We’re planning to knock out a complete kitchen remodel in fall of 2024 and while that’s still a bit away, we’re starting to plan now. Some appliances, windows, and other kitchen products are in high demand and short supply so the goal is to decide on everything we want for our new space and get any backordered items ordered long before we’ll actually need them.
We’re going to be changing up the entire layout of our kitchen and are considering vaulting the ceiling too since we have attic space above the kitchen. Our vaulting options aren’t cut and dry since our roof line has tons of angles so we’re starting our remodel planning by working through several kitchen layout & vaulting options with a local architect (it’s Susan Vaughn if you’re local to Wilmington, NC – she’s great!). I thought it would be fun to share the different kitchen layout options we’re considering and see what you think! (post includes affiliate links – full disclosure statement available {here})
But before we get there, let me show you the current layout of our kitchen so you can see the space that we’re starting with (all drawings are by Susan Vaughn):
My wish list of changes for the layout of our new kitchen that I gave to Susan includes:
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- Moving the kitchen sink out of the corner. The corner of our kitchen with two arched windows looks like the perfect spot for a sink but…
Sources: Cabinet knobs | Backsplash wallpaper | Faucet | Glass soap pumps | Soap pump tray (mini) | Scalloped blue planter | Blue striped towel
after using it for months, I’ve definitely fallen out of like with having a corner sink. The windows are so far into the corner that I don’t have a good view out either one unless I lean way forward over the sink. I’m mostly looking at the wall space between the two windows with only a sliver of a view out of them. I’m also not a fan of the awkward wasted triangle of space behind our sink. And I hate that you can’t have your dishwasher right next to a corner sink because you’d be unable to open it while standing there. Other than that, it’s great – ha!
- Moving the kitchen sink out of the corner. The corner of our kitchen with two arched windows looks like the perfect spot for a sink but…
- A 48″ range instead of a cooktop and wall oven. I LOVED my Monogram range in our old kitchen – I had plenty of burners plus two ovens all in one gorgeous package:
Kitchen Sources: Range | Backsplash mosaic tile | Pot Filler (vibrant stainless) | Cabinet cup pulls | Cabinet pulls | Round braided tray | Marble & wood utensil holder | Floating wood shelves
- No 45 degree angles. In our current layout, the sink, cooktop, and wall oven are all at a 45 degree angle and it’s just not my thing.
- A kitchen island that seats at least 3 people. I loved the size of the kitchen island in our previous home (our island countertop measured 40″ x 94″) and I’d like an island in this house that’s similar in size or a bit larger.
- A larger pantry. Our current pantry is tiny (a good chunk of it is taken up by venting for an air return) – I miss the pull-out pantry in our last house:
I’d love our new kitchen to have something similar to this pantry cabinet or a walk-in pantry.
I’d love our new kitchen to have something similar to this pantry cabinet or a walk-in pantry.- A closet in our laundry room. If you look at our current house plan, you’ll see that I have a small closet in our laundry room that’s basically created from the empty space behind the angled wall oven. While I want to remove the angled oven, I’d ideally like to still have a closet in the laundry room.
I have several other must-haves on my kitchen remodel list but can work most of them into whichever layout we move forward with – check out my 10 must-have kitchen remodel ideas in {this post}.
Taking my wish list into account, Susan drew up three kitchen layout options as a starting point for us to work off of. Ready to see?
Option A: Lowest Cost Option
Option A is the lowest cost option that would involve maintaining the same basic L shape kitchen layout that we currently have while swapping around the arrangement of everything in it. The kitchen ceiling could be vaulted with the vault centered on the island:
Our range would be centered on the front wall of the kitchen, our sink would be on the side wall (I would want to add a window there so I’m not staring at a wall), we’d have an island with L shaped seating in the center, and we’d add tall pantry cabinets where our current pantry and desk area are. The plan doesn’t involve any changes with the current windows but I wouldn’t want to be staring at the wall when at my sink so I’d want to add a window there if we went with this option. Another option would be to move the sink to the island but to move the dishwasher and trash cabinet with it (I’d like to keep that trio together) I would have to eliminate the island seating on the short side.
Option B: Open Concept Option
Option B has a lot of similarities but the vaulting of the ceiling would go the opposite direction:
In this option, the sink is on the front wall of the kitchen with a new, enlarged window. The range is moved to the side wall and the kitchen island remains the same as option A. We could add cabinetry to the wall where the tall pantry cabinets are in option A or we could open up the wall to the dining room for more of an open concept layout.
The big negative of options A and B is that there is still a large, unused space between the kitchen and sitting room (space we call the “circus room”). We could put a round dining table in the middle of the space and two lounging chairs in the bay window but it seems like overkill to have kitchen island seating, a large table in the kitchen, and a dining table in the dining room that’s just steps away. Especially since our girls are in college so 90% of the time it’s just Jeff and I eating together.
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Option C: Adding a Scullery
Option C is a complete change-up! A portion of our kitchen would turn into a scullery (or butler’s pantry or walk-in pantry – whatever you want to call it!) and the rest of the kitchen would shift down toward the bay window:
We wouldn’t vault the ceiling in this option because working with our roof line, we couldn’t create a vault that’s centered over the kitchen space but we could do a tray ceiling if we wanted (we already have two tray ceilings in our house so I’d actually probably leave the ceiling as-is). One negative is that we would lose having the two corner windows in the main kitchen space – they’d be in the scullery instead. But due to the direction they face, they actually don’t bring a ton of light into our home. The bay window and circus room windows are the ones that really fill the space with light.
Option C also allows for a nice size closet in our laundry room which I like. The negative is that we wouldn’t have a vaulted ceiling (we do have 9′ ceilings so we’d still have a taller than average ceiling).
Our Thoughts…
Option C honestly kind of blew my mind. It goes to show that getting a good architect is so worth the cost – it’s not an arrangement that I would have come up with on my own but I LOVE it! Jeff and I are still thinking things over (and I’m so interested to hear what you think too!) but our initial thoughts are to work off of Option C with a few changes…
I’m a symmetry girl so I’d want my range and kitchen island to be centered on the bay window which would be easy to do by lengthening it and shifting it toward the circus room a bit. I’d also have the option for making my kitchen island wider than 3′ if I wanted to eliminate my small round table and four chairs that are currently in the bay window breakfast nook. Since I’d have seating for four at my island and our dining table is right around the corner, that might be the way to go. If you’ve eliminated a table and chairs in your kitchen area, do you miss it?
I’d plan to keep our coffee maker, air fryer, and other small appliances in the scullery so I’d love a small sink in there. And I’m taking back my “no corner sink” request 😂. As a second sink, this would be a great place for it. It’s possible I could even reuse some of the cabinetry from our current kitchen in the scullery but I’d still add new countertops.
Since the scullery adds so much storage space to the kitchen, I could probably incorporate a tall cabinet for my cordless vacuum, mop, etc. that I currently keep in my laundry room closet. Then instead of having a broom closet off the laundry room, I could open that space up to make it more of a mudroom with storage for coats and shoes (you get to our garage through the laundry room so having it there would make sense). It could be similar to what I did in our previous home, where I used inexpensive IKEA PAX units to create this coat & shoe storage space out of a shallow nook in our laundry room:
Sources: Tangerine wall decals | Over the Door Ironing Board Hanger | Brass & Acrylic Cabinet pulls (Golden Champagne finish)
You can get all the details in my post on creating our IKEA mudroom.
So that’s where we’re headed at this point but nothing is set in stone – what do you think? Which option is your favorite? I’ve never had a walk-in pantry/scullery – for those of you who have one, do you love it and what all do you keep in it?
I’m off to celebrate Mother’s Day with Jeff, my parents, and one of my two girls (my other daughter is still finishing up her college semester). Jeff is making us all dinner which is a treat (he’s not usually the cook!). In the past, I haven’t been able to spend many Mother’s Days with my mom since we’ve always lived states away so it makes today’s celebration all the more special (my parents are now just down the street!). Happy Mother’s Day to all of you mamas out there – I hope your families spoil you with love and hugs (and some good food 😉) today!
As usual, I’ve added a bunch of new favorite finds and deals to my Shop page {here}. Also Serena & Lily is having a sitewide sale with 20% off using code GOFORIT (plus they FINALLY added flat rate shipping which is a plus!) – you can see the Serena & Lily finds I have and love in my own home {here}.
XO,
Patty says
Option C with your changes will be amazing!! A walk-in pantry truly makes a better kitchen – mine doesn’t have a sink but I wish it did. I can hardly wait to see this transformation. You are a genius in designing room make-overs 🙂
Corinne says
Totally C. Without a doubt, drop the mike. Love your updates to it too and the modification of the Laundry broom closet to the mudroom with the Ikea storage. We have two dishwashers and I LOVE it. You could add a DW next to the scullery sink or move the fridge closer to the scullery door and move the main sink to the wall counter and add a prep sink to the island. That is how ours is set up and it works pretty well with 2 cooks in the house.
Marian Zimmerman says
Plan B… best thing I did was open my dining room wall
more space for grandchildren n son -in- laws to all hang out
Cindy says
Kris,
Love all the things you share with us. Looking at your style I don’t see you enjoying a narrow island with a sink in it. No room for decorating on the island. The kitchen work triangle is best with A or B. The scullery is fantastic, but what does it add for the two of you? I might consider closing the dining entry from the laundry side and make that a drop zone. You will make anything work beautifully. Best wishes and Happy Mother’s Day.
Alison Kelman says
Option C as well. My only thought would be to think about having a door between the kitchen and the laundry so you can close it off if you want to. A pocket door would take less space. Just wandering what you are going to do with the bay window space. Such a gorgeous area but nothing in it?
Margaret says
Plan C for sure. I have a walk-in pantry and wouldn’t be without it. You will never regret choosing Plan C.
Pam says
Option C is the one I like best! I would LOVE a pantry like that to accommodate all of the small appliances that currently live all over my limited counter space and even in some cabinets. I am looking forward to seeing your kitchen progress.
Monica says
I love C. Lose the seating area and make the island as big as you can. My instinct would be to put the range on the wall furthest from the living area. When my exhaust fan is running conversation is impossible. Not sure if it would make a difference in your space. If you or your guests are coffee drinkers maybe do a double height cabinet with bi-fold doors to hide everything when not being used. Could even fit a small microwave if you don’t plan on a microwave drawer. Your work is beautiful and I can’t wait to see what you decide!
Nanci says
I see that C is the big hit! Question though…do you have another sit down dining area besides in the kitchen. If the answer is yes, then by all means eliminate it. Otherwise if the answer is no, you really should have a place to sit down to eat, play games etc.
Hilu says
What great options! I totally get the allure of option C and the idea of a butler’s pantry. Some of the larger new homes in our area offer that to help hide all the clutter, especially when entertaining in an open concept space. Two things to consider, though: 1) In that scenario the kitchen becomes much more dominant. When you’re in the sitting room, will you feel as though you’re sitting in the kitchen? 2) Will you miss the opportunity for a casual dining spot that’s not an island? Islands are great for quick meals, but nothing beats a cozy breakfast nook or even just a little bistro table for those long weekend mornings with the paper and your sweetheart across from you. With just the two of you, I doubt you’ll use your formal dining table much, and side-by-side island sitting may not be that conducive to conversation. Option C is the most practical and rational, but only you can tell whether it’s the one that “feels right” in daily living. Good luck with this project, and thanks for sharing the options with your reader friends!
Kathe says
C is the way I would go – great layout. I just did a new kitchen with basically the same layout, and I moved a door and made a secret pantry, and having that, I can promise you will love it. And yours will be much bigger, too. What about a banquette in the bay window? I did one and we love love love it. We also put a drawer microwave on the end of the island, which you could do when you lengthen it, and a beverage fridge on the other end (closest to your living space, for guests and the kids to get their own without opening the big fridge or taking up room in it). Can’t wait to see what you do – you have such great style.
Toni says
Also that large unused space you are concerned about by current eating area gives space for when you do have groups of people to be able to freely move and mingle. C crowds the kitchen to me. Remember how people gravitate to kitchen when entertaining!
Toni says
I would consider what is the focal point when you walk into the kitchen? In C plan it seems it is the fridge and I wouldn’t be a fan of that. Also, if it is just you and your hubby most of the time, do you really NEED a scullery area? I personally would want widows on the end wall which you couldn’t have with a scullery. So I’m probably more in favor of. A or B. Plus I think for functionality a stove right behind your kitchen sink could be problematic if more than one person was in the kitchen preparing food and cooking. Something to think about. What about building a wall of cabinets on the kitchen side of the dinning room wall(in B) that could house small appliances, extra dishes etc. I think I would choose option B because ceiling lines would then be more in line with current eating area. Yes eating at an island is fine but there is a lot to be said for sitting across from faces when dinning rather than beside each other. I just went through a huge kitchen remodel in a high end home of the lady I work for so these are thoughts gleaned from that experience. .
Cathy says
All options are great, but option C is so creative! Love it! We did away with our kitchen table & chairs & opted for island seating only about 10 years ago. I never regretted it until last year. I had a surgery that didn’t comfortably allow taller seating and we didn’t enjoy using the dining room daily for close to 2 months! Would adding a window seat in the bay be an option to have a small bistro set for intimate meals rather than the dining room if needed?
Noél Nicklas Emswiler says
I like C as well (you can never go wrong with more storage!) but wondered about the placement of the refrigerator. What about moving the fridge down where the cabinet is next to the pantry door? It would put it closer to the work triangle (if those even exist anymore!) and give you a larger expanse of counter space on the left of the fridge. Plus as you walk in from the sitting or dining room and turn, the focal point would be more about the upper cabinets than the fridge. In Option A the focal point was the range which I liked. I agree that a small table/banquet in the bay window would be a nice addition. If you did a banquet that could give you more storage. Love the options!
Lynette says
Exactly my thought. Move the fridge to make a better working triangle.
Diane says
I totally agree that Oprion C is the way to go, and your edits make it even better! A walk in pantry for appliance storage and all the rest would be a dream. If you have the room and resources, I say go for it!
We recently completed a kitchen reno and kept the layout but added a large island. I have space for 3 stools at the island and don’t miss the table and chairs at all. The kitchen looks neater and we really enjoy using the island for eating, socializing, buffets, etc.
Like you, I would definitely want the island and range centered on the bay window. It would bother me every day if it wasn’t. OCD or good design, whatever, it needs to happen.