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The kitchen is our main area of focus now. That 'U' shape is not working for us. We were going to take out the laundry closet (dead center) and move it to the corner off the frame at the bottom of this photo. That would let us vent the dryer to the outside more efficiently, greatly reducing the dryer cycle time. Also it would free up a little room in the kitchen area, but we can't figure out what to do with the extra room. So we're at square one again and are open to suggestion.
2) One thing that has been hampering any new layout ideas is that Dave wants to keep the sink where it is. Another thing that isn't helping is that stupid sliding glass door you can almost see at the very bottom (slightly to the right). It leads to a deck we would like to remove because it is crap. We'd like to put in a patio instead that would extend the entire length of the back of the house.
Did Dave mention yet that the whole idea is to knock out the wall between the kitchen and the dining room (playroom). We'd like to have a more open layout. We're just not formal dining room type people.
4) Having done this type of thing before and having 20/20 hindsight, I would make that laundry area a pantry, and not just for food, but for my "bulk" items, like TP, paper towels, napkins, light bulbs, etc.
And, I have my sink in the same place as yours, thinking, "oh, it'll be nice to look outside while doing dishes." I never do this. I'd lose the long peninsula, making it shorter, and put the sink at a diagonal. Or you could even switch ends with that idea, if you'll still have the kids in what is now the dining area after you open up the space - we aren't formal dining people either, so I'd make that my kid area w/seating for adults, as well.
Also, we have sliding doors, too, but I'd like them to be french doors that open at the center. Like I said, hindsight is 20/20...maybe in the next house we build!
5) Courtney, I'll move the sink if you show me a good plan that has the sink at a different location. I just know how much work that's going to be, so starting with a plan that keeps it where it is makes the most logical sense. But if it has to be moved, that would be ok. We'll have to disconnect it and remove it anyway for a new counter and cabinets. When are we going to do this anyway? I think right now we can afford about 1 square foot of counter space. Maybe we can have it done by 2012.
6) It would be pretty sweet to knock out the wall where the stove is and move the stove opposite of the sink. It would really open up the room and you could put a cool breakfast bar going into the play room. Maybe even build a Mountain Dew tap in to the bar!!!
7) Is the house on a crawl or slab? I assume crawl, or it would be impossible to move the dryer and washer.
What are you wanting to do with the kitchen? (Larger, open)
Do you plan to create a closet or wall off a larger room for the washer and dryer?
Do you guys have a pantry now? The closet under the stairs?
Crawl. Larger kitchen, more open. We do plan to create a closet for the washer/dryer, exactly the same size as the one they're in now, just in a corner and on an exterior wall so that we can vert the dryer directly outside (right now it vents through a very long tube in the crawl space). We do not have a pantry now. The closet on the left (under the stairs) is a utility closet with a water heater and furnace, not suitable for a pantry.
I'll try and publish some plans of what we were thinking, just for conversation's sake. Maybe it can be salvaged in some form or another.
While you are in the planning stage can you throw in a room that has padded walls and a trampoline for a floor?
This will make the Humzoo Christmas Party next year pretty memorable.
If you really want to make it interesting replace the ceiling with a trampoline as well.
The kitchen is our main area of focus now. That 'U' shape is not working for us. We were going to take out the laundry closet (dead center) and move it to the corner off the frame at the bottom of this photo. That would let us vent the dryer to the outside more efficiently, greatly reducing the dryer cycle time. Also it would free up a little room in the kitchen area, but we can't figure out what to do with the extra room. So we're at square one again and are open to suggestion.
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Did Dave mention yet that the whole idea is to knock out the wall between the kitchen and the dining room (playroom). We'd like to have a more open layout. We're just not formal dining room type people.
And, I have my sink in the same place as yours, thinking, "oh, it'll be nice to look outside while doing dishes." I never do this. I'd lose the long peninsula, making it shorter, and put the sink at a diagonal. Or you could even switch ends with that idea, if you'll still have the kids in what is now the dining area after you open up the space - we aren't formal dining people either, so I'd make that my kid area w/seating for adults, as well.
Also, we have sliding doors, too, but I'd like them to be french doors that open at the center. Like I said, hindsight is 20/20...maybe in the next house we build!
What are you wanting to do with the kitchen? (Larger, open)
Do you plan to create a closet or wall off a larger room for the washer and dryer?
Do you guys have a pantry now? The closet under the stairs?
Crawl. Larger kitchen, more open. We do plan to create a closet for the washer/dryer, exactly the same size as the one they're in now, just in a corner and on an exterior wall so that we can vert the dryer directly outside (right now it vents through a very long tube in the crawl space). We do not have a pantry now. The closet on the left (under the stairs) is a utility closet with a water heater and furnace, not suitable for a pantry.
I'll try and publish some plans of what we were thinking, just for conversation's sake. Maybe it can be salvaged in some form or another.
While you are in the planning stage can you throw in a room that has padded walls and a trampoline for a floor?
This will make the Humzoo Christmas Party next year pretty memorable.
If you really want to make it interesting replace the ceiling with a trampoline as well.
Thanks.