I am yet another long time lurker. Am looking for feedback on my kitchen layout for a new build this spring. Brief info: family of 5; 3 girls under 6. Looking forward to lots of fun time in kitchen with the kids. Going for an arts and craft/ bungalow vibe. Will most likely be ordering cabinets from Scherrs, and would like QS oak if I can swing it (frameless/full overlay). Counters will be soapstone. Have chosen my appliances.
I think I would like my cabinets to go to the ceiling (9 foot). Either stacked or 42 inch (cost may decide).

My concerns:
Does the layout seem functional?
Will the cabinet wall seem too heavy or lopsided as I dont want uppers on the window wall?

I know the small table off the island is different � but I think it will be useful for kids to do homework, ect, and didn't want a counter high bar. I also like to sit down at times to prep (usually when prepping fruit for canning, ect). We will eat dinner in the dining room.

Finally, I am considering an apron sink for my cleanup sink, but want a wall mount faucet. I think I would need to recess the sink to make the faucet reach well enough (it will have a 12 inch reach from the wall). Would this be too difficult or look odd � not many pics of recessed or flush mount apron sinks (I have seen a few).

Thanks again for replies!

--ps, am also posting whole house layout on building form if any interest in that.

Any one else?

Thanks again!

Cabinet wise - I have a couple of questions - The drawers to the right of the DW, do you have specific plans for them? 12" is very narrow (the inside measurement would be even narrower) to be of much use and it looks quite squished. A couple of options would be either 2-15" banks of drawers or a 30" bank or if you don't have a place for cookie sheets, cutting boards etc yet, make it a 12" pull-out cupboard designed for those things.

I also wonder about the usefulness of the open shelving on either side of the sink. The one on the range wall in the corner squishes up the cupboards on the left side of it. I would stretch out those cupboards to go right into the corner and scrap the open shelving there. I just think it would be more pleasing to the eye and be more useful. Perhaps you are trying to be symmetrical to the left side of the fridge but you don't have to do that. The right side and the left side of the fridge can be treated separately.

I also like the idea of the full-height pantry to the left of the fridge but can also appreciate the need for a drop-zone. At the bottom of the kitchen by the mudroom door - is that a desk and could it double as a drop-zone for keys, mail etc? or is it dedicated office space? If you double up the function of that space then the pantry would be very doable and useful.

Only other suggestion...maybe some glass uppers (even frosted) on either side of the range, to lighten that side a bit.

Blfenten: I was thinking of making the table out of ikea's butcherblock � so if I keep that size, it will be 26x50inches. I think I agree with changing the drawers to 30 inches to the right of the dishwasher. I do already plan for a pull out for cookie trays to the right of the range, but think that a 30inch bank is better use of space than 18/12. I was thinking of the 12 inch for towels/ washcloths, but a single drawer in the 30 bank would also work fine. The open shelving in the corner was going to be for cookbooks. I thought this would be more useful than trying to get into the cabinet space. The desk was going to be a the place for mail, ect. It may be better not to tempt people to drop things on the counter to the left of the fridge � or things may just stay there. I am thinking pantry shelves there are a better use.

Ihelpu � thanks for the link. The hood should be lower � and I think we will build a hood cover and mount a hood inside.

Lavender_lass � I thought about glass on the uppers � but am afraid that in real life I have more things to store than pretty plates to display. :) But, frosted could be an option; I will think about it.

ketc

I dunno, I'm not groovin' on the open shelves or the desk area. I don't know what that black box is, but I think it might be difficult to reach around it. Reaching around the sides would be hard enough.

The desk looks like one of the small ikea ones meant to hold a laptop or the one with only two drawers and about 15" deep. I wonder what you'd use for storage/where your kids will do homework or use a computer? If you have cookbooks, where would they be kept?

The table might be better off wider than shown. The people sitting on the inside, next to the counter, will need more space because their elbows will be right up against the back wall of the cabinets. The width helps make up for scrunching a bit towards the open end.

Bmorepanic: I am actually using soapstone for my island counter � the butcherblock consideration is for the tabletop. I was planning on 30 inch deep countertop on the island. The open shelves at the end of the cabinet run were going to be a cookbook bookshelf. The desk in the kitchen will be custom made � and the computer for odds/ ends things � looking up recipes. It will not be the main computer for the kids. The black box is a microwave mounted under the cabinet � havent decided if that will stay there � thou I dont know if there is a better place. I have thought about the table top and tried to mock up the size on our table. Since we will probably make the table, I might wait until the island is in and then how things look/ fit.

ketc

Just to repeat what pal said in a different way, a counter depth ref is often 30" deep by the time the doors and handles are added. A normal depth ref is 36" deep. Your aisle can become only 2'9" right in front of the ref.

Also, in case you might not know, a sxs or a french door ref pretty much needs landing space that is behind you as you stand in front of it (pivot and set down). Landing space to either side isn't so good because most people can't reach the counter without walking around the open door.

I think you thinkin' looks with those shelves and I'm thinkin' they won't actually work. Try this out at home with cardboard boxes holding books - it's not so easy to find the one you want when the spines face the other direction. For me, I'd be forced to reach blind and wronghanded for the ones stored on the right side. I wouldn't be able to reach most of the ones in the other corner at all without a step stool because the micro would get in the way.

Pretty much, you can't put a hood that high over a range. Most of them max out at 30-36" above the surface of the burners (or whatever).

So - these are two different little sketches on one drawing - conceptual, not measured. The first is a blue sky thought that would take resiting the mudroom and what I hope is an extra powder room. Cause I would be looking to do something more like the sketch in terms of kitchen space and placement.

The second is an alternate of just the window area - much like rhome's cleanup area - to eliminate some of the access issues and possibly better positioning of the micro.

I am thinking my cookbook shelf isnt the greatest use of that space - bummer. It seemed like a good use of that corner space.

The range hood will be a normal height - that is just not correct on the drawing.

I will have to think more about your sketches, bmorepanic. I am not sure if I can give up my mudroom. It is almost as important as my kitchen :)

Thanks,
ketc

Everyone thinks what they draw up is good, and mostly it is. But then you hear a bunch of other opinions mixed with occasional facts you wished you knew before doing the initial design and it can be disheartening in oh-so-many ways.

It might help to remember that none of it is meant that way -> we all want you to have the best kitchen possible. We all have different backgrounds, concerns and opinions - ok well, plus some egos running a little fast and loose here and there.

I look at it as providing layout ideas and/or fact critiques -sometimes mixed with a bit of humor. But its up to you to choose if you want any of it.

Taking all of the responses with alcohol might be best.

More thinking to do.

But, anyone with thoughts on a recessed instead of bumped out apron sink - too much of a hassle or sure, why not?

ketc

Roccocogurl has a lot of pictures of farm sinks installed in various ways over at atticmag.com. She might know - she reads here sometimes. This may also be a job for a Houzz search.

I thought about an sink with the integral backsplash - but would really prefer an undermounted sink.

Thanks for the thoughts.

ketc