Kitchen layout help

[bunch]

I'm trying to start planning my new kitchen, but I'm stuck. All I know is that I don't like how it is now. I'll be reusing some of the cabinets, but don't mind having some new ones built. Here's the current layout:

Important notes - the big brown thing is a fireplace. The cabinets in front of the window on the long wall are only about 2 feet up. They come to the base of the window :/

[bunch]

Here's one idea:

[bunch]

And another:

[bunch]

I realize the work triangle is bad no matter what, but I don't know how to solve it. The sink can't be moved and the stove can't stay in the island.

[SusanBAnthony]

Your work triangle is giving me hives.

Do not move the store right next to the sink or all alone by itself across the room! That is all I have so far, lol. I will ponder it.

[SusanBAnthony]

Ok I have stared at the picture awhile. I think you either need to make the one window smaller so you can have a normal height counter all the way across, or you need to put either the sink or stove on the island.

I am anal about work triangles and kitchen layouts so personally I would fix e window thing if I was going to spend any money fixing the kitchen. I dislike stovetops on islands, but honestly it isn't terrible the way it is.

[carifly]

Do you have a dishwasher? I can't tell where that is now, which could impact the layout.

The suggestion to put in a smaller window so you can have a continuous counter is excellent. The cost will depend on the exterior material of your house and whether it faces the front or back of your house (ie you care what it looks like). I've done it twice now, and both times it was relatively cheap and SO worth it for the improved space.

If you can't move the sink (why can't you?) and don't want anything on the island, I might consider putting the stove on the long wall. I think the triangle is a little overrated, but it is important to have space on either side of the sink and stove to put stuff (plan 2 looks like it would be pretty tight by the stove) and its nice to not feel crowded when one person is at the sink and another is at the stove.

[bunch]

The window really can't be changed. This is the front of the house from realtor.com (I swear it's not nearly so dreary irl). The window is the one on the far right, so it would make the front look silly without it.

The stove I want is a slide in, not a drop in, so it can't go in the island. I suppose the sink could.

[bunch]

And the kitchen. Shudder.

[bunch]

I was thinking that if I did the stove next to the door (ex 1) I could put my pot drawers in the island and have them pull out toward the stove.

Or I could switch the stove and fridge?

[bunch]

?

[carifly]

Mar 8, 2013 8:17:31 GMT -5 bunch said:

?

What about moving the sink and dishwasher to the island in the scenario above? That way the stove and the sink aren't so far from each other.

[bunch]

Mar 8, 2013 8:23:42 GMT -5 carifly said:

Mar 8, 2013 8:17:31 GMT -5 bunch said:

?

What about moving the sink and dishwasher to the island in the scenario above? That way the stove and the sink aren't so far from each other.

That's certainly possible. I guess I'm imagining my sink full of dishes (as it often is ) and am hesitant to have that smack in the middle of the island.

[bunch]

I suppose I could also run the countertop straight across the window. it'd look a little weird, but no more than the current dip.

[carifly]

I know you said that you don't want to replace all the cabinets, so this might not work for you, but one option for the island if you put the sink there is to make it more like a bar, with the sink side counter height and the seating side bar height. That helps to hide the messy sink. I did that and used upper cabinets on the tall bar side to get some extra storage. Also a perk to the sink being by the seating is that whoever is washing dishes can talk to whoever isn't washing

I think running the countertop across the window and blocking it would look strange. I see what you mean about not being able to put in a shorter window because it would mess up the symmetry on the front of the house- the only other suggestion I have is could you make both the side windows smaller, so that they still matched? I don't know what room the other side window is in though.

My other question is what is the goal of your renovation and how long do you plan to be in the house? If this is something you plan to be in for a while, I'd be more inclined to say go the extra step to make the layout as ideal as possible. If you think you'll move in 5 years, its more important to get something that is livable and usable without being perfect.

[SusanBAnthony]

I think I would run the counter across the window, and have it open underneath. Then put the stove right on the other side of the window.

[susieq]

Are you set on making the island work where it is?

I would remove the island. Do a bar between the kitchen and family room that connects to the wall and makes an L shape over to the low window. I would make the bar raised (bar height) on the living room side and counter height on the kitchen side. You can put your range in it if you want to. I would also do a bank of cabinets next to the fireplace or maybe a counter depth refg here.

[bunch]

These are some good suggestions. I have no idea how long we'll be here. I could say forever, but since I'm selling my forever dream house to move here, I know better. I do want the
kitchen to be nice for resale.

I'll keep playing with the layouts. I think I'll also leave it as is for a month or so to see how I use the kitchen. I have what last poster suggested in my kitchen now (L shaped with bar) and I love it, but I was concerned with how that would work with the bar jutting out toward the fireplace. It definitely makes an awkward kitchen more awkward. At least I have a good bit of space to work with....

[bunch]

Oh and I definitely like doing the whole bar counter height. It makes my current house feel more open and is great for serving.

[bunch]

I think I like this

[TBM]

Mar 8, 2013 13:12:45 GMT -5 bunch said:

I think I like this

I like this one.

[SusanBAnthony]

I like.

[boiler717]

Mar 8, 2013 13:12:45 GMT -5 bunch said:

I think I like this

Could you move the fridge over to end counter on the left side? I think the fridge really crowds the opening and visually cuts off your view of the kitchen. It would be convenient to have the fridge by the stove and then the DW by the sink (if there is one).

[bunch]

Mar 9, 2013 7:45:10 GMT -5 boiler717 said:

Mar 8, 2013 13:12:45 GMT -5 bunch said:

I think I like this

Could you move the fridge over to end counter on the left side? I think the fridge really crowds the opening and visually cuts off your view of the kitchen. It would be convenient to have the fridge by the stove and then the DW by the sink (if there is one).

If you're talking about the peninsula, it's open to the family room and counter height. I agree that it's really rough to work with. There's really no where else it physically fits.

[Deleted]

Mar 8, 2013 13:12:45 GMT -5 bunch said:

I think I like this

I like this, but what if you move the fridge all the way to the end and do a side panel to match your cabinets.  This would give you more space between the sink and fridge.  I don't think it's necessary to have a cabinet on both sides of your fridge.

[Deleted]

Also, slide the peninsula to where the back side of the cabs line up with the edge of the room and the over hang goes into the family room. This will give you another foot or so between the stove and the peninsula.

[barefootcontessa]

Have you posted this to the gardenweb kitchen forum? I thought I had a good layout but when I posted over there I got loads of comments that improved my layout dramatically. I am so very happy with how my kitchen turned out. It is super functional for our family.

[TBM]

Mar 9, 2013 8:11:18 GMT -5 rehabaddict said:

Mar 8, 2013 13:12:45 GMT -5 bunch said:

I think I like this

I like this, but what if you move the fridge all the way to the end and do a side panel to match your cabinets.  This would give you more space between the sink and fridge.  I don't think it's necessary to have a cabinet on both sides of your fridge.

I actually liked this layout because the fridge wasn't on the end.  Fridges/stoves right next to doors (or in corners) is a pet peeve of mine.