Help with kitchen design
We are renovating our kitchen and I've designed the new kitchen with ultimate storage and functionality for our family, including movement in and out of the kitchen and back door (which we use as our main door). But we don't have an island, and I'm starting to think that might be a mistake. In the past we have had islands and I found we didn't sit at them, but used them as a dumping ground for stuff as you walk in the door. But now the kids are getting older, maybe we need it?
The first pic is of the current design we have planned. The photos are of the existing kitchen and I've included the demo floor plan. The space is about 4mx3.7m once cleared. Can you see a wy to get an island, lots of bench space and still move around?
Comments (31)
Kayli Wild
4 years agoHere the other two photos, the kitchen as it opens to dining and back door (those half walls will be gone and the door will open out the other way). Bottom plans are existing kitchen that will be demolished.
swizzles95
4 years agoIt’s possible, though not particularly easy with the shape and placement of the kitchen ... The only way I can think to do it is to push the island out towards the living area a bit - here’s a rough sketch of the idea. It cuts your new linen cupboard in half but does deliver a large island without creating a bottleneck. You could potentially fit in a walk-in pantry as well ... but either way it would be very different layout, so see what you think :-)
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Need help with kitchen design please.
Comments (17)by using standard cabinets pulled out from the window walll and adding a deeper counter there'll be a narrow void along the wall with space to install a sink and dw and then cut out a space in the counter to allow for the lower window frame and create a dropped shelf for an inside "window box", ideal for a few small plants or herbs and then use tall shallow freestanding cabinets or bookshelves for pantry storage and add a small freestanding extendable dining table.instead of an island..eg IKEA Billy bookcases with plain and glass doors for the pantry and they have a wide range of suitable tables...and note that the pantry cabinet can extend outside the kitchen space eg glass doors would be good for dinnerware, glasses, books and music and if the new laundry door is positioned as shown there'll be better use of the corner shown as a "study nook" for a desk or ironing work space etc...See MoreNeed help with kitchen design
Comments (37)K_jossie, there's some really helpful suggestions here. I can't add much in terms of design ideas, but in a small kitchen that serves a family it's vital to maximise storage, Have a look at some of the more novel ideas for extra storage. You can put drawers in kickboards for things like baking trays, serving trays, shallow casserole dishes, serving platters you don't use often, etc. Loads of space there that usually goes to waste! Another idea I saw that I thought brilliant was making walls into shallow storage. Where you have a blank wall that it isn't practical to place cabinets against, and you don't plan to put furniture against (such as along corridors or walkways), the lining can be removed between the studs and shelving inserted and sliding or hinged doors fitted. It provides shallow storage that is brilliant for things like canned and packet food, cups, glasses, and some of the utensils that we typically like to hang in the kitchen. I also saw this method used above a child's desk area, using the in-wall space for storage of art and craft supplies. I agree a slideout pantry is a fantastic idea. I had one in our last house and loved it. It provided loads of storage in a very small space. The other way to maximise storage is to use drawers extensively instead of cupboards. When designing my kitchen, I made a list of things I needed to store and designated their future home on my plan, working out both where they were most accessible when needed and also the optimum way to structure storage space to hold everything. It's amazing how much difference just varying drawer depths according to the height of items to be stored in them can make. Best of luck with your extension. I hope the result is pleasing....See MoreHelp with a kitchen design for our new house
Comments (114)Ground floor we are thinking of going with this one. I am not worried about northern sun now, as with our landscape it is bit hard to try another shape and we feel like this layout of kitchen/dining/living gives us the most usable space. We might put a tall window above the kitchen bench instead of an overhead to get more light in. I have added a hall way table at the entrance, A bigger study/office, Linen/broom/storage space, laundry has external access. For the First floor we are leaning towards this one, which gives more space and big robes in bed2 and bed 3, also a WIR for his&her. 1800mm vanity, walkin shower and bathtub, a small balcony enough to put chairs and a small coffee table, we may make the balcony a little bigger as the master bedroom is now 4x4.7m. What we think is with this configuration 3/4 people can use the family bathroom area at the same time. I am not much worried about the bed orientation, this configuration work for us, anyone buying, its big bedrooms, they can put it anyway they like. Thanks to all specially to @oklouise and @differentways who went above and beyond to draw the designs for me, we wouldve put the toilet at the bath with window as differentways. suggested, but. then its too messy with robes and bedrooms get small., We dont want any robes sticking out, a wall to wall robe will give that luxury feel. We also like @dreamer ensuite design but again i think this one gives a different feel, something out of the box, what we usually see like in hotels. Also thanks to @macyjean & @Kate some of your advices were very valid and got us rethinking a lot of stuff. And thanks to all the others who spend there time looking at the design and reading the long messages and giving there much valuable opinions, every little suggestions are important. I know its not finished yet but we are almost there, if there is anything to improve or if i miss anything please let me know. We really value your thoughts and suggestions. We are very happy this turned out this way....See MoreHelp! Kitchen design dilemma
Comments (16)I much prefer the configuration with the fridge out of the scullery. I would find it annoying having to walk in and out of there while cooking. Having everything within a few steps reach makes life so much easier when cooking. For ease of use the prep area, sink, cook top, fridge, oven and serving area should all be accessible within a triangle space. I thought I wanted our sink in the scullery until we house sat in a house that had one in there and hated it... washing dishes is mundane enough, I couldn't stand having to do it standing alone in a cupboard! Because of that experience, we ended up putting our sink in our island bench. I worried about the mess, but now I am so glad we did it. Having the sink so handy while cooking and and being able to still be a part of the family while cleaning up has been wonderful....See Moreswizzles95
4 years ago
siriuskey
4 years agoSwap bed 3 with study, open up kitchen wall and add a door to new entrance, this will give more space to the kitchen while keeping the 3 bedrooms away from the living area and all closer to the bathroom
me me
4 years agoswizzles95
4 years agosiriuskey
4 years agoA slightly clearer drawing, moving the linen to open up the dark passage way which is a waste of space and including that into the new kitchen. A wall oven unit next to the back door will allow you to have the door swing back into the room instead of the awkward outward door
Kayli Wild
4 years agosiriuskey
4 years agodreamer
4 years agoKayli Wild
4 years agoWhat about a layout like this, with the island facing out toward the room, the bifold doors and the view. I actually really like the idea of the cooktop on the island. Then we could fit a butler’s pantry and linen press. It only leaves 1-1.2m between the passages around the island but I think that’s within standard? The layout isn’t as spacious but it packs a lot of storage, or does it look like a hodge podge? (sorry about the smudgy sketch).
siriuskey
4 years agoKayli Wild
4 years agosiriuskey
4 years agoKayli Wild
4 years agoI want to thank everyone for your suggestions, especially siriuskey’s full open plan which opened my eyes to a new possibility. I just got good news from our builder that there are no supports in the kitchen/hall wall as we previously thought! So I’ve tweaked the design a bit because we want a 1m fridge and pantry. We need to move bedroom 2 door (easy?) and will use the study closet as the linen. I’m excited about the big open space. Do you think this layout looks ok?
siriuskey
4 years agoKayli Wild
4 years agoKayli Wild
4 years agosiriuskey
4 years agoKayli Wild
4 years agoLatest thinking attached, with small cupboard tucked in for all the school bags, mail, broom. And smaller pantry to free up corner bench. With proper dimension drawn on now.
Susan Clark
4 years agolast modified: 4 years agooklouise
4 years ago
PROKitchen and Home Sketch Designs
4 years agoHi Kayli,
I draw this for you....just about the same as your "What about this" post above!
I think this would answer most of your questions and problems or it would go along way to it. Of course it can be tweaked to suit your particular needs.....
Kayli, I commend this plan to you and hope you like it. I wish you well and if I can be of further assistance please call me.
Regards,
Margot 0419 348 546
Kate
3 years ago
differentways
3 years ago- PRO
Kitchen and Home Sketch Designs
3 years ago Susan Clark
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoKayli Wild
3 years agoKayli Wild
3 years agoKate, we put the pantry along the hall wall to make room for the fridge and moved the second bedroom door behind a large slider so we could close the bedroom section off. I was worried the pantry would be too far out the of the kitchen triangle but it works fine. And I love my cooktop on the island, no grout on backsplash to clean!
Kate
3 years ago
Kayli WildOriginal Author