KD help: new construction

9 years ago

We are a family of 7, four adults, two teens, one child. I cook very little to no prepared foods and we are almost all here for breakfast, lunch and dinner.

I'll have two elderly parents who need to be kept safe and (sorry, but...) out of my work space.

Teens will be in this kitchen ALOT. I want them there and want the space to provide for whatever they want to do in there.

I have read all the very long instructions to follow when posting and hope you will find all the answers you'll need to help.

Non-negotiable wants are 1)windows, while the size/placement is flexible, the fact that I want two walls of them is not.
2) island with as many seats as possible. I'd like to keep the work space clear though, remember.

Budget IS an issue, lots of countertop there and I still have many other expenses, obviously.

This is a U shaped kitchen flanked on the left side interior wall by a mudroom with a 13 foot long pantry (storage won't be a big issue for me) and the right side of the U is an exterior wall, flanked by a large deck with a great view.

The whole house is basically a rectangle with two square "wings". The "rectangle's" floor plan is open concept and the kitchen opens out to a dining room then to our living room. All areas are visible to each other.

The kitchen is at one end, the dining room next, then the living room. It's all 16 x 40. I am intentionally not posting the whole floor plan due to architect's privacy request as I've gleaned from an earlier posting to GW.

We are planing on 32'' each frigidaire twin units and a 36'' stovetop with a separate oven so that I can actually stand at the opening of the oven and bend over. If it is a full unit, the island as shown will prevent that. I'd love twin ovens but cannot for the life of me figure out how to include them and not have them be an eyesore by putting them at the end of the right side of the U.

That right side of the U by the way is flexible in length. However far it goes out will be into the dining space. I've also written flexible on the floor since the island can be as deep as needed (or as shallow leaving me plenty of space in the dining room). The dining room of which, I hope to pack that out with people :)

Hopefully I've included enough information about our needs. I'm looking forward to hearing thoughts on how to help improve our design,

Comments (2)

Stephanie Halfacre
Original Author
9 years ago
The proposed changes are in blue ink. The cabinet style will change and I don't think I'll have it in the budget for the corner lazy susans. Just plain shelves but not a blind cabinet. I'm also considering doing away with the left corner wall cabinets.

I think they need to stay for glasses, though. Ignore the dimensions of fridge/freezer units in black. Those were different units than we're using.

Also, I can't clearly tell exactly from plans but I think the long side of the U is 16 feet 6 inches if it matters.
Betsy Kocsis
9 years ago
I have just a few comments. You'll probably get better advice if you post a floor plan as well, with all the relevant measurements.

Your space is quite similar to ours in dimensions and in that Kitchen-Dining-Living areas are contiguous (if I'm reading your post correctly), sharing views, conversation/activity areas and, unfortunately, noise. Really like the windows along two sides; wish we had done that.

I don't see a prep sink. Are you considering one for the island? I think you will all really appreciate having one with all the people you want in the kitchen. I guess your setup could be okay since a person doing clean-up (dishes on fridge wall or near dishwasher?) should be able to work while someone is working btwn stove & sink without stepping on each other, but with all those people you're envisioning in the kitchen for 3 meals/day plus snacking teens (24 hrs/day, right?), I think you'd really appreciate a prep sink in the island. Is that an option?

Where do you see your parents sitting (I'm assuming) while you are all in the kitchen? If it's at the island I wonder if they'll like counter-height seats. I've read that those seats are only comfortable for so long, even for adults, and I know my parents weren't comfortable for long at our island. It'd be nice to have some comfy chairs and perhaps a table for them to be near but not in the way of all the activity. Perhaps there is space in your dining area for something like that?

Do you have a pantry somewhere? If you use a microwave, where do you plan to have that? In the island?

The usual advice is that you post a floor plan of the kitchen with surrounding areas.

Your kitchen design reminds me of one I saw on houzz (linked). Maybe it will give you some more food for thought.

Here is a link that might be useful: [houzz kitchen with detailed floor plan[(https://www.houzz.com/magazine/kitchen-of-the-week-cooking-with-creekside-views-in-maryland-stsetivw-vs~28125281)

This post was edited by Imp.capensis on Thu, Aug 7, 14 at 9:53
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