[PaigeCT]

OK, so I finished grouting my tile 'splash this weekend, so I'm moving on to the breakfast room (which is really a kitchen extension, but the wall was load bearing so we couldn't tear it down) while I wait for the floor to get done in the kitchen. I already have the Varde unit pictured below. Here is how I would like to set it up:



Here is the 3D version:



By way of explanation, the double doors are actually bifold doors, and they open to the pantry. The doorway pictured perpendicular to the fridge leads to the kitchen. the weird thing going on in the bottom corner is a corner doorway that the program wouldn't accommodate. And the raised bar around the island won't be raised, but I can't get it to lie level with the rest of the Varde countertop. It will all be one piece, with two stools on the far side that aren't really visible.

So I'm trying to figure out the best use of this space. Obviously, storage and an eating area (and a place to put thefridge)were the main concerns. That's been accomplished. I'm now considering making this room into a baking center, much as Susan has done. Here are the problems I see with this:

1) therange is in the next room. Is this a big problem, do you think?

2) There is no big storage in this room. In other words, no place to store mixing bowls, sifter, etc. The small drawers in the island are excellent for things like cookie cutters, hand mixer, small appliance parts, etc. But you can't fit a cookie sheet in there.

3) If I put my Bosch mixer on this counter, the attachments would also have to be used here. This means the blender and the food processor. The blender is no big deal, since the fridge is in the room. But I will presumably be using the food processor while cooking at the range. I might hate going into the next room.

So why am I considering this? Because in my current setup, with baking stuff in the kitchen, I only have one 15" drawer for stuff like my hand mixer, measuring cups/spoons, pastry brushes, etc. etc. etc. And I love to bake, so this drawer is very full. Having all of those separate little drawers in that island would be super handy. And not havingthe Bosch mixer taking upcounter space in the main kitchen would also be nice.

So what do you think? Baking center in the breakfast room? If not, what other discreet chore could I move into the breakfast room? Coffee/breakfast center doesn't work as there is no sink.

Oh, and one more thing - - is there a logical place to add upper cabs or shelving deep enough to accommodate the storage of mixing bowls and the like? I could put something on the wall over the island, but I'm likely to keep banging my head into it while working there, no? Would a 12" deep tall pantry cab look weird on the wall between the window and the built-in pantry?

Thanks to anyone still reading!

[GardenOfDarwin]

Ooo, ooo, ooo! My speciality! The only thing I've actually DONE! Let me read, think, process and I'll get back. Just wanted to say Yippee!

Susan

[PaigeCT]

And a double yippee, because now I can send you your tile! But I'm having a killer week at work so I won't be able to make it to the post office during business hours - - hopefully Saturday?

[GardenOfDarwin]

I'm patient. I'm waiting. I'm cool. Yippee! Yippee!

Susan

[GardenOfDarwin]

Paige -- How much space do you have in your pantry? Is it a case of it's overfull and flowing, or is it sparse? I ask because I see that as potential additional storage for things like mixing bowls, sheet pans, etc. I keep all my baking ingredients in the breakfast room (misnomer for sure....baking room?), but any dump and mix boxes in the main kitchen (kids mostly do these...it doesn't involve a whole lot of actual baking).

Also, I keep all my pans in the kitchen near the oven. Never occured to me that was weird, but I guess it sort of is. Isn't a big problem, though...need to turn the oven on anyway, right? As far as the baking center being near the oven...I don't think that's necessary in a smallish kitchen. I'm not travelling miles between my island and my oven -- it's maybe 10-12 feet? Not a big deal, and much of my baking benefits from being cooler than near the oven, anyway.

As for the food processor: Well, I do actually keep my food processor in the kitchen because I do my main food prep in there. How often are you using the food processor? Would a mini kept in the main kitchen do you for every day use? The little KitchenAid ones are cute and very functional, IMHO. And Cute! Are you going to have room on the VARDE for the Bosch to reside? Are you worried about eating while staring at a mixer? (Does thinking about food cause weight gain? I swear it does!!!)

What's on the wall above the VARDE? Blank wall? Methinks shelving. What's on the wall above the refrigerator? Enough room for a 24" deep over fridge cabinet for sheet pan storage? Even just enough space next to the fridge (allowing for air circulation, of course) could lead to a narrow spot for sheet pans; think toekick mounted vertically and hinged on the long side. Several long, narrow shelves for storing pans, pizza peels, etc.

Ok, enough questions and comments. Time for feedback. Paige? You there?

Susan

[DesignDiva]

Have you seen the VARDE corner shelving unit? It would be perfect for mixing bowl stacks, measuring cups etc. And definitely a deep cabinet over the fridge. And then I would put some GRUNDTAL shelves between the two doorways.

Is there electricity in the pantry?

[PaigeCT]

Susan and Eva,

Thanks for the fast feedback! Here's more scoop.

Susan, you're right that walking into the next room for a pan is no biggie. Mixing bowls might drive me more nuts. Shelving above the Varde unit is what I was thinking. The Varde shelving is too shallow, at only 8.5 inches. I know there are other IKEA shelving options - - the ones you have somewhere in your house, with the end cap brackets- - I have them in my playroom, too. But then they will hang over the island and impair working space. Maybe that's no big deal, though.

You both suggested over the fridge. Here are my fridge issues. First, I'm thinking about putting a tv on top of thefridge on a revolving stand, so that I can watch while I'm cooking in the kitchen when DS isn't around. Re: Susan's idea for side-of-fridge storage - - I have six inches of usable space there and I love the hinged toekick idea. Brilliant! But I sort of wanted the option to possibly upgrade to a bigger fridge eventually. So I'll have to think about that.

Re: the Bosch and the food processor: there is room for the Bosch on the Varde, particularly under the shelving I will likely install. I really don't use a food processor now at all. Mine burnt out a while ago and I've only missed it once or twice. But I was hoping to use it more now that I got it as an attachment for the Bosch. Hmmm.

Eva, I have seen the Varde corner unit. I'm guessing you mean the wall shelving? Problem is, it's too shallow to hold my mixing bowls. And I love the grundtal shelves, but the wall between the two doorways is a major passageway - - from backdoor/kitchen to playroom and bathroom - - so I can't really put anything there.

Re: the pantry: there is electricity in there, because it was there when we built it. But I couldn't keep my Bosch in there, because it has a tendency to "walk" a bit on the counter and I don't think the shallow shelving would contain it. And Susan, the pantry is pretty overflowing already. It's really for food and for bulk stuff like paper towels. I have tried keeping a few pots/pans in there but it ends up getting too disorganized - - I'm not so good at multipurposing spaces!

So I could put shelving over the Varde for mixing bowls/sifter/measuring cups/flour storage tins, and store the Bosch under the shelves. Pans stay in the kitchen - - I can deal with that.

I guess the big decision is whether I'm comfortable splitting my two main cooking areas this way. Not being near the range could be an issue, as it would have been when making brownies last weekend (melting chocolate on stove while mixing dry ingredients). But if I don't, I feel like that giant workspace in the breakfast room is being wasted.

[DesignDiva]

How about a non-kitchen use? I can see you using that room for crafts, gift wrapping, homework...lots of potential there.

[GardenOfDarwin]

Paige -- I assume you've already done the purging of kitchen "essentials". If not, take a serious look at what you've got and what you need. I found that I didn't need 3 different potato peelers, but having 2 sets of liquid and 2 sets of dry measuring cups was a deal breaker. I've also been moving things around constantly (much to the distress of my dishwasher unloading crew), trying to get things just right. It's not perfect...never will be in a small kitchen, but it's very workable for me.

Re: Shelving. Have you measured your mixing bowls? Do you really know that they won't fit on the Grundtal shelves? Also, if they've got handles, you could consider hanging them. I think a wall-hung cabinet could be nice, if designed to look like it was intended to be a separate unit, rather than a solitary wall cabinet stuck in the middle of the wall. I don't know if you followed our little cabinet saga, but that little cabinet that I keep all my breakfast beverage stuff in started out as a cheapie IKEA office unit that we embellished with wood trim and painted. We also changed the hardware and added a shelf inside for functionality. Total cost? $30. Have had the unit for about 8 years...it was gathering dust (literally), out in the woodshop. Great idea that Tigger had!

You're right in that you've got to decide if it's worth it. I've really enjoyed baking much more since I've got a "set-aside" place for it. I can start a batch of bread dough in the morning while making coffee (have you read TriciaE's bread tutorials?), and leave it there, kneading in the mixer during breakfast, then let it rise without ever having to worry about it taking up counterspace in the main kitchen during the rest of breakfast or even through lunch. Ann's Italian bread recipe (makes 3-4 loaves or up to 50 rolls) can rise in peace on the island. It's really nice having that space.

The other nice thing is that since I have it set up for cooking, not eating, when I have my MIL or other "helpers" in the kitchen (other than Tigger or the kids, who I can work peacably with, for the most part), I can set them up in there to work -- OUT OF MY TRIANGLE. I don't know about you, but I'm rather territorial in my kitchen.

Ok, that's the end of my disjointed thoughts for the morning. I'll work on some more.

Susan

[PaigeCT]

I've been thinking on both of your suggestions. I'm really no closer to a conclusion, unfortunately. Eva, I already use the area for non-kitchen stuff like storage of school supplies and linens. And it will be DS' homework area when I get the countertop with the overhang. Perhaps I should leave it at that.

Susan, I have purged all of the unnecessary kitchen stuff. But I still have some stuff to add that is sort of necessary, and I'm running out of room. So it will be a question of whether to store those smaller items in the breakfast room and bring them into the main kitchen as needed, or to try to concentrate a work area out there.

And I have measured my mixing bowls. I need 11.5 inches, so the Varde shelves won't work. The Grundtal would, though.

The thing that keeps getting me stuck is not having the range within sight. I do a lot of desserts and there are often cooktop chores associated with the rest of the baking. Well, at least for brownies and frosting. Hmmm.

I'm getting my Bocsh today. Unfortunately I won't be home until this evening, but I'll then have a better idea of what fits where.

Thanks for the input! I'll start polling ya'll about color choices when I get the tools cleared out of the room (hopefully this weekend).