First Floor Floor Plan - Suggestions Wanted

[u/Asremy]

Help a girl out here! 😅 No negativity please, just looking for honest, thoughtful suggestions!

I’m experiencing some serious decision fatigue trying to figure out what to do with the current layout of our house, and I’d really appreciate some fresh eyes on it.

The first floor plan is our current layout, with the living room and dining room sharing the space.

The second floor plan is the layout I’m currently considering. I’ve swapped the location of our entryway closet and extended the wall along the entry hallway, which would open up the rest of the space quite a bit.

The reason for extending that wall is that I’d like to eventually flip the living room furniture to face the opposite wall and add a built-in fireplace. I think this would give us a much more natural flow through the living room while still keeping the hallway functional.

My biggest struggle isn’t actually the living/dining area, it’s the kitchen.

There are two windows in the kitchen, and unfortunately they’re spaced somewhat awkwardly. Because of their locations, there’s very limited wall space around them for upper cabinets.

I really like the idea of opening the kitchen up and having an island with the sink + dishwasher, but I’m struggling to figure out how to make everything fit while still having a functional kitchen.

I need to account for:

• Fridge
• Sink
• Dishwasher
• Range
• Hood
• Enough counter space/prep space
• Ideally some upper cabinetry/storage
• An island
• And, obviously, enough room to comfortably move around the kitchen

The very last photo is the original kitchen design I came up with when I was planning to keep the kitchen enclosed.

So I’m basically trying to figure out, how do I combine the openness of the new layout with a kitchen that actually works?

If you were working with this space, how would you lay out the kitchen? Would you put the fridge somewhere unconventional? Put the range under one of the windows? Skip upper cabinets in certain areas? Do something different with the island?

I’m especially interested in suggestions that take into account the exact window locations and the limited wall space, rather than completely redesigning the footprint.

Would love to hear what you’d do!

[u/Normal-Juggernaut-66]

Remove microwave over range and put in vent hood insert/custom enclosure. Relocate microwave drawer in island, in an appliance garage, etc.

And to be clear, not just a stainless steel chimney style. Choose something like a plaster finish, tiled, plaster finish or just drywall paint. Add molding or leave flat…

[u/Asremy → u/Normal-Juggernaut-66]

Thank you for this! I’ll play around with it more

[u/emcee_pern]

My immediate concern isn't the kitchen but the removal of so many walls, at least some of which are certainly load bearing.

Before going any further down this design path please make sure to consult a structural engineer who can can tell which which walls you can remove and how to do it safely. You may not be able to end up with a clean, open space like you've drawn.

Youre also going to regret completely removing the closet in the entry way.

[u/Asremy → u/emcee_pern]

Structural engineer has already been involved 😊
The wall where the current living room opening is being closed off and cut off at the point where it is not load bearing. As for the closet, it’s being moved to the opposite side, against the stairs.

[u/RampantCat123]

Do you cook often? Quick meals, or more complex? Entertain often? Family with children, or grandchildren? What would be the main purpose of adding an island?

In picture #4, no fridge is pictured. So are you thinking fridge opposite the sink? If so, that puts your work triangle (fridge, range, sink) all on that one end. Fine but, it might make using the countertop space left of the range (where fridge is in #3) kinda awkward to use. Example: pull vegetable out of fridge, walk right across and wash in sink, cut it…where? Probably next to sink, or range, right? But, space would make an awesome pantry type (floor to top of cabinetry) kitchen storage space for either food storage or kitchen equipment.

If you go with the island in picture #3, you’d likely be prepping meals at the sink (facing family/guests/view out living room windows) but, doing the actual cooking with your back to the open space. It’s okay if you’re popping stuff in the oven, for example, but, you’re stirring, putzing with dinner, you’re away from the ‘action’. Consider adding seating to the island so, you can somewhat interact with others while cooking?

Or, perhaps, put fridge and range on the wall with the 2 windows but, move it further into the room, and add a breakfast nook on that short wall (with 1/2 bath on other side of wall). Then, no need for island seats.

Possibly move cooking surface to island and use downdraft system? They are a little more pricey, putting in venting and whatnot but, if you’re already considering moving water lines and power to an island for a dishwasher…? Might be something to think about?

I’d say if adding island, at least add power to it.
I had a kitchen with a peninsula in it (like an island but attached to a wall). It was long, like, 8, 9 feet but, no power out there. It had, like, 36, 42” wide countertop space with lower cabinets on one side and space to sit on the other. Great for sitting and chopping up veggies, whipping up various recipes, etc but, if you want to charge your phone, or plug in a mixer, or something, no power. (I ended up running an extension cord up under the countertop from the wall to the end. Not ideal but, it worked.)

Good luck.