I’m planning my kitchen’s layout with the help of the kitchen planner application. It is necessary to fill in this blank the first time. One wall at that area is highlighted in blue in the planner photos. Would appreciate comments on the strategy and recommendations if there are more effective ways to accomplish these objectives:
Spacious and Airy Ambience(to the extent possible): It’s a very small space, so did not want to fill it with cabinets and opted to NOT use any upper cabinets.
Easy access to essentials: Having them at eye level as much as possible. This has been a challenge, and have been able to accommodate 1 tall unit as of now. The current plan for the tall unit is to have either a compact oven (60 cm x 45 cm) and a dishwasher below, that would make them easier to use. This however, has resulted in having to add under counter cabinets. Ideally, I would love to have something like this which may not be possible with this space. But, I would still like to limit the total no. of cabinets as far as possible. The dishwasher is just a placeholder and may eventually be used as a pantry storage space. To allow for this, I have used a separate single bowl sink at the far right end, to be used exclusively for washing dishes.
Separate clean and wash areas: For the general kitchen sink for rinsing veggies, fruits etc.,washing rolling pins, knives etc, there is a large sink across the gas stove.
Not block direct natural light: There are light paths from the dining table end, and the single bowl sink end. So, that’s another reason did not add top wall cabinets in the kitchen anywhere.
Have collision free working space when 2-3 people work on the kitchen simultaneously: I did explore the option to have a galley kitchen by moving the peninsula counter along the sink side. However, 3 just 3-3.2 ft space between the galley counters, it would be difficult for more than 1 person to work in the kitchen. The current peninsula counter will allow for more degree of freedom when 2-3 people work in the kitchen.
Include dedicated dining area: This is the only possible space for the dining area in the entire house. Will probably style it so that it looks more cozy and distinct from the cooking area.
Add cabinet for cutlery OR Oven above the double bowl sink: Is that practical/feasible?
Issues:
The double bowl sink, will not have too much counter around it, so not sure how bad the water spillage will be around it.
There should be a minimum of 3 ft gap between any 2 surface as per the plan, but just wondering about the movement of large appliances such a refrigerator in a 3 ft gap. In any case, the dining table can be moved, and also, the peninsula counter can be movable as well if required.
Any other obvious flaws that I am missing and if there is a way to include another tall unit without it feeling too much OR just a better way to do all of the above.
It’s intriguing to observe how your design evolved; I believe you’ll love using that kitchen for cooking.
Happy to provide my two cents. By the way, is it possible to put pots and pans on that empty wall space? Show off your beautiful cookware if you have some!
@Anne I’m grateful. Yes, we’ve come a long way from our starting point. The refrigerator was the primary alteration, however it also contributed to other changes. The idea of having a refrigerator a little farther away from the stove still requires some mental adjustment. However, this helped bring all the components together in this area. I appreciate your comments and recommendations!
@Jason Purchasing Donald Silvers’ “Kitchen Design With Cooking in Mind” ten years ago completely changed the way I thought about kitchen design. Look for a copy. It’s incredible.
Could you please change the eating area to the wall’s opposite side where the single sink is displayed? In this manner, your kitchen remains intact and unbroken by the wall. Additionally provides space for two L-shaped counters in a single “room.”
@Bailey I appreciate your response. The only place in the entire house where there is a chance to have more miscellaneous storage is that extremely little space, measuring barely five feet. I believe the table will fit extremely tightly there, making entry and exit difficult. The primary concern is that the space feels cramped, therefore the goal is to spend as little time there as possible.
I keep losing the draft of my comment, so I’ll give you my takes quickly (i.e., I’m being brief not rude):
You’ve got to provide the basics (e.g., adequate storage & prep space) before you add amenities like multiple sinks.
Could you use something like Bocchi’s hideaway sinks (bocchiusa.com), which can convert to a variety of work spaces? I have no experience with them, but they’re pretty slick on the screen.
(Avoid drop-in sinks if your countertop permits.)
An open, airy kitchen can still have cabinets, but no amount of natural light will compensate for inadequate storage.
You can brighten the space in other ways: under cabinet LED lights, a couple good fixtures or even a skylight if possible. And, of course, choose a cabinet finish that plays nice with your blue.
Your kitchen would be difficult for me to work in, alone. I can’t imagine asking friends to collaborate on a meal in there. One of us would have a chef’s knife between the shoulders in 20 minutes.
A dishwasher isn’t optional, either, for someone who wants to cook with/for groups of friends. It has to go next to a/the sink.
Go with a single basin sink. The dishwasher has made the second basin redundant. A double basin sink can’t accommodate cookware that a single basin can, such as a large roaster or even a 9 by 13 baking dish.
Don’t break up your counter space into bits. One or two large surfaces are easier to work in than five small ones.
A refrigerator in a corner will piss someone off every day or two.
Be inventive with storage. Keep cutlery on a magnetic bar attached to the side of a cabinet, not in drawers. Hang pots & pans from the ceiling if your space allows. Find a pantry cabinet that opens up when you need access to contents. Use corner units with your cabinet bases to avoid dead space. And if you have room, furr out the cabinets bases so the fronts are 30 inches from the wall instead of the standard 24. Cover them with 30 inch deep counters & you will have 25% more space.
Good luck! Just be sure your imagination isn’t writing checks that your kitchen can’t cash.
@Anne I appreciate your feedback. We have taken note of everything mentioned above and changed the layout. We’ll be uploading it shortly; perhaps, it will be more useful. created a kitchen table by combining the prep and dining areas. Still, a few things from your post…Would you kindly clarify the following? 1. What is the problem with a corner refrigerator? 2. Won’t the base cabinets become significantly more costly if they have extra depth added to them? Would it be possible to add a tall unit pantry?
@JasonIf the door opens to the left, you won’t be able to fully open it, and it’ll often hit the wall. You might also struggle with the crisper drawers. If the door opens to the right, it will block traffic flow. Moving food from the fridge to the prep area will require you to close the door or squeeze past it. If you’re handling something big—like a turkey—you’ll need to close the door with your shoulder, which can be a hassle, especially if others are helping in the kitchen.
When designing a kitchen, it’s important to balance aesthetics and functionality. For me, functionality always wins. A kitchen that’s pretty but difficult to work in isn’t practical.
Instead of custom 30-inch deep cabinets, use standard 24-inch cabinets, but install them 6 inches out from the wall. Then, use a 30-inch countertop to cover the gap. That extra space lets you keep appliances like a toaster or coffee maker against the backsplash while still having enough prep space.
Your space might be tight, but it’s worth considering!
@Anne I appreciate your explanation. I looked about for a location for the refrigerator, but since the kitchen and dining area are combined, I can’t think of a way to avoid putting it where this problem will be fixed. There is always a problem, in one form or another, on one side. And I can’t unsee it now that I know what the problem is. ❹️
Take a couple of deep breaths & unclench all four cheeks
I don’t know how much flexibility you have with cabinet placement, replumbing, rewiring & so forth. I don’t know the dimensions of your appliances. And I don’t have much esthetic sense. But -
When you pass through the entryway & turn right, the end of that space is where I’d try to put the refrigerator. You’ve got a plumbing hookup there, so you can get ice & chilled drinking water. And you might have room for pocket shelves in the gaps to the left & right of the fridge.
You also have windows on the back wall. A refrigerator would block them. So what? If that bothers you, then shorten them to fixed clerestory windows.
You’d have to move the sink up a base so you can open the fridge doors, but you can reclaim that space from the corner where the fridge used to be.
I’ll stop here 'cos it’s my bedtime. But let me know how this initial confirmation would work.
@Anne I appreciate the recommendations. I therefore attempted to position the refrigerator near the entrance. I attempted two methods:
Choice 1
Option 2: In reality, this leaves a dead space to the left.
It appears that neither has room for an oven. To put things in perspective, I want my combi steam oven to be close to the plumbing line because I plan to purchase one eventually. Something like this, a tall unit with a raised dishwasher, was what I intended to add. You can relocate the dishwasher to the far end, into the small opening near the window. However, the oven is now.sigh The only location is above the counter next to the sink, which is across from the cooking range. This seems unworkable, so it’s back to the drawing board:(
@Jason You want to locate a reliable kitchen planner who can measure the area in person, in my opinion. You have high standards and an extremely difficult area. A little cash will make a big difference.
@Anne That was the first thing I did. The majority of the recommendations were limited to top and bottom cabinets. I’ve now had conversations with two or three separate folks. In any event, I appreciate your advice; I believe I have nearly achieved my goal. I’ll share the finished design. Once again, thank you!
If the door opens to the left, you won’t be able to fully open it, and it’ll often hit the wall. You might also struggle with the crisper drawers.
If the door opens to the right, it will block traffic flow. Moving food from the fridge to the prep area will require you to close the door or squeeze past it. If you’re handling something big—like a turkey—you’ll need to close the door with your shoulder, which can be a hassle, especially if others are helping in the kitchen.
When designing a kitchen, it’s important to balance aesthetics and functionality. For me, functionality always wins. A kitchen that’s pretty but difficult to work in isn’t practical.
Instead of custom 30-inch deep cabinets, use standard 24-inch cabinets, but install them 6 inches out from the wall. Then, use a 30-inch countertop to cover the gap. That extra space lets you keep appliances like a toaster or coffee maker against the backsplash while still having enough prep space.
