Banquette or move kitchen?
I am looking for advice on a layout mistake. I've posted previously with the following;
I've made a big mistake in the layout of my new extension, to cut a long story short my dining table was right in the middle of the space and I quickly found it was a pain to walk around and was used as a general dumping ground for post, handbags etc.
The only 'solution' that I can think of now is to move back the wall with the utility to the right as you walk into the space. However I am restricted structurally because a) I need to retain a pier and b) I cannot remove the wall between the utility and the kitchen.
So, my first question is - do you think that is a sensible idea? Are there any alternatives that I haven't spotted? Unfortunately I don't think I can live with the table in the middle.
My second question is - if I do move the wall how best to accommodate a dining table? I need to be able to seat 8. The space would be restricted because I have to retain a pier - see photos and layouts. I've resorted to shoving the table against the wall for now.
I've looked into banquette style seating and square tables but I really don't know. I am also worried about having a big space of nothing in the middle of the room.
Any advice would be much appreciated.
I've pretty much decided that I am definitely going to do something rather than live with the table in the middle or pushed to one side. I could pursue the banquette idea I originally had or I could bite the bullet and totally change the original layout. Here are some rough drawings of my ideas;
Obviously the banquette route would be much less expensive than moving the kitchen, but there is no point in doing it if it doesn't work out. Can anybody help me out, if I went to the extreme of moving the kitchen are there any better options?
Comments (15)
7 years agoRelated Discussions
Banquette seating in dining area of kitchen?
Comments (7)Banquettes are a great solution when you need to save space as you don't have to allow the extra space for pulling chairs back and forth. You can get them with legs so they are completely open underneath allowing you to move your feet under the seat....See MoreKitchen layout - Peninsula or Banquette? (Interactive 3D Renders)
Comments (10)My vote would be for option 1 but it’s all about personal preferences. I prefer my kitchen work area to be separated from people who are in the kitchen to socialise. So for me the peninsula layout is ideal (although I would move the hob to the side run as others have suggested. My kids refused to sit at our old kitchen island when it had a hob on it. They said they’d rather be splashed from a tap than from a hot pan) Also if it were my house I would also make the kitchen slightly more compact so the distance between the oven run and the peninsula was slightly smaller which would also slightly enlarge the dining zone (this is assuming the pillar could also be moved/reduced) But again thats completely my personal preference for a more compact kitchen triangle. Ultimately go with what makes you happy, you’re the one paying for it & living in it everyday....See MoreVery narrow kitchen - would you move it?
Comments (7)This looks like a cute house! Do you have plans of the rest of the house? Seeing the entire house would help scale the different rooms. How big of a disadvantage is it to use a bedroom as an office? Can the office be semi-open? The window by the front door, how high is the bottom in relation to the floor? How keen are you to have a dining table instead of just island/peninsula seating? (For the most part, your dining table setups are too tight.) The tiny room behind the stairs - is that a closet? Entry to basement stairs? Any load-bearing walls? Are you removing the fireplaces? The main issue with your first and fourth plans is that you have three rooms sharing one circulation point. Imagine three people, one cooking, one doing laundry, and one coming and going from the office. That's a lot of traffic in that small path. I like the kitchen at the front of the house. This gives the best circulation. If you could have a kitchen counter against the wall with the front-facing window, even better. I would align the office door with the laundry door, and dedicate that whole wall to the left to washer/dryer/storage. Otherwise, I would keep the kitchen where it is, but move it to the other wall and add bifold/French doors like Jonathan suggested. From the bottom up: washer, dryer, (or stacked washer dryer), fridge, dishwasher, sink, and range. The front room could become the office....See MoreAdvice on floorplan / moving WC to create bigger kitchen
Comments (6)Hi Sue, If you have more than a first floor then you won't be able to have your kitchen open to the stair without adding a sprinkler system for fire safety. Also it would probably be nicer to go to the toilet through the utility and not directly off the kitchen if you move the loo to the garage. I have a sketch design service if you'd like to work with an architect to get this right for you. Here's the link where you can find out more: https://www.i-architect.co.uk/bpp.html Best wishes with your home redesign! Jane award winning chartered architect eco-home and conservation area specialist www.i-architect.co.uk For helpful videos watch my YouTube Channel here: https://www.youtube.com/@iarchitect...See More
7 years ago- 7 years ago
- 7 years agoHi. My dining table is in the middle but as you can see my utility is next to the family area.
Kirsty Kirby thanked User - 7 years ago
- 7 years agoI saw this image and thought of your kitchen. I wanted to suggest if you do knock through to pinch some room to make the stub wall seem even more “right” I like the idea of retaining part of the wall above the new alcove. I’ve done it before and I remember the builder saying it’s wrong but it isn’t if you are intended to define a space. Hope you can see what I mean from this pic.
Kirsty Kirby thanked Emily - 7 years ago
Kirsty KirbyOriginal Author