Create sunken kitchen or keep same level?

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

It was suggested to ask UK homeowners/designers how they like sunken kitchens - one that is lower than a dining and/or living room? Our house is old and has very low ceilings (just shy of 7 feet) and the only way to change this is to drop the kitchen and entry/mudroom down so it will create a lower level from our dining room and our living room. Concerned about tripping factors with steps and ease or clean-up. Any insight or photos appreciated.

View looking from kitchen/entry into dining area and living room. This is whereabouts the drop down (sunken kitchen) would have to occur.

This is view from living room - sorry lighting was awful. The step down would take place near the brick chimney, creating sunken down kitchen/mudroom/entry. Note: We are going to knock down the wall to the left of the door and put the door on the outside wall, changing layout and pushing out lengthwise another 4 feet or so. If we create sunken area we will most likely use a tile to differentiate the spaces.

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Comments (5)

Daisy England
5 years ago
I would consider it a hazard. While the family might get used to the difference in floor level you would constantly be reminding visitors to watch the step.

As an alternative could you amend the roof on the kitchen if there is nothing above it instead?
Sonia
5 years ago
I’m not sure. As someone who is pretty clumsy I would end up tripping over the step. A holiday let we stayed had a raised kitchen stepping down to the rest of the house. I walked in through the back door carrying my luggage and went flying where the step was. I didn’t even notice it! If you have elderly visitors you may find they would struggle.
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Hi Sally, for me, it just looks horrible, you should do as Jonathan suggested, remove the whole thing, reduce the bottom step to a normal depth step and keep it all open, the change will transform your room and will make you feel much more relaxed as it looks so confined. Also, if you decide to keep the glass, the door glass has to be replaced with safety glass to bring it up to current building regs. In which case I would get rid of the panel next to the door using plasterboard and achieve a seamless look, then replace the door with a full length Oak framed frosted glass door for a more modern look.
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Lauren
5 years ago
I have a step down into my kitchen off the living/dining rooms- we live on a steep hill and it seems to have been part of the design around that, the neighbours have the same. The only time it became an issue was when the children were learning to walk! But this was a short window of time, and it was actually not a bad thing for them to have an obstacle into the kitchen danger zone. They quickly learnt how to get down it! Other than that it has not been a problem for us, nor any of the guests we (used to)have. It didn't put us off buying it, and we have recently sold on with plenty of interest. The steps down into the garden did annoy me however.
Carolina
5 years ago
We have two steps down from the entry hall into the rest of the house. Never been a problem.
PRO
OnePlan
5 years ago
As long as whoever is in the house is aware of the step, it should be ok. So look to add lighting and floor finish changes to make it visible. They key here is not to blend it in! It needs to stand out so it’s not going to cause people to trip.

Create sunken kitchen or keep same level?

Comments (5)

Daisy England

Sonia

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Lauren

Carolina

OnePlan

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