Help! Kitchen ideas needed

last year

last modified: last year

Hi everyone, I have spent hours trying to come up with a better kitchen design for my new home (one side of duplex). The space is long and skinny due to the requirement to build around the existing tree and there are a few features which can’t be changed such as the stairs and the laundry size (due to the split level). I have decided to put the WC in the laundry which provides more space for the kitchen/butler’s pantry. The windows can be changed so don’t let them stop your inspiration:)

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Comments (26)

Julie
Original Author
last year
One of my ideas…
Julie
Original Author
last year
2nd idea
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Can you do anything with shelves on the blank or door walls? Are the cupboards a built in wardrobe, or is there capacity to put your chest of drawers contents either on shelves or in baskets in the cupboards? Is there room for a freestanding hanging rack of some sort if there is no wardrobe hanging option? Pics would help!
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Thanks for the good ideas. Val - yes we are planning a moveable island/table - didn't put it in the diagram as we are planning to get it after the reno but perhaps should have it there to give better picture of our plan. We are thinking a timber topped bar style table, 900 high, 1200 long and 800 wide. It'll be dual purpose - flush with benchtops for extra prep space, and a snug table for 4 (on bar chairs). Louie and Kate - thanks for the fridge tip. I was playing with this and preferred the look of the fridge inside which seemed more 'built in', but can see the point about a slight blocking of the pantry with its greater depth. One related question - if the fridge was on the outside, do you think an end panel (as in Louie's pic) is essential? With every mm literally counting, it would help save 16mm or so to not have this, but would it be an issue to have the side of the fridge exposed? Kate - re micro height, it's another good point. We chucked our current micro and were waiting to reno to replace...and have found that we hardly miss it. So we aren't even sure we need one, but thought a compromise was to have the shelving about 650 above the benchtop to allow for micro but not effect benchtop space. This would be at a similar height to ones that people sometimes have over cooktops. But agree that it would be a bit impractical for regular use of the microwave. Perhaps it's worth lowering at least 100-150mm? One final question - perhaps should be separate post. What is the thinking on minimum width next to cooktop? Of course ideally you would have 400 or 500 or more.....but in our small space, we have a reasonable space to the right of the cooktop, but only 200mm to the left. Then again have seen kitchens, especially with freestanding stoves, that have no space on one side (ie cooktop at end). In some ways this would be better for us as we could have 800 wide drawers, rather than 600 wide, then oven, then 200 wide mini drawers.....but thought it might be better to have the small 200 benchtop space on the other side of cooktop than none at all. Thoughts? Thanks again for the good ideas!
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Julie
Original Author
last year
3rd idea
davincicalbourne
last year
Not sure if this is possible but if you are able to move the toilet to the front of the laundry near the entry to the house you would be able to extend the pantry further. I think a glass splash back looking out to the tree would give a sense of space and light to your interior.
siriuskey
last year
Any dimensions
Julie
Original Author
last year
I have uploaded the original design with dimensions, with my original post, thanks so much for taking a look:)
siriuskey
last year
Width of passageway, WIP, WC, staircase. wall to wall is best and not squ m
siriuskey
last year
What aspect does your townhouse have and does the tree block light inside .
siriuskey
last year
Maybe something like this which means you won't actually walk through the kitchen to get to the dining and family, ie past the cooktop, measurements are mostly guessed. Toilet is moved into laundry space and suggest that easy access to this from the kitchen and family room would be good.
Julie
Original Author
last year
Great idea Seriuskey… I have drawn your idea on the plan… the only part I’m not sure about is the food.. only 400 shelving with 700 between shelving and opposite joinery which is 600 deep…. Thanks again for your input… a new set of eyes and ideas are really helpful x
siriuskey
last year
The WIP is only 1800 wide by 2800 long. If your long bench which includes the cooktop and sink is 600 deep that leaves 1200 so depending on what depth base cabinets you use 600, 0r 700 as shown in your plan leaves the difference for walkway and and any open food shelves on the opposite wall in the WIP. Apart from these dimensions I have had to guess actual room sizes Do the WIP, WC and Laundry have any high windows opening to the passageway as they will be very dark without.
dreamer
last year
Julie, you could get away with only 300mm for food shelving. I find that any deeper than that, then things get lost at the back.
The opposite cabinetry can store your large appliances. So 600 plus 300mm leaves 900mm for walk way.
Julie
Original Author
last year
Thanks Siriuskey and Dreamer!

I will be installing an Illume for light….better than a traditional skylight in the WIP, WC and Laundry… they are amazing and can be installed on lower levels. Illume skylights.com.au

I’m much happier with the design allowing people to walk around the kitchen and not through it.. now to fine tune the measurements. Thanks again team ☺️
Julie
Original Author
last year
Illumeskylights.com.au
C P
last year
This doesn't really address your question at all but looking at the overall plans it seems odd to have the stairs on outside walls and I'd be trying for under stair loo and laundry. I'd rethink the idea of a butlers pantry although like Siriusky's extension idea.

It just seems your design is really accentuating the long skinny design and looks a bit like a game of tetras being played out.
oklouise
last year
i would lose some pantry in favour of a more spacious kitchen and not having to walk upstairs into the laundry for the powder room..my suggestions include a less crowded location for a big fridge, more counter prep and stove away from walk through, a stacked wall oven and mw, generous wall cabinets with range hood, optional kitchen trolley and pantry sink and 30cm deep adjustable full wall of shelving in the pantry is more than enough for most food storage, avoids corner cabinets and deeper shelves restricts doorway size and floor space
Kate
last year
Julie I would only put cupboards on the external wall with window. sink/stove d/w should not be e on a walkway. Better in your main kitchen or butlers
Why is stair on the wall with windows?
oklouise
last year
so many questions about the location of the stairs.. can you share whole plans for all four floors?
siriuskey
last year
Like others that was one of my first thoughts but after considering the info given thought that the stairs worked. I have drawn a floorplan which opens these stairs up to the kitchen which I think helps the kitchen passageway feel bigger and lighter, I will post this shortly.

But working with my current layout without room dimensions, the plan originally shows an outdoor kitchen BBQ backing onto the dinning area on the walkway.

To make both the kitchen and dining larger and brighter I would add glass sliding doors off both spaces, the BBQ would be moved to the walkway wall to allow for this, your plan already shows sliding doors off the family to the alfresco. By rearranging the family room lounges will allow more space for the kitchen and a longer Island.

I would also try to keep the 2800 Pantry if space can be taken from the laundry on the split level for a much needed Powder room to service the kitchen family alfresco. Without knowing what is below the laundry, I can't be sure but if it would allow the space above the WC could be storage opening into the laundry
Julie
Original Author
last year
Thanks everyone- it’s so great to have extra help. Here are the architectural plans (House 2). There are no measurements as I printed them to scale to make my changes - I have asked my architect for measurements and I will post them when I get them.

In the meantime, I have changed upstairs around (laundry chute and a/c void on opposite side) and as a result I changed the configuration of the downstairs laundry so the chute and a/c void are on top of each other.
Julie
Original Author
last year
Hopefully a little clearer to see… is there a better way to post my plans?
Julie
Original Author
last year
Some photos… ps. Outdoor BBQ off kitchen is not important as it can go anywhere (I’ll just put it in the alfresco)
siriuskey
last year
Love those 3D, I agree that the laundry chute and cabinets should be on the Party wall as you will get a longer run of cabinets and being 1800 wide there's not a lot of space for storage on the other wall, I would like to see a highlight window on that wall for fresh air and natural light.

My Program is from the 90's so fittings are aged but it will give you a better idea of my suggestion to open up the stair case to the kitchen family, I hope.
Kate
last year
Agree just drawn up change of laundry chute so it is in cnr next to stairs. Then you might be able to get a window into laundry to let in light from across stairs. I assume laundry floor is at a higher level than the hall so can’t move door to there.
Hard to work out kitchen without dimensions.
Julie
Original Author
last year
Thanks everyone 😊
siriuskey
last year

I have just looked at your bedroom floorplan again and was pleased to see the changes you have made to entrance into the Master, you have done what I would do, the bed was too exposed before. Perhaps you could also consider entering the ensuite from that entrance Robe area. Good to see you have also moved the chute. What a project, would you mind letting us know where you are building