Kitchen redesign help

[Philpug]

We are looking to redo our kitchen. We will be going with a med cherry cabinet with a simple "shaker" style door. We are leaning to a charcoal/black granite countertop, but are open to options. As far as cabinets, Ikea is being concidered but we are open to other choices there. Here are two layouts we are thinking about. One block = one foot.

We want to put a bar, wet sink where this piece is, there is a bathroom on the other side of the wall, so water will be simple. We also want to but a wine fringe there too. I have 45" to work with.

Current Kitchen. Cabinets will go to the ceiling. A 37" flat screen where the phone and clock are.

cabinet above the frdge to give a built in look.

Idea one:

Keeping with the same basic layout. reversing the corner cabinet in the corner for storage and audio.

Option 2 adding a center island. Doing this looses one seat there, would there be enough room to wrap around the island?

We are open to ideas.

 

[MR. evil]

Take my advice for what its worth. Ikea kitchen cabinets are junk!

My wife and I have been looking into re-doing our kitchen and so far I have been very impressed with most of the cabinet lines carried by Home Depot and Lowes. Also do yourself a favor and sit down with a kitchen designer at one of those stores. Coming up with your own basic layout is a good start. But a kitchen designer is going to know all of the cool options and goodies they can use with the various lines they represent and come up with some very cool and functional designs. These design services are typically free if you purchase cabinets from them.

I really cannot stress how much of a specialty kitchen design is. I am an architect and I would not dare design my own kitchen. With the help of a co-worker I worked out a very basic layout just to get the flow Randi and I were looking for. The next step will be to meet with a kitchen designer and let them at it. I will have them work on one or two schemes roughly based on my layout, and one or two completely on their own. Then go from there to a more polished design.

 

[hammer]

I'm not an architect or a kitchen designer, and I can hardly swing a hammer, but I had a kitchen addition done a few years ago...so take my advice for what it's worth...

I'm not sure I'd go with an island...I like them and have one, but in your configuration, it would make for a longer walk from the fridge to the stove or sink. Are you keeping the floors (which look great in the pictures) or are you replacing them?

I'd also second the advice on the cabinets...and make sure you go at least one up from the basic price level. When I had new cabinets installed, I went with better doors but I didn't realize that the components behind them were cheap until after the cabinets were delivered and the contractor had to struggle with installing them.

 

[MR. evil]

another option

If you end up going with the same layout look into cabinet re-facing. My parents just had this done and it came out amazing!

Basically you re-use the existing cabinet box, and get new solid wood doors and drawers. They have every style, wood species and finish you could want. They will veneer the exposed existing cabinet carcasses with 1/4" hardwood plywood to match the new doors and drawers. It’s also possible to make some modifications to the existing cabinets and add all types of decorative moldings, My parents kitchen went from a very plain kitchen to what looks like a custom kitchen in a matter days. I am a real stickler for details / quality and I was shocked by the final product. They also had a custom island added to the kitchen and replaced all the counter tops with solid surface.

 

[deadheadskier]

My only comment is that it's doubtful you'll get much of an ROI as your kitchen is quite nice as it is. Maybe a new counter top (looks to be laminate?) and ensure that all appliances match. If it's purely for livability, go for it, but if you're looking for a return I wouldn't expect much as most buyers would be quite happy with what you already have.

Only thing I'd change are appliances, but that' my own personal preference. I can't stand side by side refrigerators and I'd love a double oven for it's cooking versatility.

 

[drjeff]

Having done a total kitchen redo(gutted the old one right back to the wall studs and knocked out a couple of walls to really open the room up) about 5 years ago, I will DEFINATELY agree with what Mr Evil said with getting the input of a "professional" when it comes to kitchen design, both their knowledge of materials and design options is well worth it.

Also, when it comes to countertops and the kitchen area. I used an engineered stone, Silestone, for mine and LOVE it. Absolutely 0 maintenance. You can place a pot/pan that just seconds before was on the stove right onto the surface without having to potentially worry about burn rings/marks, you can cut directly on it without fear of scratching the surface. Great product that hands down I'd install again (and have in a subsequent bathroom rennovation).

 

[Philpug]

The cabinets are the weak link right now, think "contractor grade". A nicer kitchen will surely be a RIT compared to what we have now.

 

[ctenidae]

I highly recommend using professional help on the design. As in so many things, it really depends on who you get, but we had great success using Home Depot. Part of the benefit is that they send someone to measure everything, then build the kitchen on their computers using the actual room dimensions and the exact dimensions of all the pieces they carry. You'd be amazed at how frustrating (and expensive) being off a quarter inch can be. And just because the cabionets you have now fit, it doesn't mean that what you think is the exact same thing will fit. Also at HD, the measurement is free (and provides a guarantee that everything will fit), and you can spend as much time as you like working with the designer to get what you want.

We got our full set of cabinets for about $6,500, and installed them ourselves (installation would have run $7,500.

We went with a concrete countertop, that I poured in place myself. Fun project, but not for the faint of heart, by any means.

We also reversed a corner cabinet (used an upper cabinet in its place) to hold A/V components. The HD guy and the cabinet company rep thought it was a brilliant idea, but we were thinking, "How else would you do that?"

 

[Trekchick]

Hehe, It looks like my input is not important because the men have pretty much said what I was going to.

 

[Philpug]

Hehe, It looks like my input is not important because the men have pretty much said what I was going to.

isn't that redundant?

 

[wa-loaf]

What's been said already. We looked into Ikea and when you take into account the time that's needed to assemble them or pay someone to do it it's not worth it. We went with Kraft Made and a similar style to what you are looking for:

(facebook link, not sure if this will work)

 

[marcski]

We also redid our kitchen 3 years ago and went with Kraftmade cabinets which we bought at Lowes. They do have some "designers" that work at Lowes, that help you, using a computerized design program. If you get a good "designer" (s)he will help you a lot.

If I remember correctly, we applied for a Lowe's credit card and got a pretty good discount using it to buy the cabinets.

Kraftmade (and Lowes) were very easy to work with. We ended up adding some items once the project got started...(extra ogee moldings and we also had the bottoms of the upper cabinets covered with matching wood and we recessed under cabinet lighting.) Once you made an initial order with Kraftmade, they turned around our additional order in like a week or so. They also sent us 2 additional doors....as we didn't love the grain on the originals.

Here are some pics. They were obviously taken before it was fully completed...no hardware on the cabinets...I don't think the backsplash was grouted yet either. The fridge in the pic was swapped out for a cabinet depth model (still french door) and that area looks awesome...like a built-in with the pantry and above fridge cabinet like you are thinking of doing.

and now one Before Pic. Wow, what a difference this new kitchen made!!! I forgot how fugly the old white washed kitchen was!

 

[TheBEast]

I'll take your kitchen any day.....compared to my 1970's cabinets and countertop!! It's just got to go. If you're looking for someone to take your old cabinets off your hands.....let me know!!

 

[marcski]

Oh also....your old upper cabinets (and lowers if you have the room) are great ...super great to put in your garage for extra storage.

(Sorry BEast!)

 

[TheBEast]

Oh also....your old upper cabinets (and lowers if you have the room) are great ...super great to put in your garage for extra storage.

(Sorry BEast!)

Funny....we did this with my in-laws cabinets when they re-did their kitchen....so now I've got almost nicer cabinets in my garage than I do in my house!!

Nice looking kitchen marcski! Definetly and nice upgrade....we're re-doing our bathroom this fall (think 1970's bably blue tub and those little small 2"x2" tiles on the floor = YUCK!!). Kitchen is next on the list.

 

[Philpug]

I am set for cabinets in teh garage....

Seriously, if someone wants to make me an offer on the current cabinets and or dishwasher, microwave and sink. PM me.

 

[deadheadskier]

You sleep in your garage?

It's like a museum in there :lol:

 

[marcski]

You sleep in your garage?

It's like a museum in there :lol:

Seriously! Wow, Phil...we might think you're anal with a garage that clean..Thank goodness for your awesome Ski Binding Crown Molding in there...otherwise all would have been lost!

 

[Philpug]

Was tempted at on point to don one of those fancy floors too, but got lazy.

 

[Geoff]

Do you guys cook much? I think I'd be inefficient in that kitchen since the fridge, stove, and sink are so far apart. I prefer a layout where those three things are placed close together.


Any kitchen design that doesn't include a beer tap is just like, no.