The galley-style kitchen looks nice, but has two major flaws. One, the range. located in the center island, does not vent to the outside. The downdraft ventilation feature is inadequate. Two, the refrigerator and range are opposite each other. Unloading food for cooking preparation, returning food, or stocking the refrigerator is difficult.
The current layout makes it hard to move between the sink, range, and refrigerator.
Placement of gas range and electric oven with venting hood
Option 1: Place the combination where the sink is currently located and vent to the outside. This placement eliminates the window.
Option 2: Move the refrigerator to the left and place the combination to the right of the fridge. This eliminates the cabinet and surface, currently to the left of the oven. Vent duct runs to the outside through the space between the two floors.
Kitchen counter spaces
Option 1 eliminates the central countertop and adds two perpendicular countertops, one facing the family room, the other the breakfast nook. This would create a U-shaped kitchen, with foot traffic flowing along the refrigerator side.
Option 2 adds a perpendicular countertop facing the family room. The current countertop would be replaced with a slightly wider one. Toward the family room, it would end about 1.5 feet shorter to provide access to the refrigerator and to/from the family room.
Placement of sink and dishwasher
Option 1: The sink is placed in the perpendicular wall toward the family room.
Option 2: The sink remains where it is currently or is placed as in Option 1.
In both cases, the current sink will be replaced with a dual-tub sink.
With both options, the dishwasher can remain as is or be moved into the perpendicular wall.
Cabinets
All current cabinets will be replaced. Optionally, the cabinets will be flush with the ceiling or finished with a lighted glass enclosure. The cabinets under the center island (Option 2) should be flush with the top.
Pantry remodel
The pantry will be widened by moving the current wall about two feet. New cabinets and countertops will be installed. One plan calls for the countertop to be extended in an L-shape parallel to the stairs. In any case, the railing will need to be removed and then reinstalled. The current 16-inch pantry shelving will be replaced with 10-inch deep shelving on both sides. At the end of the pantry will be a small cabinet.
Flooring
Extra pieces of flooring exist. If necessary, the pantry’s wood flooring can be removed for reuse elsewhere, and the flooring changed to a different type.
Expansion of kitchen
The initial idea of expanding the kitchen beyond the current exterior wall was deemed too expensive and too time-consuming. Also, additional floor space would not by itself resolve the issues that make the current kitchen impractical.
Current kitchen images
These images were part of the home’s listing in 2022
Original and modified first floor layout
This floor plan shows the first floor as it was prior to Hurricane Harvey (2017), which flooded the home. There was a countertop running perpendicular to the wall facing the family room. When the first floor was reconstructed and the kitchen was remodeled, that counter was removed.
This rendering shows the current kitchen layout. Note the relatively small kitchen work space compared to the size of the breakfast nook and the space between it and the pantry. As part of the kitchen remodel, the pantry will be enlarged (green area).
After moving into the home in August 2022, we remodeled the downstairs by adding the walls shown in red.
