An Exercise in Compromise

Nocturnal Quilter · Jul 23rd, 08, 4:25 pm

I would love to remodel our kitchen. With real estate being in the condition it is moving into a better kitchen probably won't happen for a long, long time. Our kitchen is probably small by average standards, and it has some architectural features that make using off-the-shelf cabinets a real challenge.

To keep costs down I'm keeping the the same layout even though I would love to have the cook top in the island.

Here is the product concept for the kitchen so far. A lot of mixed materials, textures and colors. Too much for a small kitchen? I haven't decided yet.

Take Care!!!

Miles

bluedenim · Jul 23rd, 08, 5:26 pm

Wow
first of all I like the shape of the ktichen I think it is very interesting....

the one thing that strikes me in your choices is you are very brave and like something bold...good for you....

First think twice about concrete countertops.....a friend had them and said they were a maintence hassle.....as beautiful as they look....

Second I love nexus bb and am using it myself with a combo of the aviskit cabinets.

The oynx is bold and will be the show stopper of the kitchen the main focal point. I don't think I would do the high gloss red cabinets for two reasons
a) the colour might be off when paired with the oynx and could actually clash if it was not right on....
b) with the red cabients and the oynx I don't think the oynx will have as great of an impact. I would do a combo of nexus BB and Aviskit.

just my thoughts

Nocturnal Quilter · Jul 23rd, 08, 6:23 pm

Blue- I think many of your observations are right on.
My second choice for the uppers was going completely with the Avsikt with interior lights. That will depend on what can be done about fitting the cabs to the angles of the kitchen without having a ton of wasted space. I foresee a lot of customization in my future!

Yours is the first I've heard about any drawbacks to the concrete coutertops. I'd always heard they were a lot like granite: porous but fine when sealed regularly. I'll have to look into that more.

I am in absolute lust for the onyx however my island isn't all that large- only about 36"x48" if that. Although I just had a cool idea: about facing the outer side of the island in the same onyx. More thought on that later.

I wish Ikea would come out with a gold-like high-gloss finish. That would rock!

Thanks for your thoughts and ideas!

**NBeth** · Jul 23rd, 08, 7:09 pm

That would be a very dramatic space! But as you stated, the layout is really not ideal. I would be willing to bet at least some of those walls are not load bearing. Have you considered demo?

Nocturnal Quilter · Jul 23rd, 08, 7:36 pm

NBeth- unfortunately, all the walls with the exception of the fridge and pantry area are load-bearing, external walls. My budget (such as it is) doesn't include doing anything more than replacing the cabs, c-top and maybe the appliances. That is why I'll be doing all the work myself. The one thing I have thought about is swapping the pantry and the fridge placement. I hate having the garage door open right into the fridge.

**NBeth** · Jul 23rd, 08, 7:56 pm

Oh drat, I hadn't seen the window that meant this was exterior wall. Re. island cooktop: yours is much too small to do it safely and ergonomically, so don't sweat that one

. On the other hand, I'd love to see you move the cooktop in just a bit from that end position on the wall--again, safety reasons. You'll have a hard time getting enough drawers with those angles, which is a real pity, since they're the best deal at Ikea. Maybe in the island?

Nocturnal Quilter · Jul 24th, 08, 11:53 am

Yeah- our kitchen is certainly lacking for drawers. There are LOTS of door cabs, though. I could do pull-outs in many of those as the budget permits. When these houses were built they had a lot of custom cabs made for the angled walls. One thought we had was removing the wall cabs from the right side of the sink, installing another much-needed window and putting Lack shelving over the open space. I can easily mod the Lack shelf to accommodate the angled cabinets. Like so....

bluedenim · Jul 24th, 08, 12:17 pm

Some random thoughts...

So that one space is only 15 inches, I would have thought it would have been bigger.

I would use the island for as many drawers as you possibly can.
Like stated they are amazing and great for storage.

I think doing the mod on the lack shelving might look really sharp. Do the lack in the black brown. You would not have to go to the expense of installing a window there either. But keep in mind how you live....I for one could not have open shelves like that as they would get messy looking really quick.

Is it possible for you to move the cook top to the other side? and put the dishwasher on the side where the cook top is? Depending on the space it might work out to be a better use of space.....would have to play around with the sizes and see. Just something to think about.

Nocturnal Quilter · Jul 24th, 08, 12:38 pm

Yes, most of the cabs are standard 24" depth except the bank of cabs to the far right of the sink (where it angles yet again). Those are currently 15" deep, both base and uppers. The c-top in that area is just as shallow plus about 1 1/2". We've already agreed that putting standard cabs in that area would swallow up way too much floor space so we're gonna stay with 15" to 18" cabs on that wall. I may go with 42" ht for the base cabs though and possibly all Avsikt interior lit. Haven't quite firmed up the design yet.

Moving the stove means moving the exhaust and electric &/or gas if I can get that line run at all. Since I'm trying to cut costs wherever I can I'm sticking to the general layout as is.

Since the kitchen sink window is the ONLY window in the kitchen and only one of two windows in the front of the house I'm more interested in trying to bring in more natural light. I also hope an added window will help to make the kitchen feel a bit more open.

bluedenim · Jul 24th, 08, 12:58 pm

ok so it is gas ya that would add alot of $$$

I can understand you wanting to keep the depth at 15 or 18 inches because of the floor space.
Does the island have to stay the size and the exact spot it is or can you change the location of it?

Is having an island a def must have?

I was just wondering now about creating an L shape from where the narrow cabinets are and creating a breakfat type bar....and it might give you more usable stoarge space? Just another quick thought as I sit here at work thinking I would rather be working on my kitchen LOL