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Kitchen layout tips

7 years ago

Hi, I'm moving to a new house shortly and will be opening up the old kitchen and living room to making an open plan kitchen diner.
The photos show what I'm thinking for my current plans, but am looking for any advice or tips to see what others think of my plans, particularly for layout.

For reference, we will have another reception room which will be used as a TV snug/living room.
It will just be myself and my partner cooking in the kitchen. I like to cook a lot so have thought to have the cooker on the island. I also wanted a lot of prep space as we each spend a lot of time prepping lunches and breakfasts for the week ahead.
Any comments appreciated?

Featured Answer

PRO

Create Perfect

7 years ago

I love the kitchen area and the island having the hob.

I think if you have a snug living area for the TV then I would take the dining table away from the island into the room (turn it around). This will allow you to access that side of the island (maybe adding a nice wine unit in there).

I would then either mirror the built in seating as you can't have the sofa. Or get rid of both sides and create impact with some art, some nice lighting and consoles to make a pleasing dining space and a nice area to look over when cooking and entertaining.

Comments (21)

Rhian S
Original Author
7 years ago
if anyone has suggestions with what to do for the side of the island against the table or how to make the most of storage from the island that'd be great.
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Thank you for all the comments! I really appreciate it. It’s great to have other inspiration to play around with. I’m not actually planning on using Wrens but their 3D virtual reality mock up is very useful! I spent the day playing around with different ideas, using cardboard in the space to mock things up, including tall units! The problem is the width of the kitchen isn’t huge so full depth units facing each other becomes a problem. I might have settled on a layout that wasn’t in my original sketches - I’m going to take it to a designer to see what they think. The only awkward bit about this design is there would be an appliance (probably the freezer) in the corner under the breakfast bar, so the only access would be from the lounge/dining side. My parents are wondering if I need the 300mm breakfast bar overhang, but I think that if I have units across the entrance to the kitchen like that, I’ll naturally want to use it as a breakfast bar and will be annoyed if it isn’t comfortable to sit at.. here’s my 3D app mock up of the space (not a professional mock up!!)
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Because the tall units will be about 2.4m from the door I don’t think you have to worry about them being in your sight line…… but if you are worried you could of course put them on the opposite side of the room. However I always think that the usual 55cm chair seat height makes your eye line about kitchen cabinet height so you could feel a bit overshadowed by the kitchen island. In my opinion the solution is to put the kitchen at the dining end and then move the dining table towards the window. You might also consider dual purpose furniture- for instance instead of having a dining table and chairs plus a sitting area consider an upholstered dining bench that can be also be a daytime spot for coffee and reading the paper
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PRO
Create Perfect
7 years ago
The other option which would free up the island is to have a both style built in dining area to one side of the chimney breast.
Shelf the other one. You will then have space to create a island with breakfast bar seating and a little storage.
Leesha N
7 years ago
Looks like a nicely designed kitchen. That sofa against the wall looks a little lost in there for me - not sure what the purpose is? You already have a separate living are and that cute bench seating area. I would lose the sofa and if you have the room to accommodate alongside your dining table; put a couple of stools on the other side of the island (you can also have accessible storage here) to make it a nice sociable area for you guys to hang out :)
Rhian S
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks both for your great ideas, I'll definitely play around to design in your suggestions and see how they look! :)

I agree the sofa does look a bit out of place, initially it was there so there would be a comfy place to sit whilst someone was cooking/washing in the kitchen.
But i guess the cushioned bench does a good enough job of that now. Breakfast stools could do a good job of that too.

I really like the idea of a booth style dining too. However, the window sits quite low and I wonder whether I could/should have backs to the seats against the window? (The picture shows the room how it is now)
PRO
OnePlan
7 years ago
I think I'd be tempted to put the pullout and FF on the window wall where the corner was and make it a straight run rather than L shape - then make the peninsula longer. To make the entrance to the room more open, and give you more open prep space.

Then move the table nearer the low window ( about 800mm from window for individual chair clearance ) to open up the space that's left in the rest of the room - maybe replace the sofa with two or three soft seats that you can place around the fire .

You could maybe have a window seat, along the low window, put in for use at the table ? And if you keep the built in seat in the alcove, you could move the table that way and have chairs on the end by the peninsula when you want to seat more people ?
Lauren
7 years ago
In addition to other comments here I just wondered if you'd factored in extraction over the hob on the island?

Often for an island based hob you end up needing a recycling extractor fan rather than one that vents outside which means you need to change the filter regularly. You should also consider that it will likely obstruct the sight lines in the room and would compete with any pendant lighting you may want.

One other alternative is a pop-up island mounted extractor but these are rather expensive and seem to get mixed reviews on effectiveness.

Personally I would be tempted to bring the run of worktop round the right hand side under the windows, have the hob on end run with the sink and have a smaller island. I've had a smallish 125x80cm island in the past and it's still amazing how much extra counter top space it provides!
aadams4251
7 years ago
I agree with Lauren I would continue the cupboard under the second window so u get a u shaped kitchen with tons of storage and less of a galley feel
Lauren
7 years ago
I've done a quick crop and chop of your image to show how this would work.

I also agree with others that the dining table would look much better separated from the island and made a bit more formal in the other half of the room. It would look great with a pendant light or two over it as well.
Lauren
7 years ago
Also if you didn't want the hob and sink in the same run you could move the sink in front of the right hand side bank of windows. I would also be tempted to make the back of the island an overhang so you can position 2 or 3 bar stools depending on space. That way guests can sit and chat whilst the cook is working.
whizzywig
7 years ago
What a lovely bright room! Some great advice above - just to include my two pennyworth I have to ask have you considered all tall units on the entrance wall to include an oven tower, f/f & larder? I also agree that continuing the units under the window would be beneficial..
Rhian S
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks for all the advice guys! that's awesome.
Can't wait to get home from work and look through them all more thoroughly and try some ideas out.

I hadn't thought about the fridge and larder making the room less open, thank you, I'll definitely try fix that! Unfortunately the space to the left of the window above the sink is only about 90cm, granted I probably haven't shown it that small on the model.

The window at the end of the kitchen is just about high enough to fit a counter underneath so that is an interesting idea too. I did have a plan which did that so I think I'll try that again.

I do quite like having the cooker facing out into the room on the island. I have had a kitchen island with and without a cooker before and i defininetly preferred having the cooker there.

And thanks Lauren, I'm currently hoping to have an overhead extractor and channel out of the room, boxed up and painted on the ceiling. I've heard mixed reviews of the island mounted extractors too. I've had problems having to open windows due to inadequate extractors and it getting steamy everywhere.

so many good ideas
Rhian S
Original Author
7 years ago
I had a play around with the living area yesterday with everyone's ideas and came to two potential favorites (attached). Now i can use the other side of my island for storage. I think cushioned seating rather than breakfast stools may be more useful for our house.

I really like the symmetry of the island in the centre, which would mean loosing the L-shape where the fridge currently is. Which looks better but less storage of course.

As you can see, still playing around with the kitchen configuration.
Rhian S
Original Author
7 years ago
whizzywig I like your idea of putting the oven on the wall next to the fridge freezer.

what would you do with the corner counter space that gets blocked off?

Also, I've heard mixed opinions on placing an oven next to a fridge freezer, but definitely seen it done. Do you need to do anything special to protect heat transferring?
Daisy England
7 years ago
I wouldn't waste any corners.

Fridge freezers next to ovens are fine. Appliances are now so well produced we don't have to worry about escape of heat etc from one appliance to affect another.
Daisy England
7 years ago
To prevent wasted corners start your plan with a 900 x 900 L shaped base in each corner. These will have 2 doors on each unit so you can open both doors and gain full access to each corner. Not even any need for carousels in them. See below for closed and open image.
Rhian S
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Daisy. I do like those style cupboards, the probably are what I'd use for the base :)

Potentially could do something like this for above the counter?
Daisy England
7 years ago
If you want to close the storage shelving off altogether google tambour doors.
whizzywig
7 years ago
Hi Rhian S, Looks like you've found a good solution for above the counter in the corner. If you don't have enough room for an L-shaped base unit look at Magic Corner or Nuvolo pull-outs:

Kitchen cabinet with magic corner · More Info

Kitchens · More Info
Rhian S
Original Author
7 years ago
Thanks Whizzywig! They look awesome.
So many good ideas and suggestions, thanks everyone for all your advice :)
PRO
PictureFrame.TV
7 years ago
You could always move the TV to above the fireplace and make it a feature MirrorTV. Let us know if we can assist.

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