Kitchen/family room help needed

2 months ago

Hello. Have bought a 1920’s bungalow and am doing a loft conversion and knocking down a wall to create open plan kitchen/family room. Really struggling with the layout. Been to a few places who have given different options such as units round 3 walls with peninsula, one or two walls with island etc. Was thinking of having a dining table too but not sure if that would be too much. what do you think? The ceilings are high and theres a bay window at the front and will be patio doors at the kitchen window side but they can move along a bit. We have another livingroom. These plans are architects drawings and have added a few plans we‘ve had done but would love other suggestions. Could make kitchen window longer like a kitchen window if that wall was left blank. Room is 3.8 x 9m. Thanks 🙂

m x 9 m. Thanks

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Chenjerai Design

2 months ago

Based on the information you have provided, I would go with the island (mobile) and add some shelving on the empty wall. This will allow the light to flow through the room and ensures there is space to move around. This option is only suitable if it offers you enough storage space, remembering that storage can be placed even in the kick boards. Keep the dining table as this integral to a family space. I hope this is helpful

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Comments (15)

Jonathan
2 months ago
Although I like the island idea it’s not very big and the island doesn’t have a particular purpose. In conclusion if you want this second sitting area the peninsula design gives you more storage, more room for appliances and more working space.

You might want to consider how useful it is to have a second sitting area and if you might want this room to accommodate a dining table at the end with a bay window and then a bigger kitchen with a longer island.

As far as the plan goes I prefer the box canopy for the extractor, there is no obvious bin on the plan and I think the absence of wall cabinets means insufficient storage for glassware and mugs.
pjmcfadyen thanked Jonathan
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The two L-shaped sofas were a mistake. Even one of those is just an awkward thing to sit on for two people. I'm all for trying to work with the things you have, but this will always be difficult to configure. Can you post one or more photos taken from the other side of the room? So we can see the current dining area? I wonder if you can move the bookcase to the short wall, the dining table to that end of the room, one sofa to where the bookcase now is and sell the other one so you can get two chairs that you can place in front of the sliding window, at an angle, facing the sofa. But it depends on what this side of the room looks like. In all honesty, I'd rehome both sofas and get a 'normal' one. Sorry.
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Isla Cherry
2 months ago
I much prefer the island layout. It looks more modern. Every layout throws up some issues. I'm not keen on the u-shape as its very restrictive and annoying to have to walk around the end of the run just to access your kitchen. That's me though and this is your house. Jonathan is correct though it is a much more efficient (if restrictive) use of space. I think you may have room for open shelves on the wall to the left of the island. Islands do not have to include seating. It depends on the view, your lifestyle and where your dining arrangement is located. I have loathed wall cabinets for about 12+ years now and would never return to them. You could have a shallow 300 deep glass storage cabinet on the left if you wanted but I store my glasses and mugs under the island. I love your second layout. To plan it properly make a list of all the items to be stored + some future empty space and then see if you have enough storage. Otherwise this is the time to get rid of things you no longer use or like. A bigger window sounds like a great idea.
pjmcfadyen thanked Isla Cherry
pjmcfadyen
Original Author
2 months ago
last modified: 2 months ago
Thanks for replies. I think if we went with the island i would have to put wall units on back wall. The island in the second picture is about 1200 x 1600. Another option might be only back units and a wider island or extensing the units down the room further, a longer island and no dining table. Its hard to visualise as walls arent down yet. Could also reverse option 2 so window/patio door wall free but then sink wouldnt be under window. 🙄 What would you do if we removed the dining table? My husband is keen to have a second sitting area in this room so dont think we would have didning table in sitting area.
Isla Cherry
2 months ago
If you have a dishwasher then the sink under the window is no longer a must. It's a quaint old custom from washing up by hand days. That sounds like a very wide island. You could get away with a 900 wide by using wall units on legs down one side and 600 deep down the other. I'm biased I love the island layout esp. the single shelf running across under the modern extractor. I would also consider range cookers unless you hate them? There are some beautiful ones available now and it consolidates all the cooking in one place. I'm no fan of wall ovens either. The most modern layouts do not include wall cabinets. Its usually a bank of storage and fridge/freezer maybe ovens etc and an island with maybe a run of low units. You don't have to have dining in this room at all, its just convenient. Its up to you how you organise your house and furniture.
H A
2 months ago
Personally I prefer the first design, the peninsula gives you a nice long run of worktop; the island gives you ‘bits’ of worktop which I think would be annoying! And I like the full height cupboard - this should provide more than enough storage - wall units will make it feel more closed in and less light and airy.
minnie101
2 months ago
I prefer the look of the island (less any wall units) but the peninsula looks more efficient. Do you have a separate dining room or utility? If not, personally I wouldnt be without a table or give so much space to seating as the existing living room is big and likely to become defunct. Do you also want island/peninsula seating? It would also help to know what you need in terms of appliances, storage etc
pjmcfadyen thanked minnie101
Jonathan
2 months ago
If you rarely use a dining table it could go in the other sitting room
pjmcfadyen thanked Jonathan
pjmcfadyen
Original Author
2 months ago
Thanks all, really helps to get some ideas. I quite like your design Jonathan and could have seats at end of island. Im off to google what wall units on legs would look like Isla, want to avoid wall units.
pjmcfadyen
Original Author
2 months ago
What about these ideas (or first one with units along sink as well)

Forgot to say dont have a utility as such but washing machine and tumble dryer will be going elsewhere. Also quite like the idea if a freestanding larder type unit on wall between kitchen and sitting area?
rinked
2 months ago
What is the size of your family (and how many bedrooms in the home)?

Asking because that is a LARGE kitchen.
pjmcfadyen
Original Author
2 months ago
There 5 of us, boys are 14, 17 and 24 so may leave home at some point. Theres currently 3 bedrooms and the loft conversion will make 4.
pjmcfadyen
Original Author
2 months ago
The kitchen part itself isnt huge, roughly 3.85 x 3.3 m ish unkess we come further down keft wall, the whole room is 9 m long
minnie101
2 months ago
The last designs feel too small for the room/house and family. Could you not shrink the living space slightly by losing the sofa in the bay (add a chair opp the sofa and a window seat for the bay if it’s deep enough) so as to increase the kitchen a bit? With 3 boys that age I would think you may need more than one FF?!

Or as Jonathan said before have a table in the living room, it’s quite a long room
madeleine_brown8
2 months ago
I like your last option with the one wall of kitchen units plus the island. Have a tall fridge freezer and a tall pantry at one end with a hob / oven zone and a sink zone close to the window.

Keep the island top free and have drawer storage. Stools either along the island or clustered at one end.

Avoiding space inefficient corners is good and clear flow around an island will give a sense of space. If you can drop your window to the floor it will give a lovely sense of space.

Kitchen/family room help needed

Chenjerai Design

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Jonathan

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