[jgsearls]

Here's my mission statement

"I want my kitchen tobe functional and fun to be in and light. I want to be able to enjoy my family while I cook a meal. I'd like to be able to eat in my kitchen. I want it to look comfortable and not pretentious (no faux finishes and no "Old World" anything). I want people to feel like they could pitch in and help meout or just lounge around and drink aglass of wine and yap with me while I cook. I want there to be a place for everything and everything in its place."

I have some kitchen sets on my Flickr account and have created a current floor plan using IKEA cabs...

Here's the start of my kitchen reno set of pics on Flickr..

http://www.flickr.com/photos/5800927...57594118052371

There is the current floor plan as well as photos of the current layout.







OK....what else?

We have two sinks. Dunno why. I don't need two sinks. I'd prefer one large sink. Actually, I'd prefer this sink (my parents have this sink)



http://www.homeannex.com/prodView.asp?idProduct=8111

I'd prefer a range (gas cooktop with electric oven) rather than the double ovens and cooktop. I like lots of counter space. I'm not picky about having granite or stone...I'm ok with laminates.

I like an island but I'm not sure we can fit one in here. I prefer drawers over shelves.

We're on board for new appliances. I'd like a counter-depth fridge but I'm not willing to give up on space for stuff (I have three kids after all) in the fridge.

-------------------------

Some thoughts I'd had...

--knock down the wall between the den and the kitchen to make a larger kitchen that could be an eat-in kitchen

--in the current space that houses a sink (walking in from the family room to the kitchen) rip out those cabinets and add floor to ceiling pull-out pantries

--get rid of that soffit. I know that over the current cooktop, the soffit hides the ductwork for the hood to vent to the outside

--get rid of that ridiculous peninsula



OK...everybody GO!

[chabuchie]

Have you decided on a door style? My first thought is that the long, shallow counter is a perfect place for Avsikt roll-fronts, but if you're going with one of the more traditional door styles, then that won't work.

[my3daughters]

Through which door is closest entry from the garage/front door...wherever you'll be unloading groceries from? This could help you decide where to put pantrys or at least counterspace for convenience.

I'm excited to see what Eva comes up with...

Kate

[DesignDiva]

OK...need the following info:

Dimensions of windows, and exactly how far they are from the closest wall, plus height above floor.

Ditto on doors

Are there reasons (structural) for the weird cabinets or did they just install them wonky? Are the corners of the room square, or are there weird chases and such?

Current locations of gas, electric, water and venting and possibility of changing the locations

What walls are you willing to open up or remove? I know that wall between den and kitchen, what about FR and kitchen? How about relocating doorways? Do you have someone who can do that sort of demo and construction?

What is the function of that closet, and is it a keeper or able to be deleted?

What is your family composition and lifestyle, in terms of kitchen use? Do you make lunches for kids, have large family gatherings, just two for dinner most nights, etc. How do you shop, weekly at the grocery store, bulk shop like Costco, lots of fresh veggies, lots of frozen foods...?

What appliances would you love to have? Ice maker? Wine fridge? Steam oven? Dream big LOL What size range? 36", 48" or regular 30"?

Tell me what you envision using the island for.

Lighting needs to be improved, for sure.

Oh yeah, one other tiny item...what's your budget?

[jgsearls]

Have you decided on a door style? My first thought is that the long, shallow counter is a perfect place for Avsikt roll-fronts, but if you're going with one of the more traditional door styles, then that won't work. chabuchie...I could go more modern but my husband isa bit more traditional. He wants wood - not thermafoil. I think we're leaning towards Adel (med brown or birch) or Kalsebo.


Through which door is closest entry from the garage/front door...wherever you'll be unloading groceries from? This could help you decide where to put pantrys or at least counterspace for convenience.
my3daughters - the door to the family room leads to the garage so that's most likely the door we'd use to bring in groceries and stuff

Eva..here are answers to your questions...

Dimensions of windows, and exactly how far they are from the closest wall, plus height above floor.
The window that's over that wacky eating counter is 49 3/4" tall and 30" off the ground. It's 66 3/4" wide.It's 15 3/4" inches from the wall that butts up to the dining room. It butts up to the cabinets on the other side. It also has a radiator underneath that's 36" wide by 20" tall.

The window that's in the den is 56" tall and 24" off the ground. It's 43 1/2" wide. It also has a radiator underneath that's 36" wide by 20" tall. It is 14 1/2" from the wall.

Ditto on doors
The doorsways are all 36" wide (outside edge of molding to outside edge of molding). There are no actual doors in the kitchen.

Are there reasons (structural) for the weird cabinets or did they just install them wonky? Are the corners of the room square, or are there weird chases and such?
As far as I know the cabinets are all original to the house (ca 1942). So, I'm guessing that they didn't have corner cabs back then? Who knows. I believe that the corners of the room are square - at least the ones that I can see.
Current locations of gas, electric, water and venting and possibility of changing the locations

What walls are you willing to open up or remove? I know that wall between den and kitchen, what about FR and kitchen? How about relocating doorways? Do you have someone who can do that sort of demo and construction? The only wall we're willing to remove right now is the wall between the den and the kitchen. The family room is a step down and most of the kitchen wall on that side actually butts up to the garage. In the very far future, I'd like to knock down the wall between the kitchen and the dining room - but that's waaaaay far away. We can get someone who can do that sort of demo and construction.

What is the function of that closet, and is it a keeper or able to be deleted? Right now, the closet serves no real function. My husband is loathe to lose it because he argues that you can never have enough closet space. I'm not tied to it so I could lose it.

What is your family composition and lifestyle, in terms of kitchen use? Do you make lunches for kids, have large family gatherings, just two for dinner most nights, etc. How do you shop, weekly at the grocery store, bulk shop like Costco, lots of fresh veggies, lots of frozen foods...? 1 mom, 1 dad, 1 boy-6, 1 boy-4, 1 daughter-2. We do make lunches for the kids, we'd like to have large family gatherings now that we've moved home. Most nights dinner is for 5-6. We shop weekly. Not a lot of bulk shopping. Lots of fresh veggies. Not so much frozen foods so I'd rather have a bottom mount fridge.

What appliances would you love to have? Ice maker? Wine fridge? Steam oven? Dream big LOL What size range? 36", 48" or regular 30"? I'm not dying for any fancy appliances, actually. A 36" range would be fine - I'd be fine with 30" even. Don't need an ice maker (but the fridge must have a water dispenser). Nah on the wine fridge or steam oven. Really, I'd just like the basics (and I'd like them to have been made within the last 2 years LOL)

Tell me what you envision using the island for.In my dreams, food prep. In reality, sorting mail LOL.

Lighting needs to be improved, for sure. Amen sistah

Oh yeah, one other tiny item...what's your budget? I'd like to keep it less than $12K.

[GardenOfDarwin]

We're with you jgsearls! Go eva, go eva! She's asked most of the most important questions. I'd follow up with ones about your door style if you haven't already stated it elsewhere, and what kind of feeling you want to have (stylistically, i.e., traditional, modern, etc.)

I'm probably overlooking your statements to the same elsewhere, but I admit it. Tonight, I'm lazy.

Susan

[GardenOfDarwin]

Wow, I'm really late to the party tonight. I swear I started that post hours ago.

Susan

[DesignDiva]

How far from the closest wall are the doors?

[jgsearls]

Which doors?

[PaigeCT]

jgsearls, how high are your ceilings? And where does the door in the den lead to?

Off the top of my head, I would definitely knock the den wall down.

I would also keep the shallow counter area under the window. It's an excellent phone/bill paying/mail area, and there really isn't much else you could do with it since the DR doorway is right there.

I'm too tired to think of anything else tonight. Tomorrow is another day . . .