Kitchen counter / island bench layout - your thoughts please
We're about to start building our kitchen and I wanted to see what folks thought of our kitchen counter layout - particularly the kitchen island size and position.
Unfortunately the rear of the counter (at the top) cannot be moved, as this part of the counter I am intending to merge with the round post you can see in the top right corner (the post goes from the floor to the ceiling - it helps support the second floor).
Furthermore the other counters you can see against the walls cannot be changed as their counters have already been built.
So that leaves us with the island's size that can change, if needed. We can make it bigger/ smaller/longer/shorter. No limitation as we are constructing it out of wood. Any suggestions? Would it be better to make the counter even wider than 4' and cut down on some of that 5'10" of clearance? Or is that clearance quite good as it is? What about other clearances?
Comments (16)
9 years ago
9 years agoRelated Discussions
Kitchen layout breakfast bar v island
Comments (20)i'm glad you're planning to reroute access to the garage: clumsy traffic pattern change a generous room into a big hallway and can't stop thinking about your kitchen..1. where you have narrow cabinets/shelves in the pantry...it's possible to have built in shelves inside the dividing wall (think about the size of what you want to store: cans, bottles, skinny packets? and put 60cm base cabinets on the other side, next to the freezer 2. i can't see the yellow highlights for stools 3. width of pantry is subject to you wanting to keep the door to the formal living room...if so, measure 150mm past the door opening and that's the minimum width of the pantry but 1500mm allows space to comfortably walk past your freezer and have full size base cabinets with pantry drawers (cleaner than open shelves) 4. space between the b'fast bar and 'fridge should be at least 90cm but if you choose a wide b'fast bar and a big 'fridge a bigger space is preferable (stand a couple of chairs 90cm in front of your current fridge for a few days and see how it feels) direction of fridge door opening is also critical, first for the cooks and then everyone else: if the size of the b'fast bar can be enlarged or reduced with overhanging counter then a change of walkway is not so difficult 5. as suggested by girlguide, the cooktop and rangehood might be better on the outside wall for ventilation 6. there seems to be a lot of small cabinets and drawers in your plan and there could be some better (and cheaper) combinations but when i tried to access IKEA kitchen planner to confirm available sizes it's not responding today 7. i've attached my suggested approximate base cabinet sizes: starting with corners and work outwards, aiming for the biggest standard carcases and then add drawers to suit purpose .....See Morekitchen layout and pantry cupboard advice please
Comments (30)Thanks dreamer, might look into a sliding window for the splashback. And have put the benchtop as 650mm for now, may increase further. Thanks siriuskey. I am leaning towards your design and using the corner as appliance/pantry. The bifold from bench height up would certainly work really well functionally but I’m not sure I’d like the look. I’ve sketched up having the area 800 deep to house the fridge and to have a step in pantry/appliance cupboard (500 deep bench, 300 step in cavity). 2 variations of the cupboard, first with sliding doors opening from centre (approx 1m opening so might feel a bit pokey), or second with perhaps stacker doors to right or bifold (this would block off bench space between pantry and sink when open though). This cupboard would be pretty big (2280mm) so don’t think we’d need the appliance cupboard next to dining area. And could have oven under cooktop. Dining and kitchen could be separated by small wall....See MoreStill deciding on kitchen - thoughts please .....
Comments (8)Thanks for that , I couldn't find your Last post? but did find a floorplan I did for a suzieq I would use a flat matt subway tile behind the cooker and perhaps the benchtop along under the window to make that benchtop look bigger. You mentioned overhead cupboard on the fridge but you also need an end panel to build it in to finish it off. Budgets get taken up very quickly as you are finding, perhaps you could consider using Laminated timber benchtops from Bunnings which come in different colours, look great and are extremely affordable...See MoreIs 3.2m kitchen bench workable for our layout?
Comments (11)I used to have a kitchen (my dream kitchen!) with similar layout. I think 900 is too skinny for the island, given it’s length and the size of your kitchen. If it were me, I’d make it at least 1000 - you won’t notice the extra width (ie where the long edge ends up in relation to the fridge) once you you put stools in front of it. I don’t know if it’s just your program, but I would definitely stack the sliding doors in the other direction. It should be a separate element in your design and you don’t want to have to dog leg around the island, even slightly, to go outside. I would roughly centre the main opening section in line with your passage, and people movement, and have the fixed section at the kitchen end. I think the position of the coffee station depends on what sort of coffee machine you’re planning in having. In my current kitchen the coffee machine requires the grounds to be emptied after every coffee…. And it’s a pain walking across the kitchen to empty the filter into the kitchen compost bin (the only space for it is near the sink) and to clean the filter in the sink. I agree 1200 is the max space between the island bench and the stove. Most of your food prep area looks like it will be on the island and a turn and one or two steps is all you want between it and the stove. Good luck with it. Hope it goes well....See More
9 years agoHi
We have quite a similar kitchen in layout. Pantry same spot too (just rotated.). So have posted 2 not so good pics and a plan view. Similar distance as you have intended in your Kitchen. Posted so you can get some idea of the appearance in real life.
Your second option is certainly more functional. We find the 4.5 feet from bench to island is ideal to let people through if required, open the oven without touching bench (oven in Island), 1 and a half steps is just right.
Good luck.
lil thanked Trappist- 9 years ago
9 years ago
My kitchen had the fridge in the same place as yours but the sink and cooker are swapped. The island was 1200 x 1200 and we had 1100 from island to units. It was the best kitchen to work in. I could cook while hubby washed up and the kids or guests could still get to the fridge. Great for entertaining and never tripped over each other and we are a family that cook together.lil thanked Kim Mackintosh
9 years agoHi Lil. Saw your kitchen layout and it looked similar to one we renovated. Your island does not have to be rectangular and could be a similar shape to pics attached which worked well for us and wrapped around L shaped kitchen. Our fridge was in similar position to yours as well.
lil thanked Jayne Leath- 9 years ago
- last year
lilOriginal Author