I have these wonderful 3D renderings of our proposed kitchen to share thanks to B, from B is Building a House. She so patiently drew them for me even after we discovered (several times) that the measurements I was supplying her were incorrect. Oooops!
It has been a fascinating experience. I'm pretty good as 'visualising' a space but to see it drawn accurately and to scale is something else! The kitchen window is smaller than I perceived it to be, as is the open appliance area. David dislikes my 'hidden' desk area and the island is significantly shorter in length. Eeeek!
The up stand idea has been definitely eliminated, however the sink location is still undecided.
And I'm being strongly swayed towards providing some at-island seating thanks to your wonderful suggestions and feedback.
So much more to still consider!
Thank you again B for your generous time in compiling these illustrations for us!
x KL
Thank you for stopping by my blog. You are very welcome and encouraged to comment. I love receiving feedback! I also love watching a new pretty picture box added to my followers - would love you to join me so I can get to know you too!
Have you thought about a desk like the one at the bottom of this post? I have just put one in and love it. I'll do a post on it this week. Kx
ReplyDeletehttp://theblogahousebuilt.blogspot.com.au/2011/11/family-room-desk.html
That is very similar to what I had planned but I was going to use pocket doors to get the open joinery right out of the way and to streamline the pantry / desk joinery wall as this is a contemporary build. I have my heart set on it but David dislikes pocket doors due to cost, space and function. They 'mark' easily on the glides. We have a dedicated study (for him) in the house and 3 of the 5 bedrooms will have built-in desks (for the children). I want a little spot for me and all the notes, and junky parephenalia that breeds at my place!!!! He's suggesting a 'shelf' in the pantry! Humph! I must be honest though, the guest bedroom may become a quasi study for me. Thank God there's no need to rush these decisions! Look forward to seeing what you'e done!
Deletex KL
We have a study/guest room also. We are just putting a pull out couch in there and it will be both hubby and mine to share for professional stuff. The one in the family room is purely for family Mac, timetables, calendars, school notes blah blah blah, crap basically.
DeleteThe cabinet maker wasn't keen on the concertina door desk because he was worried it would get knocked about, and it might, but like you both kids have their own built in desks and computers so that space really is just for the everyday living stuff (and so I don't have to look at all the school/sport/social crap that comes into the house).
It might end up being an unmitigated disaster. I'll let you know.
It's the details like this that drive you crazy !!!!
Hi Love your blog have been following for a while....Is your hidden desk area in the large block of cabinetry on the left hand side (oven side) of the island or is it the fridge? I think that area is a problem- it is stopping the open feel of the kitchen and is too big in relation to the island. With regards to symmetry, it is also a lot wider than the wall on the other side of the island. The whole thing is not balanced.The kitchen is not flowing into the adjoining room and is too closed-in, even with the island. How about getting rid of the top cupboards in that huge wall and adding the privacy screen there or a half wall instead...it would really open the area up. If however, that wall hides the fridge, it needs to be moved somewhere else Two alternatives spring to mind.....along the bank of cupboards on the other side of the island (RHS), or get rid of the huge wall (LHS) all together and add cupboards to mirror the ones on the other side (RHS) of the kitchen (you do not appear to have anything on that wall ( dead end??)- or is it a doorway somewhere) I have a very open plan kitchen and part of the charm of having one is being part of the action. Guests do not mind seeing ovens,( if that is what you are trying to hide), in fact they will not be looking at the oven, they will be looking at you and talking to you as you cook....a bit difficult if you suddenly disappear behind a huge wall.With regards to seating at the bench, if you choose to do that, make sure you indent the cupboards so that people can sit comfortably at the bench. Hope I have explained myself clearly. Good luck.
ReplyDeleteHello, and thank you for your very thoughtful comments. Unfortunately, the big wall you refer to is a support wall for the roof so stays as is. It hides the fridge which is plumbed and very deep, so it also stays in that position. Perhaps I should have re posted the floor plan for ease of understanding. You can see it on the link below:
Deletehttp://eternalicons.blogspot.com.au/2012/10/kitchen-island-debate-yes-or-no.html
The 'hidden' desk was to be behind pocket doors inline with the pantry doors on the RHS of the drawings. I think I need to post the full set of house plans to make the design easily interpreted. The formal lounge is to the left of the kitchen and I do not want it to be open plan. The family lounge is downstairs, with it's own kitchen and close to the entertaining area and pool for open, more casual gatherings.
Thanks again for your considered response,
x KL
hmmmm....support walls are important!!!!
ReplyDeleteI know. I know. But bloody inconvenient are'nt they?! Many a Grand plan has been foiled by these!
Deletex KL
KL, you are very welcome. It was fun drawing these for you.
ReplyDeleteI must say, I am a big fan of the island seating, and with your ultra wide (1m) island it would be perfect.
B
Yes... but I'm still recovering from the mental breakdown I had trying to keep the stools looking neat and at the same height in the previous house. Gas lifts should be banned!!!! Thinking I could tuck two into the RH end and provide seating and get the look I'm after????
Deletex KL
Hahahah. I totally get you!
DeleteI am kind of regretting the has lift chairs. MrB flips each time his niece comes over. She spins, lifts and bangs her feet on the back of the island. :(
Hmmmmmmm. Do you have "helpers" in the kitchen? The reason I ask is... whenever MrB uses the sink there is water all over the benchtop. He often rests a soaked sponge on the RHS of the sink. Our sink is 600mm from the RHS of the benchtop, but I can't help but imagine that there would be a lot of water drips on the floor if it had been closer to the edge.
ReplyDeleteYou have so much bench space on the window side of the kitchen, you could probably afford to have the sink centred in the island?
B
NO! I DO NOT HAVE HELPERS!!!! (Thank God!) Am Waaay beyond the kiddie type and as much as I love him, Davie is definitely on the Chauvanistic side of the male evolutionary trajectory! I think to max the island space, IF I leave the sink here, it will be to one side. David says the dishwasher CAN be moved to the rear bench so this is more of an option though I'll lose the whole bank of drawers look. Or maybe I can do faux drawer fronts on the dishwasher? OMG! I've said it before, I'll say it again: I'm soooo lucky to be doing this build s l o w l y!!!!!
Deletex KL
Owner building certainly does have its benefits :)))))
DeleteYay for being able to move the sink!!!!!!!!!!
Will the dishwasher be semi integrated?
B
I bought it so long ago B that I can't remember! It's a Miele semi or fully integrated from memory.
DeleteThat's perfect! I will draw it in tomorrow. I don't think the drawers will look bad with the integrated d/w
DeleteYou're a legend! If I pop the dishwasher on the window wall with the sink I'll lose the streamline drawers along that side. I wonder if faux drawer fronts can be added????
DeleteI'm a bit late to the party and can't access your floor plans on my phone. Have you considered a butlers pantry for the little nook arrangement that's going on down the end? I thought the the jutting out of the cabinetry due to the wall oven looked a bit odd.
ReplyDeleteYes Ruthie, I agree. Until B so kindly offered to draw the plan in 3D, I hadn't figured that one out. I think the overhead cupboards over the appliance area will be brought forward, flush with the oven bank. This will also create a void at the rear of the overheads like what occurs with cabinetry over fridges and microwaves which isn't a bad thing re heat generated from a toaster or kettle.
Deletex KL
Or just a walk in pantry with a cavity slider. Perhaps drawer the small space out a bit. In a previous kitchen I had a shopping great expanse of bench top and not only did it accumulate clutter, it was such a pan to walk from one end of the bench to get something and then back to the other end. Just a suggestion, looking good.
ReplyDeleteIncidentally, are you getting push to open drawers/cabinets? I have them but I'm not loving them. Requires more effort and highlights a bad finish.
You've got great ideas! He he! I had originally planned for that part of the kitchen to house a walk in pantry (had one at the last house - bliss!) but the depth of our whopping big fridge made it difficult to locate elsewhere. Wishing now I'd sold it with the last house....and will most likely leave it in this one! I decided I didn't want to see the fridge from the lounge area by putting it on the RHS and this would've meant increasing the depth of that wall of joinery wich would have decreased the island size. The fridge is plumbed and in-situ already; it's no longer a moving option.
DeleteI was considering handleless joinery using a reverse mitre on the top of drawers and yes, push to open cupboards. (Overheads door hang 20 mm lower than cabinets to create a finger pull)I'm choosing these (I think)for streamline aesthetics not so much practicality! Very much appreciate your comments, suggestions and ideas! x KL