okey dokey, Kendrah. Will do!

Can you turn all the lights on, GO STAND, your back at the fireplace, and take a picture from way back?

Take another with your back to the TV in the breakfast nook?

Come back with those BELOW in a comment box?

Just do it: )

👍😍👍 JAN MOYER

Now you will have so much help, good ideas, and problem solving coming your way. Sounds like you have some help coming to find out about the soffit too-so you are off on the journey. Hopefully you will have some fun and learn some things along the way. Good luck!

See this? Below?

It was done from THIS DOWN BELOW.........WHICH DIDN'T HAVE every single dimension, so it's a very GOOD GUESS.

The more accurate you are, the more we can SEE? THE better for you. So . .............neater is better, and all due respect to Kendrah up there as much NOT like a "five year old" as you can. Use a ruler....

Get a tape measure, and graph paper is fine.!! You can use ONE 1/4 box for a FOOT, or two, just tell us what//which and be consistent: )

From this thread..........

https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6542703/new-kitchen-layout#n=8

I can’t tell for sure if you have laminate wood look floors or solid wood? Hoping you have solid wood as patching and refinishing is better for your budget (yes more disruptive and takes a bit more time but saves $ overall)…you have mentioned cost of flooring being a concern. So, it’s not too early for you to start budgeting for what that would mean.

You are looking to remodel your kitchen, want to design yourself, and are limiting yourself to not reconceiving anything, just replacing what is there exactly how it was originally conceived. But at the same time, welcome any input. So in that sense, I would suggest expanding your thinking a bit. It looks like you've turned the Breakfast Area into a TV area, and converted the Family Room (with fireplace) into the Dining Room. That means the house as originally designed isn't functioning well for you. I don't know where a final remodel will end up design-wise or with budget, but it is worth thinking about things.

Design creep can happen easily and blow your budget. But not thinking big at the beginning is a mistake too. Kitchen renovations are expensive and you don't want to spend all of that money on something that in the end is suboptimal. So think big. Then revise, revise, revise to get it within your budget. It might mean that you trash some beginning ideas that just don't work for your wallet or needs. That's ok. Just so long as your money is not wasted because you didn't entertain all possibilities in the beginning.

I spend hours with clients when I do kitchen design . I want to know all the things they want then we work on what they NEED and some of the want can happen . I want to know every pot , pan, utensil, they need to store , how they cook . How many cooks . So much goes into kitchen design . When we offer help it is from experience if you take it great if not that is totally up to you. I personally will wait to see about the soffitt issue too. In the meantime add the dimensions to the drawing or it trully is useless .The more info we get the better help you get and yes it is free

I did it! I can re-work it if needed.

Here are photos of the kitchen space:

Ohh…those can lights are distracting. Here’s w/natural light.

Some of you have asked me questions:

Q: Are your floors hardwood?
A: No, they are Wilsonart Laminate (which they don’t make anymore, so we don’t want to mess with it, because we love it & it’s finally back in style…haha!)

Q: Why do you have the TV in your breakfast nook?
A: So we can watch it while we cook! Also, the area is too small for our dining table, which we don’t want to replace. We fondly call this spot our “snug”, and want to keep it as-is: It is perfect for us empty-nesters. (We can even play footsie in the shared ottoman while we eat our movie
treats.)

Q: Do you intend to keep the large island?
A: Yes! It’s the hub of our family/social life. Gotta keep it, but want to re-think the shape of the countertop; maybe round out the angles and add a little depth to the “splash zone” behind the sink.

Q: Do you want to move the microwave?
A: Yes! But, we would like to keep it above the countertop.

Feel free to ask any other questions you’d like! I appreciate any and all input!

One more major one:
Q: Would you want to take the cupboards all the way up to the ceiling?
A: Definitely, if possible. We would have to move the vent, (maybe to the spot over the doorway?)

And, I might add; I would love a range vent, maybe one that is more done with carpentry/trim than with copper or metal. (open to options.)

My vibe has typically been Traditional w/ influences of French Country. Still love that look, but would be willing to to lean into Transitional a bit.

You’d have to do exploratory holes in the soffits to see if you could take the cabinets up. My guess is you have a significant amount of stuff up there (obviously a vent). You can paint the wall above the new cabinets the exact same color as the cabinets if the wall has to stay. That visually helps.

If the soffits can't be removed there is a way to encase them to look like they are intentional and part of the cabinets.

Thinkdesignlive, Yes! We may have to drill holes to investigate, but that’s not a huge deal, since we are tearing things up anyway. When we looked behind the vent cover, the conduit seems to go up into the ceiling and out to the exterior of the house.

Design Interior South, this is a brilliant alternative!! I could be happy with this look. Would you recommend that I just try to find a design-friendly vent cover?

It is so curious that there was so much pressure for me to submit drawings of my kitchen layout with measurements. Since the day I did that, there have been crickets! 🤷‍♀️

Hmmm well a brief glance back it seems you are set on keeping your flooring. So that eliminates any big plan changes like a new island layout. What are you hoping to gain here? Doing the investigative work on the soffits would be good before any pencil to paper with design suggestions.

Overall, you have a lot of counter space so you could consider centering the refrigerator on its wall and adding appliance garages on either side (if you’d like to hide all those small appliances). Finding out about venting a hood out and what is in the soffits will determine placement and design of the hood and if you can go full height with the uppers or not. Then, maximizing drawers in your lower cabinets would also be key. You have 500ish photos in your kitchen ideabooks. I’d suggest either culling them down or noting them as to why you have them (like ‘I like this for cabinet style’, etc). Other than that, since you aren’t really changing up the layout you will get a drawing to approve from your cabinet salesperson so have you narrowed down that relationship?

Also, now is the time to research appliances BEFORE you plan cabinetry. Do you want to consider double ovens to the right of the range wall and then do an induction cooktop? Do you want to consider a new refrigerator, etc? Knowing those items is key in the first phase of planning.

Lastly, I don't see any way to change the footprint of the island if you are set on your flooring. You could have the cabinetry detailed all the way around (so no drywall) - just depends on how far your budget will go.

Remember, I am not a pro, so just some ideas and things to think about as you go along.

So, since the flooring stays as is and there is no way to get extra to patch it, it seems you are going to have to keep the island as is. Which means you probably won't have much change in the layout. You can still make it more functional, as thinkdesignlive, and Design Interior South have both given you several good suggestions. One of which is having drawers on all the lowers. By including this on the island to R of the sink, it will allow you to store your everyday dishes there, and they will be much easier to access, especially when you unload the dishwasher.

Removing soffit would be ideal, guess you still are looking into that. And now Design Interior South has given you have some ideas of possible ways to change/improve the look if you can't remove it. Also when you inspect this, they can give you an idea if a hood can be externally vented, and possible expense of doing that.

Another great suggestion is to research what appliances you want. Are you thinking of stacking a wall oven and microwave and having a separate range? Or a range/oven combo like you currently have?

Did you want a countertop microwave? Lots of people don't like that, however, I chose to have one, and I had a few reasons for this. I am short, my husband is tall, countertop was the comfortable solution. We don't really use a microwave to cook, but rather just warm things up from time to time, so we didn't feel the need to spend a lot of money on a drawer or built in microwave. Finally we have plenty of preparations space, so that the microwave doesn't intrude on that. So we had our reasons, but there are plenty of reasons to have a higher quality, built in as well. Our dear friends have a stacked wall oven/microwave and a separate range. They cook a lot, and use the microwave to cook often. So it really makes sense for them to have it set up like that and to spend the money on a quality microwave. Also for pulling things out of the wall oven, it is at a much more comfortable height. So it is a personal choice, based on how you cook and use the space.

You have a lot of stuff on the counter by the refrigerator, which sorry to say, reads as a lot of clutter. Do you use all those appliances often? Think about how you use those, and how you might store them? One of the designers suggested appliance garage, which may be a great solution to the clutter, if you use those items regularly. But perhaps you only use them once in a while. So really consider the storage needs for them. I have a toaster in a drawer that I pull out and use periodically, but I don't make toast every day, so it doesn't sit on my counter. Conversely, I use my blender almost daily, so it has a place on my counter. You may want to measure those items as well to know what size storage each needs. I think the one item you have may be a bread maker, not sure, but it seems quite large. If you use it regularly, then it should be where you can access it easily. If it is once in a while, perhaps it can be stored in the pantry?

One more thing is style. I think someone suggested that you look at your photos, and pare down what you like. I can appreciate a lot of different styles, but French country wouldn't work in my contemporary home. Both styles can be done beautifully, both could go horribly wrong. So really consider what will look good and balanced in your home as it is. Remember that breakfast nook and dining space are also part of your project too.

thinkdesignlive & kimbers333
THANK YOU SO MUCH for helping me know what to focus on next! Tonight is the night where we will find out about the soffit options.
I will get some answers about microwave options as well.
A huge part of all of these decisions, unfortunately, is cost.
If I have to pick and choose, I would definitely pick function over form.
I’m not sure why many are suggesting I need to reshape the huge island. We have huge gatherings, so we love having the extra counter space for serving.
The only thing that bothers me is that, because of the island, it’s difficult to place the stove anywhere else. So, a big change in form might not be the answer. Sad, because I love symmetry!
I definitely plan to put in a range hood, move microwave to other wall above the countertop, raise cabinets to ceiling or add extended moldings.
remove the desk area, hide all the appliances, new sink, possibly new stove, new countertops, backsplash, and maybe a fridge enclosure.
What do you think of this tile with glazed cream cabinets? Will it look French Country or just dirty??

What do you all think?

Dark grey countertop for surrounding cabinets and veined cream countertop for island. (Still looking for the ideal island color, maybe the blue/grey swatch.)

Cost always drives the bus. When I remodeled my previous tiny kitchen, we kept everything in its place, also because of budget. Luckily we had a good layout, and we were also able to vastly increase our storage space, which was what was really much needed. So I do understand the financial constraints.

You are on fact finding mission right now. Research and educating yourself about products and options.

Just remember that you want to get the best bang for your buck. Pick appliances that will last-so do your research on this. (I can highly recommend Bosche dishwashers!)

I can't help you on French Country-not my style (and I am not a pro). So do your research if this is the direction you are leaning. Think about whether that goes with your house, or if it will seem out of place with your other decor and furnishings.

FYI, I can't see any of the pictures posted about cabinets and countertops or tile in your last posts. Generally speaking, gray and cream don't seem like they would be very cohesive together. So another area to research. Color is more complex than it may seem. There are undertones to most colors, and colors change depending on the light in the room, both from the outside, and inside lights and the surroundings. If you don't know what I mean, then do the research, and perhaps get a designer/color expert.

You want to pick cabinets first, both wood type, as well as color, and style. Bring samples home (at least of the color) to see what it looks like in YOUR kitchen and lighting. The color should please you in the light you will have throughout the day, and in all the different spaces. They should look good next to your flooring too.

When you have decided that, then you bring the cabinet sample with you to the stone shops to pick your countertop. I highly recommend that you research the different types of countertops. There are pros and cons for every type of countertop out there. You should know what type of maintenance you are willing to do. (I don't know about French country, but my guess is natural materials such as soap stone, granite, and wood are probably more in line with that than laminate, quartz, or Corian.) Cost is a big driver here, and you have a lot of countertop! Also you want to see FULL slabs before you buy. Don't buy the first time you go! Ask LOTS of educated questions. Go home, do more research, sleep on it. If you can bring samples home do it-always good to see in your light. Also realize that you will need more than one slab and will want to make sure that you know where the seams will go, and what/how you can expect them to look.

When you have decided that, then pick paint colors for the walls and trim. Then after everything has been installed, consider the backsplash. You will have a much better feel for the space after that, and you can pick something that will go with everything else. Don't rush the backsplash if you are choosing tile. If you find that you want whatever you choose for you countertop to also be your backsplash, then you know it will go together. I still don't have a backsplash at my house yet.

You want function AND form! Take your time. Everyone wants immediate change, but getting a clear plan and design that will fit in your budget is the most important step. Make sure you have a quality contractor as well!

kimbers333
Thanks for the good tips and advice!
I especially appreciate you saying “take your time!”…as that is going to help me not feel pressured and make regrettable choices! Also, good advice to do the backsplash last. Also, I had not envisioned the countertop with seams. I need to find some examples of what that would look like with veining. Might be weird…

Your welcome. Again, I am not a pro, and you might not need seams, but it is definitely a question to ask, and consider when the time comes. The right fabricator will be pretty good at hiding them. In my current layout, I don't have any seams. Your island, however, is long and angled, so not sure if one piece will work there. It is something for you to think about and ask to see the layout before they cut the stone. There are a lot of posts on here that lament the seams. We purchased a beautiful granite in our last kitchen, and we made sure that the seam looked nicely lined up prior to them cutting/installing. So if you do need a seam, insist on seeing where they will cut it and how the pieces will line up.

I would seriously consider getting a smaller dining table so you can get the tv out of the window. It’s throwing off the whole look and no matter what updates you do to the kitchen, it will still not look right.

Decor Diva if you do the soffits that I shared the finish carpenter should be able to design and build the vent so that there are slats in the wood for airflow. It would of course be finished in whatever your cabinets and soffit are finished in.

I'd save my money until I

re shaped the island and created less vacuous wasted space,

Many ways to do it, just a quickie below and many OPTIONS for attractive storage on the 15 ' wall. You don't need to walk in.. to have easily accessible storage of all varieties

My point is it is just too much in your face/uoper cabinetry. . Drawers are so much more convenient. NOBODY will die of starvation in the kitchen you have. I'd delay, and even I would need to play around a but for more attractive looks to a wall as "storage" id essentailly a bookmark. Even the possibility of eliminating some. .

What would help? A more accurate drawing, of all the space, such how deep the pantry you have?

A hard measure with more accurate info ........you may need some help , or maybe the actual floor plans were left in the house.

Jan!
Wow! These Layouts really do make a lot of sense! “Vacuous” is a strong word. I guess I am just used to the space having lived here almost 20 yrs…lol! That’s why I am here, to help me get a fresh perspective!
I do have a couple of question for you:

1. Would you suggest enclosing the fridge area, or just having the fridge stand between cupboard sections?

2. Have you ever seen success with “patching” laminate flooring? We have a den that has the same flooring, from which we could “harvest” matching planks. What do you think?

I've never tried to harvest laminate: )

My point is one:

Upper cabinetry costs money - it is basically NOT all that ergonomically friendly to dinnerware, you tend to use the first surface the shelf above and the top shelf is a burial ground. It's fine for stemware, g;asses , coffee mugs ! even super handy for large size bottle os some pantry that is everyday. Beyond that? MEH! a drawer is so much better for so many things..

Pots and pans, PLATES bowls... just about anything you need to set the table.

I'd need to play around a bit. but the last thing I would do is KEEP that island you have. EVEN if I had to wait a couple years.

Agree. Extended cabinets are off the table!

Wow, that’s a great kitchen layout! With an island that big, an island-mounted hood would be a really cool upgrade if it fits your budget.

^^^

Why an Island mounted hood? The range is on an exterior wall...........sure you are on the right thread?

I have 15 very UGLY feet.........

Kitchens do not live and die on walk in pantries,,,,,,,,

Yes, Jan, but your sixteenth foot is a beauty. Especially the pedicure.

😂

Don't remove soffits they might have wiring then stuck work up there they might be hiding Upper Floor structure too and it's costly and it's part of your style design there

I’m curious, do you like your current island? I’m all for the long islands and have it myself (bc Jan told me to! 😂)

But I don’t mind the shape of your island either. It does date the house a bit BUT if you don’t care, then who cares? And since your style is French country, could that island shape work too bc it’s traditional?

I like where your style is going so is there an option that keeps your island shape but you could modernize the cabinetry and appliances and counters?

I say all this bc of the floor convo and know that replacing floors are a pretty penny - we did real white oak hardwoods in our reno….however I have zero regrets!

A kitchen renovation really starts asking you what matters to me bc when you touch one thing…you touch a whole lot more than you thought.

I am in the camp of go all out bc the after is priceless but I understand that’s not everyone.

Last note - Definitely do drawers on lowers when cabinets are updated! That’s not even a discussion. 😂

It isn't the" dated shape " of the island, it is the inconvenient distance from fridge : )

Just catching up on this thread ... the link posted for Shazia's project is working again. Probably just a typical Houzz glitch that the link doesn't always work!

Just a word on pantries… for me they are the best part of a good kitchen, if done well…but the shelves do not need to be too deep…and those boxes to put things in are too much trouble…… also .. if it can be laid out with no door… that will be the most useful spot in the kitchen….who needs to have everything in the kitchen behind closed doors?dinnerware sets… glassware…spices…cereals..serving pieces..can all be easy access and in view to choose from… at convenient levels to lift according to weight and size… even heavy cookware that is always difficult to get out of inconvenient cabinets 👌

As a kid growing up … all my aunties and grandma had pantries..sooo useful… and saving lots of $ and space…from having less cabinets

Shazia, Jan, et All!
I just read the thread of the absolutely HEAVENLY renovation!!!
I am so impressed and inspired…and certainly a bit jealous! It was definitely worth the pain & $$. CONGRATULATIONS❣️
https://www.houzz.com/discussions/6359906/option-1-or-option-2-for-kitchen-layout