Windows! Under-cabinet ones in kitchen? Do I need side ones in snug?
We're getting close now to submitting our plans for planning approval and we're stuck on the windows.
Does anyone have experience of under-cabinet kitchen windows? Like these:
https://www.houzz.com/photos/innis-arden-remodel-contemporary-kitchen-seattle-phvw-vp~110655
We like how they look, but our plan drawer was concerned at two things - where sockets would go, and what they would look like from outside the house. I'm also a little concerned at keeping them clean, though we wouldn't have them directly behind the hob.
Our second windows issue is whether to add a window into the west side of the house in the planned snug room within the extension. It will have patio doors to the South so we're not sure if we want an extra window in the side. Possible either a high up short but wide shape (above bookshelves) or a thin long window could work, what do the Houzzers think? We think putting a standard window in there would probably not be good as we then couldn't fit in our tall bookshelves and other furniture as easily.
Proposed floorplan so you can see the snug (west side for contentious window decision is on the right side of the plan as you look at it):
West side elevation:
By the way, thanks so much for posting on my previous thread a month or so ago, @Jen P @jenny-prouten @Emily @ejcw99 @Jonathan @jonathandb1972 @julesrbennett @1sandyh and the rest :-) I'll try and put a link to this thread onto that one!
Any other comments on the overall floorplan proposals are welcome! Ground floor as posted above, first floor and elevations are as follows:
(And after we get planning and start building we will do a stud wall in the garage to make a train room! (after planning gained as architect technician tells us more likely to go through planning if not TOO many new rooms). Proposed train room is as per this sketch:)
Comments (7)
Jenny Smith
5 years agoRelated Discussions
Family room/snug/ area of kitchen design and layout help please
Comments (27)Picture is not very clear but its probably a bit lighter than in picture as taken on my phone I have fallen in LOVE with F&B Wisteria wallpaper in the cinder rose background and I think it matches perfectly with the vert de terre which will be in the kitchen... Im thinking wallpaper back wall behind the long bit of the sofa and facing the chimney and then a lighter shade on the wall adjoining it where the short length of sofa will go... perhaps shaded white? I like elephants breath but I think this maybe too dark and this wall needs to reflect light into the room ... Then onto chimney brest and alcoves... There will be a stove in the opening and a tv on the brest above the stove ... do I also wallpaper the brest or the alcoves or do I apint one of these just in cinder rose or do I use the other 2 shades in the wallpaper!??! decisions decisions......See MoreHelp! Big extension, trying to fit everything in;critique these plans!
Comments (22)This is def looking like more than £150k. £200k is more conservative estkmate. Be careful re: planning laws, you are often able to extend up to 50% more (volume) but you have to take into account existing extensions. So I think workshop in garden would focus the extension on areas you need within the house and not use up % of floor plan unnecessarily. Larger single storey (with velux), smaller extension upstairs would allow light downstairs and prob be more acceptable to neighbours and planning. Moving bathroom is expensive but if you keep kitchen, utility, soil pipe to one side it will create efficiencies. There is a wish list and then practicalities from planning permission and budget perspective which will need professional input. Light tunnels are a relatively cheap but useful way of getting light to darker places....See Morekitchen or snug closet to the garden?
Comments (9)I would do exactly the same! The snug by the garden makes so much sense! You would enjoy watching the seasons pass by etc ... a kitchen is a working area: it’s nice to have a view, but you mostly look at what you are doing/washing/cooking! Also, having 3 kids myself, albeit not toddlers anymore, I just think a downstairs toilet is essential! Also, think about super effective storage for the toys: maybe a tall cupboard, you can close the doors on the mess. I wouldn’t worry about not seeing your children at all times: if your garden is kids proof and safe, that’s fine! Besides, the stage of keeping-an-eye-on-them-at-all-times doesn’t last that long! Enjoy an exciting project!...See MoreTwo-tone kitchen or one colour?
Comments (33)Hi Aisling There is a lot of good advice here and the only thing I would add is that when I re-did my kitchen I asked myself a couple of basic questions; the first being did I intend to stay in the house - in my case the answer was yes, the second question was how often was I going to 'do' the kitchen. Given the expense, enviromental considerations etc I estimated I wanted my kitchen to last 15/20 years. With this in mind I had to decide if a two tone kitchen would date and simply look mis-matched in 5 years time as trends moved on. For me the choice was simply I decided on one colour, in a classic design and added 'modern'' touches/colour via lighting, handles, tap, applicances i.e. kettle, toaster which are less expensive to change if you want to ring in the changes. Ps. a great place to purchase handles of all sorts is More Handles Limited, they have two showroom where you can browse, an online website and brilliant customer service. Good luck with the re-do....See MoreJenny Smith
5 years agoHi Emily and Jonathan! Thanks so much for the feedback.
Emily - I didn't manage to attach the image that shows the new parking we'd have - see new picture I've just uploaded above of a birds eye view with additional hardstanding driveway in the front garden.- thanks for the vote re tall narrow west window! I'm coming round to the idea though my husband is unpersuaded and thinks will interfere with furniture too much. I think one in the corner just before the family room could work really well.
Jonathan - yes the kitchen hasn't really been designed at all yet, the architectural technicians just showed the hob and sink for a rough idea that that area is the kitchen. But we can do what we like with the space really. There are already 2 sets of patio doors on the back of the house though so I think we can't really justify a third! (It might not be clear on the plans but the dining room ends in a modern glass box with heat resistant glass and within-the-upvc-double-glazing-blinds, which includes patio doors ?bifold depending on budget. Then the snug has more standard patio type doors and will probably be the main back garden route.)- generally I think we'd err towards a peninsula rather than an island, not for any real reason just tend to prefer the look of them. So probably a peninsula with a couple of bar stools, coming from the garden side of the room at the junction of the kitchen / dining area, and finishing where the island ends now.
Think @Emily sounds like I haven't explained myself very well re eventual layout with train room - see attached jpeg to see what it will end up as (we haven't got the plans drawn this way for planning application, but the aim is to end up with this at the end of the works).
minnie101
5 years agoI think the overall plan is great. I wouldn't go for the under cabinet windows as you're limiting the kitchen layout. Even if the hob wasn't as close as shown in the pics, just think of condensation and grease. I personally prefer Jonathan's kitchen layout. I would also go for the doors from the kitchen (think BBQ's, kids drinks etc and navigating past the dining table). If you don't want 3 sets of doors why not have an oriel window With seat from the dining area? (Although I'm not sure on cost!!) What is the triangular room to be used for? were you planning on a tv in the snug or is that in the family room (or not at all!)? I also like the tall narrow west window idea. How wide are the bookshelves? Do they fit either side of the sofa? Are the doors from the snug in the right position to allow for the depth of bookshelves (hard to tell from plan)
Jenny Smith thanked minnie101Jenny Smith
5 years ago
Jonathan