Anyone up for an impossible kitchen design challenge?

[AwkwardSpace]

Apologies for the long post, I didn’t want to drip feed all the design constraints.

This is my impossibly awkward kitchen space - after we knock through several tiny rooms to create it and extend to add on the dining space. Trying to design something that both looks nice and is functional is driving me round the bend. (Although we currently have one double cupboard, half of which is alongside the cooker and impossible to access and the other half has the sink on it and one three drawer unit. So anything will be an improvement!)

Hilariously, Ikea’s kitchen planner said it was unable to make any suggestions and I needed to ‘redefine my space’! 😂

If anyone is up for a challenge, here are the points to consider:

• We can’t do anything with the rooms to the left of the dining room as they make up a ground floor annexe for a family member with mobility issues.
• The two windows on the external wall overlook the side access to the garden, so I would prefer the dining room to overlook the garden via the french doors if possible.
• If we put units where I have drawn them in blue we can retain the under-stairs cupboard. We already use this as a pantry/store and it’s useful for storing the vacuum and ironing board as well. Seems a shame to just block it up and waste storage space.
• BUT if we block it off we get a more balanced galley L or u-shaped kitchen.
• If we go for the u-shape it means I can centre a lovely butler/belfast sink on the external wall between the windows, which gives a much nicer look to the whole kitchen, but also requires two corner units.
• If we go for slim base units on the long wall the central aisle of the galley would be 1711 mm.
• The ceiling height in the corner where the pantry is is only 2000 mm due to stair winders above, but I was only thinking of wall units to the left of the chimney breast anyway.
• We have a Stoves Richmond Mini Range which is going in the chimney breast.
• The room to the left is our living room, so I have tried to avoid noisy appliances on that wall.
• I don’t mind quirky interiors, the house was built in 1930 and although not a chocolate-box cottage, is still cottage-like in design and style. I am planning on a light blue, in-frame shaker style with oak work-tops.
• One last thing is, I would really like to fit my tumble dryer somewhere, but appliances opposite each other reduce the galley/walkway space, so I haven’t managed to get it in anywhere. It could possibly go under the stairs at a push.

What do you think? Is this anyone up for the challenge or do you think what I have drawn is probably the best option?

Can you switch round and have the dining area up the other end of the L so you don't lose the cupboard?

What is on the other side of the wall where you have the WM and DW at the moment?

Need a whole house floor plan for this if you want to think outside the box. I think you have maximised the extent of thinking inside the box and agree it’s not good.

Could you turn any of the doors into bookcase doors, especially the under stairs cupboard? This would give you some storage for jars, mugs etc.

Also think about storage over the top of the doors, fridge etc at ceiling height for less frequently used items.

Alternatively, could you change the way you access the under stairs space? Block up the door in the kitchen and put in side access instead.

Or even add a section of work surface to the wall beside the cupboard door that folds down flat when you want access the cupboard.

We used to have our washing machine and tumble drier stacked outside in the brick built "shed" it was ex coal house I think - built 1965.

Worked very well and wasn't a pain in the arse despite having DC in washable nappies.

This?

Will read back in a minute.

I’ve just been messing with Ikea’s planner, because it already has the dimensions. (Except the ceiling height under the stair turn.)

I quite like the movable butcher’s block idea, probably with double or folding doors on under-stairs cupboard. Very quick cobble together, obviously not using my choice of cupboards or the right butchers block, as the whole thing would be being built to fit. This is what it might look like-ish.

Not forgetting, there would be narrow storage alongside the cooker in the fireplace opposite the windows, 1200 mm of base and tall wall units to the left of the chimney breast and I could possibly get another half depth cupboard built around the support column, as well as storage above our double fridge freezer.

I’ve also done a quick plan with the sink centrally on the window wall and appliances on the right wall. (Which btw, backs onto an accessible bathroom, making so has easy access to plumbing.)

Under-stairs cupboard currently has an ancient and tatty ledged and braced door, so I would have new doors made to match the oak worktops.

I would like the dining room to overlook the garden, rather than being stuck in a corner with no view. Also, neither is ideal, but I would rather the accessible rooms were off the dining room than the kitchen.

The ideal option would be to move, but that’s just not affordable for us in our area, unfortunately. Our architect was tearing their hair out trying to find a plan that met our very unique needs and after umpty million redesigns this was the best option. Realistically, this is going to be our forever home, so it just has to work for our family’s needs, not be future-proofed for selling or to add value.

The now empty wall next to storage cupboards you could have a lift up work surface. When it is down the butchers block would pull past it and then lift up would be extra work surface? Also could have shallow shelving above

Honestly there is no more space to be had or to re-jig. (See my last post.). It’s far from ideal, but this is what we have to work with.

Our poor architect tried so many different ways to make it work and ultimately this was the only one that met all of our needs. Priority had to be meeting the physically disabled family member’s access needs downstairs. It’s not perfect, but it’s a million times better than what we are living with right now.

Your thought processes are working through the options like I did. I love the idea of bookcase doors and have lots saved on my kitchen ideas pinterest board, as I was convinced one could help. Now, I think the recessed cupboard with narrow double doors and movable butcher’s block might work better for us.

Unfortunately we can’t access the cupboard from the side, as it’s behind our sofa (only place it fits in the living room) and a radiator.

I was mulling over a lift-up/drop-down work top too, but actually there will already be so much work surface space compared to what we currently have, I don’t think we would need it, especially with a butcher’s block as well.

I like this idea. Thank you.

I need to mock it up to see how it would feel though, as it could potentially break up the space too much and make it feel smaller. I might give it a go, maybe with the washer and dryer facing out on the peninsular bit?

If you do u shaped(which is the best plan) you may struggle with IKEA.

You are similar dimensions to me and I couldn't make the corners work with their cabinet sizes. DIY fitted better as there were more options.

Plenty of space in middle.

I did opt not to have full height units to avoid the space looking too imposing and to ensure sufficient work surface. This means an under counter fridge and oven. Is the person with mobility issues likely to cook?

To get round the lack of freezer space, I have a full run of under counter units in the room attached. It hides two freezers, an extra fridge, and a washing machine as well as a couple of small cupboards (the tumble dryer was relegated to the shed which is fine). There's a wooden worktop above and handleless painted doors so it looks like a giant sideboard. If you could get 60cm to the side of a french doors then could be an option?

It's a shame about the understairs cupboard but it really compromises the rest of your options.

Or could you recess the top part of the under stairs cupboard (in a U shape) so you could have extra deep worktop there for the toaster and kettle out of the way.

I have had a narrow kitchen with units in "wrong" place. I recommend you put the table in the main bit even with worse view, square with cooker. Put all the kitchen units on same wall as cooker, lose the french doors, have a single glass door and a window next to it at worktop height.
Then you can still walk through to garden but when you work you will have nice view and no juggling of workspace.
I really really don't recommend your current layout and table in annex area. Just no. You will be walking past "muddle" to get to the table and annex every day.
Table next to living room and stove works better, and pantry cupboard can be used for ironing general stuff/hoover instead of as larder. Food cupboard on run to garden

This is my small u shaped area. I can open the fridge, dishwasher and oven without a clash and have a decent run of worktop.

I wanted to avoid a load of small sections of worktop that can't fit four plates and a baking tray when serving up.

Have a table on patio in garden if you need a garden sitting area. Put weather proof awning to eat most meals outside 6 months of year
Put washing machine in a bathroom even or in an outhouse don't ruin your kitchen trying to find space for it if you can't!!

@Thepartnersdesk I’m won’t be buying Ikea, I’m just using their planner to get an idea of space etc, as the DIY one hates my iPad for some reason. I will be having the kitchen made to fit by a carpenter.

Dh and I felt the same about full height units. We can see the practicality but, feel they would be too oppressive in the space.

The person with mobility issues does use the kitchen, but not to cook full meals, just things like sandwiches or a frozen pizza. They don’t use a wheelchair at home, but are often on crutches and use a stick. Mobility issues is a bit of a misnomer for their needs really, but all anyone really needs to know for kitchen design purposes.

Unfortunately, we have literally zero space anywhere else to add extra units/storage, but our double fridge freezer fits perfectly in the right hand alcove and fits everything we need in nicely. We don’t have a dishwasher, but I’m adamant it’s non negotiable as I am fed up of spending half my life with my hands in the sink! 🙄

I’m still musing along similar lines to you re some sort of pull-out appliance garage type set-up in the top half of the cupboard. Just realised I could have fold back and slide in doors (not sure what they’re called) on the cupboard too if I nixed the ledged and braced style and matched to the kitchen instead.

Are you sure you can't rehouse the WM & Tumble dryer elsewhere in the garden?

I'd do u shaped but extend the work top into the top of understairs space. Do you have an air fryer or microwave to house? You could put them there and keep your worktop run clean and free. I could only find a bay window picture to demonstrate extra depth but if it is at worktop height would look good.

Could the tumble dryer go in the big bit next to the fireplace (sorry I hadn't taken that into account properly). Make a full height cupboard perhaps with a shelf above it for laundry basket and a bit of full height space for ironing board and hoover as they have lost their home. Again picture not quite right as you don't want to stack but useful for ideas)

Don't discount corners. I have a double hinged corner unit so it opens right up (others have trouble doors). It stores all the big pans, baking trays etc brilliantly.

This just wouldn’t work for our family unfortunately. Which is where I suppose we differ from many families, we have a mix of complex needs and would prefer a quirky cottage kitchen to a neatly fitted modern one. I don’t think it would ruin the kitchen to accommodate the appliances we use every day. To me that’s a necessity for it to be a practical working kitchen, rather than just nice to look at.

Honestly, if you saw what we have now you would think my suggested designs are positively palatial by comparison.

I did try to fit the washer in the bathroom. I actually really liked the idea of having it near the laundry basket, but it wasn’t a workable option unfortunately.

It’s not a great idea for me unfortunately as, although I’m not the person with mobility issues, I have my own issues that would make carrying washing in and out a problem and I do the lion’s share of the laundry.

Hmmm outsource the laundry...

Wonder if you could justify the cost 🧐

When we bought this house the WM was in the porch 🤷🏽‍♀️

We have same space between two doors where you have marked slim units. If you are having it custom built, our solution was full height cupboards in this space with the two end cupboards by the doors being on a diagonal to avoid the feel of them obtruding too far into the room. We use it for fridge/freezer and oven unit plus two larder cupboards for the end ones with the diagonal cut. The rest of our kitchen has a sweep of work surface which makes it feel more spacious. You could then have continuous work surface by the stove and across the other side as marked. Another tip is to have everything going to the ceiling. it maximises storage and creates better flow.

If only! 😂

This thread has been really helpful, thank you everyone. I am leaning towards an L-shaped ktichen, putting the tumble dryer under the stairs, with either storage or an appliance bay above it. There are some lovely examples on pinterest etc, although most are for wine fridges in the bottom half!

I will work through the best way to make it work with my carpenter re the style and mechanism of the doors. I think I will try working with that first, adding a butcher’s block at a later date if we feel we need the extra shelf/worktop space.

I know it won’t be to everyone’s taste, but thanks to all your thoughts and ideas and looking at customer kitchen galleries on websites for handmade units, I’m feeling more confident that we can do a sort of free-standing-ish, cottagey design that will work with the age and style of the house. Whatever we end up with, even if it is quirky, it will be a vast improvement on what we’ve lived with for years now.