House #7 Update: Kitchen Layout & Ideas

June 27, 2018
IN: floor plan, kitchen, kitchen iu, lucky number seven, our seventh house

If you’re just now tuning in here at Our Fifth House, my husband and I recently bought a lot, and we are currently in the process of building what will be house #7. Yes, I realize it might be time to “rebrand”. 😉

Anyhow, we’ve nailed down a floor plan for the kitchen, and we are very close to having a finalized plan for the rest of the house too! After a little bit of waffling back and forth, I’ve decided to go with my gut and put the microwave oven in the pantry. Bottom line, everyone uses their kitchen differently, and I believe this floor plan is going to work the best for our family.

This house will have an open floor plan very similar to our current home; but rather than having a stacked kitchen ~ dining ~ and living room, the dining room will be offset from the kitchen. Our pantry will serve as an extension of our kitchen, housing all of our countertop appliances like the toaster, blender and coffee pot. It will have a window with a glass paneled door for entry.

And now that we’ve nailed down the floor plan, it’s time to start thinking about materials and some of the other fun design details. We will be making quite a few selections in the coming weeks, so I’ve been gathering inspiration like a mad woman. Truth be told, I’ve had a vision in my head of what my dream kitchen would look like for many, many years. Some girls dream of their wedding day…….I dreamed of making my Barbie Dream House a reality. 😉 I’m kidding…..kind of.

Waterfall Island

I haven’t quite decided what I want for the countertop material. Your suggestions are welcome! Marble is out for sure as I want a low maintenance surface, but I’m leaning toward something that has a marble look. Something really clean and bright, with very little veining, and I definitely want to go with a waterfall edge on the island.

HGTV Fixer Upper

While a waterfall edge can be viewed as “trendy”, when paired with traditional details I think the look is timeless. And I personally love the clean, sleek look, especially in an open floor plan.

Space Architects and Planners

CC + Mike

No Upper Cabinets or Shelving

Y’all might think I’m crazy, but I’m leaning toward no upper cabinets or even shelving in our kitchen. Because the pantry will house cabinets and a countertop, I feel like not having uppers in the kitchen is totally doable without sacrificing too much storage or functionality. I love the open and airy look of not having anything but tile above the countertop…….am I nuts?

House Beautiful via Apartment Therapy

I’ve personally never been a fan of open shelving in a kitchen, so that’s not even something I would consider doing. But if you go back up and look at the layout of the kitchen, it’s not like I’d be sacrificing much by not installing any upper cabinets. Really, all I’d be giving up is two cabinets, which is one of the main reasons I’m considering this. What are your thoughts on this look?

Citrine Living

Backsplash Tile

Patterned tile isn’t on my wishlist, but I do want something that will make a statement. Especially if I end up not having any upper cabinets. I feel like the tile and the hood will need to be the main attraction if I do this, but I also want something really classic. Clearly my brain is all over the map here. 😉

Colorful Pantry Cabinets

While I’m planning to keep the color of the kitchen cabinets in the neutral family, the pantry might get a fun dose of bold color. But I haven’t quite decided what color yet. This minty-green sure is pretty!

Country Living

So that’s the latest update for house #7. I’d really love to hear your thoughts and opinions about these kitchen ideas! What design elements would be apart of your dream kitchen?

I have a feeling that once the entire house floor plan is finalized, things will start moving along a little faster. If you want to follow along behind the scenes, I’ll be sharing more on Instagram Stories.

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I think you have a solid plan. I love the waterfall counters especially in that third photo. The pantry…sigh! As to the tile, I really love the glossy, handmade look subway tile that’s out there. It seems to reflect light and still has the classic look. I’ve seen that look in standard sizes and the slimmer, longer tiles. But this is your dream kitchen, not mine. Lol Have fun designing and can’t wait to see it come to fruition.

I’m not usually wild about waterfall counters, but that second photo is perfection! I’m intrigued by the idea of no uppers; I despise open shelving, so I’m 100% with you on skipping that. My biggest concern would be big empty wall space, especially if you’re not planning to go with a patterned tile; do you think you’d hang some art? Or would there be windows to break up the space? I’m no help on tile, but I do think classic is the way to go. And colorful cabinets sound so fun; I’m dreaming of navy cabinets in our next space. Hope you’re having fun with all these decisions!

I agree with Deb on the handmade look subway tiles. I installed some in my kitchen last year that I absolutely love. They have a handmade look but were VERY reasonably priced. I got them from Tilebar.coms Lancaster collection. And instead of doing a different pattern or statement tile behind the range, I randomly placed a raised pattern tile (from the same collection) of the same color, for subtle interest. They have several other collections of subway that have that handmade look too. ANd I love the look of no uppers and instead putting some art or just leaving it clean and bare.

How exciting to plan your dream kitchen! I personally don’t like a big wall of tile . Not sure why but it’s not pleasing to my eye. Love all your other plans though!

I love it all! You don’t need help. It’s going to be awesome!

I love the idea of no upper cabinets. Have you thought of beveled edged subway tile? They have it in many different sizes and finishes. For counters how about a quartz? In our household it was the only impermeable substance out there when we redid our kitchen. As there are food allergies in the family and cross contamination was an issue, they were our best and safest choice. Quartz has come a long way since they started manufacturing it. I believe they now have every look imaginable.

What a functional and beautiful kitchen you are designing! Love the waterfall countertop for the island and also the no upper cabinets or shelves on the stove wall. It’s going to look fantastic!

I wish I had done waterfall counters on my island. I opted for zero upper cabinets (I also have a pantry with the microwave in it – best decision ever). I do have two shelves that hold our daily use dishes so they don’t get dusty. Everything else is in the pantry or lower cabinets.

Not usually a fan of the waterfall counters, but the second one is done right. From the drawings it looks like you only have one wall of cabinetry anyhow, so losing the uppers and just using tile isn’t too much. I don’t like when an entire kitchen is done that way like the one pic that shows two walls. I am a fan of subway tile. It’s just classic. Yet, it comes in so many styles now. And, a pop of color in the pantry would be fun especially since you will have natural light. Whatever you chose I am sure it will be gorgeous.

Love the offset dining space! That’s been super popular in newer builds around here and would love it for our next house.

So, no upper cabinets and no open shelving. I love the fact that you’ll have a pantry large enough for cabinets and countertops. I’m just wondering, is the dishwasher in the pantry too???

The dishwasher will be in the island next to the sink. But while I’m considering no upper cabs in the kitchen, I’m planing to have dish drawers. So the only possible issue would be in putting cups away. But since the pantry is pretty close by I don’t really think that would be an issue.

I like that it’s open but still feels like it’s own separate space!

Yes, I really wouldn’t be giving up much storage space which is one of the only reasons I’m considering this idea.

It’s so nice to hear you love having your micro in your pantry!

Thanks so much! Fingers crossed it comes together as nicely as it looks in my head! 🙂

I’ll definitely check in to quartz. Thanks for the suggestion!

Thanks so much Cindi!

It’s totally a love it or leave it thing. It looks pretty in my head though. 😉

Thanks for the rec! I’ll check into it!

It’s so pretty right?! I think with the hood being flanked by two windows which will have sconces above them that there will be enough going on to break up the tile….. but your concern is why I haven’t totally made up my mind just yet. 😉

Another friend of mine recommended I look into handmade subway tile!

I love the pantry design and the waterfall countertops!

Personally… my issue with no upper cabinets or shelves would be where to put glasses and cups. I think it will get annoying to have to go to the pantry every time you want a glass of water, and I don’t know how storing those items in a drawer would work. Just something to consider.

Plus… if you are putting everything in the pantry in order to have a streamlined looking kitchen… is that kind of defeating the purpose of both rooms?

Check out Southern Living’s July issue pg 70. They have a photo of a kitchen that has 2 narrow glass cabinets flanking the edges of the wall. Your pantry looks generous in size but one can never have enough storage. Also, consider adding a sink in pantry. When you entertain if you have a catering pantry a sink is very handy.

I love small electrics in the pantry. Our fifth house had that feature and I loved being able to have clear counters in the kitchen. One small thought is to put a small sink with a disposal in the pantry too. Our kitchen sink wasn’t far from the pantry, but we had to take the blender or the coffee grounds and drip tray from the espresso maker out to wash them. First world problems…but, we did often say that we wished there had been a sink in there- especially for the espresso maker to fill with water and wash pieces. Another note on marble- we have statuary marble on our island and yes, it has some water rings and etching, but it’s gorgeous and I don’t care. I tried to like the quartz but it just looked fake to me. Lincoln marble and Danby marble are American marbles which are a little more durable and have more dramatic veining vs lots of small veins. But, you know how your family lives. I love the waterfall edge too. Go for it! Can’t wait to see what you do.

Carmel, I love pics 2, 4 and pantry! Big YES to waterfall counter, appliances in pantry and range with hood focal point! Aesthetically, I understand the 4-stool lineup, but for easier meal conversations, 2 stools on each side makes good sense for me.

I’m so in love with subway tile! My master shower was recently done floor to ceiling with 4×12 high gloss white subway tiles and white basket weave floor. There is a single narrow taupe band of trim tile a little above eye level (6′) and a niche in the same taupe color just above the white tile bench. I painted the ceiling in SW Ceiling Bright White and the walls in SW 50% color match to the taupe trim tile. I’m looking at the irregular tile other readers mentioned for my guest bathtub area. I’m thinking of white up to 6′ and subtle color from there to the ceiling.

I’m in my sixties and everything I do in my home is done with ease of living in mind. I totally understand thinking through every change in one’s home.

I have so many of your posts bookmarked for ideas. You are the real deal girl! Thanks for sharing your journey with us!

I Looooove these ideas Carmel! I especially LOVE the no uppers at all and the bold cabinets in the pantry. I also love that you’re sticking all the small electronics in the pantry too. We didn’t even have a microwave for years so I’m all about not having it in view. My dream kitchen would have a wall of windows with no upper cabinets and tons of lower cabinet drawers, and
a window niche in front of the sink for me to put all my plants. I also want soapstone countertops or homes quartz that looks like soapstone! I’m soooo excited for you. I can’t wait to see this process come to light!

I love all of the finish picks you have made, but really wonder if you will have traffic issues with having the stove and the sink right across from one another. Maybe your family functions differently than mine, but especially when we are entertaining, someone is always at the stove and another person at the sink (often with the dishwasher open). In our latest house the set up is similar to your current house where people at the stove and at the sink are not competing for space and it works so well. Just something to think about. Everything you do always turns out beautifully,I am certain this will too.

Hi Wendy! Thanks so much! I thought about that but I think we’ll be ok because the aisle between the stove and sink will be wide enough for two people to work without being in each other’s way.

Thanks so much Shavonda! Yes, we really don’t use our micro that much, so I don’t think it’s any big deal to have in the pantry. Your dream kitchen sounds super dreamy! I could totally see you with a window niche full of gorgeous plants!

Thanks so much Dian! Your shower sounds so lovely! We’re planning to retire in this house, so we’re really trying to think about every aspect of what that will look like. We spent MONTHS going back and forth with our architect on the floor plan. Trying to think not just about how we live now, but how we’ll live in the future. So much to think about!

Yes, the clear counters are really key for me in an open floor plan. It just feels so much cleaner to me. Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts….you’ve got my wheels turning on the sink idea for the pantry!

Hi Lynne! Thanks so much for this tip – going to grab a copy on my next grocery run! Glass fronted cabinets might not be a bad idea – still feels open and airy but nice and convenient!

Yeah the cups and glasses are the only thing holding me up. The thing is being 5’3″ the reality is a lot of upper cabinet space is out of reach for me, so I end up putting a lot of things in drawers or lower cabs. It’s annoying to me to have to get a step stool out to reach things. So I end up storing things in uppers that don’t get used very often…which then makes me think – “if I don’t use it, do I need it?”

Only the small appliances will be in there – and truth be told they don’t get used that often around here anyway. We’re gluten free and really don’t eat bread very often – so the toaster is rarely used. We do expresso – but only in the morning. Otherwise I LOVE a french press! And the micro is rarely used. I almost always reheat food on the stove.

I honestly tried to think about how we live as much as possible. And I think I’m going to like having open counters to spread out when chopping veggies etc.

Look at the Carrara marble made by Alleanza Quartz. That’s what we are putting in our new kitchen. You can get it with a shine or honed. We’re going with honed. It’s the closest thing to marble without being marble that we have found. We had real Carrara in our last house, and it was just too high maintenance. You can even see the slabs before purchasing it.

I’m definitely planning to steer clear of marble. It’s just too high maintenance for the way my family lives. Quartz will most likely be what new end up with.

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I haven’t read everything about your new kitchen, so please excuse me if certain things have already been said / worked out. I too hate open shelving. I love the look of no uppers when done right. I’m sorry, but that House Beautiful picture just doesn’t work for me. Maybe it’s just too much subway tile, but I don’t like that picture at all. Of course you’re going to have windows so it would be much different, but I think the tile selection will make or break the whole design. I’d love to say I would do a pattern, but I’m not so sure I’m there yet!! Maybe if I have a separate pantry one day I’ll go bold in there, but I just can’t do it yet!

Regarding the cups and the dishwasher, can you put them in a deep drawer? We have super deep drawers from Ikea that have 2 levels to them, and almost all our dishes and cups fit inside that one drawer. Otherwise, I really don’t think it’s that big of a deal to walk them into the pantry. You could keep a super cute tray by the dishwasher and load them all on there to carry it into the pantry. Or do like the dwarves in The Hobbit and just toss them from one family member to the next!!

Waterfall Island

No Upper Cabinets or Shelving

Backsplash Tile

Colorful Pantry Cabinets

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