[troy.]

The time has come to seek your expert help and advice on our kitchen redux. And please know that it's much appreciated from the start!

Here's a link to our IKEA kitchen planner initial design

I've also linked up a gallery with pics of our design board and stills from our initial design. I think the design board tells the story of the overall modern aesthetic we are going for. We are slowly remodeling -- DIY style -- our 1958 split-level.

The kitchen is fairly small and somewhat height-challenged due to the previous owner's addition of an attic above it -- the storage space is something we're not willing to give up, but a short ceiling is the price. As is a set of fold-down stairs from attic space that eliminates the ability to place cabinets on one entire length of a long wall. That is the wall with the long "window" -- which is actually the opening that looks down into the lower living room (the split-level feature of the home). Not shown on the plan or stills is the set of 3 steps, which sit in the corner behind the small table and chairs.

As far as our design, we are open to any and all improvements, suggestions and redesigns. I’ve configured the initial redesign much as the kitchen currently exists, save the microwave above the range. Our microwave currently sits in the corner to the left of the sink, taking up valuable counter space. So I was definitely looking to get it off the counter. I also recognize that the wall cabs (at 39”) only leave approx. 16” between the bottom of the wall cabs and the countertop. But I just can’t imagine using 30” wall cabs instead, due to the loss of storage space. 36” cabs would be ideal, but IKEA doesn’t offer them. Any specific suggestions on that issue would be a great help.

Other items to note:
-We’re not opposed to moving plumbing
-We‘re not opposed to consider moving the window either, but it must stay on that wall (as it is the only exterior wall).
-We have a separate pantry under the stairs, so dry goods storage is not a concern in the kitchen.
-We are replacing the lone window with a slightly smaller casement window, which will open up the space to the right of the window a bit.
-There is no trim around the door (which leads to open dining and living room floorplan), so there are no clearance problems with our counter-depth fridge.

Excited to hear your feedback!

	DIY defininition DIY means Do It Yourself

[personalshopper]

I hope you were serious about moving the window! To gain as much prep space as possible between the sink and the range, while keeping the dishwasher out of the work zone, I did just that. The 16" between the counter and the wall cabinets isn't viewed as ideal, but I've lived with that exact measurement for many years, and I've only been tempted to commit murder a few times. I'm not even sure the cabinets had anything to do with that....

A few notes: I changed your sink base to a 30". You can fit a generously sized sink in a 30" cabinet - even a double bowl one - if you're willing to choose one from a source other than Ikea. In case you need to hack into the sides of the cabinet to place a 29"-ish one in, I added space for cover panels on each side of the sink cabinet. With a combination of good planning, meditation and WD-40, you can still squeeze a reasonably sized trash can under the sink. Arosso's pictures show the sink+coverpanel modification: The Kitchen Sink - IKEA FANS

I put in my beloved 37" corner, because it provides easy access to a lazy susan that can hold a big collection of pots and pans. If you're inclined to do so, you can use kidney shaped wood lazy susans attached to shelves, instead of Ikea's carousel. Make the decision before you assemble the cabinet unless your hobby is building ships in bottles. The 32" size is the same as Ikea's, but you'll never have to work around a center pole. The Hardware Hut - Product #OME-T8332K30TRDCBMNL1 - Omega National 32" (813mm) Kidney Shelf & Swivel Bearing - 2 Shelf Set (Maple)

I widened the cabinet between the refrigerator and the range to provide lots of drawer space for cooking utensils that you need near the stove.

There's a 6.25" filler space to the right of the stove. Oddly enough, that's the measurement of a 30" shallow drawer front run vertically to cover a 5 or 5-1/2" pullout ($100 for a Revashelf version at Lowes) that can hold spices and make use of what would be an otherwise wasted space. 448-BC-5C 3-Tier Pull-Out Base Organizer 5" Wood by Rev-A-Shelf - up to 31% off - CabinetParts.com

I'm sure others will offer some other options for you. Personally, I think you did a great job of placing the appliances in a challenging space. My suggestions are merely tweaks to your plan. Good luck with it! http://kitchenplanner.ikea.com/US/UI...SharedDesign=1

[troy.]

personalshopper: Thanks so much! I really like the way you rearranged things and the ideas for the items outside of IKEA. It'll certainly give us something to think about. I may be back w / some specific questions, depending on what we decide.

Anyone else???

	W definition W is a wall cabinet designation, as in W18, can be a stand-in for Wide, or when followed by a / stands for With.

[troy.]

personalshopper:

We've finalized the plan and are heading down to IKEA tomorrow (8/18/11) to place the order. We decided to move the window and go with the layout you suggested. Quick question on the following comment you made:

There's a 6.25" filler space to the right of the stove. Oddly enough, that's the measurement of a 30" shallow drawer front run vertically to cover a 5 or 5-1/2" pullout

Can you briefly explain why a 30" shallow drawer front is used here instead of the 6.25 resizable filler you have shown on the KitchenPlanner? I assume it's because of the way the drawer is already finished, but wanted to confirm.

In addition, it seems like I'll need to order something else for the base of the pullout shelf to attach to, although I guess I could construct that out of 2x4s since they'll be hidden by the toekick? LMK. And thanks again!!

[personalshopper]

Troy, I've thought about your kitchen from time to time, and wondered if you had moved forward with the project. Thanks for letting us know that it's going to be a reality.

I suggested a 30" drawer front placed vertically because it will blend so well with the rest of the kitchen. The finish will be the same and the edges will look like the other doors and drawers - and besides, I am all about taking the easy route. We slapped a drawer front on my daughter's pullout in about 5 minutes - no measuring, no trimming, just instant results. But if you wind up with a space that is is too narrow or too wide for that drawer front to work, you could custom cut a filler panel to put on the front of a pullout. And yes, if you choose the 5" Revashelf unit, you will have to create a base for the slide to attach to.

Or you can leave it as an open slot for cutting boards, if that seems more useful to you.

[personalshopper]

I thought I'd better go back and review that old plan, and I don't see anything I'd change. BUT, I did leave out the tall cover panels you'll need if you are going to put in the deep over-refrigerator cabinet. http://kitchenplanner.ikea.com/US/UI...SharedDesign=1

[troy.]

Thanks! Got it! I went over everything VERY carefully in planning for my trip down today. It'll probably be a good month (or two) before I check back in, but I will be back w / updates and pics eventually. Thanks again!!

	W definition W is a wall cabinet designation, as in W18, can be a stand-in for Wide, or when followed by a / stands for With.

[troy.]

personalshopper: Just wanted to drop a quick note to let you know the ordering process went well yesterday. I worked with a kitchen associate who knew his stuff and spent about an hour going over things with him.

Quick question: Based on your recommendation, I decided to go with the Omega kidney shelf to avoid the center pole in your "beloved 37" corner". It kinda surprised me when the associate said IKEA did not make an add-in shelf for that corner cab. Out of curiousity, can you confirm this? Did you (or others in the forums here who have gone with the kidney shelves) build the shelf, which I have no problem doing, or is there a pre-built option available elseware?

[personalshopper]

The flat turntables (Susan gets so huffy if we call them lazy susans...) are a non-Ikea item. We built our own middle shelf to support one of them; the other is attached to the cabinet "floor".

I modified that corner cabinet, so I was able to use the shelves made for the 36" cabinet; since you're using the cabinet in its original 37" form, you'll need to cut an L-shaped shelf. I'll try to find the online exchange fleecy and I had about that recently....

[personalshopper]

Okay...look at this thread, starting on pg 4, July 11th posts, I think:

Help needed with this kitchen please!