Kitchen-Diner layout advice

3 years ago

Hi Houzzers!

How would you layout this kitchen and dining space please?

I have attached an extract from our approved planning drawings (omitting the indicative kitchen cabinetry and dining table layout).

Details:

We have decided not to go fully open plan with the whole back of the house, so this is our proposed kitchen and dining area
The opening bottom left leads to a flexible family space (snug/ play area)
I am sure we could tweak the bifold and window positions/ sizing if appropriate
The thinking behind the skylight positioning and sizes is to bring as much light as possible to the areas at the existing rear of the property but again I’m sure minor tweaks could be made
We will have a door into the Utility space but I have omitted this as we are not sure on door type/ opening direction
The existing plumbing and utilities are down the right hand side of the property
We would like to incorporate an island if possible, but only if this is practical size-wise

All input gratefully received as I have been mulling over what’s best for a fair few weeks now!! Many thanks.

Featured Answer

rinked

3 years ago

A peninsula will fit, without stools.

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Comments (19)

Ellie
3 years ago
So this space 4200 x 7200 has to include what? All kitchen units except washing machine? An island? If so, any stools and for how many? Dining table for how many?

Is that all?

The doorway into this space is in the opening in the middle? Is there going to be an actual door or is is just an opening?

Is there a reason for a window rather than just a slightly bigger sliding door opening?
Dee Russ
Original Author
3 years ago
Hi Ellie, thanks for your reply

Yes - all kitchen units apart from washing machine and tumble dryer

Island preferable if space allows, with stools for 3 (we wouldn’t want a hob on island but would consider locating a sink there)

We have an existing dining table at 1.4m (extendable to 2.2m) x 0.9m that we plan to have in this space

It‘s just an opening into this space, no doors and we’d like to keep it that way

We’d like a window that opens for ventilation/ removal of cooking smells (rather than opening all the bifolds) but no other reason really - we just envisaged half of the space incorporating bifolds and the other half housing a window - could reconsider this
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rinked
3 years ago
Please create a kitchen design before deciding on rooflights.
Wumi
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Is the doorway leading to the kitchen on the left or central? Could you post the entire ground floor for reference?
keiblem
3 years ago
I agree in the main with what rinked has proposed. The kitchen is better at that end because the window allows for more base units and you have a nice flow from the opening in the bottom left hand corner through to the dining and on into the garden. You did however say you didn’t want a hob on an island so I guess that would also apply for a peninsula so I would have the hob on the back wall. I also think the peninsula needs to be shorter because currently it ends too close to the utility door which is an accident waiting to happen.
cannonja
3 years ago
Russ

I would mirror your full layout

Kitchen on left and dining on right

It won't feel cramped in the corner

Also recommend sliders as they don't use outside space compared to bifolds, and have less frames

Don't worry about pipes being moved, as its a simple job to change a few wastes and move water pipes
Wumi
3 years ago
Depending on where you’re entry point into the kitchen is I would agree with @cannonja

More space for units on the left of kitchen.
Dee Russ
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks @rinked and @keiblem - that gives us food for thought...

@rinked - what would you do with the skylights in your suggested layout?

@Wumi - it’s a bit messy but the attached should help!
rinked
3 years ago
last modified: 3 years ago
Probably somewhere here:

Between peninsula and utility corner is about 115cm, by the way.
keiblem
3 years ago
Seeing the wider view I still think rinked has the better idea. Family/play area flowing into the dining area and then on into the garden. Kitchen units running under the window.

Also the benefits of seeing the wider view is an opportunity has been thrown up that might improve the flow even more. Currently you have a vestibule in the utility that encroaches into the proposed kitchen area and doesn’t seem to be serving any useful purpose. If you removed that thin wall you would have direct access outside from the kitchen. You could then fix a door into the main wall directly into the utility. This would mean the peninsula could stay the same size or you could instead have an island.
rinked
3 years ago
Downside of changing the kitchen location would be less space around the table..

And keiblem has a very good point there!
Dee Russ
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks houzz://user/keiblem. I am minded to agree with you about flow, and foregoing the ‘vestibule’ between the Kitchen area and Utility/ side door could be a sensible option.

If we were to do that, where would you place the island and what size would you go with? Not averse to the peninsula idea, just keen to understand both choices.
keiblem
3 years ago
I actually think a peninsula would work better in this situation but you did say you would like an island.

As a rule of thumb the minimum distance between the island and the base units should be 1000mm. Optimum 1200mm. That applies to both sides facing the base units. You would then of course need to allow for access to the kitchen door and utility.

Once you have worked that out you then need to decide if the island will be big enough for how you plan to use it. Houzz has an Expert Advice page about kitchen islands. This link is also quite useful.

https://saffroninteriors.co.uk/your-guide-to-kitchen-islands/
Dee Russ
Original Author
3 years ago
Good afternoon All,

Thanks to your advice and with the added benefit of an in-store kitchen design appointment (to test the original plan), we have had a rethink on our previous configuration.

The attached sketch shows our latest thinking.

This removes the proposed Utility to the side and a section of the existing external wall, with the side door relocated further down the wall, opening up the space. We can then get a longer run of kitchen and wall units in, as well as an island, and full-width bifolds or sliders across the back.

Rather than pursuing the Study/ Lobby 'middle room' idea, a separate Utility Area is created in part of this area, with a much smaller extended hallway/ lobby. And the 'zoned' Snug/ Play Area is preserved to reflect our preference to not go fully open plan.

Feels like an improvement to us! What do the rest of you think? All comments welcomed please.
Ellie
3 years ago
You are doubling the length of your hallway but I think it's wasted space. Also think the bottom right of kitchen is wasted space, do you need a side door when you've 6m wide doors in the same room?
Ellie
3 years ago
Is the shower room your only downstairs loo? Off so, I don't think you should have to go through your utility to go to toilet.
keiblem
3 years ago
I am sorry to say I don’t think it works. The front of the house looks cramped and the extra space created in the kitchen looks superfluous to requirements.

Do you have a dimensioned plan of the current ground floor contained within its external walls?
Dee Russ
Original Author
3 years ago
Thanks Ellie and Kieblem...

I think I might have confused things by not posting the whole of the downstairs (I focused on the areas where there are changes) - but will see if I can rectify that later - and perhaps an existing floor plan as well.

A dining table will also be in the extended area to the rear of course.

Kitchen-Diner layout advice

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