Help with tricky kitchen layout
We are moving into a 1904 Victorian in need of a kitchen update. The current layout doesn't make great use of the space. However, because of a limited budget, we can't move around the sink (currently in the island) or the gas stove.
As you can see there are a lot of doorways to work around. Also, while I'd love a U shaped kitchen around the island, there is little space between our kitchen window and the island, and that window is only 23.25" from the floor, meaning that any cabinetry that went on the window wall would have to be exceedingly narrow and would also cover up the window to counter height (we can't change window as we're in a historic district with strict rules about exterior of house).
We're planning on using IKEA cabinetry in ADEL with butcher block countertops, and granite or quartz on the island. That's a start, but I'm having trouble working on layout with the above stated design limitations. I know that the community will have some great ideas about layout possibilities....
As you can see there are a lot of doorways to work around. Also, while I'd love a U shaped kitchen around the island, there is little space between our kitchen window and the island, and that window is only 23.25" from the floor, meaning that any cabinetry that went on the window wall would have to be exceedingly narrow and would also cover up the window to counter height (we can't change window as we're in a historic district with strict rules about exterior of house).
We're planning on using IKEA cabinetry in ADEL with butcher block countertops, and granite or quartz on the island. That's a start, but I'm having trouble working on layout with the above stated design limitations. I know that the community will have some great ideas about layout possibilities....
| Share: |
|
More Discussions
Is it possible to move the diner-door to the corner where the hallway-door is? It would make it possible to put two small L-shapes in the corners (is it?)(with full height cabinets on the 'column-wall'?), but than the island has to go..
Or see if the entire wall to the diner can go, so you have an open plan. In this case you will only need one door to the hallway. And you can add cabinets to your island on the diner-side for storage.
Here's a suggestion. Start with the plan you would want if budget wasn't a problem. I would open the kitchen space by removing the walls between the kitchen and the dining room and the hall. I would also remove the wall between the dining room and the hall, incorporating that hall space into the combination kitchen / dining room space. I suspect that hall wall is load bearing, but that can be easily be taken care of with beams and columns incorporated into the chase element and the remaining walls.................once you have the plan that you would prefer to have, work in incremental phases to that end as the budget allows.
Yes it may take some time, but with small steps you can get the design and space you want..........good luck.
In the meantime, I guess we'll have to think about just using the layout as is and perhaps adding upper cabinets with crown molding to create more storage space and to make the space more attractive. Perhaps the empty narrow space beside the dining room door and the hallway door can become a desk top made out of butcher block or a bench space--we'll have to see. And rinqreation--I have played around with the IKEA kitchen planner and might have a designer play out some possibilities using it as well. You're right that it's a great tool for imagining possibilities! Fortunately there's a pantry as well, so that takes care of a lot of the food storage space.
If anyone else thinks up a possibilty for what should happen with our narrow empty space, or what combos of cabinets we should go for (e.g. open shelving somewhere? glass cabinets up top and solid beneath?), or has any inspiring photos, please do share!
Nowadays our kitchens are built in a different way--all in one room.
Anyways....wouldn't it be fun to combine some of the old ideas with the new....
Here's a couple photos of Victorian kitchens--maybe they might spark some ideas?? (Type in "old victorian kitchens" in Google Images for lots more photos!)
We can't change the window since we're in a historic overlay, but what I'm thinking more an more is to have a much more functional "U" kitchen, we'll finish the backs of the cabinets and put them in front of the windows, as in the attached images from houzz). At first I didn't think this would look right, but the attached images convinced me. I'm still debating fridge placement--we don't want to move the stove since the gas would be much more difficult to move, but that means potentially placing the fridge next to the stove. However, I've read that if there's some clearance space between the two that's not a problem (see attached IKEA kitchen planner screenshot--we'll plan out upper cabinets later). Outside of additions/knocking out walls, we certainly appreciate any layout advice!
PS- neota02: the house plans were drawn up in Sketchup (free from Google).
[houzz=Mt. Baker]
[houzz=Main Cabin]
I'm not a kitchen designer, but have you thought about letting the kitchen go through the corner and using lower cabinets under the window (I'm Dutch, so it's sometimes a bit hard to describe what I mean ;-)). Or maybe a simple made-to-measure open cupboard if Ikea doesn't have the right size cabinets. You could use a different colour for that section and perhaps make it into either a bench or a desk/work surface type of space.
Also, I found this photo and love the use of glass door cabinets to fill up the space to the ceiling.
I'm sure the end result (whatever kitchen you will choose) will be wonderful. Love the character of the house.
Good luck.
If you are moving the sink and dishwasher to the window, I would suggest having a movable island of drawers for pots and pans ( I used to have one, it was great). You can push it against a corner between the two doors when not cooking and use it as a sitting bar or something.
I am jealous of your pantry space, I was trying to picture whether or not a fridge or freezer could fit in there.
Like Gisela, I think we've come to the conclusion that having countertop across the window wall is the only way we'll have an uninterrupted expanse of countertop in the kitchen. Otherwise, the kitchen looks choppy and ill-designed. Gisela--I'd definitely love to see a sketch of what exactly your window sill "pocket" looked like. The window seat solution is a great idea, but our window takes up almost all of the width of the wall, so it would get rid of any usable counterspace we would've gained to go that route.
We also found out that the brick chimney (which was originally for a coal stove, thus the vent space chunked out of the brick) doesn't extend into the attic and doesn't connect to other chimneys, so it should be easy enough to demo to free up that space for appliances or countertop to make a U-shaped kitchen. We would salvage the brick for our patio or another house project.
Thanks to all for the pictures of nice kitchen layouts, and the nudge towards custom cabinetry--we'll definitely look into it and post pictures once our renovation is through!