Anyone fancy helping me with kitchen layout? Floorplan included!

[clairedunphy]

We're going to knock through to make the ubiquitous kitchen diner but can't quite decide on the layout.

The room is north facing so currently the bit of the kitchen that we use as a dining area is always very dark (by the pantry). However, we're hoping to replace the flat roof which runs across the horizontal bit of the 'L' shape with a pitched roof (with veluxes), which will hopefully make the whole area brighter.

Our original plan has the dining area in the left hand section, looking out through the sliding doors. But we're now wondering whether to have the kitchen across the back of the house (with island or peninsula) and keep the dining table where it is.

Also under discussion is replacing the rear window with doors (bifold or similar), so we'd have 2 sets of doors across the back (lovely view).

I'm not a good visualiser and not sure about realistic dimensions for including a dining table as well as island / peninsula.

Any thoughts would be much appreciated.

I think I'd have dining table between 2 sets of doors (sliding & the ones in to living room).

Then the kitchen an L shape probably mainly along that 5m wall. Or u shape with 'bottom' of u under the window. Though possibly you then end up with the bit near pantry being pretty dead space. Could utility door move anywhere else? With sliding doors etc I can't really see where else you would put the kitchen.

Unless the living room doors opened on the other wall so you have a kind of vestibule with hall, utility, living room doors. Then kitchen could go on wall where living room doors currently are & in that space (though it's still a big tight for an island). Table at right angles to the window.

Though I'd want kitchen close to pantry for ease. I think you will struggle to fit kitchen plus island in that bit though because it's around 2.8m wise I think? Run of units = 60cm, 1m between units & island, 90cm island...doesn't leave enough to walk past (you need min 90cm, 1m better for walkways).

Re: 2 sets of double doors, we have this set up & are about to block one lot up & leave just a large window instead. We never use both sets of doors & this gives us a bit more wall space therefore more flexibility in a large open space.

Thank you, lots of great thoughts there. I think I've got a bit carried away with the idea of an island but agree that it will probably be a bit tight.

Your first idea is pretty similar to our initial one which is reassuring, with sink and dishwasher under the window and most units down the long wall. We thought maybe a breakfast bar somehow bringing the 2 spaces together might work, ie between kitchen and dining areas. But with the table right beside it would we actually use the breakfast bar?

Hadn't thought about moving utility door, you're right that the area by that is in danger of becoming dead space. Interesting thoughts about a bit of reconfiguring, thanks.

We've just finished the thought process for a similar space - work starts in a few weeks! We were surprised how hard it seems to fit everything we wanted in what we think is quite a big space!

The slight complication we have is this room (already exists but with more dividing wall in the middle) is made up of 2 original rooms & 2 separate extensions! So we have 2 flooring levels & 3 ceiling heights!

This is what we've decided to go for, in case it helps.

Thank you, that's really helpful, I'd love a sofa or even just a single comfy chair somewhere but yes, what should be a huge space never seems quite enough (spoilt, me?).

Good luck with all the height variations, ours is part extension but thankfully all seems reasonably level.

Jealous that you've got a start date, we've been talking about this for months and feel no further forward, need to get decisive!

We bought the house knowing this was the plan so have wanted to just get on with it.

That said, my builder has gone a bit quiet lately so hopefully we are starting soon!

Oh good luck, I hate being at the mercy of builders!

I am all for making the most of the view.....and as corner cupboards are such a waste of effort - could you run all units along the 5 m wall - then have a floor to ceiling window on the kitchen part and then a peninsula coming off at right angles between this and the sliding windows - allows for a much more social space, place to plate up and a stool to perch for breakfast?

Also would be a lovely uninterrupted view when you come into the kitchen from the hall rather than looking at bowlful of dirty dishes...

You could also put floor to ceiling shallow storage on the LHS - but you might not need this if you have a pantry.

Sorry for the late response but thank you another, that sounds like a good plan, actually I had looked at something similar (nice pic I saw on houzz) but it involved an island which I thought we wouldn't have space for. But a peninsula could work well in that space.

It kind of takes it away from being a galley style layout down the length of the room and takes it across the width instead, which I like.

Thank you, lots to think about.