This main level kitchen | dining is being challenged: serve up double duty as 1. a cozy home for two while 2. easily welcoming 14+ and furry friends
It is up for the challenge!
It is up for the challenge!
[EDIT] Lighting Placement Review
Option 1: Dining Table and Island Lights
This was the original placement proposed, as these placements are 'standard' locations. A concern with the island fixtures is sourcing fixtures of an appropriate scale for the length of the island without overwhelming the space and/or becoming a visual block for those tall Shannon family members.
This was the original placement proposed, as these placements are 'standard' locations. A concern with the island fixtures is sourcing fixtures of an appropriate scale for the length of the island without overwhelming the space and/or becoming a visual block for those tall Shannon family members.
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Option 2: Dining Table and Sink Windows
This revised application gives you space between fixtures, leaving the clear open island ceiling in between. Flat pot lights would be installed over the island, so no concern of dark spots. This would resolve any concern of knocking lights or obstruction of sight lines when gathered around the island.
This revised application gives you space between fixtures, leaving the clear open island ceiling in between. Flat pot lights would be installed over the island, so no concern of dark spots. This would resolve any concern of knocking lights or obstruction of sight lines when gathered around the island.
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Design Brief:
- Create Open Concept Kitchen | Dining
- Maintain Clear Sightlines Front to Back [Front Water Views, Back Forest Views]
- Space Planning
- Equally Comfortable when 2 or Large Groups of 6-16+
- Open Traffic Patterns for Multi-Chefs
- Prep Surface | Island for Brenda and Grand-Children Baking
- Aesthetic: White Shaker Cabinetry, Neutral Pallet.
Design Approach:
- Achieve the Open-Concept Format with distinct 'Zones' that can feel approachable during winter months when a 2 person household but easily flex when at full family capacity
- Consider Setting | Sightlines: The unique placement of the home on this gorgeous property allows for picturesque views from every direction - added Windows for an Indoor-Outdoor Connectivity.
- Functional Layout | Traffic Flow: Key focus on Fluid | Multi-Directional Traffic Zones, allowing for Chef and Sous space to work together. Additional prep surfaces allow for everyone to pitch-in without needing to be in the cooking zone.
- *Larger Traffic Zones 3'6"-4'+ are ideal for multiple cooks in the kitchen
- Prep Zones at Different Heights +/or Types of Counter Surface
- Layout Use Re-evaluated: Keeping in mind the walk-out basement has a large designated TV room, these designs encourage the main level to serve up a distinctly different function for gathering | talk. Open sightlines and varied types of seating encourage each guest to find their version of the best seat in the house - whether chatting, helping with meal prep, reading a book, or doing a craft, etc.
- Open | Closed Storage: Designated Beverage Station, Prep Counter, and | or Hidden Open Pantry are key areas for overflow to go without cluttering main counterspace.
- *In peak busy summer months, these zones accommodate the bounty of bread | buns, chips, fresh veg. and fruit, etc. intentionally away or out of main sightlines to cut back on counter clutter.
- Aesthetic: Neutral Hard-Finishes, layered with a mix of neutral and slight hints of colour in soft-finishes create a timeless, approachable, welcoming vibe that is considerate of the original aesthetic. Durability a key factor in final selections.
- *We have depicted a hardwood floor match carried throughout the entire open concept. If this feels too precious for busy indoor-outdoor summer living and dogs, etc. we will discuss better options and start | stop implementation.
- *Designed Around the Heat-Pump as the placement seemed most central for circulation.
EDIT 2 - March 13th
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EDIT 2 - Notes
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EDIT - Layout 1A
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Design Edit Notes
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Kitchen Facing | Rear of Closet Wall
By replacing the breakfast table with the beverage | additional counter surface, the cabinets now extend the full length of the new kitchen.
We'd like to call-out the negative floor space remaining in-front of this extension, between the cabinet faces and rear-of-closet-wall. This measures approximately 6' foot for your reference - which is spacious and we anticipate may feel undeveloped | unconsidered.
There are countless functional and aesthetic directions for this elevation. We've considered that ultimately this space will be utilized differently throughout the calendar year and have ideas of how it could serve you well, but certainly want to ensure this doesn't become 1. a catch-all that becomes cluttered for Brenda's preferences or 2. underutilized square footage.
Please note the ideas below are intended to be conceptual, initial directional guides to get the ideas flowing but not representative of final design or aesthetic.
*Candidly from Allison - ' I'm concerned when the entire extended family comes for the summer months this could become the 'drop zone' - bulk items, coolers, overflow foods, etc. could land here naturally because its out of any primary traffic zones as well as out of sight-lines from the living room, however within peripheral view within the kitchen. If this is a pro, great! We just wanted to draw attention to this consideration with an initial kick-at-the-can solution offering. Negative space can be a positive, or alternatively we could go with a simple hook or art solution, or more developed with narrow storage, garbage sorting station, command center, etc. Let's discuss what best serves you!'
We look forward to your feedback on this zone.
By replacing the breakfast table with the beverage | additional counter surface, the cabinets now extend the full length of the new kitchen.
We'd like to call-out the negative floor space remaining in-front of this extension, between the cabinet faces and rear-of-closet-wall. This measures approximately 6' foot for your reference - which is spacious and we anticipate may feel undeveloped | unconsidered.
There are countless functional and aesthetic directions for this elevation. We've considered that ultimately this space will be utilized differently throughout the calendar year and have ideas of how it could serve you well, but certainly want to ensure this doesn't become 1. a catch-all that becomes cluttered for Brenda's preferences or 2. underutilized square footage.
Please note the ideas below are intended to be conceptual, initial directional guides to get the ideas flowing but not representative of final design or aesthetic.
*Candidly from Allison - ' I'm concerned when the entire extended family comes for the summer months this could become the 'drop zone' - bulk items, coolers, overflow foods, etc. could land here naturally because its out of any primary traffic zones as well as out of sight-lines from the living room, however within peripheral view within the kitchen. If this is a pro, great! We just wanted to draw attention to this consideration with an initial kick-at-the-can solution offering. Negative space can be a positive, or alternatively we could go with a simple hook or art solution, or more developed with narrow storage, garbage sorting station, command center, etc. Let's discuss what best serves you!'
We look forward to your feedback on this zone.
Layout Concept 1: Linear Kitchen
A more 'common' maritime take on kitchen layouts, this linear plan has all key appliances - stove, sink and refrigerator - on the perimeter, exterior wall. This layout keeps the classic sink-under-the-window format, which leaves the island counter surface a solid span for prep.
Key Features:
*This kitchen layout could take two different approaches to the large island implementation, which impacts the adjacent dining | living room.
Key Features:
- Full height pantry
- Beverage | Breakfast station
- Ample Counter Space
- Cooking Zone
- Breakfast Nook - ideal when dining as two.
- Open shelving is a 'solution to a problem' leaving the heat pump on this feature wall while making it feel intentional.
*This kitchen layout could take two different approaches to the large island implementation, which impacts the adjacent dining | living room.
- Layout 1a - Linear Kitchen with Sit-Up Island, Distinct Dining Zone and Sitting Room
- Layout 1b - Linear Kitchen with Central Island | Dining Bench Seating and Sitting Room
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Video Tour: Layout 1b, Island | Dining Hybrid A more casual approach to dining - Offers a variety of seating styles: bench, individual chairs, and can pull arm chairs in from breakfast area. *Installing suspended lighting over the island versus table gives you flex to move the table per occasion. - Narrower Island Counter Surface than 1a - Eliminates a pass-through traffic zone from layout 1a, which allows for larger traffic zones and living areas. - We heard your request for the grandkids to be able to sit at the island stools and prep | bake with you. This layout still offers that function, just from the bench versus individual seats. - A lighter visual impact to have fewer individual chairs. When large groups are visiting, younger generations can easily scoot into the centre the bench |
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Layout Concept 2: Zoned Kitchen
We've coined this layout the 'zoned' kitchen because it functions with a formal, slightly elevated 'front' kitchen and a supporting 'back' prep kitchen. Though this plan has distinct separations, the sightlines and overall feel keep your key pillar request of open-concept achieved. This approach to space planning is intended to allow many chefs and prep support to be in the kitchen at once, without being on-top of one another - as well as offer up great seating options for those of us better spent watching the prep and offering to clean up afterward. Designated secondary counter surfaces are out of primary sightlines from the entry, living and dining to catch the overflow - summer bounty of breads, buns, chips, produce, etc. - keeping the main counters clear.
Key Features:
Key Features:
- Adding a second traffic pattern into the 'back kitchen,' is great for grocery drops, hand washing after gardening, etc. This space is intended to have a medium sized recyclable system - no more blue bins by the door - with direct access to the back door to take it out to the garage.
- Open style pantry houses small appliances, food overflow, dishware, etc.
- Focal range with storage.
- Coffee | Beverage Station with Open Storage [incorporating the heat pump].
- Sit-up island.
- Detached prep | baking island.
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Video Tour:
Layout 2, Zoned Kitchen A hardworking yet approachable plan - Offers a 'front' and 'back' prep kitchen function - Focal Range - Sink and dishwasher in island, facing the open-concept conversation and taking in all the window views - front and back - at once. *If a dishwashing member would miss washing directly at the window, this is an option at the back. If not, could be removed for all butcher block top. - Comfortable seating in the kitchen is perfect for morning coffee, evening wind down, and everything in between when it's just two. |
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Edit Option:
1. A window seat under an added window floods the space with even more natural light and adds another storage component. Grandchildren can climb up her as another prep corner where they can safely help.
2. If storage is a concern, the addition of a full-height hutch is an excellent option. Perfect for dishware, food storage, or those less-often used items. This unit brings a balancing elements to the offset weight of the stove and pantry cabinetry.
1. A window seat under an added window floods the space with even more natural light and adds another storage component. Grandchildren can climb up her as another prep corner where they can safely help.
2. If storage is a concern, the addition of a full-height hutch is an excellent option. Perfect for dishware, food storage, or those less-often used items. This unit brings a balancing elements to the offset weight of the stove and pantry cabinetry.
