[Izumino]

Hi. The wife and I are in the midst of renovating our existing super-ugly kitchen and installing an Akurum Stat kitchen in our L-shaped space.

Hopefully I have posted the plans correctly in the gallery. There are two pix with two links: this and this. Or I think I put an album here, though I'm not sure if all users can view it.

This plan is the floor cabinets only, which we're going to start with, because, being insane, we are doing the entire renovation ourselves while we have two young kids running around, as you can see here.

We have some issues with the space. As you can see, we have two large windows at the top of the "L" that actually are rather low. We have a brick house and they can't be moved without a lot of trouble, so they have to have to stay where they are. As result, our plan for putting a long oak countertop across the wall looking out the window to the backyard will not work. Instead, we're planning on putting a free-standing work surface next to that window, and putting the long oak countertop on the opposite side free wall. The countertop is intended for eating cereal, reading the paper, a place where my daughter can play The Sims on her laptop wile having a snack, etc.

A question I have: we have an existing dishwasher, and we put in the measurements, and the Ikea Kitchen Planner software has made the dishwasher higher even though it would be the same level as the cabinets so we could have one long countertop. Does this make sense, or did we input a bad setting?

Also, is there something in the IKP software that would allow us to put in that oak countertop on the opposite wall?

Otherwise, the plan is to have spices, etc available next to either side of the stove, the lazy susan for access to pots and pans,the cubbies for dishtowels, etc. Does this layout make sense? The Wife also wants just a short counter next to the fridge rather than a total fridge enclosure in order to allow for better access through the two open kitchen doorways (there are no actual doors).

This is just Phase 1--we'll be adding the wall cabinets, but we want to have this squared away before we pop those on the plan. Also, we do plan to do the floor parts first to minimize the chaos at the house. (We have re-done our wood floors up to the cabinets, and, once we're set, we'll rip out old cabinets, lay down the rest of the floor, and then put the Ikea floor cabinets up.)

Any advice and/or encouragement is appreciated. You seem like a very knowledgeable group of folks. Thanks in advance for your help.

	Akurum definition Akurum is the North American equivalent of FAKTUM; that is the fitted, frameless, component kitchen cabinet line, which when paired with door and drawer fronts as well as interior accessories makes up the full kitchen cabinet system.

[Izumino]

Is the design so bad there are no comments? Oh my...

[Wendy]

Could you post your plan to ikea site, so I can more easily post suggestions.

Wendy

[Izumino]

Hi. Thanks for responding. I have posted to the Ikea site, name - blogola@fastandbad.com, pass coop104. I'm afraid i wasn't sure if it made more sense to post there or on gallery. Also, when I go to actual Ikea site, I am unaware how to sign in as someone else and then actually see their plans. Can you advise?

Thanks for your help.

[Gloria]

I had this typed up this morning but I had to figure out how to include a picture. And then I go and make a typo error in the title.

I enjoyed your pictures of your new floor, what an improvement! It's encouraging to see it can be done in stages with kids involved.

I don't think the wine cubby cabinets are as useful as other storage units. I think another corner option might work better in your space. Are you able to move your range over just a little?

 

If you use a 36" cabinet (pulled away from the corner a little) with the Lee Valley Blind Corner shelving [http://www.ikeafans.com/forums/modif...ee-valley.html], then you could have 18" drawers on either side of the range. It may center your sink on the window better too.

You can open plans saved on the IKEA space from the IKEA planner. Open the planner and select Open from IKEA from the file menu.

Good luck with your kitchen project!
Gloria

[Wendy]

Is your range really 24" or the standard 30. Are you willing to move it? What about the plumbing? The two doors where do they lead? The area by the freestanding storage is that an eat-in area as well? Do you have any pictures of your space.

Wendy

[Izumino]

Thanks for your response. Here's our info:
1) Good call on the stove! You are indeed correct, it's 30" across, and somehow got changed to 24". We will change that ASAP.
2) We could move the stove, but we actually just moved it with the help of my contractor neighbor, who even re-routed the gas lines for us. But if you have a better idea of where it should go, we're happy to hear it. (It used to be where the fridge is now, but the new location gives better traffic flow)
3) The doors, which actally have no doors in them -- the one near the fridge leads to the foyer near the stairs, and the one near the stove leads to the dining room.
4) The back area near the free-standing cutting board is up for grabs--we just want some part of that back area to be a breakfast nook/coffee/laptop area, and one part for more storage, etc.
5) There's way too many real life pictures in this link here, which shows pictures of the current renovations. Picasa Web Albums - Mr. FASTandBAD - Kitchen Renov...

Thanks again for your help.

[Wendy]

Left a plan dreamkitchen3 on Ikea. I reworked the corner with the stove. I too would not use the wine cubby, just used it as a place holder. I would use one of the rev-a-shelf 9" pullouts. I'm not sure of the support needed for the sink though. We just did a total dyi (including all plumbing and electric) with two kiddo's so I understand but I would recommend putting in the upper cabinets before the lower. It really is much easier. I used 39" in the plan but I put in 30" and really like the way they look. For some reason I couldn't get the above the range cabinet in, maybe you can. I didn't do the other parts of the kitchen as the pictures of the old space seem different then the measurements in the plan. Could you check especially around the fridge.

Wendy

[DulcineaK]

I just wanted to jump in and say that several of the design folk are out of town right now so this is a great opportunity for the rest of us to pull together. I see many have done just that! thank you all (cause after my month I don't have it in me to look at anyone's kitchen.... YET! )
I think far too often we "sit back" while Eva fields the design arena, but truly i love members helping members.

I love this community!

[Izumino]

Wendy--

Thanks for your tips. I'll review them with my wife tonight. I have a few questions:

1) Could you be more specific about why doing the upper cabinets first would be less trouble than doing the floor cabinets? Or should I try doing it by section, upper and lower?

2) I will check the fridge measurements. It wouldn't be the first time I was wrong...

3) Could you advise where I would see an example of the cryptic "rev-a-shelf 9" you speak of?

We are planning on one of those Ikea microwaves with the charcoal filters for above the stove.

Thanks for your ideas.