Is there any way to fix this kitchen layout?

[SusanBAnthony]

This pic is for a listing in a neighborhood we are considering.  I cannot stand that the entire kitchen island is taken up by a stovetop.  Do you think there is any way to reconfigure things without ripping out the whole kitchen?  I like it other than that.  I am thinking it is impossible, though.  

[SusanBAnthony]

I guess you could move the dishwasher to right next to the fridge, and the sink closer to the corner, then put the stovetop next to where the sink is now, but that would be a major project and you would have to move upper cabinets too.

Obviously I would need to see the island in real life to get a feel for the size, but I think I want to use an island for baking and have kids sit at while I cook, which even with that panel behind the stovetop, wouldn't work.

BUT AM I TOO PICKY? (the answer I am sure is yes).

[munkii]

Unless you want to rip out the whole thing and reconfigure the water and gas lines, I would just leave it. The d/w should remain located next to the sink for ease of transferring dishes from the sink to the d/w. Placing the cooktop on the other side of the sink would mean losing the upper cabinet and partial functionality of the cabinet it's installed in; plus, that space may not even be big enough for a cooktop and work space.

The overall layout of the kitchen isn't too bad. Maybe the downdraft exhaust fan is retractable which would make the set up a little more attractive.

[SusanBAnthony]

I would love a U shape, too. It isn't like it would be a deal breaker on the house, if the rest was great. It just seems the the rest of the island space is a waste since the stove is right in the middle.

[ohjessica]

I don't like the stove top in the island and how much of the island it takes up, but it wouldn't be a deal breaker. I'd probably complain about it a lot though because if I ever had an island, I'd want to be able to put stools with it so the kids could hang out with me while cooking. Not going to happen with a hot stove.

I'm guessing that empty space under the high cabinets is for the fridge/freezer? You could potentially put a free standing range there if there's another spot for the fridge...

[gtkim]

Easy.  Just replace the countertop on the island and extend it out on the side that is open.  Put some barstools there, etc.  Some friends of mine did the same thing and it is awesome.

[softspot]

Jan 29, 2013 21:06:00 GMT -5 gtkim said:

Easy.  Just replace the countertop on the island and extend it out on the side that is open.  Put some barstools there, etc.  Some friends of mine did the same thing and it is awesome.

I think this is one of the quickest & easiest options. It looks like the island ends where the double oven starts. Is that correct? If you have extra room then I would replace it with a longer counter top & put two legs on the end if you need more support.

[SusanBAnthony]

Jan 29, 2013 22:08:33 GMT -5 softspot said:

Jan 29, 2013 21:06:00 GMT -5 gtkim said:

Easy.  Just replace the countertop on the island and extend it out on the side that is open.  Put some barstools there, etc.  Some friends of mine did the same thing and it is awesome.

I think this is one of the quickest & easiest options. It looks like the island ends where the double oven starts. Is that correct? If you have extra room then I would replace it with a longer counter top & put two legs on the end if you need more support.

Ooh, good idea! Now I will look t it in a whole new light if we see the house in person.  You guys are smart.  

And yes, I could trust thh kids not to burn themselves on the stove, but they wouldn't be able to sit and do homework, etc, with the stove right in the middle of it.  Bt I don't care about matching countertops (much   ) so that is a very doable fix!

[munkii]

You'll know for sure when you see the house IRL, but there may be a reason the bar doesn't extend in front of the ovens. The clearance when the doors are open may not be great enough to allow for the extension and a person who is using the oven(s). Keep that in mind.

[house]

Jan 29, 2013 21:06:00 GMT -5 gtkim said:

Easy.  Just replace the countertop on the island and extend it out on the side that is open.  Put some barstools there, etc.  Some friends of mine did the same thing and it is awesome.

What happened to the stovetop? They kept it at the same place? I have the exact situation with my cooktop in the island.  But I have just enough space on the other side of the counter and it's a pathway to the garage. I wouldn't be able to extend it out without blocking the pathway.

[gtkim]

Jan 29, 2013 23:50:09 GMT -5 house said:

Jan 29, 2013 21:06:00 GMT -5 gtkim said:

Easy.  Just replace the countertop on the island and extend it out on the side that is open.  Put some barstools there, etc.  Some friends of mine did the same thing and it is awesome.

What happened to the stovetop? They kept it at the same place? I have the exact situation with my cooktop in the island.  But I have just enough space on the other side of the counter and it's a pathway to the garage. I wouldn't be able to extend it out without blocking the pathway.

Yes it is in the same place.  They widened the counter and extended it and put legs on it as another pp suggested.  Huge difference.

[wawa]

I'm confused about what is wrong with the island for the purposes of kids sitting there doing whatever. My island is almost exactly the same setup (though my downdraft is retractable) and there is enough room for MH to sit at the stools and putter with stuff, making lists, fiddling with house plans, etc and chat with me while I cook.

Our friends kids sit there when we have company too and again...no issues.

The space to either side of the stove is wide enough on my island for a cutting board and crap so I can prep dinner and then have everything handy for cooking. The dimensions on this one look similar. My only real complaint is that it's tile, so it's less than useful for baking since I can't roll anything out on it and flour is a bitch to clean out of super wide grout joints.

I do like the idea of extending this one down to the ovens though.

[SusanBAnthony]

I am apparently a space hog when I cook. I have no other explanation. I have one big long counter, and I always have the whole thing covered when I cook dinner or when I bake.

[auntie]

I see two reasonable tweaks.

The first is to replace the wall oven and cabinets with a slide in stove and microwave vent hood. The wiring is already in place for this. Then put a new counter top where the cooktop is. Maybe a marble or butcherblock work surface.

Or

You could add additional cabinets and expand the island further toward the wall oven unit which would give you more countertop.