Kitchen help.

11 years ago

last modified: 11 years ago

I've attached a photo of the kitchen/dining room knock through and extension we're hoping to have. I'm after ideas or suggestions please about the layout.

Currently the kitchen is a u-shape inside the squiggled lines where the table is. The builder who's quoting for the work has come up with this design and whilst I really like it I'm concerned about the noise with having the extractor on an inside wall. (I've already posted about this and One plan kindly suggested acoustic absorbing panels....that's still a consideration).

The only other workable,practical and not particularly 'fun/contemporary ' layout that we can come up with is to just have the kitchen in the same place but longer. I'd really welcome some ideas from someone else just looking at it as a blank canvas. We obviously can't see past what's already here!

The bi-folds are very unlikely to be happening as they push the project over our budget. I'd rather save money by copying the french door at the back of the lounge and I'd be unlikely to keep both doors open in case the big pigeons in the garden decide to fly in :)

One other thing is that rather than having it complete open, we could have a supporting pillar coming down next to the island. This will cut the cost a little too.

So, I think I've prattled on enough and we'll done if you've made it this far!

edit...the photo looks squished on my phone but corrects itself when I click on it so hope you guys can see it properly.

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OnePlan

11 years ago

I think put the kitchen all down long left wall and into extended area too - have an island as well with a table on the end of island maybe - unless you serve 12 for dinner every night then, I'd suggest the island be longer and the table go elsewhere in the room - allowing an area for Xbox TV zone too ! Agree that although the corner doors are lovely - it would be just as great with French doors !

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Comments (18)

User
Original Author
11 years ago
I mean 3 metres behind the armchair not 6. Obviously lol
PRO
OnePlan
11 years ago
It's a bit squished still - can you add it again as a comment on this thread?! Ideally we'd need to see any outside walls too on the plan ?!
User thanked OnePlan
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User
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago

Is that better? looks ok on laptop and on phone when I click on it. Still looks squished without the clicking :/
Ash McGregor
11 years ago
Is it your only reception space or is there another living area? Of the sections where are you likely to be spending the most time?
User
Original Author
11 years ago
The lounge is to the right of the proposed new kitchen and I think if we have a sofa in the kitchen area we'll use both equally. We don't have another TV, just the one in the lounge, so I envisage the new one having the xbox plugged in permanently. We do like to sit around the table as a family playing games as well. Actually, reading that back I guess the new space will be used the most!
Ash McGregor
11 years ago
In that case I'd be inclined to move the kitchen to the bottom left hand corner and the dining space to the bottom right hand corner by the bi-folds
User thanked Ash McGregor
User
Original Author
11 years ago
last modified: 11 years ago
Thank you Ash and OnePlan, you've both helped to confirm what we thought. I have a few photos in my idea book which have that sort of layout and I do like that too. We have a soil pipe that comes down between the kitchen and dining room and I think that would be a great place the incorporate a support against and island/peninsula.

It would be great to go for something completely different but I have my doubts as you know, plus I assume keeping to the current layout will be better for gas and water connection.

OnePlan we don't feed that many every night but do have 10 around the table most Sundays when our parents and my gran are fed. There are 4 of us plus my childrens' other halves. I'm not even thinking about how many we seat at Christmas but it would be lovely for us all to fit around the same table rather than me in the lounge balancing my dinner on my lap!

Meeting with the builder tomorrow so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that we can get this all to work within our budget. My husband is reluctant to say what our budget is but I feel we'll just keep going round in circles if we don't :/

I can't believe how stressful it can all be. I'm so worried about making a mistake! I'm having dreams of the neighbours having skips and building materials outside their houses lol I'm going to be a nightmare when it comes to choosing kitchen units and colours. You've had fair warning ;)
PRO
OnePlan
11 years ago
Planning ahead of the build helps keep the build flow better as you aren't making decisions and changing your mind day by day as the build progresses - which can hold things up and end up costing you more - plan well - know what you are getting and don't change your mind - if you can't envisage well from a plan, ask for perspectives ( like I draw ) then you can see exactly what you are getting and you can plan down to the last detail of where you will plug your phone in while you relax in the evening even ! And what's more, the builders know exactly what you expect too - there's no arguing with a comprehensive set of drawings !!

A simple tip with tables is either get multi extending ( Neptune do some that go from normal to enormous for example ) or buy tables that have square edges ( IKEA for example ) then simply bring them in from where they are used in other parts of the house and butt them all together. ( study, dressing table, hall table etc ) that's a bit more disruptive if you feed more people regularly - so in this instance I'd think the former would suit you better !
Here's one that goes from. 1.1m to 2. 7m http://m.johnlewis.com/mt/www.johnlewis.com/neptune-sheldrake-110-270cm-extending-oak-dining-table-oak/p230969828#page_loaded

They do bigger ones too !! Lots of company's do ! It's just a case of finding one that suits your style !
Hope that helps a bit !
User
Original Author
11 years ago
Thank you OnePlan. The table we have in the dining room at the moment has two leaves we can add - it's a very very tight squeeze because there's a narrow bay window. So that's covered. We have an ikea table top and screw in legs in the study which we'll be able to add on for the once or twice a year when needed. The bonus being that we will all actually be able to fit around it!

The builder provdies what I think is called a design and build service(?). He did a great job at my brother's house - does all the drawings that an architect would normally do and gives an all in quote.

I actually think his quote is reasonable, it's just more than we want to spend. I know whatever we have will be a much better space than we have now.

Once we've decided on the layout the kitchen will be designed more accurately. I have had a good nosey at your plans :D

I'm beginning to think that poring over many many photos both on this site and in magazines is something I shouldn't have started! It makes me want an island and loads of fancy storage. ...oo and a walk in pantry...which in reality is probably a waste of space.
Ash McGregor
11 years ago
Is that room at the top left off the kitchen a utility room? You might want to enlarge that slightly so you can it also functions as a pantry ( and use a pocket door). Just a thought - is there any reason why the bi-folds are in the corner? Can't help but think they would feel more generous across the back and construction might be cheaper
Jonathan
11 years ago
Kinda what others have suggested
User thanked Jonathan
User
Original Author
10 years ago
last modified: 10 years ago

Well I'm back for more help..please :)

Had a new design idea. The changes are -

The door leading into the kitchen from the hall to be blocked off therefore creating a wider kitchen area and meaning we won't walk straight into the island.

Making the understairs cloakroom smaller to open a new door into the dining room.

Unlike the drawing, the plan is to have the hob and sink along the outside wall. The now extended inside wall will have the bank of appliances.

Only the one bi-fold.

Although I really like the look of the whole bigger space I'm scared silly of spending the amount of money it will take. Extra costs because of the foundations/pilings where the drains are at the corner of the current kitchen.

I'm thinking, and please feel free to tell me I'm wrong, that the 1 1/2 metre area added on to the end of the kitchen will be dead space and we'll be buying shelving/furniture to fill it when we could do without it.

I'm not sure whether to keep the length of the kitchen as is and just bring the dining room flush with it or push the dining room out the 3 metres. If we just extend the dining room all the way and not the kitchen do you think it will be an odd shape?

It'll still be a good space even if we go for the shorter extension won't it? I can't help thinking that's it's not really worth the dusty mess just to do that 1 1/2 mtr build.

I hate feeling like I can't make my mind up!

Any suggestions are very welcome.
PRO
OnePlan
10 years ago
Could you add extra dining space in the lounge as and when required by putting in a sliding wall ? As well as an extending table ?
User
Original Author
10 years ago
Theoretically yes,I suppose we could. It's not really something I WANT to do. It's a hangover from the years we used to put up the tables in the lounge and having clumsy family members who would knock over red wine or pasta sauce and it'd end up on my curtains and carpet argh! I've spent too much on my current curtains to do that lol

The table extends to 2 1/2 mtrs and JUST fits at the moment if you're happily stuck in the bay window. So there would definitely be room if we bring the wall out flush.

We wouldn't maybe fit in a sofa area,or we could and then would have to move sofas to the side if opening up the table fully. I'm not fussed about a tv/xbox set up -it was just my way of keeping the family together. I'm beginning to come to the realisation that my children are quite unlikely to come back and live here permanently. Son is at uni and if he gets a job in his subject this will be a 'base' at most, daughter is moving away in a couple of weeks. So apart from Sunday lunches with our parents, it will be hubby and me.
User
Original Author
10 years ago
OnePlan you've had me messuring in the lounge for a sliding wall! I'm easily lead ;) No, not enouh room. The width of the opening would mean we'd have a very narrow bit of wall between the hall/lounge door and the sliding wall frame....there wouldn't be enough room to slide it.
Jonathan
10 years ago
Do you need to extend outwards? Could you just loose the study?
User
Original Author
10 years ago
Would rather keep the study (& separate utility next to it). It's used as an office and would rather keep it all contained in there.

Kitchen help.

OnePlan

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