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Kitchen - L Shaped vs Straight

6 years ago

Hi all,

I posted a few days ago re: sink vs hob on island, and still unsure which way we'd go. However, we have another kitchen layout option which we're now considering. See attached photos..

Which one would you choose and why?

Thanks for your help :-)

Featured Answer

PRO

OnePlan

6 years ago

If this was my kitchen , I'd go for an adapted version of the straight run with larger island - but I'd have sink and slide over chopping board in island and hob on wall ducted out ) but that's purely based on the fact that I personally prefer to have cooking smells evacuated as efficiently as possible. And I like a good prep space with sink on an island for easy clearing up when baking etc ... but that's just me - this needs to work for you ! So think how you like to spend time in the kitchen and which areas need to work best for you !
Nb . Sunshine in a room can really lift your mood - so good sunlight is always a plus too - as long as the new doors aren't facing north - as this could end up being a bit cold !

Comments (19)

Sunny
6 years ago
Hi Karen, I would choose the second option as it seems to be a better utilisation of space in my opinion- mainly because your hob and sink are in L position and the island provides plenty of worktop-to keep grocery bags after shopping, pack lunch or just to keep available space for chit chat! I personally dislike a hob on the island as are more likely to knock things over if you are not careful, even a sink doesn't make practical sense- imagine someone perched on the stool with a cuppa and getting splashed with water accidentally while another person tried to wash a spoon or something, I don't have a kitchen island but would love to have one!! Good luck with your new kitchen!!!
Karen
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Sunny, we are leaning towards the same option but we're also wondering whether we're conditioned by what we're used to....
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michelle_oates851
6 years ago
I was going for a similar layout to you, basically 5m of units on one wall with an island in front but my designer has suggested instead of a separate island, having a return of units (only about a metre or so) and then a peninsula coming off so a U shape rather than a wall of kitchens and a separate island. The benefit is that I can put the sink in the return, freeing up the peninsula of a hob or sink. My dilemma is if I do that and have a two tone kitchen, where to have one colour stop and the next one start.
Karen
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks Michelle, do you mean like our first photo above, but having a continuois worktop from sink to the island (i.e. it becomes like a breakfast bar?)
A S
6 years ago
I like both!

Visually, I prefer the single run of units and island. Very streamlined, simple and effective.

Practicality screams for the second version...As good as a hob looks on an island, it's not practical In my opinion. Plus you get an island free off appliances! And the layout still looks good so win win.
Karen
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for the comments! Windows face East, and opposite the kitchen will be a large dining area that opens into garden via large sliding doors (roughly 4.5m wide). We could also have a rooflight above the kitchen.
minnie101
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hi Karen. I prefer the look of the single run however (and this may be my lack of expertise) but I don't understand the filler between the floor units? However, having said that I've just measured my worktop and it's 360cm plus I have a 4ft table and an aga to put stuff on and I really don't have enough workspace! I personally would opt for an L shape, however there's a lack of symmetry in the design which for me personally I don't find appealing i.e. 3 drawers one side and 4 the other, plus one directly next to the hob and the other not etc. Obviously kitchens are very much personal but how does the prep space and storage compare to your existing kitchen?
Carolina
6 years ago
Hi,

For me, I don't like the distance between fridge and sink and the island obstacle between that in the L-shaped layout.

So I like the single run and I think you should have enough prep space. But that depends on how you work.

What's on either side of the fridge niche? Would it be possible to have all tall units on that wall? That will give you more counter space on the wall run?
PRO
Bathroom + Kitchen Eleven
6 years ago
Hi

If it were my project I'd go for the single run and doors out into the garden. This will bring in a great deal of light and opens up the space. Giving an outdoors indoors feel.

Shannon
Jonathan
6 years ago
I prefer the straight run with the bigger island and agree with Karen that the extractor is best on an outside wall, I also think that a 1200 deep island means that people sat on stools shouldn't worry about getting splashed.
A couple of questions for me- the space behind the stools.... is the plan correct? You mentioned a large dining space but this space is only 2m so not big enough for a table but it's too wide to ignore. Is there a solid wall there?
Also I think the construction of the deeper island is messy- the little cabinets at the side are going to look odd- in my opinion you should just have cabinets under the breakfast bar and support the sides with vertical worktop or with decorative side panels.
I also notice the sink is over a 900 unit with a 200 unit next to it. This means that the wall cabinets don't line up but everything else is symmetrical. Whether you put the sink or the hob on this wall I would rather see a 1000 base and a filler at the end of the run..... (although your in tall units may end up having decorative vertical panels this will use up the available space.)
Jonathan
6 years ago
If you need to fill the 2m space behind the stools you could consider a table coming off the island
Karen
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi all, thanks for the comments.

Jonathan, this isn't the full plan, just the kitchen area. It was simoly an inital sketch providing a couole of layout options for us to consider. We'd definitely need more time spent on ensuring we have the right cupboards in the right places etc, but was hoping we could choose an option that we could focus on.

Here is the full floor plan with the proposed extension.
Karen
Original Author
6 years ago
Carolina, the fridge steals space from the utility, as per the above floorplan. We have considered the wall being completely flush and having a straight run of cabinets against it, but thought it might feel "in the way" / obtrusive as you walk into the kitchen?
Karen
Original Author
6 years ago
Hi minnie101, both options are much bigger than our previous kitchen, which was a U shape in roughly 3.5 x 2.5m. So I think the L shape option is probably closer to what we're used to in terms of layout, which is why I thought we might be preconditioned to default on what we know! The straight one also appeals, but just not sure about having a hob or sink on the island...
Jonathan
6 years ago
Alternative
Karen
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks, hadn't considered this option. looks good!
boundsgreener
6 years ago
Hi. With either of the two options you posted it looks like you are going to have a "scuse-me" problem at the wall oven/fridge end because you won't be able to use both at the same time. "Scuse-me while I open the oven" "Scuse-me I need to open the freezer" and "Scuse-me can you put this tray in the oven for me?" (the last one is only for us left-handers who wouldn't be able to put something in without body hugging the wall, so you can ignore that one if you like, but a filler near the wall would be best). I also think there isn't enough clearance between the fridge/freezer doors, that should open at least 90 degrees, and the oven doors, so you might end up with dings.

You've got lots of great space to work with and I like Carolina's idea of the bank of wall units that would include the wall ovens and the fridge and freezer.

Oh, and I fully endorse the skylight idea that you mentioned. We have a roof lantern in our kitchen and it's brilliant.

Good luck!
Karen
Original Author
5 years ago
Hi all, after all this time and all your kind help, I thought to update you on our progress. We went for the L Shape in the end as wasn't sure how to deal with a possible 8m wall/glass area. We really like it, but are now deliberating on colours and finishing touches, and I've set up a separate post for that here:

https://ml.houzz.com/A6oBwtlW2P

Thanks for all your help!!

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