What’s the best layout for kitchen/diner/family space

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

Hi all,

We are building a rear extension to create a large open plan family living area. We will still have a separate living room as don’t want to go too open plan. It’s nice to still have quiet space. We are expecting our first child in June (but the house won’t be ready till Oct id think) and hope to have another in a few years time. Trying to build a house for us to grow into.

in desperate need of layout help...

MUST haves:

kitchen island (not peninsula)

American fridge freezer

5 burner hob

dishwasher

dining table to seat 8-10 as I like entertaining.

small casual seating area for playing with the baby. Was hoping for a 2-seat sofa but think armchairs more space practical probably.

storage for kids toys etc

what do you think is the best layout we can achieve?

current plan from the architect below but I don’t think this gives us enough kitchen cabinet space/pantry storage. (Half the pantry is taken up by the boiler...) and possibly too much casual seating area.

is there a better option?

ive also made a version that makes the kitchen bigger and at the rear... what are your thought?

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HU-378460014
Original Author

3 years ago

Yes that’s correct. Though they wil actually be bifolds so we can open them right out in summer.

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Comments (10)

Ellie
3 years ago
Have you tried out rotating the island and/or table by 90 degrees so dining table is along length of doors?!

I'd make sure you leave at least 70cm wall space either side of doors so you can put any units. I wouldn't want my armchairs/sofa in front of the glass.
PRO
The Kitchen Lady UK
3 years ago
Hello, What an exciting year you have ahead!

I love having a seperate sitting room to the kitchen/diner. It's going to be a beautiful space but be careful not to overcrowd it to lose the feeling of space. I think your own layout is getting warmer, I would look at using the back wall (connected to the sitting room) for your sink run, then have a large island with your hob and seating running parallel so that the long side keeps you looking out of the window whilst you cook. All your tall storage, ovens, Fridge/Freezer are then grouped behind the door coming in (where the architect has drawn the FF and WD). This then gives you the full width in front of the new windows for your large table which if it extends, you'd have space for comfortable seating down this end too.

This layout keeps lots of people facing the garden and also keeps the wall clear if you do decide to do the second extension at a later date. If you'd like to bounce some more ideas around and see this drawn up, feel free to get in touch www.coveykitchens.co.uk

Good Luck!

Emily x
HU-378460014 thanked The Kitchen Lady UK
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hi - with this new door configuration it opens up further possibilities - safety wise it's best to move your hob in from the edge of the island - so pan handles are less 'knock able ' designing to suit rooms is ok - but much better to design to suit the people using the room too ! to do this effectively a good designer will need to find out as much as possible about you and the members if your family - how you cook/ shop how often you entertain etc etc it takes time and when done well provides the best results for the room. this is what I do for a living - I don't sell product - purely design !- so instead of offering 'free design ' like studios do ( then making margin on the products you buy) - I charge a fee to design and then you shop around and get the best deal saving much more than the design fee in the process ! so you can see with this in mind - I can't design it for free for you on this thread - but happy to take it further in a professional capacity if you want to drop me an email ! ( nb we are concept designers who can take on whole houses too - so could look at the project in entirety too if needed - as what you do with each room has a knock on effect on the next ! ) kind regards Karen OnePlan
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I'm not sure about going for bifold or patio doors onto the garden. They might not be so practical for going in and out to take the rubbish and children coming and going. Also might restrict your seating options. How about a door as the photo shows and then a large low window with a window seat. The window could open completely in summer to allow people to sit either side of the wall. I'd make sure you fit in a tv too. You have young children and sometimes it really is helpful to be able to put on cbbc etc at the table. I know ideally children shouldn't watch so much television but if it means they sit at a table rather than on floor in front of tv it's helpful.
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Good morning Hazel, Here's a link to a guide on small extensions under permitted development, if you haven't already looked at. https://interactive.planningportal.co.uk/mini-guide/extensions-single-storey/0 Once you have more idea on the construction of the extension and the exact dimensions, you'll be able to properly assess the internal space you have. You are correct in saying that it wouldn't be ideal to have to walk through the living space into the extension for the dining room. The proposed extension itself may not be ideal for a living/family area once a sofa and TV are in, as this won't leave much space for an external bi-fold/sliding door. Another option to explore is moving the kitchen to the left and having the living/family room to the right hand side (where the kitchen is currently situated). This will then mean the extension will hold the dining space.
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My family have a thing for banquettes and have had many examples over the years. Currently I’ve got a 4m fitted wooden bench that’s longer than the table and my sister has a beautiful curved upholstered bench on the back of an island with a curved dining table. Just saying we both feel it’s worth the effort to make them because we know from experience how they become a favourite and well used space. The good thing now is that you can buy comfortable freestanding benches at the moment. Good luck
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rinked
3 years ago
I like what you did with the cutouts, but aisles aisles aisles and clearances ;)

Tried to move around a bit with the architect's drawing, here's what I came up with:

Personally I'd forget about the island, as playing kids require space. Visitors do too.

But since it is a MUST, I think this could be a good location. Views towards garden, leaves plenty room for an extendable dining table. Hob and fridge against reception wall, oven(s) and storage next to loo. Armchair and box playpen for now, toy cubbies later.
HU-378460014 thanked rinked
rinked
3 years ago
Reading Covey Kitchen's comment now I guess they meant something similar :)
dmkalinowska
3 years ago
Hi. We have a back room similar to this and 3 small kids!! here are my thoughts: kids need space! they have friends over and toys. We have rearranged our layout loads and found it’s very helpful to be Able to be flexible So for this reason I prefer the architects design for the location of the kitchen - as it’s to the side and then you can be flexible with the whole other half of the space.( It will also give you much more scope for a future side extension without redoing the whole kitchen). assuming You have full height storage across the whole back wall behind the door you will be able to contain all the kids toys as well as surplus kitchen bits. I would keep any non-day-to-day Crockery, baking bits etc along this back wall and keep only the everyday kitchen bits along the main kitchen wall. You could maybe keep the boiler in this area also so it doesn’t take up space in the kitchen.

i would however switch the dining and seating area putting the dining table at the back (squeeze it even running along the storage wall) and keep the whole area By the garden for a sofa and a play area. You will find with small kids this is the area that is used most. When you’re entertaining you just twist the dining table and extend it running towards the garden. And if you don’t like it you have the flexibility to swap the dining and seating area. (We have been known to swap ours with the seasons! If you like entertaining I highly recommend keeping that run free of an island since the island can’t be moved! Hope this makes sense.
HU-378460014 thanked dmkalinowska
HU-694900881
3 years ago
It looks like your sliding doors are the only access to the garden.
HU-694900881
3 years ago
Sorry didn’t finish my comment- it looks like your only access to the garden is through the sliding doors?. Bear in mind that once you have small children and are at home more, you will need to access garden more, in all weathers and temperatures. Going out to bins, hanging washing, children out and in etc so the outside elements ( wind, rain, snow, cold air, mud etc )will constantly be coming into your kitchen diner. I would definitely make sure you allow for a shoe/ boot rack by these doors. We are planning an extension as I am fed up of years of traipsing through rain and mud just to nip to bins, go to tumble drier in garage etc, via the back door in kitchen and there’s absolutely nowhere to keep shoes by back door.
Re layout of kitchen - there’s lots of choices -only advice I would give is to make sure the fridge is next to a work surface and not blocking any Routes through kitchen. Again, with children on the scene you will be using and restocking it a lot more than now. Just think through the actions of getting things out and putting away.
Lawrence Meakins
3 years ago
Hi where are you putting the dishwasher if sink is on island as should be close to sink, if on island then will be directly opposite hob which is a bit dodgy when dishwasher open, looks tight between island and run of units - should try and get 120 if possible, especially if dishwasher is the gap between island and run of units. There is a theory that if right handed dishwasher should go on left of sink, also google kitchen triangle and make sure all works.
Jean Greenfield
3 years ago
We did a similar extension a couple of years ago. I would think about putting your kitchen against the back wall so you can take advantage of your garden when using the seating and dining areas. This puts your kitchen at the heart of the house, not too far from living room or the front door for bringing shopping through plus gives you more wall space for cupboards

What’s the best layout for kitchen/diner/family space

HU-378460014
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Ellie

The Kitchen Lady UK

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What’s the best layout for kitchen/diner/family space

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