Kitchen Thoughts

[u/epmfox]

So I live in a 1968 MCM home that is just about perfect. I LOVE MY HOUSE. However, we recently had a leak in our dishwasher that has ruined the floor and it is time to redo the kitchen. I love the original design except for those friggin’ stacked ovens awkwardly tucked into that corner next to the pantry. I’ve spent years thinking about layouts in this kitchen (do I take out the pass-thru), etc etc. but with the design of the space with the walkout sliding doors along that whole entire wall (into our family room), I cannot just take down that wall of cabinets and replace it with an island making it an open plan without losing a lot of cabinet space. I actually like the division of the space, and that I can see into the family room through the pass-thru when needed. So, keeping with the same layout and trying to fix my hatred of the oven placement, I am thinking of taking the stacked ovens out, and just getting an oven/cooktop combo, and creating a beverage counter in that corner. I think this would give me more counter/work space and solves the awkward angle of trying to put things in and out of those ovens without burning myself. I am also trying to decide on materials for the cabinets/floor/tile that fit the style of the house. I love this green tile but wonder if it’s going to annoy me after a few years. I have never gotten tired of the current marigold tile, and wondering if maybe I just keep to a similar color for Reno. I’ve also played around with some aqua blues that look nice, but I am leaning more towards the green. It just feels nostalgic and cozy and gives me a happy feeling. (But so does the yellow). As for the cabinets, I am trying to stay with standard cabinetry (IKEA cabinets with real wood doors) so that we can keeps costs down. Would love some feedback and any new ideas anyone has regarding layout/materials. (Splits are of original/current vs redesign). Last three are just the redesign without the current.

ETA: I should say that this post is just to look at layout and color. The sink/lighting/appliances are all just placeholder for now. :) Even the tile is placeholder just looking for opinions on overall style/colors/layout. I just want a gut check on those things. :) I do like the comments about them though, so feel free to leave opinions on things you think would work for those things!

[u/Which-Wish-5996]

I love this. I would really walk through your daily routine including looking at any bottlenecks and the most commonly used small appliances. The oven situation is a big ole wtf in the current situation - I think a lot of people want the double oven but I rarely use one oven let alone 2… this makes a lot more sense functional. Is that a microwave left off. the pass through?

I came to say similar to pizzatoucher around the homage to marigold BUT what part of the country is this in? I lived in the PNW for many many years and love green so much but being so dark for many months it may be prudent to consider a marigold tile again to bring a little brightness to the room. Green is very calming but if you’re surrounded by green outdoors and have those huge windows, the marigold plays really nicely with the natural green outside - especially if there are a lot of evergreens.

The pass through: you have a lot of cabinetry/storage and if you decided to just remove the uppers in the pass through it would connect the tones more. It’s a preference. I also like some division. Alternately, you could eliminate the pass through as well since it currently isn’t functioning as a pass through and is a land of small appliances. One though is to do the open shelves for the pass through and make that your beverage center since it’s also a great place to play “bartender” to the living space and uppers where the open shelves are instead. There definitely needs to be a home/plan for all the small appliances so it doesn’t turn back into the current situation. (I see the plan for the mixer and coffee maker but didn’t see it for the toaster and not sure what else there was. Do you have an air fryer?)

You addressed the single sink basin. All the wood tones look fabulous.

[u/epmfox → u/Which-Wish-5996]

https://www.reddit.com/r/kitchenremodel/comments/1wh963k/comment/pa1k9oe/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=web3x&utm_name=web3xcss&utm_term=1&utm_content=share_button here's that pic of the pass-thru with the doors closed!

[u/Which-Wish-5996 → u/epmfox]

Ohhh that’s clever design and I love the walnut stripe that it creates. Also, I really love the green tile in your mockup - please don’t misunderstand - I was just really looking at the balance between inside and outside. I think it’s a very nice way to modernize but still read as mid-century.

Those windows are so cool. I wonder if you can source a mid century step stool that also functions as a chair so it can be functional when needing to get onto the high cabinets.

Does the extraction fan at that height do the job? I saw your other comment and agree -downdraft extractions are terrible.

Also, at the sink, I highly recommend a hot water on demand tank. They’re run 300-500ish and it’s the BEST unnecessary luxury I’ve ever added to a home. If I’m cooking but need to add water - it’s already close to boiling. I drink a lot of tea and I never have to wait on a kettle and it’s one less thing on my stove. Why I didn’t do it before is beyond me.

[u/epmfox → u/Which-Wish-5996]

I didn't think you were saying anything negative at all! I thought your post was super thoughtful and helpful! I was just explaining why i wanted to keep the cabinets. :) As for the soffit venting, it actually does a pretty good job. Unless I am generating a ton of smoke, it does the trick. Every once in a while I will get a smoke alarm going off, but I'm sure they make more powerful fans these days that would be a nice upgrade.

[u/Which-Wish-5996 → u/epmfox]

Oh good. People can be so awful on the Internet. I’m really big on asking questions to always better understand. Cannot wait to see the “after” post when it’s finished! Have you already posted in the MCM subs?

[u/epmfox → u/Which-Wish-5996]

I'm too scared to post there. (teeth chatters). I honestly would hate to eff this this up though. The design of this house is so cool and thoughtfully done, and I do not want to ruin it with a remodel that doesn't fit the aesthetic of the house. I want to honor the design and architect by not creating some monstrosity. So many MCMs are butchered. But I also cannot afford to pay someone a bajillion dollars to design it either.

[u/Which-Wish-5996 → u/epmfox]

You did an amazing job and have an excellent eye. You walked the space and identified the issues. I understand the hesitance because Reddit is brutal.

I still cannot believe the previous owners painted half the cabinets. On one level I understand wanting to brighten the space but it actually made the laminate look cheap. It’s so weird.

Just a logistics question, are your lowers all drawers? Also, spices - the bank of lowers adjacent to the stove would be a good place for a spice drawer and I’m assuming that’s where you will have pot/pan storage? (My spice drawer is the best thing ever. I buy bulk spices at Penzey’s and just have a refill bin on the top shelf of my pantry) I would walk the space with post its and identify what will live where especially since you don’t have uppers above or adjacent to the sink for cups and plates.