small kitchen layout design - can this work?

3 months ago

Hi,

decided on the kitchen layout that would work better with our room (following on from another post re knocking through the big window wall to put bifolds in) and wondered if there are any suggestions to get clever storage into here without compromising the overall layout/shape? and any tips for the layout as I don't think we could squeeze a washing machine in it now so that would go to the outbuilding along with the tumble dryer (which is already in there). It's a 1-2 bed flat by the way, but I do a lot of baking so need worktop space.

Pics of the messy kitchen is what is currently there. The tall unit at the back with the wine rack houses the boiler which is a pain as not sure what appliances we can fit under (ie can't put the oven housing there)

I've attached proposed layout belwith a 1.8m peninsular which could have pan drawers under for cooking, 400 pull out for a bin and a 600 fridge under. and seat 3 stools.

I also thought about having some shallow 300/400 units to the right of the bi-folds which could be a drinks station for our coffee machine and cups etc. not sure if a deeper one would get in the way?

I've got quite high ceilings and also have space above where the bifolds would be if I ever needed it.

I may have the move the oven to the right side as the boiler is on the left so it means I can't have a full F/F but could have two undercounter ones. (We have a spare tall freezer in the dining room) Under the sink would be a 600 dishwasher and then pull outs for food storage. Thinking also food storage mainly on that slimline unit to the right of the bi-folds?

I've left 900-1m between the peninsular and back units and there is a bigger space where the stools will go.

Anything obvious I've missed? Would it be worth having a narrow run of worktop to the right of the hob (ie left side) that would squeeze a kettle on? Worktop space is the main issue as I need to fit in things like the microwave (could go on a wall I guess) , air fryer, blender (when we get it out), toaster.

Argh.

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Comments (12)

tab darcy
3 months ago
Sorry Tani - To me the 3D bears very little resemblance to the room in the photos. Could you provide a rough sketch of the room with measurements and elements that can't be moved?
rinked
3 months ago
Not keen on the design, traffic lines and countertop space.. I'd keep the current kitchen, way more practical. If that's the exterior door, replace it to get in more light.
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Tani H-S
Original Author
3 months ago
@rinked - thanks but we cannot keep the old design as it gets in the way of the bifolds.

We live in that back room but it's all cut off and we want the feel of an open plan kitchen when socialising so keeping the original layout is not an option.

There will be plenty of space to walk around the peninsular even with the future bifolds closed but it will give us seating space to eat as our dining room is going to be a second bedroom.

We have decided this is the best layout for us so really I am looking for help make the design better with things I didn't think about
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Tani H-S
Original Author
3 months ago
last modified: 3 months ago
@tab darcy - ah sorry re the layout. I can't seem to login with my phone at the moment which is a right pain so can't take pics easily and add them! lol. Will try and do a sketch today though and upload it as now home.

So where our kitchen sink is at the moment in the real photo (with the larger window on the right) - that wall is coming out and will be the bifold wall. I've taken the pics from the same angle basically.

The back run of units (wall with the smaller window) has the left tall unit which is staying as that houses the boiler - but it could just be a top cupboard and have more worktop there. The oven in my mock up can't actually go there now due to the boiler so will have to move somewhere else. Everything else can be moved really. That back run where I have put the sink in my new desisng goes to our private alley where all the drains and water runs so is ideal for the sink and dishwasher to go there.

The width across the back run of units is approx. 2.7m

The whole room is approx. 3.88m length.

I had the back run 600 deep then 900mm walkway space then a 1m deep peninsular which is 1.8 m wide (leaving 800mm walk around when the bifolds are closed. We would generally keep them open though so it will feel a lot more spacious and replicate an open plan room.
Tani H-S
Original Author
3 months ago
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Tani H-S
Original Author
3 months ago
Ok so I had a play around and this is with a 400 deep run along the one side which would give me a bit more worktop space ie for the kettle etc but if I did it the full 600 wid then the induction hob will end up being right in the middle?? which is not idea.

We have a large suspended floor under us so was thinking about having the downdraft hob as it can run straight under the floor and duct out through the back alley which is only 2m away.

Do you think this works better?
Tani H-S
Original Author
3 months ago
morning, so I had another play around last night. I could just put a 600 run down the side. it's not as spacious or as sleek as I had wanted it but it means the hob would go pretty much where it is already (same wall as the current one) then I would have the whole peninsular as a seating area and good baking space. ie gives me more worktop space than I actually have now.

Do you think this is a much better option?? It is a flat so only two of us here but we like to have people over for dinner. could squeeze someone on the end as the 4th seat although we will have a formal dining table somewhere else in the flat! LOL.
Tani H-S
Original Author
3 months ago
Hi Sarah! The sink is the only one on the app it let me add but yes, wouldn't need a drainer as the dish rack we use has an in-built one that drains straight into the sink anyway, haha.

There would be 1m now between the back of the sink and the peninsula which is what we had in our last place between the back run and our island and it was a good space as easy to cook and move to the sink?

yes there is always that awkward corner space to deal with which we have already so I guess a good corner pull out might be the best way for that.

It's difficult as I liked the sleeker look with a back run and peninsular (first design) but there just wasn't enough worktop space for our appliances.

So the boiler is quite high BUT it has ALOT of pipework as it is a split system that runs our flat and separate pipes to the other flats. We are cutting all that out and just having it for ours. to the left of the boiler is an old glass window and if we could move it to the left (and have a run of wall units) then we would. It's going to cost to move all the pipes though so we would probably have to do a false back panel as none of the pipes are buries in the back wall and they stand out (hence why they did the full unit to the worktop to hide them all!).

At the moment the kitchen as it is, has too much floor space and no seating at all. We used to live at our peninsula and island in all our previous homes (we did have much bigger kitchens to be fair but they were houses and this is just a flat, lol) But the main bonus is that it would give me a briliant space for baking and cooking on as I have lots of allergies that appeared last year and so I have to make all my own bread and any baked goods. Seating at it (bear in mind the bi-folds will likely be open all year around and are only there for building regs to tick a box (expensive box, LOL) will feel more spacious when the two rooms are opened up.

The conservatory (other side of the bifolds) will have a proper insulated and plastered roof and the flooring will run through so it will feel like one room.
Tani H-S
Original Author
3 months ago
this is that boiler area and the old window (which lets light into the dark dining room on the other side). That will become a 2nd bedroom at some point so we can ditch the window and board it.

EXCUSE THE MESS, LOL. WE ARE HAVING A SORT OUT! STUFF EVERYWHERE
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tab darcy
3 months ago
I like your most recent design - it makes good use of the space and gives you plenty worktop. I had drawn this idea earlier so might as well share it...

Full height cabinets along the dining toom wall, housing the usual but also a pantry with appliances in a 'garage with plenty of sockets.

If the peninsula is parallel you could keep your washing machine inside with a nook for standing desk /cookbooks / paperwork above it.

The narrow shelves could display all your baking essentials, and this baking table looks useful, if stored under the island. End of island could seat 3, but the hob might be nearer to the sink.
Tani H-S
Original Author
3 months ago
Morning! Actually, my first design was having the peninsular going across as you had it - but slightly deeper so that people could sit on the other side.

The only issue is the space around it ie with the back run of 600 and a 900/1m space , it didn't leave much room the other side of the run with the units?

ie so if the peninsular was 80cm deep min (if the hob is on there I need some splash room so can't be 60) - it only leaves 34cm gap to the b-ifolds which isn't enough room to even squeeze in and open them.

I know I said we would keep them open, but if we did have to close them for any reason then they need to be accessible. But also I wouldn't have any seating which is the main reason for changing it all around.

I do prefer that design though and if we could have afforded to make the conserv into a proper official extension, then that would have been my go to design. :o)