Could we possibly get another picture of the other side of this kitchen? Need to see a bit more..

OK - but it's an embarrasing mess :-( These pictures are taken from the door you see, looking back to the exit outside which awaits a new internal door. There is a 'boiler room' and 'larder' which could be joined up to make a long thin utility room for the washing machine.

Could you tear down the wall with your cabinets and pass through window are (if not load bearing)? This would open up your kitchen to the other room (looks like a living room/lounge). Then, put in an island (can be positioned closer to the L shaped counters for work efficiency/comfort) with a counter for bar stools.

I can remove some wall around the hatch but can't go all the way as there is a chimney the other side of the wall where the radiator is. I'll play around with the idea and report back. Many thanks from Dorset UK.

Hmmm...yeah, it might be too tight then to fit an island in there since you can't take the whole wall down.

You have a boiler next to your back door? Can you eliminate the two small rooms and extend your kitchen down into that space? Then open up your pass thru wall into your lounge and put a small rolling work table or portable island.

Good luck from Los Angeles! :-)

My suggestion would be to spend a bit of money up front and hire a kitchen designer to help you..it is very difficult to see the big picture..I think a pro needs to actually come and visit your space to give you the proper advise..

I've thought about that. Problem is a boiler sticking out in front of a window doesn't look good AND here in UK the room gets cold with only one door between me and the weather. At best I'll connect the boiler room to the larder = knock through the rough yellow stone wall and block up the pantry access door from the kitchen side. Fit new interior door infront of outside door- where floor changes from red to blue. I'll be back later but have to eat now. Thanks :-)

Shelly - thank you. I hired an Interior Designer but she wanted me to leave it all as it is and buy new kitchen unit doors and worktop through her, which (a) were rather expensive and (b) not what I wanted. I've also used the services of kitchen sales people who design on CAD but they seem shy of radical thinking 'outside the box' and simply follow my ideas. Perhaps 'the customer is always right' in their eyes!! I'm lovin the input from you guys and will come back when I've considered the island/knock thru combo idea. xx

That is truly unfortunate that the Interior Designer only wanted to replace the cabinet fronts..really I think that your kitchen area could be designed to function and be beautiful at the same time..I wish I lived closer I would certainly help you.
In a pinch i would suggest taking out the wall as much as possible where you have the knock out to the dining area to open this space up..You could possibly provide seating like that of an island on the dining side..
I would possibly close off the outside exit and create more of a porch enclosure to help with the cold entering into the house.What room is on the wall with the yellow brick? Could that area be incorporated into a porch area?
have to think a bit further on this..

HI -- I think it is time for a new kitchen and a better plan . Go to IKEA with your room measurements and see what they can do for you . You could also try another designer or two. The one you got in before does not sound like it was a true designer -- just a sales person.

Hi Guys - thank you all.
I just got CAD email from new designers (see below). I guess this is going to be the best compromise.
Shelley - The yellow brick wall room is a pantry accessed by the narrow (24") beige door that you see. The plan is to remove the beige door and brick it up, then make a 26" wide access through the yellow brick wall. When the new internal door is fitted (where red floor changes to blue) this will section off a kind of porch/utility room between the kitchen and back door (glass door thru which you can see a handrail). It will house the washing machine on the pantry side and tumble dryer opposite, below the boiler.
New Plan - nice but no fridge above worktop height or coffee bar for chats. I'll have to talk to friends thru the archway I guess, but no problem. I don't need that much storage space so might replace a cupboard with a freezer.
Lefty - good idea but Ikea are 53 miles away (1hr 40min) and I doubt they'd knock walls down etc.

What do you think, guys? Half glazed door to section off the porch? Anyone got a suggestion for lighting? Shall I get low wattage recessed ceiling spots? Should I put two 14" doors thru to the lounge or just leave it an open archway?

:-)

Wow thank goodness someone came to your rescue Lyn, it looks great to me..
I would put in recessed lighting with the moveable heads to point in the direction for needed lighting..I am thinking to create a more open space leave the entrance to the lounge as an open archway..
Good Luck to you Lyn..

Looks good. What are they doing with the space between your current wall and the door? There is a setback to the existing door. Or does that wall go all the way back to the door and thus you have an extra window as shown on the CAD mock-up?

Fire separation. Will you need a fire-door for this opening?

I think the kitchen layouts seem to be working well and you got there in the end! I can only guess the house layout but if you happen to have a loft level above the first floor then you will probably need a fire door to separate the kitchen from the staircase (assuming the kitchen door/arch opens up to the entrance hallway) so safe escape is secured from the top floor. This is a Building Regulations requirement but, most importantly, necessary in case something ever goes wrong.

Using designers from a kitchen company was a smart move as they are experts about what fits where and how the layout will be efficient. However it is unlikely they will come up with ideas (as you mentioned) that will require much changes to whatever is there; it is not their expertise to know how the spaces can connect or the confidence to suggest even micro-structural works. Which is fair enough really as it is not their job.

Shelley - thank you, I will.
Mmilos - leave the space between internal and external door and make it into a utility (see pics and my drawing below) There's no extra window on the mock up but my window is huge and the mock up shows it in a different style.
GOA - thanks for your input. I live in a bungalow with no staircase but space is tight. The top picture shows a door to the side of the cooker which leads into the hall. I propose blocking this off and converting it into a cupboard from the hall side. The cooker in the CAD is more or less in the same place as it is now. Everyone seems to have agreed that I should open up the hatch (or shoot) and make it into an archway which connects to the lounge. I like this idea as walking lounge, hall, kitchen, hall, lounge every time I want a beer is tiresome!!!
Lyn x

Hi Lyn,

you are welcome and best of luck with it. It seems like your love for beer will result into opening up the wall to the lounge and improve the circulation too, it is the little things that matter most and it is the little things that make most sense when designing spaces!

George