Critique my cabinet design (round 2)

[Deleted]

I'm re-working my wet bar design (for our basement project).  I'd love your feedback.

Some questions I've been batting about in my brain:
- We will have a wine fridge that is near the right side of the wet bar, and I'm worried that having the sink on the far right will not give me an "easy" platform to place wine bottles when pulling them out of the fridge.  So - considering moving the sink but not sure this is a good idea.
- I am thinking of removing the farmhouse sink & going with an undermount, because I feel its a bit overkill.
- The drawer is a drawer dishwasher, and the silver square is a mini fridge - are those in the correct place, do you think?
- The top cabinets are "boring" - but is that ok?  (By boring, I mean, they are all just 2-door cabinets - but I can't think of what else I might do, unless I were to make 1 just a open-shelf design.

OK that's all  Help me!!!!! Decisions like this STRESS ME OUT.  We are working with Kitchen Cabinet Kings, so it's essentially a kit we'd end up installing ourselves, and they help a bit with design, but aren't really consultants.

[flygirl22]

I'm jealous of your drawer dish washer.. I like the farm sink, but I think it should be closer to the middle of the footprint, maybe switch the sink and dishwasher placement? That would solve your wine bottom placement issue as well.

You could add some glass doors on the top if you think it looks too boring.

Overall, I like it and I'm jealous, I want to do this.

[chickens987]

I think it's fine, but I probably would move the sink to the middle (and I don't like the farmhouse in this space) and put the dishwasher on the right. I think it would be awkward to load from the right if you are right handed.

And are you doing a stainless fridge? I'd look into doing a custom-fronted one to match the cabinets

[IrishBelle]

So exciting! Its going to look awesome. I'd switch the dishwasher and the sink and do an undermount sink. I'd add some glass doors to the upper cabinets as well.

[raangoli]

I agree with the PPs that maybe it's better to switch the dishwasher and sink locations.

I also like the idea of some glass front uppers or open shelving. I'd go for glass front before the open just because I hate to dust things.

[sometimesrunner]

Do you want an ice maker down there? That would be really nice to have. I was hoping to use this picture as inspiration for our bar area...but our cabinet maker had already started with the original plans.

media-cache-ec0.pinimg.com/736x/ec/07/02/ec0702ff7cb54363e337eecbcbe58863.jpg

[sometimesrunner]

I'm bad at inserting pictures. The link takes you to a less-distorted picture.

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2014 14:00:25 GMT -5 @bluesky said:

I'd either do an open shelf or glass doors on two of the top cabinets. I'd do the undermount sink. And just out of curiosity, why are the cabinet knobs on the bottom for under the sink?

Re the bolded - I don't know!  We add all the knobs afterwards, I didn't even notice that until now.

I will ask the designers to change the knobs since now that I've noticed it, it will drive me nuts

I think I am really leaning to the undermount sink - big farmhouse seems more exciting for a kitchen (versus this wet bar, which is big...but not THAT big.)

Also am noodling on the open shelves, think that will be nice.

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2014 14:03:12 GMT -5 chickens987 said:

I think it's fine, but I probably would move the sink to the middle (and I don't like the farmhouse in this space) and put the dishwasher on the right. I think it would be awkward to load from the right if you are right handed.

And are you doing a stainless fridge? I'd look into doing a custom-fronted one to match the cabinets

How do I do this?  Tactically, I have no idea how to DIY this.

[barefootcontessa]

I would go with an undermount sink to create a cleaner look. Are the cabinets flush with the wall on the left? I think I would put the sink on the left if so. I would not put it in the middle because I would want to have an uninterrupted countertop for serving (this is essentially a party room, right?). A left to right progression seems more natural to me especially if there is a wall there. What will be stored in the uppers? I think glass fronts would look lighter but might not be right depending on what will be stored there.

If you want more advice post on the gardenweb kitchen forum. Tell them how you intend to use the space and cabinets and they will give you lots of helpful advice. I totally redid my architect's rendition of our kitchen based on the comments I received. We have lived with this layout for a year now and I definitely think it was right move.

[orangeblossom]

Do an undermount sink vs. the farmhouse.

I like the suggestion of switching the dishwasher and sink.

[chickens987]

Sept 29, 2014 14:40:07 GMT -5 @shoegal said:

Sept 29, 2014 14:03:12 GMT -5 chickens987 said:

I think it's fine, but I probably would move the sink to the middle (and I don't like the farmhouse in this space) and put the dishwasher on the right. I think it would be awkward to load from the right if you are right handed.

And are you doing a stainless fridge? I'd look into doing a custom-fronted one to match the cabinets

How do I do this?  Tactically, I have no idea how to DIY this.

I don't know anything about the company you're using for cabinets, but they may be able to get you a panel that matches your cabinets. Then you buy a "panel ready" fridge (like this: www.ajmadison.com/cgi-bin/ajmadison/KURO24.html).

[ijack]

Definitely move the sink because you want the counter space right next to the fridge. I would completely flip it so you have the sink on the other end instead of the middle because I don't like broken up parts of a counter. And yes to an undermount sink.
The top cabinets do look a little blah to me, but maybe it's because they're just normal cabinets and I think of you as more stylish than doing the norm. There certainly isn't anything wrong with them.

[Deleted]

ijack thank you for calling me stylish

I agree that it feels like something is....missing there.....an open shelf could help, since I have fun things to display from my travels that fit in with the bar....

[ijack]

Sept 29, 2014 17:12:47 GMT -5 @shoegal said:

ijack thank you for calling me stylish

I agree that it feels like something is....missing there.....an open shelf could help, since I have fun things to display from my travels that fit in with the bar....

or even doing away with the middle cabinet and putting fun art or something there

[Deleted]

I like the sink in the middle with an under mount. You don't need the white of a farmhouse sink there. Your cabinets are lovely - I would put the the appliances on the side.

[Deleted]

barefootcontessa, wonderful advice!

The left side will be flush with the wall, the right is a few inches away from a planned doorframe.

[Deleted]

Sept 29, 2014 14:13:31 GMT -5 @chloe77 said:

Ditto on the icemaker.

And @sfgal530...

Are there decent ice makers I can hide? Feeling like I already have too many appliances

[aurora]

Full disclosure: I am the opposite of stylish.

That out of the way, I essentially never see sinks with full-sized cabinets right over them, so I'd leave an open space (or at least higher, half-cabinets or a decor-holding shelf) above the sink. That will also make it more visually interesting compared to having a full layer of the same thing in the top half.

[sjh722]

I agree with aurora - I think it would feel claustrophobic to have a full size cabinet right over the sink.

I also think barefootcontessa is right, the sink makes more sense to the left, giving you more counter space for parties.

Cover for wine fridge would be nice but not a must. Icemaker is a great idea if you can swing it.

And gardenweb is intense but they have good ideas.

[Deleted]

I love these kind of posts.

I agree with moving the sink. Are you already locked in to plumbing locations, or is everything up for discussion?

I would encourage you to think about how you'll use the space, and apply those actions to the design. For example, think about "okay, we're downstairs watching a movie, I go over to the microwave, heat up the popcorn, grab a bowl from which cabinet, pour popcorn in, put bag in trash (where will your trash bin live?).

Or, "okay, we're hosting a big party downstairs. All the food is lined up on the counter. Where do people grab plates from, silverware, napkins, etc? Ope, people are done eating, where do they stack up their dirty dishes?"

Or, "I'm doing dishes after a party, where does everything go? where are the dishtowels hung up to dry or stored?

I'd also recommend under-cabinet lighting, which I'm a sucker for. It's such a nice ambiance and you can still see what you're doing on the countertop.

FWIW, we've used the bar sink at my parents lake place as more of a counter-level cooler than anything. We'll fill it with ice and chill white wine and champagne in it.

I'm so excited to see this project!

[flatlan]

I also agree that you need the under mount sink and to move it more to the middle. It looks great though!

[Deleted]

@idaholakelady, I love the idea of doing a walk-through, will do that this weekend. We aren't locked in to anything re: plumbing yet, as we are still at the electrical and plumbing stage (and haven't started plumbing) so we are still pretty flexible.

Love the ideas, everyone, now I need to compile everything and see what the cabinet people can do.

[pattieice]

Looks great, what a fun project!

I will echo others: undermount sink moved way to the left for maximum counter space for serving food. Wooden panel to hide the wine fridge. My aunt has an ice maker with a wooden panel in her kitchen next to her fridge and it is great for big gatherings. Under cabinet lighting for sure, although I like the idea of two glass shelves or open shelves to break it up, surely you have some pretty glassware to display!

[nomad100]

Only wanted to add that no matter what sink you get, think about getting a cover made for it. For those times when you don't need the sink but you need the added counter space. One of my friends did that and it was great when having parties because we never used the sink and having the extra space for food was helpful. Their space was smaller than yours so maybe that wouldn't be an issue but something to think about.

It wasn't fancy and looked something like this

[dr.girlfriend]

I would put the sink in the middle, with the dishwasher to the left and the mini fridge to the right. It's good to have counter space on both sides of the sink.

I would do glass-door cabinets on some of the uppers, especially if you'll have mostly glassware up there. It'll lighten things up.

I agree with shallow open shelves in front of the sink, your head will be there while washing dishes and you don't want to bump it on upper cabs or be staring at a blank cabinet door six inches from your face.  :-)

I think a farmhouse sink is overkill/discordant for a wet bar area. I think the Silgranit sinks are really slick-looking -- mine is that silvery-grey color and I love it. 

[Deleted]

nomad100....GENIUS and simple idea. We are planning on wood countertops so this should be an easy add on.

And to those who suggested under cabinet lights....YES! Love.