Urgent help needed! Critique my kitchen layout

[TheLibrarian2014]

Help! Got a lovely kitchen designer trying to help us with a kitchen/dining design including new bifold doors we're installing to the garden. We currently have a stupid tiny hall which is the main entrance to the house, with door for hall leading into kitchen via an awkward chicane. She's trying to find a way to improve our tiny entrance way problem but I'm scared of making a mistake by changing our current kitchen layout (which actually works well for us) too much.

I have to decide by tomorrow morning which of these two designs to go for, what do you think? One leaves entrance hall as is, the other opens it up with a big sliding stable door thing so it would be much easier to get in and out. But I'm struggling to get my head round that as its so different to our current layout.

Bifold doors are on the wall opposite sink.

Links to 3d mockups - brave version panorama.2020.net/view/8ttn7fptbkovfcpgvtztjq/

Less brave version! panorama.2020.net/view/ntzhwvlruqlqxf1uwtdiw/

In the brave version fridge freezer is by doors to living room. But could possibly move to corner on the right as you enter. I'm worrried about where you'd put microwave / toaster / kettle in the brave version, especially if I steal worktop space in the corner for the tall fridge! Also no wall cupboards for glasses etc...

Opinions very welcome...I've lived here a while and got used to the weird entrance but our designer thinks we'd be crazy not to change it, as its a big house which should really have a proper hall.

Help!

Sorry no comment on the hallway issue but the first thing I noticed was that the island looks odd away from the main bit of the kitchen. Looks better in the version where the island is nearer the hall end and the table is nearer the piano end?

And I think you can afford to lose some worktop space around the edges when you’ve got such a big island?

Yes you’re right...but can’t put microwave / toaster on the island, not without it looking really odd anyway! Thank you, yes I’m worried we may regret compromising the kitchen layout just to solve the (admittedly irritating) hallway issue.

I'd lose the island and have more cupboards where those chairs are. Then you have a table you can move if needed, far more flexible.islands are easy money for kitchen suppliers which is why they get pushed.

Aha, it’s not that obvious on the plan. But behind those 2 chairs is a new wall of bifold doors to garden, so no cupboards possible in that position. We love our current island anyway though I know some hate them!

Why do you have to decide in such a hurry?
Personally I like a peninsula in a kitchen as I like dividing the kitchen area from the sitting area.

I like the brave version, except that the sink is too far away from the cooker and island. Can you put the sink in the island? Then you have loads of room in the other bit for the kettle and toaster. It will have a lovely flow to it when all the doors are open!

I definitely like the brave version that sorts out the front door.

I can't tell where the fridge/freezer is in either version, but I wouldn't want the fridge on the opposite side of the room from the sink & hob.

Why does 'brave' have the sliding door going towards the sink & messing up a run of units?

I would do 'brave' but with the sliding door the other way, and then the fridge/freezer on that same wall. Then sink & cooker as they are. And I'd swap the island & table back to 'normal'. I wouldn't want the table next to the sink with your guests seeing the washing up.

Gosh I wouldn’t have a barn door as your kitchen door. They are quite “leaky” ie gaps around, so you’ll get kitchen smells and noise going up the house. If you want to do this layout, build a hollow wall to contain a pocket door and then you can also put units on the hollow wall.

Table definitely needs to be near piano end as per non brave version

Range in brave version doesn’t have nearly enough worksurface around it

Basically I prefer the non brave version but wonder if you might also be able to improve the hall with the non brave version with some tweaks. Can you post a floorplan showing the hall as well?

Oh sorry just seen the plan does show the hall

Yes, the hall really is that small! The barn door being leaky is not an issue as it would only be leaking into the tiny hall. But probably letting in cold drafts to the kitchen too!

Putting the sink in the island would help but I just don’t like the messy sink being on show like that - we are not the tidiest! But I agree
brave layout makes sink a long way from island and hob compared to our current layout, which is quite similar to the non brave version. Aargh.

Ok here’s what I’d do.

Start with the brave plan

• Now swap the table/island around, to be like the non brave plan
• Now swap the sink run with the hob run.
• Have a single kitchen door, but in the middle of the wall not to one side, so you lose the chicane. Could be a pocket door if you like
• Full height units either side of the kitchen door. On the left of the kitchen door, in an L shape with the hob run, is your fridge/freezer and appliance garage. On the right by the bifolds is a shallow depth larder or dresser for food/glasses etc.

Sorry not quite either of your options!

Can you put hob in the island or is there no way to extract?

@parietal I agrees brave version but with island and table swapped might work, but then it’s further when swivelling from island prep area to with ingredients - we cook a lot from scratch. And I guess visitors might be sat at table whilst you have spitting pans right behind them!

As an aside - I’m not sure why you are attaching the table to the island when you appear to have space to have a separate table? Separate table would always get my vote if you have the space - you can seat more round it, extend it, move it nearer the doors on hot days, move it out of the way for parties, move it into the garden etc etc

Minipie thanks! Sadly window layout means can’t swap hob with sink, not allowed gas under windows and husband won’t consider anything but gas.
We are way too messy to have hob in island, also extraction would be very tricky for boring building construction reasons. Some good ideas though, thank you very much! I agree having a narrower central door might help.

@minipie oh yes, it’s just been drawn that way as it seems fashionable now but would def be a separate table. We’d position it with a gap between the two I think as I don’t want to be doing laps of the room constantly 😂

Hmm I’m a recent convert from gas to induction so would say your DH should really consider induction!! Especially if it enables a better layout.

However if gas is non-negotiable then I think the non brave plan is best but with a more central single (possibly pocket) door.

[quote TheLibrarian2014]@minipie oh yes, it’s just been drawn that way as it seems fashionable now but would def be a separate table. We’d position it with a gap between the two I think as I don’t want to be doing laps of the room constantly 😂[/quote]
Phew! Yes it would certainly keep you fit if all in one...

Don't forget you don't have to have a separate microwave. Get one of those wall ovens that also has a microwave mode - they're fab.
OR if you really want a microwave you can have one built in to your island. A bit lower down than usual but I've seen it a few times and it's fine. Saves worktop space then.

For me, I'd have to turn the island. I don't like the long line it makes with the table.

I agree with PP, you don't actually have to decide by tomorrow. Big decision and don't be rushed, you can seek other designers.
However, from these choices, I prefer the non brave version. By sorting the hall issue they are sacrificing your kitchen layout with the brave version. The island needs to stay in the "kitchen end" and the dining table in other end. Where is your working triangle of sink, oven / hob, fridge? Designers are normally good at that bit.
Plus, if you have the hallway you are used to, and kids dump shoes, bags, coats there then they are not traipsing all clutter into your new kitchen or leaving it piled up at barn door. Also, a small hallway means more wow factor into your new kitchen.

Just seen your update, your DH needs educating on induction. It's absolutely the way to go if you can. Hob is not at all hot after you lift the pan off. It's wipeable clean immediately. Hands touching it will not get burnt. You can have extraction built into the hob, so no extractor hood to clean or have protruding overhead and not noisy with guests.

I like the brave one, but I'd change it so that the cooker is in an island directly behind the sink and the fridge is in bottom left corner and table is centred in the music room area. Is that your front door to the left? Could you have glass doors into the room instead of the barn door? Or make the barn door a blackboard? So it has a use as well as making it a cosy space in the evening. Cooking on the island will give you views of the garden. If you have induction range it's so easy to clean it will sit well in an island. Can't understand why the designer only gave you two options. If you us an independent designer like OnePlan she usually gives you loads of options and will talk you though them all, making it easy to chose the one that works best for you. That might be a better idea.

Meant to add you could have long shelves over the windows all along that wall for more open storage. But might not work if your windows open inwards.