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 (15)
8 years ago
8 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (8)I think your benchtop material choice really depends on how both you and your husband live and what level of natural wear you are comfortable with showing. Natural wood benchtops to me are very similar to natural stone or stainless steel. The surfaces will naturally age and show use, scratches and imperfections much more than say a caesarstone if it's a high use area but some people love that look and it goes well with an industrial or natural style. My wife and I thought long and hard about it but realised we want the benchtop to look as new and clean each time as possible so opted back for caeserstone (Ocean Foam) which hid small stains and dust :)...See More"Please... Help needed with new kitchen design layout!"
Comments (7)with a lot of helpers crowding around to help i suggest that the new kitchen needs to be zoned for tasks and be open plan without a separate pantry...this rough idea has a central island about 2m x 3m surrounding the column and walkways approx 1.5 m between counters, subject to available space with the column the island has mostly underbench drawers for pantry food storage, crockery and cutlery and the counter is for food preparation, serving, sorting and distributing clean and dirty cookware and bags of groceries etc and has a small extra sink but no more than a couple of stools to keep the workers moving!!..Subject to suitable access the central space under the big island (would be about 60cms wide, 90cm tall and almost 3m long!) would be ideal to store folding tables and chairs and "christmas" supplie in wheeled storage crates or pull out kitchen island trolley..There's a full size fridge and freezer as well as an underbench drawer fridge next to the tea, coffee & toast area,with cup glasses and breakfast supplies in the overhead cabinets..twin dishwashers with double sinks, hot cold water dispensers, pull out garbage bins and a modern insinkerator or compost disposal in the sink area..the cooktop and food prep area is on both sides of the corner with big appliances underneath, and serving plates and casserole dishes etc overhead..The base cabinets should be deeper than normal for more generous counters and giant cooking equipment and appliances stored underneath and to have shallow splashback shelves for herbs,oils, sauces etc and there's a stacked wall oven and microwave and a stacked wall oven with warming drawer and vertical shelves above the ovens to stand up trays, racks, cake and pizza trays and drawers below the ovens for saucepans and baking dishes...decorative finishes and fine details need to be determined by the resident cook for personal taste and everyday comfort...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 MoreLooking for help with a Kitchen renovation layout design please
Comments (26)I understand the beam being installed when you did your earlier extension as that was an external wall, that's why I have suggested keeping part of the wall next to the island which was also an external wall, to support this, I will check this in the drawing to ensure it lines up for you. By opening up this wall as much as possible you are allowing more light back into the house The cost of running plumbing across I think is negative/comparable to moving the plumbing for the re positioned laundry and kitchen and removing any load bearing walls. Storage in the new kitchen is a big 2900 x 900 island of drawers for easy access, I have added a wall oven but that could become a 600 pantry with drawers in the lower part with a shelf above for small appliances. The wall with the TV could be a wall of narrow built in storage to be used in any way you need. This floor plan gives better flow between kitchen/family.dining/alfresco and better for unloading the car with the driveway running down beside the kitchen and verandah...See More- 8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago
I know the fridge is not really adhering to the work triangle principle, but I should have mentioned it also cannot be moved.
The gap between the counters and the pantry is actually a door too - sorry!
I suppose I could decouple the island from the post (the brown circle), and move it in somewhat to close up the clearances. I've also evened up the clearances to 4' (1200mm) at either end, if that is a good idea. See picture below.
What do you think?
8 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- 8 years ago
8 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
8 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- 8 years ago
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