https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Sat, 25 Apr 2026 03:04:03 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help/page/2#post-2700960 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 04:09:25 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2700960@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: I was thinking about something like this. There's already a beam installed in that old dining room area (where I placed that T in my sketch). The ceilings are low and I'm guessing they would need to have some kind of support there.</p> <p>[attach=1448/17/olrqrp.594x535.Clipboard01.png] </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2700958 Wed, 22 Feb 2017 03:57:31 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2700958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: I've been thinking about that fridge placement and it sounds crazy, but I don't think it's too far. However, I think it should be closer to the window and not in the middle of the wall.</p> <p>@Littlebit7: I just looked that up and that would be nice! It would actually fit the style of our kitchen table. But it would be tricky to make everything align in a way that I want. Hmmm. Thanks for the inspiration! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697611 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 13:05:38 +0000 Littlebit7 2697611@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: I love this. I'd tweak it by doing a built in banquette along the far left wall, that way you could shift the table over. Integrate the trim of the banquette to match cabinet trims. And the table wouldn't be hanging out in purgatory with chairs all around it (wasted space). Storage under the banquette seating. A bench on the other side of the dining room table so you wouldn't see tall back chairs poking up. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697478 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:49:51 +0000 looch 2697478@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Is there a way you can integrate that post in the center into the island? it might make it look more intentional that way. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697464 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 09:38:19 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2697464@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Could you forgot a wall oven for a range and put the fridge in that spot? It's too far from everything else.</p> <p>I'd shift the island back into the main kitchen space and see if you could fit a table in the other side. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697426 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 08:33:18 +0000 brownepiano 2697426@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We have our fridge on its own wall like that with a table in between it and the stove, but our space is much smaller. The space between our fridge and the existing cabinets (ours is an open counter like a bar) drives me nuts because if I put anything between them I can't use the bar space. So it's dead wall space. I would wrap at least counter space all the way around to the fridge. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697415 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 08:21:30 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2697415@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: Anther idea just to balance things out would be to shift the island so its more centered in front of the sink and that gives you a bit more space by the fridge to run the counter. I also would consider putting the fridge closer to centered on the island </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697397 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 06:01:52 +0000 Ms. RV 2697397@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: The TapGlance picture is very close to how my kitchen is now, except the island faces the other way and I don't have the cabinets extended (there are french doors to the outside instead). I like my kitchen layout, but I would love to have the one you imagined. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697396 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 05:55:28 +0000 hellobeeboston 2697396@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: I think you should go totally open concept if you can swing it. Or add a support beam hidden in the ceiling. We took down the wall between our kitchen and dining room and considered leaving part of it for a while and ultimately are really glad we took it down!</p> <p>Your new layout looks great, any reason the island is t centered in the open space? Centered with the sink might be nice. Is that a support post?</p> <p>Also we built our own "island" using IKEA base cabinets and put a piece of quartz on top, love it!!! I put it in quotes because we ended it up putting one edge of it against the wall, making it a peninsula? Haha. But after the wall was down we put a mockup in a few spots to make sure we'd have enough space to walk around and we have a door in our kitchen that we come in through 90% of the time so this felt better for us. We did all the construction ourselves though so we had time to move things around. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697394 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 05:36:36 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697394@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Good point! Maybe the counters should wind all the way around ... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697393 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 05:33:17 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2697393@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: the only thing I see missing is counters on the side of the fridge. So if you get a drink out, a place to set a glass and pour a drink without walking across the room. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697386 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 04:00:14 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697386@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Version 2 with work zones :happy: I really like the large Ikea drawer storage, so the space under the countertops will be utilized throughout. </p> <p>I'm playing around with keeping one section of the original wall because I think it will be a necessity, either that or we'll need to add some posts. This drawing doesn't illustrate how narrow the living room would be if we add the pantry.</p> <p>What do you all think? </p> [attach=1448/17/olcx0e.397x314.version2.png] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697382 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 01:50:47 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697382@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@oliviaoblivia: One of the first houses we looked at (back when we were house hunting) was a place with an oddly elongated kitchen. It was really long and narrow. We later found out that the previous owner was a chef and she specifically designed it that way. Now I understand it. Thank you for weighing in!</p> <p>Eta: I'm totally looking up work zones :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697381 Tue, 14 Feb 2017 01:45:08 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697381@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: Yeh, the proximity isn't really accurate on that thing. I didn't measure any of the objects at all - I was more playing with flow and placements of the main elements. But it doesn't all look cohesive to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697217 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:43:07 +0000 looch 2697217@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: that actually looks decent, I mean, a designer could probably tweak it to make it more efficient. I wouldn't put the table so close to the island though, that doesn't quite make sense to me BUT it is how my SIL has it in her house in Europe.<br /> Also, what about a stovetop and then two wall ovens? Does that give you more options? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697201 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 16:23:48 +0000 oliviaoblivia 2697201@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: in floor is definitely a monkey wrench. Sink in the island would be a no go with that. A gas range would be too, maybe even induction or electric depending on what amperage you have in the outlets in the wall you're removing. We do generally try to avoid the range on the island. It makes using the island for anything else kind of dangerous. All the grease splashes that end up on the backsplash end up on the counter or worse, on the person sitting at the island. It's pretty messy.</p> <p>There are opposing thoughts on the work triangle. Some say that it reinforces the idea of a single chef kitchen ("Moms only!") and is outdated. Some designers focus on work zones. </p> <p>We ask about food prep routines, baking, chopping, dish duty, do both partners empty the dishwasher?, etc.</p> <p>Hiring a kitchen designer is never a bad thing and can help you sort out how to best use your space.</p> <p>My number one thing is dishwasher proximity to dish, glass, and silverware storage. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697173 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:51:18 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697173@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Let's see if this works. This was when I imagined the sink in front of the small window. </p> [attach=1448/17/olbzki.600x412.IMG_1215.JPG] https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697172 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:49:55 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697172@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@codeitall: Thanks so much for the link! That stove in front of a window would make me too nervous to actually cook, but it sure is pretty! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697162 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 15:40:31 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697162@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mama Bird: Interesting! I walked DH over to the kitchen after reading your comment. There will be enough room to have counter top in between the stove and fridge, but I wonder if it will really make a difference with the grease stains. </p> <p>@looch: Honestly, I just want to actually use it! Right now, we eat upstairs. All the Swedish homes seem to have the dining room table within the kitchen. This sounds horrible, but if we can manage to watch a movie at the same time, it would be a plus. I know that I can opt for a ginormous island and call it a day, but then it would be nice to have an actual table. I don't exactly know where to put it yet. I have a design I was working on, let me find it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697132 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:59:22 +0000 codeitall 2697132@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>And here's a really good run down on the triangulation rule: <a href="http://www.kitchens.com/design/layouts/the-work-triangle/the-work-triangle" rel="nofollow">http://www.kitchens.com/design/layouts/the-work-triangle/the-work-triangle</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697129 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:58:01 +0000 codeitall 2697129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd put the sink under the little window and leave the island as a flat prep area. We had a stove/oven without venting (well, pathetic undermount venting) in our last apartment and hated it. You accidentally burn one thing and the whole room smells awful for ages.</p> <p>I'd see if you could put the stove under the other window (note this really depends on your window and stove combo). That way you still have a triangle and something to look out at for the sink, stove and the prep area. Something like this: <a href="http://www.contractortalk.com/attachments/f11/122612d1418173390-stove-under-window-stove1.jpg" rel="nofollow">http://www.contractortalk.com/attachments/f11/122612d1418173390-stove-under-window-stove1.jpg</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697122 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:49:36 +0000 looch 2697122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: what do you plan to do for the dining room? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697117 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:42:19 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697117@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@josina: I thought about an L-shape, but I don't know where to place it. As for the post, I'm pretty certain it has to stay because that dining room now was originally 2 different rooms before. The previous owners took down a wall. But we won't know for sure until we talk to the construction company. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697114 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:39:42 +0000 Mama Bird 2697114@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'd put the stove anywhere but next to the fridge. That's our layout now and nothing I do keeps the fridge from getting covered in grease stains when we cook. Haven't found a way to clean them off, either. Having the stove in an island is awesome though, you get access from two sides and don't have to reach over hot pans if you're cooking on all four burners. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697111 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:36:29 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697111@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@threeplusme: I know that sinks in front of windows seem to be the traditional and preferred choice, but I'm pretty sure we take longer to prep food than rinsing the dishes. I think I'd rather watch outside while I'm chopping and mixing.</p> <p>@looch: Triangulation. This is the type of lingo that I need! How would you place the island? Parallel or perpendicular to the sink? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2697098 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 14:26:16 +0000 SugarplumsMom 2697098@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@T.H.O.U.: Ooooooooh! That would be so niiiice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2696952 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 11:15:05 +0000 looch 2696952@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I really like the idea of the stove on the island, especially if you don't need to vent it (not sure what the local codes are). I know a lot of people hate that, but if you can't move the sink, you don't end up with the triangulation idea and have everything all kind of right on top of each other. Then you can do a stepped island with a higher wall that faces the living area to hide the mess. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2696949 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 11:10:52 +0000 threeplusme 2696949@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prefer a sink in front of the window. I can see the kids playing in the yard while i do dishes. My sister in law just renovated and added a window so the sink would be in front of a window. Can you move or reconfigure windows so the sink is in frent of a window? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2696865 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 09:27:41 +0000 T.H.O.U. 2696865@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@SugarplumsMom: Use underneath the stairs as a pantry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/kitchen-renovation-help#post-2696864 Mon, 13 Feb 2017 09:22:34 +0000 josina 2696864@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We added on a new kitchen last year, so exciting!<br /> I would put the sink either in front of the window or in the island as pp's suggested, so you have something other than a wall to stare at. I LOVE having ours in the island so I can watch tv while I do dishes.<br /> Would an L-shaped island work lined up with that wall? (or is that totally coming out? Not sure if there will still be a post?) </p>