Can we talk about that seating area at the front of the kitchen? I don’t get that at all. Just put a large table there and people can hang out there.
I don't mind it. It's a more relaxed space to hang out down there and I can see myself as a kid hanging out in one of those chairs talking to my mom while she cooked dinner or sitting there to read a book. Or as an adult hanging out there with DH to drink coffee while the kids are upstairs watching tv or something in their upstairs great room. It's like a second mini living space, much more comfortable than sitting at a dining table.
Can we talk about that seating area at the front of the kitchen? I don’t get that at all. Just put a large table there and people can hang out there.
I don't think it's weird- it's right by their front door so a good landing spot, and they've got a four-seat table in the space already. I don't think they really need a bigger table, I don't think they have a lot of big gatherings even in non-pandemic times.
We've got what's supposed to be a breakfast nook in our kitchen, but it's right next to a breakfast bar and the dining room (that's partially open to the kitchen anyway), so yet another table/chair situation would be too much. We have a loveseat and low shelving unit with a small TV on it in there instead, and I really love having a little sitting area in the kitchen. Kids hang out there while I'm cooking, it's a favorite weekend morning spot to drink coffee and chat, etc.
It's fine, but I'd much rather have an island or peninsula and then a casual dining table than no island and a hang out space. There doesn't appear to be much prep space in the kitchen as it is now, and as someone with a small and awkward kitchen (and a house about the same size as their's) it's certainly not my dream. An island gives you eating space AND prep space, and I love to cook. Maybe they'll change their minds as the kids get older.
I think I would have done a peninsula and small table. The kitchen has nearly 0 counter space. I think the seating looks nice but doesn’t seem all that useful.
I think I would have done a peninsula and small table. The kitchen has nearly 0 counter space. I think the seating looks nice but doesn’t seem all that useful.
Keep in mind that they’ve been there a month and haven’t even really begun any renovations yet. Most of what they have done up to this point has been focused on the safety and functionality of the home (though some things like the vaulted ceilings were cosmetic, there were also water damage issues to contend with).
Anyway, just making a point that their entry will very likely change over time. It’s not set in stone.
I think I would have done a peninsula and small table. The kitchen has nearly 0 counter space. I think the seating looks nice but doesn’t seem all that useful.
Keep in mind that they’ve been there a month and haven’t even really begun any renovations yet. Most of what they have done up to this point has been focused on the safety and functionality of the home (though some things like the vaulted ceilings were cosmetic, there were also water damage issues to contend with).
Anyway, just making a point that their entry will very likely change over time. It’s not set in stone.
True. They also always LOVE everything they have/do until they change it 😂 I feel like there’s a pattern of them defending all their decisions until they post that they made changes. I do know they did remove a peninsula, so I don’t think they will put in a new one. But maybe!
Keep in mind that they’ve been there a month and haven’t even really begun any renovations yet. Most of what they have done up to this point has been focused on the safety and functionality of the home (though some things like the vaulted ceilings were cosmetic, there were also water damage issues to contend with).
Anyway, just making a point that their entry will very likely change over time. It’s not set in stone.
True. They also always LOVE everything they have/do until they change it 😂 I feel like there’s a pattern of them defending all their decisions until they post that they made changes. I do know they did remove a peninsula, so I don’t think they will put in a new one. But maybe!
For sure! I think they removed that peninsula because the floor was a shit show underneath. Or maybe they removed it and then discovered the floor was a shit show. I can’t remember. Anyway, I definitely think there’s a good possibility they’ll change things, but who knows.
I think I would have done a peninsula and small table. The kitchen has nearly 0 counter space. I think the seating looks nice but doesn’t seem all that useful.
I thought that too, and then I remembered that they don't cook a lot of fancy meals. So many times, she eats a hunk of cheese and salami. I bet this current set up is not their favorite, but they are going to redo the kitchen at some point.
I would have an island or peninsula with 2 bar stools. And then where they have the seating area, I would put the table and chairs. I agree with the idea of sitting at a table and facing each other instead of eating meals at the island. But then again, I would not have sold their house in Richmond. I loved it. But I do think that they will fix this place up and sell in a few years when the kids are older, bigger, and want some more space to themselves.
The thing they kept repeating was they only ate at the island in Richmond and they were in a line. But I never understood that because the dining room was RIGHT THERE. I guess it was just too far to walk to that table and make it a casual space? We only have a dining room and we just put a casual dining set in there and walk from the kitchen through the doorway for meals. And now they're taking all of their food upstairs and outside, which is even further than it was in Richmond.
That said, I do like the seating area by the kitchen. I used to sit on a bar stool at home and talk to my mom while she cooked or I would be chopping/prepping at the bar while she did something else. You don't have much prep space, but they may just use the kitchen table for that.
Personally I'm a "kitchen" person. I can have small bedrooms and bathrooms, but I need a good sized kitchen and living space for how we live. So the split living and small kitchen would be harder for me.
Post by lightbulbsun on Jun 17, 2020 9:02:42 GMT -5
I think the amount of counter space seems pretty normal. That's similar to what I've had in both of my houses, so maybe it's just normal to me?
I actually like the way they're setting it up so far. It seems like its functional for them, so that's what matters. And they're going to be changing things in the future, so it will be interesting to see what happens to the layout when they redo the kitchen.
What I do find really boring is the all white color scheme, but I don't have to live there and that's obviously their aesthetic now.
I watched part of the video and... it’s sooo defensive. lol. She’s clearly trying to address all of the comments people are making and it’s just a litany of “I know you hate this but really it’s actually great!”
“look! You wouldn’t think you can fit much in these drawers! But you can!! Even cereal! If you take it out of the box and use clips!!!”
I love what they did to the outside - it's such a huge improvement.
The biggest issue I have is where they put their bedroom - it would have made so much more sense to put it upstairs.
Yes, the living room on the first floor makes more sense. How much time will they spend in that big room vs. all the family space it afforded especially if they opened it up to the kitchen? I'm fine with small kid rooms if there is adequate space elsewhere for them and there just doesn't seem to be that or they haven't shown it.
I would move the master over to the kids' rooms and open them up if able to make a master. Their is an exterior door that will open to the pool there and they could have their patio area off their room there still. I would not want an exterior door off a kid room. Then put the kid rooms upstairs, especially since the exterior staircare is gone. They have shown so little, but maybe a bathroom could be added upstairs.
If they had opened up the kitchen to living area they could have mudroom type cubbies, the master bath could instead be a half bath etc. With that space open you can hang and talk to the person cooking, but in a much more confortable way. 1400 sq ft is adequate for 4 people, but their layout stinks.
Post by steamboat185 on Jun 17, 2020 9:48:17 GMT -5
I feel like the sitting area is too fussy for the rest of the room. The rug, sheepskin throws, and throw pillows just feel like too much compared to the white table and simple chairs. Plus the idea of sitting on a sheepskin after getting hot outside seems unpleasant. I was expecting more of a lounge area. The room doesn’t feel cluttered, but it also doesn’t feel cohesive. I’m also not sure how long she’s going to want to keep her cereal sideways with clips seems like a great way to get bugs.
I do think it’s nice that she has been using her Instagram to promote black owned businesses. She had linked to over 250.
I feel like the sitting area is too fussy for the rest of the room. The rug, sheepskin throws, and throw pillows just feel like too much compared to the white table and simple chairs. Plus the idea of sitting on a sheepskin after getting hot outside seems unpleasant. I was expecting more of a lounge area. The room doesn’t feel cluttered, but it also doesn’t feel cohesive. I’m also not sure how long she’s going to want to keep her cereal sideways with clips seems like a great way to get bugs.
I do think it’s nice that she has been using her Instagram to promote black owned businesses. She had linked to over 250.
I am sure all the furniture and decor are temporary, I would be shocked if that's the final plan for those pieces.
I watched part of the video and... it’s sooo defensive. lol. She’s clearly trying to address all of the comments people are making and it’s just a litany of “I know you hate this but really it’s actually great!”
“look! You wouldn’t think you can fit much in these drawers! But you can!! Even cereal! If you take it out of the box and use clips!!!”
I bet they get A LOT of unsolicited feedback and questions from people about the choices they make. I think that I'd probably be proactive in defending my choices too if I were in their shoes.
Eh, I like it and think it makes sense, but we have a small set of stairs between our kitchen and living area (by choice, we could have made our front room/playroom on the same level as the kitchen into the living room), and I actually like it a lot. I think the way they set it up makes sense. And I do not like the idea of kids on the main floor with adults on the second story. Kids upstairs is fine, but not reversed. So I think their master bedroom placement makes sense. Plus they’d lose family access to the upper deck if they put their master up there.
Anyway, I’m not really judgy about this stuff. I kind of just like seeing their process. I don’t live there, so if it works for them, cool.
Also, they explained that the living area upstairs was much bigger than the one downstairs, plus it has that huge outdoor deck. I think the downstairs bedroom makes sense, especially at this point since they only have the one bathroom.
It does make me wonder how the heck they keep their kids entertained. They don’t seem like the “stick them in front of the tv” all day types of parents, but after working from home with kids for a while, it seems like the secret is out that that’s the only way to be productive with kids. They have no childcare.
Do their kids need entertaining? They don’t work office jobs. They’re decorating their home and unpacking, which I’m sure the kids are involved in. And they’re old enough to go explore on their own or find an activity. My kids watch plenty of tv during the week but there are also a couple days each week where I put my foot down and refuse to turn on the tv. At 3 and 5, they can find things to do to entertain themselves. I imagine their kids don’t require much.
Do their kids need entertaining? They don’t work office jobs. They’re decorating their home and unpacking, which I’m sure the kids are involved in. And they’re old enough to go explore on their own or find an activity. My kids watch plenty of tv during the week but there are also a couple days each week where I put my foot down and refuse to turn on the tv. At 3 and 5, they can find things to do to entertain themselves. I imagine their kids don’t require much.
I bet they’re used to it.
Plus they do seem to go on a lot of walks around the neighborhood. I bet they’re spending time at the beach and stuff too.
While they’ve done a lot since moving in, realistically, they don’t “work” in the traditional sense, so I don’t think their progress is surprising. I’m guessing they have time to hang out with the kids too.
I'm guessing they stagger when they work to adjust for kid schedules. Normally they're in school, giving them a chunk of time and they said on a podcast that the Grandparents took them on Wednesdays. None of that is happening, so I guess they will figure it out. I think their kids are 8 and 4, so a bit more independent in terms of playing.
Post by maudefindlay on Jun 17, 2020 12:04:28 GMT -5
A lot of the work was done before they arrived by contractors. They plan to add closets, but have like 1 or 2 now only, hence the shoes stored in the water heater closet. I don't think they have storage figured out much at all, but will be interested to see what they create.
Eh, I like it and think it makes sense, but we have a small set of stairs between our kitchen and living area (by choice, we could have made our front room/playroom on the same level as the kitchen into the living room), and I actually like it a lot. I think the way they set it up makes sense. And I do not like the idea of kids on the main floor with adults on the second story. Kids upstairs is fine, but not reversed. So I think their master bedroom placement makes sense. Plus they’d lose family access to the upper deck if they put their master up there.
Anyway, I’m not really judgy about this stuff. I kind of just like seeing their process. I don’t live there, so if it works for them, cool.
I wholeheartedly agree with the bolded. I would feel extremely uncomfortable if my bedroom was upstairs and our kids' bedrooms were downstairs. In fact, my H and I passed on a house (even BEFORE we had a kid) because we didn't like the setup.
I like the idea of them changing things up - just because people think the living room "should" be on the first floor doesn't mean that's always the way it needs to be. Plus, they are the ones living there and they haven't made any major changes (aside from the vaulted ceilings) so they can get a feel of how they will use the space first.
They just had an Instagram story that says that the only way onto the big deck that they always use is through the upstairs doorway. So that being a bedroom makes even less sense than before. I agree with their choices on that (lol, as if I have a say in what they do).
They just had an Instagram story that says that the only way onto the big deck that they always use is through the upstairs doorway. So that being a bedroom makes even less sense than before. I agree with their choices on that (lol, as if I have a say in what they do).
They removed a set of outside stairs that led to the deck prior to moving in. I think it looks better without the stairs, but there was a way.
They just had an Instagram story that says that the only way onto the big deck that they always use is through the upstairs doorway. So that being a bedroom makes even less sense than before. I agree with their choices on that (lol, as if I have a say in what they do).
They removed a set of outside stairs that led to the deck prior to moving in. I think it looks better without the stairs, but there was a way.
Right, but for the way they have the house now, this is the only way to get onto the big deck, so it makes sense to make that room a family room instead of a bedroom.