Here’s the situation we’re dealing with. The House has a tiny kitchen that we are going to gut and redo. The current kitchen looks like this:
The layout is a stubby U with a stove directly across from the dishwasher. Where is the fridge, you ask? Why it’s in ANOTHER ROOM. There isn’t enough room for it here because there is a door right next to the dishwasher and a door right next to the stove. In fact, the photo taker was standing in one of those doors to take this photo, so you can see how small the room is. Across from the sink is a wall with nothing on it, because a full-sized cabinet would jut too far out into the room.
The room to the left of the kitchen (through the door by the dishwasher) is a breakfast nook. We could knock down the wall between the kitchen and breakfast nook to expand the kitchen, even though it’s a load-bearing wall. If we expanded the kitchen, we would have more space, but the window in the breakfast nook is too low for a countertop to sit below it. Here’s a peek at the breakfast nook:
Now, we don’t want to do anything with that window (such as fill it in) because that seems like a heck of a lot of unneccessary work.
So I have spent multiple DAYS using the Ikea home planner to come up with a suitable layout and I’m about at my wit’s end. I have a layout that would work if we decided not to knock down the walls. Here it is:
Yes, it’s super small. But we could get a tiny bit more storage with the skinny 12″ deep cabinets on the back wall as well as some large open shelves above it. And don’t even get me started with the cabinet that is supposed to float ABOVE the fridge. YOU FIGURE IT OUT!
But what if we decided to knock down the wall into the breakfast nook? Well I’m only about this far into that design because I don’t know WHAT TO DO!
So here’s where you come in. What would you do? Would you keep the small kitchen, and if so, how would you move things around? Would you knock out the wall? And if so, where would you put everything? Bonus points to the people who decide to play around with the Ikea home planner themselves and show us a graphic of what they would do! Here are photos of the two options with dimensions for those who choose to excel.
Kitchen With Current Walls:
Kitchen With Added Breakfast Nook Space:
You should be able to click on any of these graphics to see the larger size. Now show me your inner designer/architect! I know you’ve got it in you!!!
August 24th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
If I currently had the time to play with the room design thing I would but I’ll give you my 2 cents anyhow. I think the space issue in regard to the moving about is fine if you don’t knock down the wall, however you have minimal counter space. Personally I would knock down the wall solely for more space whether it be counter or otherwise. I know you said the window was too low for a counter but there are other walls right? What about one of those kitchen tables/bench combos? Something like this
http://www.amazon.com/CORNER-KITCHEN-DINING-TABLE-BENCH/dp/B0006VY07M
but smaller? You and Matt could custom build it to size right? Then at the very least you’d have some more table space if need be.
I think it’s a matter of preference. Would you rather have more storage space, counter space, or walking space? I’ll ask J what he thinks when he gets home from school…
good luck!
August 24th, 2009 at 1:48 pm
yeah, i’d definately like matt to build a built-in corner bench (with storage!) in the breakfast nook. as for preference, i’d rather have the max amount of storage space. i can live w/ limited counter space.
this is what i’m thinking of so far…. knocking the wall down and having a small eating space:
http://verbalintent.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/08/kitchen11.jpg
August 24th, 2009 at 4:08 pm
adam will love this assignment!!
August 24th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
I like that latest version, Priscilla. Maybe some stools for the island?
I’d knock down the wall and go for more counter space.
If I didn’t knock down the wall, I’d ditch the dishwasher and get the fridge in the kitchen.
August 25th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
having given myself more storage space in our kitchen when we redid it, i wish i had more counter space. argh. the grass is always greener.