how would you fix this kitchen?

[heygrey]

let's gut it and rebuild. i want to at least make a half wall where the fridge is because it flows into the living room. we could close off that window to the left to get more wall space, but i like the window because it looks out onto a three season room (read: guests would be out there and it doesn't feel as closed off with a window). i'd love more window above the sink, but i'm not sure if that leaves enough cupboard space. 

also, this is the kitchen that half a million buys you here

[mrs.jacinthe]

I actually don't mind the flow/design, but those cabinets are hideous. Two questions: 1. Does the window open? 2. Are you planning on using it as an eat-in kitchen?

[heygrey]

May 25, 2013 0:16:27 GMT -5 mrs.jacinthe said:

I actually don't mind the flow/design, but those cabinets are hideous. Two questions: 1. Does the window open? 2. Are you planning on using it as an eat-in kitchen?

1) i don't know. 

2) i think i would? it doesn't appear to have a formal dining space, but i'm uncertain on a couple areas in the house (it's not staged) so one of those could work. i much prefer eat in kitchens or kitchens open to the dining space though. mostly, i hate walls between my living, kitchen, and dining areas. 

i should have mentioned that i have no real intention of buying this house, i'm just dreaming. i like everything else about it, but the kitchen just isn't doing it for me. i'd live for a while, but long term i'd want to gut and start from scratch. 

my current kitchen (rented apartment) has the same view from the kitchen, but we have no upper cabs on that wall since it's mostly window. i have 9 cabinets and 8 drawers in my current kitchen and it's more than enough for now so i don't need a ton more storage, but i think i would like a little bit more in the future. the fridge is throwing me the most. i would put it where the stove is, but then where would the stove go? island? half wall? 

[heygrey]

also, can we discuss how truly awful that light fixture is?

[LauraMoser]

Swap the fridge and stove to get your half wall (I would make it into a breakfast bar). Just get one of those fancy motorized vent systems for the stove, or a really pretty attention getting hood. Keep the sink where it is. Run cabinets underneath the windows that look into the three season room. And I would keep the island. That would also be another good spot to move the stove to.

But I have to agree with mrs.jacinthe, I do think the layout now is pretty good, just terrible cabinets, lol. You pretty much have the size and layout of my dreams. My kitchen is tiny in comparison.

[kaylie]

I would leave the layout alone - it's kinda great actually. Putting in a half wall will mess up the flow and make it feel tiny. We have a half wall between our kitchen and family room now and it's terrible. We're planning to rip it out when we refloor in a couple years. I think the island is giving you enough definition between the spaces.

For the wall on the left, if you close off that window and put in cabinets I'm fairly certain you'd have to get rid of the island. The absolute minimum between counter edge and island is 36'', and that will feel tight. If it works for the layout I might move the glass door to where the window is. The corner that has the door now looks like it's intended to be the eat in part of the kitchen, but it would be annoying to have to walk around a table to use the door. I would fill in the door and just have it be a nice eating nook.

I would get rid of the florescent monstrosity, put in cabinets that go to the ceiling (which will give you a bit more cabinet space, and new counters/backsplash. I'm willing to bet that fridge door hits the island when you open it (unless it's a french door model, the fridge needs 48'' of space between it and the counter).

I would also get rid of that random pantry cabinet. Maybe replace it with a built in side board next to where the kitchen table would go?