Kitchen design delima
We just bought this beautiful house overlooking puget sound, the kitchen layout has been a big challenge, its a galley kitchen and it has 3 windows and a sliding door so its been hard to work with that, we dont want to elimited the windows or the sliding door cause of the gorgeous view. We want to open it up with a big island but challenge has been creating upper cabinets.
Can anyone help.
Thanks
Can anyone help.
Thanks
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Besides, your range top and wall ovens is on the other side and it could involve some electrical work and whatnot, I think an open stove on an island is a maintenace hassle--inevitably stuff gathers around the cooktop while cooking and you lose that sleek look you are aiming for, even it it is just temporary, and then there is clear view of the sink until the dishes are washed and so forth. Plus a wall helps contain steam and cooking vapors and smells from getting into the living area and building up over time.
I see you don't have a ventilation hood for the stove. Getting one would be a nice improvement.
Reconfiguring galley kitchens can be difficult, and a galley can be a very efficent layout. Measurements, more photos will help the kitchen experts here figure something out for you.
I will post the picture that my contractor drew and he too is scratching his head.
Take the upper cabinets out for sure - more natural elements.... Wood, stone etc - warm tones. Tying the kitchen in with the other space utilizing the fireplace and surround and the area above the wine cabinet.
.... Think Canlis or Four Seasons Lobby in Seattle have you been to either? I think they do a great job bringing in the elements and keeping things natural.
I love the wood, windows and fireplace in this room attached photo.
An island is also a great way to introduce a little definition into the space while also providing more storage. It's hard to tell your specific style, but we have a few pictures on our website that might be helpful: http://jacobswoodworks.com/project-gallery/ First, photo #4 in the Kitchens set, for an idea about the island. Then, #17 also in Kitchens for an idea about different options for overhead cabinets and incorporating lots of light.
But as obnoxious as that was - he does have a point. If you buy a 4000+ sf house with a view of Puget Sound, you can certainly afford to hire a professional kitchen designer - and you should.
Houzz is supposed to be fun and no one is FORCING anyone to even read the posts, much less blindly follow any advice they see here.
It would be worth it to get some free designs from a few designers with your input and go from there. In this economy most designers are providing free designs in hopes of getting your business. If they provide you with a design you love then you can go from there.
Your house is beautiful.
As for the rest of the home, my (unsolicited) advice is to cover the brick fireplace with something more modern, and paint the ceilings a light gray to give a bit of contast against those great white beams.
I certainly would never hire you after that tirade.
sorry, just my 2 cents and since this is a public forum, you are free to judge my words as you wish. Perhaps you and your associates will get a few extra laughs tomorrow.
I had a similar dilemma with a recent kitchen renovation.
In the old kitchen design, I had 67 cupboard doors an drawers, one large window, one large set of sliding patio doors and a very nice view.
To fully appreciate and enjoy the view, I chose to remove one wall (17 feet long) of upper cabinets, added two more large windows and centered the range between. I also added a 6' X 7' island complete with an additional bar sized sink, and two electrical outlets and of course, this provided quite a bit more additional storage.
The new kitchen has 72 drawers and doors and I was able to add two more sets of open shelves as well!
The lower cabinetry storage in the island makes up for any upper cabinetry sacrificed in the reno. And your view sounds too amazing to hide!
I sincerely wish you all the best in your renovation.
I believe that users understand that some people who participate are homeowners vs professionals and that the professionals come from varied backgrounds. Each individual has their own unique perspective on residential building and design. Homeowners have a valuable perspective to add - sometimes they are the most creative as they have had to find ways to get more done on a tight budget. Users understand that they are not paying for advice and that the ultimate decision on their project is up to them. Most folks just want some collaboration and some ideas - possbily just to think about options before they call in a local professional.
A question about lighting or knobs or facade of a home turns into a self promotion of "call me", when they don;t even know where the person is located.
Seems to be that both sides cross the line at times and that will happen in a public forum especailly where opinions are asked on a topic.
I try to respond to a question only if I have had some experience with the particular issue, rather than responding on every discussion.
The objective of the discussion is totally clouded by the fumes from one arrogant person.
Let's remember we are all here because we have a strong passion for design in common. Everyone is welcome to comment on and give advice on design dilemmas that are posted on the site. There is room enough for varied opinions and varied experience from homeowners and professionals alike. If you run across content you feel should be reviewed by the Houzz team, feel free to send a quick note to support(at)houzz.com and we are happy to take a look. In the meantime, let's respect each other and stay on topic.
Thanks!
Emily Hurley
Community Manager at Houzz
Thanks for the numerous responses and valuable opinions. I agree this is a site for people's opinion both professionals and amateurs, so I have that in mind when I posted the msg.
I am really confused on this one, definitely thinking about going the interior designer route and think it might be worth the money.
But having had two contractors walk through the house scratching their heads, I thought it might be worthwhile getting an opinion.
So the sink does face the window and over looks the puget sound, and its on the opposite wall to the stove. There is also a small nook adjoining the kitchen which also has numerous windows overlooking the view. What complicates things is the exterior is brick which is from 1950s and not easily replaceable. The floor is slab with no crawl space and the heating is in the floor (radiant), so we definitely have to work with the bones of the house and the plumbing, considering putting a vent to the attic.
I really appreaciate all you guys opinions. I will post some more pics tomorrow.
Thanks once again.
Amara
I am so glad you have decided to hire a designer.
It will save money.
There are a lot of talented designers in the area to choose from,
make the effort to find one.
It will cost between $150 to 400 dollars in your market for quality layout design.
it is worth every penny, and the right avenue to take with your unique design dilemma as posted.
They will need to come to site and measure, don't hire anyone who won't or asks you to it for them.
Look for strong layout experience vs a decor oriented designer, yes there's a difference.
Alternatively an architect can perform the same service at the same cost.
This may be the better choice for you,since you mentioned in your most recent post that you may have ventilation as well as other hard asset issues to be resolved with your newly purchased home.
Most of us have experienced our first remodel experience, some went smoothly, some were over-budget, some were not to be enjoyed because of a move, you name it. What counts? You.
I recommend a few super great reference books on remodeling, 2 hours per day tops studying and note taking, a: must have column, and can"t-live-without" column of ideas, and a walk. Eliminating possibilities helps you see what can happen to benefit the space.
Synthesize ideas, discuss them with loved ones. Interview professionals like you would any other, and be OK with your choices. There are perfect homes, and perfect pieces of property, but rarely both are perfect. Enjoy this time, your journey. :=) Side cabinets in a column (so to speak about 24"" square) that go floor to ceiling might work. Access from both sides, just an idea. Beware of the monolith look.
Incorporate trim just the way it is in your kitchen but wall color should flow with living room area, so not white. :=)
Renovation and remodeling even with diligent planning can easily run close to 100K if flooring, electrical, millwork and plumbing are involved. Knowing your options will help you make the most proper decisions.
I think the cabinets and countertops look like good quality and can be reused or refaced.
I'm not sure if this is possible being on a slab an all, and maybe those floors can't be matched and it would be a huge mess, but it is something to think about,
Yes the floors would need to be redone, I am open to repositioning the kitchen but concern about making it too open to the family room.
Pictures to follow hopefully this evening.
Amara
Great communication tool - you both may think you are communicating when you're not
Verification for you once you see it that it is what you want
Protecion for you so that there is a document to fall back on if something is lost in translation
Glad you're moved in and moving forward. Keep us posted.
There are a few pieces of software that will give you a digital 3D image so if you just want to see it, those could be options. One used to be made by Better Homes and Gardens.
However, I think it would be $$ well invested to have a plan drawn up by a designer who knows what they're doing. We redid our masterbath about 10 years ago after going thru what you did. I knew I wanted specifics and no one could devise a plan to do it. So I did the plan myself. Our contractor was great - but there were multiple hiccups along the road. Things that I know would have been more quickly solved if there was a more specific paper/digital plan available.
I've been in the process of doing the same for my kitchen. I've worked with (and paid) a number of KDs and just haven't gotten anything that works. So I'm laying it out myself and tweaking as I go. Once I have a plan that I believe will be functional for us, I'll pay to have it evaluated by a pro and properly drawn up.
I am sure you could locate a design/build remodeler in your area that works in 3D or a draftsman that works in 3D. You can do some searches here on houzz for your area, you can do google/bing search, or you can look at the website of your local home builders association and see if you can find one by searching their website.
Whomever you are purchasing cabinets from should have detailed cabinet plans available to you at no extra charge (different elevations and detailed sizing including toe kicks, fillers, etc) based on YOUR design if that is what you want. A qualified KD, however, could also have additional ideas as well. If your contractor is buying the cabinets, his supplier should have that service available to him for you (through the supplier).
All electrical, plumbing, etc details / plan should come from the contractor providing the work.
Hopefully it will all run smoothly, but these plans ensure the probability of that happening, and will protect eveyone in case of any mis-steps.
Good luck with everyhting! Very exciting!
What I was describing is a design/build process - which is where the contractor also is responsible for doing the design (and many work in 3D). Some do the design in-house (like we do) and some have affiliations with designers and they will work as a team. This is the advantage so there is no going back and forth between different professionals bringing up ideas that may or may not work given the structural constraints of a particular home. The contractor is your point person and becomes responsible for everything. They will assist you in getting the kitchen design pulled together with cabinet designers, etc. Most charge a fee for this service, but many credit the fee back against the construction contract if you move forward with the project.
You can also interview architects and home designers/draftsmen to get a feel for their services and cost. You need to select the process and person that you feel most comfortable with.