Hello dear house and kitchen experts,
we are currently planning our little house and after 3 months, we almost have the floor plan finished.
Due to the low knee walls (eaves height according to the development plan), we are planning a third gable with four floor-to-ceiling windows (all symmetrical). A room will be added upstairs, and the adjoining rooms will get extra windows and floor space. So far, so good.
Downstairs, the kitchen is planned with an exit to the terrace (which faces southwest). The terrace will wrap around the house up to the living room area.
Now the problem we are struggling with:
We want to be able to look outside while working and not always have our backs to the windows.
Because of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the available space for kitchen units is limited.
We have an L-shaped kitchen layout, but it’s “inward” facing.
We were also thinking about a kitchen island
that can be approached from different sides.
However, proper clearances must be maintained and access to the windows (for cleaning) must be possible.
We just can’t seem to move forward, and frustration is growing… although we should actually be excited.
We have also considered slightly widening the kitchen at the expense of the hallway. The house shouldn’t get much wider due to neighbor distance requirements, which is currently about 6m (20 feet), since the terrace will be added as well.
I would be genuinely grateful for your help and suggestions to optimize this.
Trapped in our own planning. The squared circle?
I have attached the floor plan with the kitchen island variants. It’s a bit rough with pencil marks but the result of extended considerations.
Best regards, Helene
P.S. Note: Transom windows might be difficult due to the very low height and for aesthetic reasons, since a door should be able to open.
we are currently planning our little house and after 3 months, we almost have the floor plan finished.
Due to the low knee walls (eaves height according to the development plan), we are planning a third gable with four floor-to-ceiling windows (all symmetrical). A room will be added upstairs, and the adjoining rooms will get extra windows and floor space. So far, so good.
Downstairs, the kitchen is planned with an exit to the terrace (which faces southwest). The terrace will wrap around the house up to the living room area.
Now the problem we are struggling with:
We want to be able to look outside while working and not always have our backs to the windows.
Because of the floor-to-ceiling windows, the available space for kitchen units is limited.
We have an L-shaped kitchen layout, but it’s “inward” facing.
We were also thinking about a kitchen island
that can be approached from different sides.
However, proper clearances must be maintained and access to the windows (for cleaning) must be possible.
We just can’t seem to move forward, and frustration is growing… although we should actually be excited.
We have also considered slightly widening the kitchen at the expense of the hallway. The house shouldn’t get much wider due to neighbor distance requirements, which is currently about 6m (20 feet), since the terrace will be added as well.
I would be genuinely grateful for your help and suggestions to optimize this.
Trapped in our own planning. The squared circle?
I have attached the floor plan with the kitchen island variants. It’s a bit rough with pencil marks but the result of extended considerations.
Best regards, Helene
P.S. Note: Transom windows might be difficult due to the very low height and for aesthetic reasons, since a door should be able to open.
Hello Yvonne,
Thank you first of all. So, there is still some space left in the hallway with the staircase. This is the narrow version, which might not fit perfectly, that’s true. So far, the developers have had a staircase size of about 2.4 x 1.75 meters (7.9 x 5.7 feet). I wanted the staircase to be a bit longer to avoid wasting space in the hallway.
The shell construction length of the kitchen is about 3.80 meters (12.5 feet); the 3.25 meters (10.7 feet) are measured with a small gap to reach the window.
The reason for the upper windows is the roof slopes and knee walls of 75 cm (30 inches).
I admit it is a strict architectural approach that we like, mainly because it represents something unique.
The windows are currently 1.135 meters (3.7 feet) wide.
The gable is 7 meters (23 feet) long, so it is quite wide.
Attached is a photo of the building. The north line runs from the bottom left to the top right (DIN A4 sheet), so slightly diagonal.
Thank you first of all. So, there is still some space left in the hallway with the staircase. This is the narrow version, which might not fit perfectly, that’s true. So far, the developers have had a staircase size of about 2.4 x 1.75 meters (7.9 x 5.7 feet). I wanted the staircase to be a bit longer to avoid wasting space in the hallway.
The shell construction length of the kitchen is about 3.80 meters (12.5 feet); the 3.25 meters (10.7 feet) are measured with a small gap to reach the window.
The reason for the upper windows is the roof slopes and knee walls of 75 cm (30 inches).
I admit it is a strict architectural approach that we like, mainly because it represents something unique.
The windows are currently 1.135 meters (3.7 feet) wide.
The gable is 7 meters (23 feet) long, so it is quite wide.
Attached is a photo of the building. The north line runs from the bottom left to the top right (DIN A4 sheet), so slightly diagonal.
It would often be much easier if the drawings included the north arrow right away... instead of it being described somewhere in the text that you always have to search for.
Otherwise, in your plan, the kitchen actually has about 200 cm (80 inches) of the 325 cm (128 inches) width as clear traffic space, because it’s difficult to arrange furniture there.
About one meter (39 inches) above and below the imagined partition wall. That amounts to 6 square meters (65 square feet).
With a width of 325 cm (128 inches), the island can only be a maximum of, counted from the left: 60 cm (24 inches) countertop, 90 cm (35 inches) walkway, 95 cm (37 inches) island, 80 cm (31 inches) walkway... it's possible, but measured from the shell construction. And next to it, there is the 6 square meters (65 square feet) of free space.
Otherwise, in your plan, the kitchen actually has about 200 cm (80 inches) of the 325 cm (128 inches) width as clear traffic space, because it’s difficult to arrange furniture there.
About one meter (39 inches) above and below the imagined partition wall. That amounts to 6 square meters (65 square feet).
With a width of 325 cm (128 inches), the island can only be a maximum of, counted from the left: 60 cm (24 inches) countertop, 90 cm (35 inches) walkway, 95 cm (37 inches) island, 80 cm (31 inches) walkway... it's possible, but measured from the shell construction. And next to it, there is the 6 square meters (65 square feet) of free space.
Ok, 3.80... I missed a box here.
Also, with 7 meters (23 feet) and about 1 meter (3 feet) per window, I would reconsider the “special feature” "das Besondere". Even Alfred Biolek used the word “interesting” when he didn’t quite like something.
There are many special things that are only considered special because over time and study people have learned to avoid them.
Apart from the appearance, you won’t have a generous view but rather a small wall in between, which also can’t be really furnished* (4 windows mean 3 small walls plus 2 corners... then the wall section repeats this situation. Visually, you would now have to balance this with an even area of the same size to prevent the room from looking too busy).
And now about the kitchen and the view:
@kbt09 has already nicely pointed out that you are wasting some space with your wall section.
You could initially leave this wall section out of the planning and later consider where it could be placed.
Two harmonious double windows would give you direct access from the kitchen to the terrace, with the counter running along the dividing wall. It’s actually so that you don’t always work straight at the counter but move from right to left or vice versa (e.g., chopping and then putting the food into the pot next to you). So, you don’t look directly out of a window but your view shifts about 60 degrees left or right.
For me, it was also a priority to have a view into the garden, but I rarely had a design where the counter was wastefully positioned directly in front of a window. Everything within an angle up to 90 degrees and about 4 meters (13 feet) is doable without compromising quality when cooking and enjoying. Then draw a visual axis to see where the view from the counter through a window wanders, and let a scene grow in the garden there.
Apart from that, I would probably try flipping the hallway and stairs so that the corridor door moves further upward on the plan...
*the same applies to the living-dining area
Also, with 7 meters (23 feet) and about 1 meter (3 feet) per window, I would reconsider the “special feature” "das Besondere". Even Alfred Biolek used the word “interesting” when he didn’t quite like something.
There are many special things that are only considered special because over time and study people have learned to avoid them.
Apart from the appearance, you won’t have a generous view but rather a small wall in between, which also can’t be really furnished* (4 windows mean 3 small walls plus 2 corners... then the wall section repeats this situation. Visually, you would now have to balance this with an even area of the same size to prevent the room from looking too busy).
And now about the kitchen and the view:
@kbt09 has already nicely pointed out that you are wasting some space with your wall section.
You could initially leave this wall section out of the planning and later consider where it could be placed.
Two harmonious double windows would give you direct access from the kitchen to the terrace, with the counter running along the dividing wall. It’s actually so that you don’t always work straight at the counter but move from right to left or vice versa (e.g., chopping and then putting the food into the pot next to you). So, you don’t look directly out of a window but your view shifts about 60 degrees left or right.
For me, it was also a priority to have a view into the garden, but I rarely had a design where the counter was wastefully positioned directly in front of a window. Everything within an angle up to 90 degrees and about 4 meters (13 feet) is doable without compromising quality when cooking and enjoying. Then draw a visual axis to see where the view from the counter through a window wanders, and let a scene grow in the garden there.
Apart from that, I would probably try flipping the hallway and stairs so that the corridor door moves further upward on the plan...
*the same applies to the living-dining area
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