Chirp!:

    Sunday, January 27, 2013

    Visit to the Cabinetmakers

    Had to pop over to the cabinetmakers today.  He had made up a 'mock' kitchen for me to move around in ( basically widths of board sized to spec propped up to the dimensions of the kitchen plans )

    It's a really good way to get a feel for sizing - Can we narrow this a bit? 
    If I take 100mm off here, can I add it back over here?  Will that be big enough?

    He has other boards at 900mm and 600mm to replicate the standard sizes of ovens/cooktops/dishwashers and sinks etc .. and for me especially, who is coming from a 1metre TOTAL kitchen workspace, and is worried the draftsman has made me a commerical sized kitchen, it helps to imagine a cooktop and then some space either side etc. 

    My previous cooktop had NO working space either side. 

    The flat we are living in is also helping too.  Despite being a small compact kitchen, there is a benchspace of 4metres, and it looks quite long.  However, once you pop the microwave somewhere and factor in the sink .. i'm still 1.5 metres one side ( taken up with the chopping board and a bowl of fruit etc ) .. and about 500mm on the other ( dirty dishes, empty cups etc )

    So it's a good visual.

    However, I still can't get my head around the enormity of my kitchen.  I think it is freaking huge.
    And that's not a bad thing, but it's certainly scary.

    I designed a house once with a big kitchen that looked fiiiiiiine on paper, and when actually made left us with zero space, and we juuuuust squuuueezed in our dining table.. but it was pretty cramped and you had to pull your tummy in to squeeze past other diners.  Oops.

    So naturally, I don't want this to happen again.


    HOWEVER ( again, she says ) .. it really can't be any smaller as it throws everything out of whack ( the working triangle etc ) .. it's just really LONG.  We can't make it any shorter ( except by making the island skinnier ), and that's the only place I want to make more space.

    So it is what it is.  And it's what it will be.

    ( deep breath )

    Ok, so it will visually look like this:

    mykitchenideal-web


    And the plans I drew up to pretty much scale in Photoshop look like this:


    kitchenplans-WEB


    My favourite bit of all is the laundry/pantry.  Oh my Lord - when you SEE how this will look in the end, you will DIE.  I swear.  It's my old crap laundry, but reborn.  It will be divine.

    So what do you think? 
    As always, any advice or anecdotes are welcome - it's not too late, because today was more about where things go, so they can make their plumbing plan.

    Also, I now have to find a sink.  In all the kitchens i've been pinning etc .. I don't think i've taken notice of one sink.  What's cool in sinks?  What sucks in sinks - anyone know?

    If you've got a link-to-a-sink .. let me know!


    xx
    Lea

    7 comments:

    Adventures of a Crazy Mumma said...

    I like it. If you have the space right including less tummy tucking, go for it. You will freaking love the bench space! It's one thing I miss from my old renovated kitchen. Can't wait to eventually rip out our 1990's throw back piece of poo!

    Katrina said...

    I love it!

    B is building a house said...

    I freaking love it!

    How wide are the walkways between the cabinetry on the left and the island, and the stove side of the cabinetry and the island? They look narrower than the island, but that could be an optical illusion?

    If they are under 1.2m I would really consider making them wider, as it will give you the ability for a person to walk behind you as you are standing at the sink or cooktop. Also, it will make it possible for you to have the dishwasher door and a drawer on the other side open at the same time...

    B

    Uli said...

    Looks great.

    Re the sinks, that's a hard one. I like something with some room, but don't like the giant American style ceramic ones. They never seem practical, and I always end up breaking things in them.

    KAR said...

    I love it. Definitely not too big, and very practical and workable. Can't wait to see it finished
    PS: Loving this blog.
    Kx (The Blog a House Built)

    LBA said...

    thanks everyone!

    - the walkways are 1.2m .. I don't want them any wider ( although i know this would be ideal ) because I don't want to encroach on the living area.

    Uli - good point re: ceramic. I'm thinking of going the undersink .. with just a simple cut-out in the benchtop .. but I haven't looked at anything yet, so .. no idea ;)

    ellabellabooblog said...

    Def undermount. Go and have a gander at Gottliebs.

    Can you fit another 30 cms in depth of the bench? By mnaking it 1.2mm deep it will look less like a runway and you can put 30cm cabinets under the barstool bit for all those items you don't use very often.

    Post a Comment

    Hey, You just read me, and this is crazy,
    But here's my Blogger, Comment maybe <3