Help with designing kitchen diner please

3 years ago

Hi there,

Need help with the layout of our kitchen diner in our proposed extension. This is the current plan. The length will be approx 9.5m and the width at the kitchen end will be about 4.5m and the narrower dining end will be about 4m we think . Apologies, it hasn’t been built yet hence the approximation.

We would like to move the sink from where it is and put a large window seat there as it faces west, as with the rest of the garden, with perhaps a couple of armchairs opposite to create a family area. But where shall we put it? The doors on the left open to the south facing part of the garden onto a patio with a pergola with mature grape vines and would like to keep it that way.

My question is, do we have enough room to accommodate a kitchen/dining/family area? If so what ‘quota’ should we assign to each section if there is such a thing? How big should the island be and it’s positioning?
Any suggestions welcome! Thanking you all so much in advance!

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Comments (23)

keiblem
3 years ago
It is difficult to consider possible solutions without seeing the rest of the floor plan. However here goes.

If you want a window seat and access into the garden in what is currently the kitchen/dining then why don’t you move the kitchen to where the dining room is and convert the kitchen/dining into a living/dining room? If it is too small for a kitchen to serve your needs then you might perhaps stretch out the kitchen along the wall opposite the garden door bringing it across to create a peninsula.
tamp75
3 years ago
I agree with Keiblem. If you want seating at that end, I would put the dining table next to it with the kitchen at the other end of the space, although it looks a little restricted there with the large window & door access. But I agree it could stretch along the wall into the wider space. I don’t understand the need for such a large island with all that seating when there is a dining table within the space plus if you were sat at the island, your back would be to the garden. If the window seat area is important, I would rethink the whole layout of the room rather than just think about relocating the sink.
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You can easily do the knock though of all the separate bits with your budget, pay for it all at once and it will save in long run. ( I had to completely do a kitchen twice as I was not bold enough the first time!) I have always been on a budget, it is always possible by shopping around and haggling, and helping out with build. Get the structural work done, £1000 -£2000 each wall to come down, get nice tiles or solid wood flooring - come down in price vastly. Use ikea carcasses and have doors made up if you want an individual look. Or use some ikea doors and have the island unit in "wow" doors. Spend as much as you can on the work tops.
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If you take the 290 unit off the back run and island, I think that would be sufficient? As you've got kids I think a banquette seat would be ideal for family games, homework, crafts etc. Banquettes are around 60cm, table 90cm so that leaves 113cm which I think is more than sufficient both visually and practically as it's the same gap I have behind my kitchen table. Choose chairs that push under and consider the table legs carefully depending on the number of chairs wanted, pedestal tables often work. I would however take the sink off the island and maybe install a prep sink instead so the back run would be DW, sink, bin, induction hob (I'd integrate the oven personally). Is the shower room a must? It seems quite a trek to reach there with the number of doors unless there was a way to extend the 2nd front door forward and create access from the hall there. Also wondering if you'd considered removing the wall between snug and the old kitchen? It may make the area more useable rather than trying to fill the old kitchen
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Hi Ellie, I work with tricky layouts all the time, I've just finished one which I uploaded today on my profile called "the awkward kitchen". It's always hard looking at a space you know well with fresh eyes. I think the current kitchen needs to become the dining area with the kitchen window (I assume is garden side) perhaps turning into doors out. this then gives you the garage to create the kitchen and this could be a really fabulous space. I'm imaging the back wall of the existing garage being a bank of tall units which can be really welcoming with the right lighting. It would also keep the working area of the kitchen towards the window and in the light and social area. If you'd like to have a no obligation chat to bounce some ideas around, I'd love to hear from you and then if you'd like to take it further, I can help on either an hourly or package deal to design your perfect kitchen with you. Emily x
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Wumi
3 years ago
Agree with above comments. If you want a seating area, you'll have to sacrifice the large island and refigure the room.
Carolina
3 years ago
I agree with the rest that moving the kitchen to the current dining area might be a good option. Maybe it's a good idea to ask someone like Karen from @OnePlan to do a design for you. She's one of the pros here on Houzz. Think it'll be worth it. I'm sure she can come up with something awesome.
PRO
OnePlan
3 years ago
Thanks for the mention Carolina !
Hi Felicia - if you click on my name or icon you will see some of my past projects - including one I uploaded yesterday with a window seat ! They might give you some ideas ! We don’t sell kitchens - we just design ! To answer your dilemma -it’s important to have sink and hob reasonably close - as you don’t want to be walking too far with hot heavy pans !
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you so much for your suggestions! The house is on a very narrow plot, probably about 12m wide but very long and the area that the door opens to is only about 5m wide from the doors as the majority of the garden faces west, I.e where the window seat will be.The last of the sunlight is where the doors are (due south) hence why the patio is situated there. You are right we definitely do not need such a large island! Here is the rest of the floor plan. The new extension is circled, we are joining the garage to the house (were the proposed kitchen is) via the and the current proposed dining area) the extension is not yet built.
Hope I’m making some sense!
Than you Caroline for your suggestion and thanks Oneplan for getting in touch, what amazing designs!
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
So the area to the left opposite the kitchen is where we get the last of the sunlight hence why the doors open to this area and why the patio is situated there
PRO
OnePlan
3 years ago
Ah thanks !
... So sunshine in the kitchen first thing in the morning ? And evening sun in from the left ? Means north facing back garden and kitchen. So choose warm based colours rather than cooler ones !
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
Sorry I am confusing thins aren’t I? Sunshine in the evenings in the kitchen area (the area circled isn’t built yet, this is the proposed floor plan as per our architect drawings; the boot room and cloakroom area is our current kitchen and it faces south.
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
Garden is west facing
Wumi
3 years ago
How about something like this if it doesn't disrupt the entrance too much?

I defo think it's worth talking to a professional, @OnePlan does come highly recommended ;-)
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
Love the plan Wumi thank you! I think you are right as I feel totally out of my depth here! ;)
Ellie
3 years ago
In the original house, you need to walk through the hallway then through what is currently 2 rooms to get to the new extension. What will you do with those rooms, rather than a glorified hallway?
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
Erm, yes that’s all they’ll be I’m afraid, a glorified hallway. It is a very narrow plot and aren’t allowed to extend sideways anymore than the current plan. The first room you walk through is part of an l-shaped kitchen so it is already sort of a walkway. Here is the layout currently
keiblem
3 years ago
Ellie you are well ahead of me! That is a very long and expansive hallway. Wumi I like your design however I am concerned that there are two doors and therefore a lot of traffic running between the sink and hob. A recipe for disaster. Pardon the pun!
Seriously though Felicia now that I can see the whole ground floor plan I have my reservations. Would it be too much to ask to see a plan of what you have now?
keiblem
3 years ago
Just brainstorming here:

So you are proposing to have the boot room, WC and maybe the utility in prime spots slap bang in the middle of the main part of the house. I can see the reasoning. There is access to the side garden and it isn’t a prime spot with regards to the garden.You mentioned that you were joining the garage to the house where the proposed kitchen is. Is it your intention to have that door on the east facing wall open into the garage? If yes then could the garage be longer to accommodate a utility and boot room here? You would be able to access it from where I suggested you put your kitchen and it would free up the space in the main part of the house which might mean you don’t have to build such a long extension to the rear.
keiblem
3 years ago
Sorry I forgot to add.The existing utility and plumbing is next to where I propose you put the new utility so it would reduce your costs significantly because there would be less upheaval moving the plumbing and drains.
keiblem
3 years ago
Ah! there isn’t a door where the proposed utility is to go so, as far as I can see, there isn’t any reasoning behind putting the utility/boot room in a prime spot.
keiblem
3 years ago
Sorry to drag this out!

So if the utility/boot room is located to the rear of the garage near the existing plumbing. The cloakroom can stay where it is, you could make it bigger to encompass that larger window perhaps a shower room. The existing sitting becomes a study as re plan. The existing dining a snug and perhaps guest bedroom, hence the shower room. Then no need to make the window a door or bring the plumbing over here. Open up the existing garden room and utility to make a large sitting room. Then have a smaller and better proportioned, not to mention easier on the legs, kitchen/dining extension with window seat.

A final observation is you seem to have moved the double doors in the garden room a few inches to the left. That seems a lot of expense for little gain.
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
Sorry I had trouble with the app, had to delete and re-install! I am really grateful for your suggestions and a lot to think about.

The box st the top right hand corner of the last picture is the garage, and that’s what we are joining to the house. We can’t extend longer or wider, as it has been extended before, and the house is only about 7m wide if that. The hallway would probably about 1.5 to 2m wide if that. We have a footpath about 1m to the south facing aspect, from where the left hand side of the house is hence why we would rather not do much to that side, due to space, as you would be stepping directly onto the footpath bar a thin hedge, more’s the pity. And we are slap bang in the middle of fields with hedges surrounding us so makes planning a little difficult.
Does that make sense at all?
Really appreciate all your input!
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
But I agree putting utility room/boot too. In the middle isn’t ideal, we on,y went for that option as we use the back of the house a lot more than we do the front, the living room is on,y really used in the colder months mainly winter hence why we wanted one that we could use all year round
keiblem
3 years ago
Ah so the garage is what you propose to be the kitchen. I did wonder what that box was all about! It is all beginning to become clear. Back to the drawing board.
Felicia
Original Author
3 years ago
;) thank you and yes apologies for the confusion!

Help with designing kitchen diner please

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