[tdavis]

So, here's the kitchen plan I am working on.

Yes, another Adel Medium Brown - but I may be changing my mind, it might be too dark for the wood that already exists in the house, and so I may move to the lighter color.

Some notes:

First, I'm working on more than the kitchen. So I'm trying to make the kitchen work, yet be affordable. The kitchen is down to the studs, with new wiring and insulation to be installed.

But, No, you cannot move the dishwasher, sink, fridge, or stove. Sorry, it's the way the house is built - concrete slab floor, flat tongue and groove wood ceiling/roof. Yes, that's right, the ceiling is also the roof. I can not afford the cost of busting out concrete to move the sink, or the re-roofing (think flat roof) to move the gas line that is in the ceiling.

There is several beams in the kitchen that hold up the roof - so that limits the height of the cabinets, plus there is also a 4x12 beam that separates the kitchen from the dining room.

Notes about the plan:

Above the peninsula portion is where the 4x12 beam is located.

I plan to use the 24x24 cabinet by moving up, and then using cover panel to make a microwave area below it. The microwave I'm looking at is from the GE line, except I want a stainless steel version.. It measures 12-5/8"x21-7/8"x17-1/4" (H x W x D). I found it today at the new HomeDepot in Concord, CA - the concept store that is supposed to be between Expo and a normal HomeDepot..

The fridge end is the near the garage service door. Too bad there are NO closets or pantry space in that area.. so I'm considering doing is actually making the cover panel hinge like a door, allowing access against the fridge for a broom closet.

The appliances:

re-use dishwasher (Stainless steel)
re-use fridge
re-use garbage disposal

new sink - I want a sink that can hold stuff, yet still have a small "prep" sink with it.

New range/stove. Old stuff was electric stove top, with built-in wall convection wall oven. Oven was ok, but I hate cooking on a electric range top. I am prepping the space for for a dual-fuel stove/range/oven combo - gas top, electric convection oven; looking for 30" in width. My preference for the stove top is one with whole is one big surface, so I can move stuff around without lifting.

Hood Vent - I'm partial to this one - Euro-Kitchen range hoods... 218 Series, 36" Wall-Mounted Hoods - they are located a few miles from me.

The modifications I am considering:

1) Lee Valley blind corner unit.
2) Making the cabinet above the fridge pull out drawers.
3) building a microwave cabinet in the corner instead of using a corner unit.
4) making the fridge cover panel into a broom closet.

As for counter tops - I was talking to a soapstone dealer today in SF, that encourages DIY! I may do it..

Backsplash is TBD - I'm considering tile (2x2 or 4x4)..

Last, looking at cork floor - I am considering do the whole house, I hate carpet.

[zeuss]

Is your house a mid-century modern house? Are your remodels going to be keeping with that design? Is so, you might consider the new Nexus YB for that mid-century mod look. Also there is a fabulous kitchen from an Eichler house done in white in our gallery.

http://www.ikeafans.com/galleries/index.php?n=175

Are you still against a gas stove with a separate wall oven?
I'll take a look at your plan and see if I can see anything.

[Narf]

Your planner version - 2007 or 2008? I ask because it seems screwy in 2008.

[zeuss]

Originally Posted by Narf

Your planner version - 2007 or 2008? I ask because it seems screwy in 2008.

It is working for me in the 2008 version....... Except it has all turned to Abstrakt White.

[zeuss]

Since it was the wrong colour in my version - Abstrakt White - I changed it to Nexus to see how it looks. ALthought the Planner doesn't offer much without wall colour, flooring, backspash etc.

One thing I saw was that the hood vent looked a little crowded with those 2 12" cabinets next to it. They don't offer that much storage space and the hood wall looks so much more dramatic with them. A great tile going all the way up would make for a fantastic focal point to this kitchen.

I also tried switching the fridge and pantry. This way, the fridge is closer to the countertop so you'd have a landing pad for fridge items.

I added one of the 12" cabinets to the 2 24" wall cabinets because I really like the modern look of all those doors exactly the same size in a row like that. I included a screen shot close up to show what I mean.

Did you know that you can fit the Lee Valley corner unit in a 36" base pulled out from the back wall a little? It allows for a slightly bigger drawer unit on the left of the stove.

This L kitchen seems to me that it would more efficient if you got rid of the penisula so you wouldn't need a second corner (I hate corners) and put in a small island instead. What do you think?

[zeuss]

Here is an example of what a wall of tile and a vent hood can look like without any other cabinets to take away from the drama:


You might have seen this photo, but I thought I show you how cool, hip and mod the new Nexus YB can look - (assuming that is what your house style is from the hints you've dropped.)


check out page 99 of the new Ikea Catalogue.(Canadian ed. I don't know if the US is different) There is the example of the row of 12" doors I was referring to in the above post.

[zeuss]

I think this island version gives you so much more space and generally works better. The 37" corner is no where near as useful as the 36" 4 drawer unit I was able to replace it with. Then instead of just an 18" drawer unit for a penisula, your island could have a 36" 4 drawer unit and a 24" 3 drawer unit, plus seating for 2. It would be much more fun and social for people to hang out with this arrangement as well. Any thoughts?

[tdavis]

Sorry, but no fixed islands.. to do an island, if it's attached down in anyway, I'd have to run electrical to it. Which is a royal PITA (concrete slabs make you cuss)

This is a city permitted job, so it has to pass multiple inspections.

I have been considering dropping the cabinets around the hood, and leaving it a bare wall with hooks/shelfs for stuff.

I did this with the 2007 planner..

I'll take a picture of the space later today when the sun is out.. It's difficult to explain the space and look..

[NBeth]

OK, no islands. But the corner can be more efficiently used if you put a 24" drawer unit into the corner facing away from the kitchen. That can be where you keep table linens, board games--whatever fits your lifestyle. You have to leave a little room for handle clearance, but if you're willing to add just a couple of inches to the total length of your pennisula, you can move up from an 18" drawer to a 30" drawer unit facing the kitchen area!

But I think there's an even better option available: would you consider extending the pennisula just a bit further? I would suggest doing that AND pulling in the pennisula a bit toward the kitchen so that you're not taking so many steps. See alt. options attached: you could easily make the last drawer in the line a bigger 24" unit with plenty of remaining clearance. If you build the pennisula this way you go from having a 37" corner cab with wasted area plus one 18" unit to having a 24" drawer base, a 30" drawer base, and an 18" or 24" drawer base! You'll store a TON more stuff this way! You could easily add an overhang on this pennisula for seating. If you do, leave off the top drawer of the 24" unit in the corner in favor of an open shelf instead: you wouldn't be able to use the upper drawer.

I went ahead and changed the other corner unit to a 36" cab, since the Lee Valley insert doesn't need more. You would buy one door and one drawer (optional) for the corner unit. Unfortunately, if you want to stick with Ikea's existing products, you can't upsize your drawer on the other side of the stove to fill all of the space you gain. Still, 18" is more usable than 15" and if you're willing to customize, Dulci has a 21" pullout mod posted somewhere around here--you would have the room to do it.

I also gave you a taller over fridge cab since it looks like it would fit, and put in a cover panel on both sides. You show a cab depth fridge but if you have a standard one you might want to use the bigger cover panels which aren't in the planner. Those panels are also thicker which is better to support the sides of the overfridge cab.

The planner opened with everything in Abstrakt white. You didn't say which doors you'll use so I just left things that way .

Hope this helps a bit!

[MonicaE]

I'm fairly sure Chimay's house is a Palmer & Krisel and not an Eichler. It's splitting hairs but had to mention it. I'd really like to see a photo of the house as described above.