[MichelleS]

Hi everyone,

Thanks for all of the great threads and information - I have gotten "lost" many times reading all of your threads and looking at your fantastic photos!

I am getting ready to finalize my design, but there's something about this that I just don't like, can't really put my finger on it -- so I just wanted to see if anyone was inspired in a different direction. I've been playing and playing for hours endlessly and I always come back to the same design.

In between the 2 cabinets above the stove, we're going to put in a hood, so that's why there is that empty space there.

The empty room on the other end of the kitchen is actually my dining room - we are knocking the wall down in between them. My plan is to fit a 60x60 table there because there are 7 of us eating many times, so I need a table that fits 8.

If anyone has any suggestions or wants to play with my plan, feel free to let me know.

Here are my photos:

[imagineblueskies]

Hi Michelle,
I haven't really studied your plan closely, but it looks fine to me. The only thing that seems a little unbalanced is the narrow upper cab to the right of the range. Would a slightly larger cabinet be more balanced with the one below it? I know you said a hood will go over the range, but I think you have room for a little larger wall cabinet. JMHO.

[DesignDiva]

I think what bothers me about it is that the sink is kind of stuck off in the corner under a tiny window, where you have a much larger window on the side there. It just feels like the sink should be under the big window! I could see a design that moves the range to where the fridge is, the sink under the big window and the fridge where the range is. That would improve traffic flow since service to the dining room would be easier with the fridge closer so people didn't walk through the middle of the work zone to get the milk, and the main pathway wouldn't have the oven door opening into it.

[MichelleS]

DesignDiva -- thanks so much, I sooo appreciate it. I totally agree with you -- and I have tried exactly the design you have mentioned many times - and with the corner cabinet sizes from Ikea end up with me having less cabinet space believe it or not. I have even tried designs with getting rid of that smaller window.

The area for the dishwasher, with that design, was very awkward as well. Also, I need a space for a custom SS garbage pull out which I currently have - which will be going in the corner cabinet next to the sink since there really is no other place for it. I also like the idea of an island and plan to put an overhang on the dining room side for some stools. (Putting the garbage in the island isn't an option since I don't want to sit there and smell garbage)

I hope that makes sense..

[DesignDiva]

If you've got some flexibility, post your floor plan file (.fpf) with your design and we'll see if we can tweak it. There are options beyond the corner cabinets at IKEA like the Lee Valley pullout that might make a difference for you.

oh...I didn't realize your plan was already uploaded! I'm playing with it now.

[MichelleS]

Thanks a bunch! I haven't read such hot things about the Lee Valley pull out which is why I opted against them - but if the design is worth it, then I'll certainly go for it!
My custom garbage needs a 23-24" space to fit into.

[DesignDiva]

OK, here's one idea. I deleted the window but you can replace it without messing up the design. I just forgot where it was after I deleted it!

I have the Lee Valley unit in the corner by the sink, and the fridge on the back wall. The countertop of the peninsula extends out a bit for extra seating if needed. The dishwasher is on the peninsula, but you'll be able to process dishes with the DW door open so it's pretty convenient. I also put two 24" wide pantries on either side of the fridge for lots of storage, and some smaller drawer units in strategic places.

Let me know what you think!

	DW definitions DW can mean Dear or Darling Wife (or substitute your expletive), or alternatively DishWasher. Take your clues from the context.

[MichelleS]

Wow - thank you!!! Now I have some other ideas that have popped into my head with seeing this -- thank you so much I was 'stuck' in that one design and while it was okay, I wasn't loving it! I never thought of putting two pantries by the fridge on that wall - i did it on the other wall, but not the wall you put them on.