[urrugne]

Ze, Thank you for your help. Using the Ikea graphics makes a big difference. My kitchen guy confirms the 83", and is not so excited about the custom base. He also tells me moving the water heater from the current location is very expensive and that where I have indicated 24" of empty space between the fridge and doorway is not an empty pantry after all, but where the air conditioner is housed! (i.e. can't knock that out) So I think it is back to the drawing board.

I am going to upload the current kitchen--really, terribly ugly--and maybe you all can help me decide on some changes that will not cost thousands of dollars.

[urrugne]

This is the current layout of the kitchen. Terribly in need of an updating. The "Back Wall", not including the closet with the air conditioner equipment, is slightly less than 98". The wall with the sink has no windows or doors and can be prolonged with no problem. Ceiling height 83".

Issues:
1. Cannot move air conditioning.
2. Separating "stem" from "base" of L exposes the water pipes from water heater. Building a false wall is possible, but costly.
3. The cabinet immediately in front of the water heater must allow access to the water heater. (No appliances here.)
3. The closet that says "Unit Electrical Wiring" can be partially knocked out, but a column would remain to encase the wiring. Am not sure the exact location nor size of the remaining column.
4. Tall cabinets would require a custom base due to ceiling height.

If you look at my original post, you see that I had planned to knock out everything and leave only a "segmented L" with an island against the column. Possible but very costly. And problematic because I planned tall cabinets along the back wall.

Now I am thinking of the following, more modest plan: knocking out the walls around the fridge, the closet with the wiring, (leaving the wiring within a column) and the "breakfast bar." I would put the fridge free standing against the column and maybe add an island? I guess I will keep the appliances where they are except: move the dishwasher to the L of the sink and put a washer and dryer under the counter to the R of the sink.

Am wondering also if I can do away with all the overhead cabinets on the wall over the sink. Or maybe leave them to the L of the sink, but remove them to the R. I would leave them on the back wall, though one would house the vent. I could compensate for this either with an island or by extending the undercounter cabinets a bit further into the dining area.

The wall to the L of the "Doorway into Unit" continues straight down. The kitchen is a prolongation of the living/dining room area. It is all one large rectangle. Currently, looking from the living room, you see an opening into the kitchen, above the "breakfast bar". It all seems cramped to my eye, with so many walls and overhead cabinets. I think that opening things up improves the situation dramatically.

I really appreciate everyone's suggestions.

[yankeelawyer]

Re the washer / dryer, you might consider one of the new models that can be concealed behind a cabinet door that matches the rest of the kitchen. i will try to find a link to an example.

[urrugne]

Thanks for your response, Yankee Lawyer. I look forward to the link, if you can find it. I would very much appreciate recommendations of 24" washers and dryers that will take an Ikea door, or fit inside a cabinet.

I will try to post a drawing of this new, more modest, layout later today for more comments/suggestions for improvement.

[urrugne]

Attached is what I call my "modest proposal." It is a much less ambitious redo of the actual kitchen (see post of a few days ago), than my original plan (posted a few days before that), but I think it offers a big improvement to the current layout by opening up the area while keeping costs in check by avoiding building a false wall to hide new plumbing, vents and wiring.

I would like everyone's feedback and suggestions of improvements.

Again, the cabinets will be Solar white with black granite countertop. I would like all the appliances on the countertop only wall to have Solar door panels. Recommendations of 24" appliances for this purpose welcomed.

I would like the wall cabinets along the back wall to be all in one single line. They must incorporate a vent over the stove, enclosed within a cabinet. Could someone please tell me how to achieve this effect?

Another question I am debating is whether to add an island--and where--, or extend the "countertop only wall" a bit further into the space of the dining room. Or do both.

Many thanks to everyone for your time and advice.

[Dave of the Coonties]

Here's a quick look, based on the new sketch. I represented the column with electrical wiring using two high cabinets. The air conditioning cabinet is a very fat interior wall.

The incredibly low ceiling led me to try horizontal cabinets (aluminum framed because the regular ones with glass aren't available in Solar).

I'm sure others can improve it.

[urrugne]

Thanks, Dave! As we don't know the exact location of the column yet, I don't want to work too much on the island. But maybe it could be placed in front of the fridge and column.

One thing I see in your thumbnail that I would like to try to change is the vent. Its bottom edge is higher than that of the cabinets on the L and R. I would like this line of upper cabinets to look like one rectangle of white against the wall. How this can be done?

Thanks again.

[urrugne]

I have just been informed that I can gain 8" of ceiling height by ripping out the current ceiling grate over fluorescent lighting and installing can lights. This increases available ceiling height to 83 + 8 = 91".

So the possibility of installing a block of tall cabinets against the back wall is now back on the table.

Which option do you like better for the back wall--tall cabinets? Or the combination of base and wall cabinets in the thumbnail kindly prepared by Dave, based on my "modest.pdf"?

Now a short explanation--No, I have never been inside this apartment that I own in the US. It is an inheritance and I am trying to update it from my home in the southwest corner of France. Not easy and I appreciate everyone's assistance in making these decisions.

[Dave of the Coonties]

That's very good news about the ceiling. Low ceilings were popular for a relatively short time and people have been ripping them out ever since.

I should be able to propose some changes this evening.

[Dave of the Coonties]

Here's a version with high cabinets. Since the height of the water heater in the corner isn't known (or I didn't notice it), I placed a wall cabinet over it.

The tall cabinet represents the column with electrical wiring within.