Swap kitchen, dining room

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 19/02/2006 (7192 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

QUESTION — We are planning to modify the kitchen in our single-storey, 50-year-old home and hope you can provide some insight into the design and how we can make it function the best it can, given its limitations.

The cabinets, counters and flooring all need replacing, and although the kitchen area is fairly large, there is a shortage of counter and storage space because of the traffic flow.

One major problem is the dining area — the only one in the house — which is too small to accommodate our growing family of four.

As well, there is no place for a modern refrigerator so it sits impracticably at the far end of the room.

The kitchen is on the east side of the house, so we would like to have an eating area, for at least six people, preferably near a window, to catch the morning sun.

We plan to replace the electric stove with a gas oven and range top.

As much as possible, we would like to maintain the curved arch doorway openings that are characteristic of a house of this age.

ANSWER — The most practical types of kitchens are not necessarily the largest and a kitchen’s efficiency is measured not in its square footage, but rather in something called a work triangle.

To establish a functional work triangle, draw a line from the sink, to the fridge, to the stove and then back to the sink and measure the total length of the triangle.

If it is more than 20 feet (six metres), your major work areas are too far apart and the kitchen is may be inefficient.

Based on this rule, your present kitchen, at more than 30 feet (10 metres), is impractical and requires some fundamental changes.

The kitchen is the single most expensive room in the house to renovate, so it should also be the one space in the house that is done right the first time.

While my recommendations may seem dramatic, I believe they are the best solution, given the amount of space you have and the necessary traffic patterns.

The main recommendation is swapping the locations of the present dining room and kitchen areas.

From a renovation point of view this will mean changing the long window for one that will sit above the new counter; changing the present kitchen window for one that will become a feature in the new dining area.

It will also mean closing off the wall that currently separates the dining room from the living room.

While these renovations may be more than you originally foresaw, they do completely change the relation between the spaces without sacrificing the character of the home.

The new kitchen calls for an efficient U-shaped-space with its sink placed under the new window and a good run of counter space and overhead storage each side.

A new range (in this limited space, I would not recommend a range top with separate oven) has necessary counter space on both sides of it and overhead storage running along the full wall.

Even if you cannot afford it at this stage, you should plan to electrify the space above the range for a combination microwave oven/exhaust fan when you order the cabinets.

These units are the perfect space-saver in a small kitchen.

The west wall shows a long run of counter and overhead storage and ends with a built-in fridge/freezer unit and a panty cabinet with pull-outs.

With this plan, the entry into the rear of the house is now through the dining area, from both the mud room and the family room, taking all foot traffic out of the kitchen work area.

While it may be more fashionable to use tile or hardwood flooring in renovations today, I feel that, especially in an area that will have this much day-to-day use, a more practical flooring such as solid vinyl would make more sense.

When designing any kitchen, it is always a good idea to seek the advice of a qualified kitchen planner who can ensure that your new space will be as efficient and attractive as you hope.

These professionals can help you design the best kitchen your money can buy and may ultimately save you money.

I hope my plan provides you with a basis for these discussions.

You can contact Toronto-based interior designer David Ferguson through his website, below.

www.creativespaceonline.com