new kitchen in a 200 year old house - please critique options
hi All,
We just bought a 200-year-old fixer-upper, and we would like to renovate the kitchen.
The size of the original kitchen is 510cmX260cm.
The kitchen is reachable from a hallway which is the main entrance from a patio. From the kitchen, one can access the dining room. We were thinking of removing the wall between the kitchen and dining room, but it is a structural wall and prohibitively expensive.
One option is to leave the kitchen layout more or less as is, and do a gallery kitchen, but this would not allow any room for a small sitting/breakfast area. The dining room is next door, but I don't like the idea of having to go to sit down in the dining room to drink my morning espresso.
The second option would be to remove the hallway wall (non-structural) between the kitchen and hallway. But this would make the kitchen the entry of the house. This would allow for an approx. 395cm wide and 510cm long space. In this space we could perhaps put one row of cabinets against the dining room wall and an island with sitting from the hallway side, but no other cabinets against the hallway wall.
The sink will have to stay on the window wall, due to the plumbing/evacuation.
The range cooker could move, but on the wall where currently is, it is the chimney and would make sense to leave in on this wall.
Should we just go with a gallery kitchen and no breakfast sitting, or remove the hallway wall and make the kitchen more spacious, with an island at the expense of becoming the entry of the house?
Can you please give us some recommendations?
Comments (21)
christineacy
3 years ago
rinked
3 years agoRelated Discussions
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Comments (37)Option 3 is the best one. If you have the tall cupboards at the back of the room it won‘t affect the amount of light into the room. The peninsula works better as it keeps the kitchen space together (i.e work triangle). When you enter the room you won’t need to go through the kitchen to get to the dining/living area. just because you have enough room for an island doesn’t mean it’s the best option!! You could have a ceiling mounted extractor fan like the ones from Luxair so it doesn’t block your sight lines into the dining room/garden/living area. I would definitely keep the stools as they are always used. The ideas for the pillar are brilliant for extra storage. I would only have base units as adding wall mounted units will make the area appear smaller. Perhaps you could put a larder cupboard in the utility room for extra food storage. Definitely have as much lighting as possible. You could have the lighting set out into zones (i.e kitchen/dining/living) so that you don’t have to have the kitchen lights on when you are all in the living area etc....See Morehuban
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThank you for your comments!
The house is a row house in an old village, in Switzerland. None of the exterior elements can be changed. The front door, windows can't be moved due to the historical element.
The dividing wall between the kitchen and dining room (the wall where the cooker is) is structural, and because it is a stone wall, it is really expensive to remove and get the authorization for removal.
The divider wall between the hallway and kitchen can be removed at a very reasonable price and it is not a price issue, but whether or not it makes sense, considering that the kitchen will become the entry of the house. The entrance is from our private patio/ terasse.
@christineacy - the stove could be moved into the dining room. It would be possible. The sink could also be moved into the dining room with some effort, since there is a cellar (cave) under the dining room, but under the kitchen is not excavated.
I suppose you are coming from the angle of switching the kitchen with the dining room? That would make for a spacious kitchen. The ceiling in the dining room is lower (240cm) than the kitchen (248cm). Are you thinking this would be a better use of the two spaces?
The structural wall is a mix of large stone bricks and some newer elements. Over the last 200 years it has probably been changed. I looking into removing it, but although theoretically possible, practically we can't afford to do it.
Below are a few more pictures.
Thanks
hallway
christineacy
3 years agohuban
3 years agorinked
3 years ago
Carolina
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoI think it's a charming space. Just an idea, don't look at the style, but you could possibly create a bench along the back wall with a small round table...
Park Avenue Modern · More Info
Contemporary Kitchen · More Info
Or if you take the cabinets through all around the kitchen, a small breakfast bar on the left side as you enter the kitchen from the hall...
Manhattan, NY Residence · More Infohuban thanked Carolinachristineacy
3 years agoGood morning Huban,
Unless you are absolutely sure I agree with @Susy Q, keep the hallway for boots coats etc. and protect the house from draughts (I forgot about the Swiss weather).
To make the best of the view yes change the rooms around as the present kitchen as you say could be the first place to have a hot chocolate or other tipples and then step out to enjoy the view or visa versa. If you wish, then, keeping your upstairs space private for family and close friends.
How about making this space extra comfortable rather than trying to fit a separate dining area and seating area into it. So something like these depending on the style you wish to create.
And / Or you can also get coffee tables that convert to dinning tables too, so makes it a more flexible space.
More exciting thinking and decisions ...:)
huban thanked christineacy
PROChristine Harrison Fine Art and Mosaics
3 years agohuban thanked Christine Harrison Fine Art and Mosaicshuban
3 years agorinked
3 years agolast modified: 3 years agoThank you, @christineacy :)
Here's two examples:
Left one has a lobby with fireplace, hallway wall removed. Tall storage units for shows and coats on the left. Two corners from a sectional sofa and two ottomans, this provides a comfy set for two, but also 4 if needed. Kitchen moved to diner, L-shape so a dining table will fit in (in drawing is 200x90cm). You might want to get quotes for some underfloor heating in the hallway/lobby and new ceramic tiles, as it helps dry snowy/wet footsteps faster.
Right one has a renewed hallway wall, door moved over and narrow window, as the hallway can use some light (in drawing randomly sized really) and a hallway closet. Kitchen with lots of worktop space, but only upper units on the sink wall. Chimney breast removed, sleek hood extractor on the wall with some alcoving above to hide pipe and built in lights. Dining banquette with very comfortable seats. Wood burner in recess so nobody walks against it by accident, storage on each side is always a plus.huban thanked rinkedhuban
2 years agohuban
2 years ago@rinked - thank you very much for your effort. Very thoughtful design! This could be implemented without too much trouble, and would also allow me to drink my morning espresso in the kitchen :)
May I ask you where would you put the fridge? We have plenty of storage in the back, next to the visitor toilet, for a big fridge/freezer if needed. But a tall fridge with the smallest freezer would still be preferred for convenience vs. an under the counter fridge. I find tall fridges a lot more ergonomic than under the counter, although I have never used an under the counter one. And a small freezer would be needed for ice cubes for nice gin & tonic :)
Currently there is no door on the kitchen from the hallway, just a door frame and if we leave this wall, we are not intending to install a door. Would you still recommend a window on this wall in these circumstances? You are right, the hallway is pretty dark. But as it is only for pass through, should we care? (please note, I am just trying to understand your rationale- of course more light is always better, but would we miss the hallway window?)
I very much appreciate your ideas, but I wonder if it would worth rebuilding the hallway wall if it stays more or less in place. I think we would be able to fit a shallow coat cabinet in the hallway without widening it, and I would not trade more hallway for less kitchen.
The breakfast place in the front of the window is great! We could even eliminate the radiator from this widow wall. The outside window can't be changed, due the historic element of the house.
Would you install a bar here or a corner bench or just tow chairs with a small round table?
thanks!
rinked
2 years agoJust a 30cm deep shelf and stools that go under, as it is still a traffic line.
And i imagined a built-in fridge freezer, oven next to it. Or a tall fridge model and a smaller built-in freezer in one of the other two 60cm tall units. Kitchen layout similar to this:
christineacy
2 years agoGood morning Huban, I found this image for hallway cupboard as in one of @rinked plans. :)
huban thanked christineacy
rinked