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Ideas for kitchen design, please

7 years ago

Hello,

We bought our extended 70-s semi two years ago and updated a dated decor throughout the house before moving in. After catching breath for a few years the biggest challenge - re-designing the kitchen - is ahead.

I am planning to:
* knock down the wall between a small dingy dining room and the kitchen
* add a breakfast bar/island which will divide the U-shaped kitchen area from the sitting area with existing round table and chairs around
* have a window instead of a side door in the kitchen in order to have a washing machine and a dryer installed under the new window
* new kitchen units and appliances, preferably in light colours

We are a family with young kids and a budget of around £15k, so will not be able to afford a fancy finish and have to put practical consideration first. On top of that we like to entertain so need a generous sitting area which could accommodate our family and friends.

I am wondering if there are better solutions for the kitchen space planning and wherever the breakfast bar will work in our setting?

All ideas are welcome.
Thank you in advance

Pics below are of the floor plan and an existing kitchen

Featured Answer

Jonathan

7 years ago

Could I please clarify?
You say you want a sitting area- do you envisage this being the breakfast bar area or do you want an additional sitting area in here?.... Personally I don't think that you have room for both.
Also can you block any of the doors quite a few feed into the total space?....If you could block off the one in the dining room for example it would make furniture placement easier.
In my opinion this room that you want to be sociable would be better without the noise of the washing machine. Can it go elsewhere such as in the bathroom, garage, under stairs cupboard?
Lastly - did you know that your six paneled doors are upside down and the small panels are supposed to be at the top?

Comments (32)

Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
And the dining room
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Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks. I really wanted to move the washing machine into the play/guest room, but I had no space for both washing machine AND the dryer.
The bar won't go ahead if it's not enough space for it.
I cannot block the door between the dining and sitting rooms, as it gives kids an access to the garden through the dining room (and the dining itself).
Madalena
7 years ago
Love your ideas - have you considered losing the wall between the dining room and kitchen and having a bar-esque break in the room? More casual, it can be a breakfast bar and opens up the room for dinner and dining events.
buzzmummy
7 years ago
Hi Lenak1 Have you considered stacking the dryer on top of washer in the play room? My mum has hers like this and it works really well. You can install a bit of worktop between the two if you are worried about weight of standing the dryer straight on to the washer. Perhaps even box in the whole thing so you have a dedicated "laundry cupboard"? I'll try and attach a picture for you.

Mont Albert - Hampton style Overlay cabinets · More Info

Or this is on quite a grand scale but gives me serious laundry space envy!:
A Fresh & Contemporary Kitchen Design By Burlanes · More Info
Just thinking if you have or can get the water connection for the washer to playroom it seems a shame if you can't make it work somehow. Personally I don't like the idea of clean laundry mixing with smells from the kitchen and have always had a separate laundry area, but I appreciate not everyone has the choice!

On another note, what is the door next to fridge freezer? Pantry/ Cupboard? Or does this go through to the living space. I agree there seems too many doors in the space somehow. Or can you add the complete floorplan to give us more of an idea of the rest of the layout? I think definitely if you can knock the wall through to the dining room this would open up the space nicely and also let a lot more light flow through. I agree with your blocking up the door in the kitchen though, it would give you an extra 4-6 cupboard spaces (base and wall) which can only be useful! Also I presume when you say sitting area you are thinking of sitting round the table? Or breakfast bar, or both if room....as opposed to adding a sofa to the space too?

Sorry for extra long post! :)
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
I considered stacking washing machine and a dryer, but my husband is not keen on them being in the playroom.
Two doors next to the kitchen door are guilty ones of covering a redundant space which used to house a boiler (now it's a broom cupboard but I cannot use it for anything else as there are hot pipes inside)
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
A second door is for a larder thing which sits underneath stairs. You need to see it in order to appreciate it!
I keep thinking about knocking a wall down; the problem is I will lose a larder and will get a bit of staircase sticking out of the wall.
A S
7 years ago
Hi,

From what I can see, I'd definitely consider knocking down the wall to create a more spacious kitchen-diner.

Just an idea, but I'd consider moving the location off the sink to the other side off the part sticking. this would allow you to bring the units curving onto the current dining wall to be bought more closer to the kitchen wall and allow you to install a breakfast bar along the run of cabinets; this would also increase your dining space slightly.
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
My husband spent some time learning CAD and sketching ideas we had so far.
Washing machine/dryer is going somewhere else as there is def no space for them.
What do you think about the resulting draft?
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
The white door on the right is the door to the larder. The wall between the white door and fridge seems to be a load bearing one, as the stairs to the first floor seem to be resting on it. Please do not be very critical of the drawing - we did not talk to neither designer, no structural engineer yet!
A S
7 years ago
Hi, The room now begins to look abit more open and spacious and good use is made off the space available. I think having the breakfast bar separates the kitchen space and dining space as individual zones without separating the rooms. Can't wait to see the finished product.
A S
7 years ago
You mentioned kids in an above post, As you have a bar sticking out, I would suggest a curved edged worktop to avoid hitting on sharp corners, Not only is this much safer but also creates a softer finish.
A S
7 years ago
Where does the marked doorway lead to, is it absolutely necessary to keep this door?
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
This door leads to the hall. I think it's necessary to separate the kitchen from the entry hall, don't you agree?
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Sorry, THAT door leads to the sitting room. I would have loved to have a bigger one as the sitting room is dark and dingy as the moment.
buzzmummy
7 years ago
Hi yes I think the new plan looks good, as you say a shame you can't lose any of the redundant doors but I think definitely the larder cupboard is more useful as it is, in fact you would probably struggle without it! If it was me I would consider changing both this cupboard and the one which you say is dead space slightly to maximise every bit of space, I would probably see if I could box in the pipes you mentioned and maybe widen the doorways and use cabinet doors from your chosen kitchen to tie the doors in more? If that makes sense?

Looking good though, definitely go with light cabinets and floors / worktops if I was you. And a curved worktop end on the peninsula as suggested above. :) well done.
PRO
OnePlan
7 years ago
Hi - you asked not to be too critical of the drawing - so I'm just going to point it some key points, as I see them, that might need a bit of extra thought ...

Where you are intending to replace the glazed door and panel at the far right of the original plan with a window in your husband's design - I'd suggest you keep to the same width - rather than making it bigger as shown in your second plan - as not only will this save you having to replace the lintel - it will also be safer for your cooker to be further away from combustible materials associated with windows ( and drafts if the cooker is gas)

In order to make the under stairs larder more accessible in this new, now smaller, kitchen area - I'd suggest either removing the door and making this an open basket and neat shelving type of storage area or at the very least change the door to either opening the opposite way ( but it will still block your main entrance to kitchen when open ) so perhaps replace for a pair of doors instead to limit the disruption to walkway in when pantry open.

If you intend to abut the new FF to abut the wall as shown in your husband's design, be sure, when choosing your new FF that the depth of the part behind the door hanging is deeper than the return of the understairs built in larder, to enable door swing of FF. or - if not - allow sufficient space for the door to open - follow the FF instruction guidelines for this - it's usually about a 150mm gap required.... also be aware that these large appliances ( the FF and Range ) will need to be able to be moved out for servicing or replacing - so bear this in mind when putting your fixed peninsula.

A freestanding chopping block, (or, if you still need bar seating in addition to the, now closer and more accessible, table - a freestanding bar table and stools) might be more versatile in this instance - given the need to manoeuvre two large appliances as I mentioned earlier.

In my honest opinion - as I see it - you intend to spend money to take down a wall to make the room bigger for entertaining - but in doing so you are ending up with a smaller kitchen. That doesn't seem fit your laundry appliances, (in this layout) and you're moving your dining table away from the lovely daylight and view of the glass doors to be in front of a window that will be too high to get a decent view from in a seated position.

I'm hoping that you don't mind me pointing these things out now - before you spend your hard earned cash on making these changes only to realise them yourself, after you've done it and when it's too late to change it.
PRO
Amber Slack Design Ltd
7 years ago
The breakfast bar is great and helpful w kids, but your new design runs the risk of making you feel trapped in the kitchen. Maybe consider swinging the breakfast bar out by 90 degrees so it sits as a straight run under the window. It only needs to be 40cm deep, so could easily be used for a buffet/extra worktop space when you're entertaining. Alternatively, banquet seating is often shunned, but it would work really well in your space and would allow for a nice big table and ability to add extra chairs on the opposite side when you entertain.

Consider replacing your existing fridge with 2 slimmer full height fridge and freezer and having them be built in to allow for a more finished/cohesive look.

B&Q do a great range of kitchen cabinets and they are good quality, they also stock all of the latest brand name appliances to give you more of a one stop shop. I imagine they could do what you wanted, with all of the appliances for about £6k - which would leave you extra money in your budget to splurge on a higher quality worktop, revamp your flooring and remove the wall between the existing kitchen/dining room and possibly build in banquet seating.
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Buzzmummy, the task of changing two doors is on the list now. Thank you for the suggestion.
And the rounded end to the peninsula
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
OnePlan, thank you for your suggestions. I will talk my husband through re FF opening requirements, he discharged them before.
Also will definitely have to put two doors (or even sliding doors, if they will work there) instead of one, to the larder.
The window (the one planned instead of the side door) was supposed to be the same width; after discussing the plan yesterday we decided on reducing it to 1/2 of the existing widths.
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
OnePlan, we used to have guests all over the kitchen (with no place to sit), because the dining room was impracticably small and out of the way. I ended up deciding that I do not need a big kitchen, but rather would have a well-thought through one.
I like to cook and end up running all over my existing kitchen while cooking; I would rather have everything at hand.
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Amber Peacock Slack, thank you, I will draw my new plan on the kitchen floor again in order to re-check it works.
The point of having a breakfast bar (or a peninsula) across the kitchen was to talk to my guests or family members while cooking. Now I end up stuck in the kitchen while everyone else happily chat in the dining room.
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Amber Peacock Slack
I keep thinking about having banquet sitting (even considering having a sofa under the window at some point).
Do you know of any reputable company which produces banquet sits, please?
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
The point of having a cooking area separated by the peninsula or bar table, was that it would hopefully stop the kids barging into the kitchen.
Now I find my 6-year old too often directly under my elbow while I am slicing vegetables with a sharp knife. So the idea was to put a peninsula between us to make things safer around the kitchen.
Averil Hoggins
7 years ago
If you remove the side door how will you get outside? Breakfast bar would be a good idea. Dining rooms tend to be wasted space. We have a dining room that only gets used once or twice a year. My daughter has just done what you intend and it works great for her young family.
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Averil Hoggins
We have French doors leading from the dining room to the patio in the garden, and almost never use the side door from the kitchen.
It's the reason I'm considering to convert the door into a smaller window. However I keep thinking that it could be too dark in the kitchen if the door is completely blocked.
minnie101
7 years ago
Hi. That door doesn't actually seem to let in much light and the current worktop and units aren't bouncing a lot of light so I'm wondering if you need a window once the wall is down? What if you extended the FF run to the end of that run adjacent to the oven and had mirrored backed shelves within a cabinet? (Hope that makes sense!)I think the light units will make a huge difference anyway and you can add a large mirror opposite the patio doors. I agree with the earlier comment re extending the peninsula under the 2nd window. I love banquettes so might lose the sofa in favour of! Here's a link. It's a way off but as you have so many doors I'd paint them all in the wall colour so they blend in. I'd also integrate all the appliances if possible

http://www.angelandboho.com/dining-banquettes--chairs-305-c.asp
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Hi minnie101,

Thank you, I was looking at those banquettes before but was not sure if one of them would suit my mid century-inspired house. Perhaps a grey one will?

After having lots of discussions with my husband I was almost ready to give up on the idea of keeping the window at the end of FF run. I really appreciate your input as getting rid of that window will def free space for more cabinets and storage space!
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
minnie101, what did you mean by "extending the peninsula under 2nd window"?
I wanted to divide the kitchen by a peninsula in order for my guests to have a bar stool or two to sit on while I finish cooking, or for kids to perch on stools while having a breakfast. Now my guests end up either chatting at the dining table with each other while I would be slaving in the kitchen
minnie101
7 years ago
The grey would look nice or mustard is a good colour for mid century. I meant keep the peninsula but have it where the stools are on your plan. I haven't found a pic with a pillar but the one below is close'ish although narrower. Have an overhang for the stools and where the books are in this pic you could have 1ft of shelves or a cabinet. It is tight with the gap though, only 3ft between the larder although I can't get the numbers to quite add up but it's probably me! I'd have the banquette so it's overlooking the garden
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Thank you for great suggestions!
The updates plan:
Lena
Original Author
7 years ago
Sorry - updated plans

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