
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auntthelma
9 months ago
last modified: 9 months ago
Mud room, walk in pantry, powder room, dry or wet bar, random storage?
Lou Myers
9 months ago
If you have kids or entertain, it'd be a great area for a snack & beverage bar. Or maybe a homework area?
WestCoast Hopeful
9 months ago
Oops! Missed it was a wall. That’s a shame.
WestCoast Hopeful
9 months ago
Yes weird to have more kitchen there. Not to have a bar area or seating but not more kitchen.
chispa
9 months ago
Could you put the kitchen table there and have a little sitting area where the kitchen table is now?
Villa Lopez
Original Author
9 months ago
last modified: 9 months ago
@chispa We could, but we need more functional space/storage.
bpath
9 months ago
Since you need more storage, base drawers and upper cabinets will be perfect on the 8’ wall. I’m thinking counterspace for setting things on as you use the storage, change batteries, glue something, propogate a plant,metc. It may end up beong the most useful area in the house!
Villa Lopez thanked bpath
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Debbi Washburn
9 months ago
If you aren't going to redo the kitchen to remove the wall oven wall and open it all up, then I would just wall that off and create a large storage closet and a bev area that may be handy when entertaining outside.
bpath
9 months ago
Do you have any cookware or tableware you would like to display? A glass upper or two could show off your LeCreuset, or pretty serveware, or vintage bowls.
AnnKH
9 months ago
When we had a small kitchen, we had "pantry" shelves in the basement for when we stocked up on things; we kept a crock pot in the linen closet; bulk purchases of pop and beer were stacked up on the floor next to the fridge. When we remodeled the kitchen, I specifically designed spaces for all those things.

I would think through the storage in the entire house, and decide what would make sense to keep in that location. A closet for off-season clothes? Canned goods? Small appliances? Suitcases that are now buried in a closet in the basement? Each of us might have different ideas - you need to determine what you want to keep there, to determine the most efficient storage solution.