House Beautiful
At long last, we have a floor plan I truly believe is the winner. If our contractor gives the green light, we’ll call it official. Thank you for all the ideas and for following along with this renovation.
Over the past few months, as I’ve familiarized myself with this house, I’ve shared inspiration and explored many ways to reimagine the kitchen and reorganize the interior. We considered everything from keeping the existing layout with a cosmetic refresh to moving the kitchen into the dining room and adding a banquette where the kitchen is now.
Each option had merits, but, as is common with budget-conscious remodels, each also carried trade-offs. The real question became which compromises we could accept and which benefits mattered most to our family.
Our guiding principle has been to work within the home’s existing footprint and focus on changes that improve livability while making the most of what the house already offers. It’s a charming little home, and we want to take advantage of affordable opportunities to enhance its strengths.
If you enjoy thinking through the practical puzzle of a remodel or are planning a similar project, read on—this post and the follow-up tomorrow are for you. If floor plans and wall changes feel overwhelming, feel free to just enjoy the photos.
In this post:
– Before and proposed floor plan sketches of the main floor
– Before photos of the kitchen
– Inspiration images to illustrate similar layout ideas
Part two (tomorrow): a more detailed explanation of the proposed changes, additional photos, and a closer look at where doors, stairs, and walls could be opened up.
Current floor plan (above)
Proposed remodel floor plan (above)
The proposed floor plan shows our envisioned layout for the kitchen and dining area. The island size and exact placement are still to be determined. This plan also doesn’t yet include an additional bathroom we’d like to add on this floor someday—we received many helpful suggestions and will address bathroom placement in a future phase.
This plan includes changes to doorways and the staircase. Stay tuned for PART TWO tomorrow for more explanation and photos of those proposed changes.
Tip: If it helps to follow along, scroll back up to compare the before and proposed plans while you read the rest of the post.
Our new plan actually traces back to the very first idea we had when we toured the house: move the sink to the back wall of the current kitchen. Initially that seemed logical, but we ran into two perceived obstacles. First, the window looked too low for a countertop, and second, placing the sink under that window would leave it off-center in the room. After further inspection we learned the window height was fine—what remained was finding a layout that gave the sink a good view while keeping balance in the space.
The two main concerns about moving the sink to that wall were 1) the perceived low window and 2) the sink feeling squashed to one side and off-center. Both issues proved solvable with a revised plan.
Our summer plans include painting that little shed.
We considered many alternate layouts, including moving the sink under the dining room window and reorienting the kitchen into that area. Ultimately, we returned to the original sink-on-the-back-wall idea and looked for a way to resolve the window and balance concerns.
Here’s the decision: To give the sink the best view of the backyard and Puget Sound, we’ll add a window near where the microwave currently sits (see the before photo above). Removing the entire wall and doorway on the left—where the current stove is—between the kitchen and dining room will open up the space and visually connect the kitchen and dining areas.
With that wall gone, the view will extend through the dining room and into the living room, creating a brighter, more open main floor.
We plan to place a new stove where the current sink is, centered on the long counter. Depending on sightlines and symmetry we may need to adjust or remove the existing window there.
The new counter will wrap under the windows at standard counter height rather than the lower level that exists now, creating generous workspace between the stove and sink and improving flow—similar to the layout inspiration below.
Corner kitchen inspiration with wraparound windows
The refrigerator can stay in its current location. With this new arrangement we’ll be able to remove several unnecessary interior doorways and short walls, letting the main floor flow more naturally. The result should be an open, light-filled space that still feels warm and inviting.
Want to see how the rest of the house opens up? Check back for Part Two tomorrow, where we’ll share the additional photos and ideas that show how the spaces will connect.
Interior design inspiration
Studying inspiration photos makes it easier to visualize the new kitchen and how the floor plan will function. I’m excited to begin selecting specific finishes and pulling this space together.
Thank you for following along and for all your enthusiasm and helpful suggestions throughout this house tour and planning process.
Related Posts:
7 Tips for Planning A Kitchen Remodel
6 Ways to Make Your Kitchen Feel Bigger
Before and after floor plans of our last kitchen remodel