New House build - Help needed

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13684 posts

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#2416219 11-Feb-2020 14:30

Paul1977:

There's no issues having the sink on the island opposite the hobs in my opinion. This is a very common configuration, and I think quite a stretch to label it a safety issue.

Being a "common configuration" doesn't mean it's sensible. It was a fashionable design choice "point of difference".

I could suggest other "features" of the island bench that got popular because of fashion - but ignoring practicality. Island benches that are used for serving/eating, but have "waterfall ends". You can't sit on a stool at the end and eat comfortably as there's nowhere for your legs. If that's also with the kitchen side of the bench with no overhang, then if you use it for eating, you'll only be comfortable eating there when all facing one direction, it's not an appealing way to dine. Looks really good in magazines though. I'm glad I don't live in a magazine.

jonb

1771 posts

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#2416265 11-Feb-2020 16:33

Overhang bench (only on one side) was great on previous house kitchen, would end up eating most meals there rather than the adjacent dining table. If thinking about space in that area a double overhang on the island/peninsula would replace the dining table for 95% times, only issue is when entertaining.

Paul1977

5043 posts

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#2416267 11-Feb-2020 16:39

Fred99:

Being a "common configuration" doesn't mean it's sensible. It was a fashionable design choice "point of difference".

I could suggest other "features" of the island bench that got popular because of fashion - but ignoring practicality. Island benches that are used for serving/eating, but have "waterfall ends". You can't sit on a stool at the end and eat comfortably as there's nowhere for your legs. If that's also with the kitchen side of the bench with no overhang, then if you use it for eating, you'll only be comfortable eating there when all facing one direction, it's not an appealing way to dine. Looks really good in magazines though. I'm glad I don't live in a magazine.

Fair enough. I know plenty of people who don't like having a sink on the island - I'd just never heard anyone say they didn't like them because of safety reasons. But I definitely come from the school of thought that H&S has gone mad in recent years, and not having children might see the world very differently from those who do.

The "all facing one direction" downside of most breakfast bars is why I like the OPs idea of attaching a dining space to the island. Much more social that a breakfast bar, as it would essentially give you a 3 sided eating area.

Paul1977

5043 posts

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#2416268 11-Feb-2020 16:41

jonb:

Overhang bench (only on one side) was great on previous house kitchen, would end up eating most meals there rather than the adjacent dining table. If thinking about space in that area a double overhang on the island/peninsula would replace the dining table for 95% times, only issue is when entertaining.

Double overhang would surely be problematic for accessing the cupboards you would want under the island on the kitchen side?

Handle9

11390 posts

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#2416269 11-Feb-2020 16:41

Fred99:
Paul1977:

There's no issues having the sink on the island opposite the hobs in my opinion. This is a very common configuration, and I think quite a stretch to label it a safety issue.

Being a "common configuration" doesn't mean it's sensible. It was a fashionable design choice "point of difference".

I could suggest other "features" of the island bench that got popular because of fashion - but ignoring practicality. Island benches that are used for serving/eating, but have "waterfall ends". You can't sit on a stool at the end and eat comfortably as there's nowhere for your legs. If that's also with the kitchen side of the bench with no overhang, then if you use it for eating, you'll only be comfortable eating there when all facing one direction, it's not an appealing way to dine. Looks really good in magazines though. I'm glad I don't live in a magazine.

The sink on the island bench is a very practical workflow. You have less steps to take with hot pots and have better space on either side of the hobs. We found it much better than having to walk down to the sink.

It creates the triangle between fridge, sink and hobs and this generally the most efficient way to work in a kitchen.

Fred99

13684 posts

Uber Geek

#2416279 11-Feb-2020 17:19

Handle9: We found it much better than having to walk down to the sink.

I actually suggest that you don't walk to the sink or turn 180 degrees to get to the sink - put the sink and cooktop adjacent, with a heat resistant surface between, whether they're on a side bench or island bench.

I suspect from looking at many kitchens I've seen lately, there are a lot of kitchen designers who may have some kind of certificate in their art - but are personally dedicated to uber eats and the microwave.

Paul1977

5043 posts

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#2416705 12-Feb-2020 13:23

@33coupe what about something like the below (click to enlarge). I guessed at some of the measurements but should be pretty close to your footprint. I'm sure there is plenty wrong with it, but I thought it might give you the desired kitchen/dining/living area plus keep the separate lounge/media room.

Sharesies kids

Free kids accounts - trade shares and funds (NZ, US) with Sharesies (affiliate link).

33coupe

988 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#2416709 12-Feb-2020 13:50

@Paul1977 you sir are a legend, that is exactly what I was thinking!! Depending on space and budget, was also maybe thinking having a bench seat along the island.

Thanks for mocking it up, really appreciated. hope it didn't take too long. I owe you a beer, and a doughnut judging by your avatar 😁

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#2416732 12-Feb-2020 14:41

33coupe:

@Paul1977 you sir are a legend, that is exactly what I was thinking!! Depending on space and budget, was also maybe thinking having a bench seat along the island.

Thanks for mocking it up, really appreciated. hope it didn't take too long. I owe you a beer, and a doughnut judging by your avatar 😁

No problem, I got pretty quick with the software when we were at the same stage as you in our planning.

Obviously it changed the windows quite a bit, but personally think people can go overboard and do too many windows (myself included - now that our framing is up I can see that some of our windows are bigger than we really needed).

Please remember that I am in no way a designer or architect, so hopefully some others might give some critical feedback on what I drew up.

mattwnz

20155 posts

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#2416746 12-Feb-2020 15:32

Paul1977:

Fred99:

Being a "common configuration" doesn't mean it's sensible. It was a fashionable design choice "point of difference".

I could suggest other "features" of the island bench that got popular because of fashion - but ignoring practicality. Island benches that are used for serving/eating, but have "waterfall ends". You can't sit on a stool at the end and eat comfortably as there's nowhere for your legs. If that's also with the kitchen side of the bench with no overhang, then if you use it for eating, you'll only be comfortable eating there when all facing one direction, it's not an appealing way to dine. Looks really good in magazines though. I'm glad I don't live in a magazine.

Fair enough. I know plenty of people who don't like having a sink on the island - I'd just never heard anyone say they didn't like them because of safety reasons. But I definitely come from the school of thought that H&S has gone mad in recent years, and not having children might see the world very differently from those who do.

The "all facing one direction" downside of most breakfast bars is why I like the OPs idea of attaching a dining space to the island. Much more social that a breakfast bar, as it would essentially give you a 3 sided eating area.

Generally with an island, you would either have the sink on the island, or the hobs. Hobs are problematic in terms of venting and having a visible rangehood in the middle of the room which creates a division, as that would dominate the space. You can have popup rangehoods, but not as effective, and then you have to build the venting into floor. Sinks work well in an island, as you also often need water when preparing too, and apart from making sure you have the plumbing in place, I can't think of many negatives. But many larger kitchens will have two sink locations.

nofam

1094 posts

Uber Geek

#2416749 12-Feb-2020 15:42

mattwnz:

Paul1977:

Fred99:

Being a "common configuration" doesn't mean it's sensible. It was a fashionable design choice "point of difference".

I could suggest other "features" of the island bench that got popular because of fashion - but ignoring practicality. Island benches that are used for serving/eating, but have "waterfall ends". You can't sit on a stool at the end and eat comfortably as there's nowhere for your legs. If that's also with the kitchen side of the bench with no overhang, then if you use it for eating, you'll only be comfortable eating there when all facing one direction, it's not an appealing way to dine. Looks really good in magazines though. I'm glad I don't live in a magazine.

Fair enough. I know plenty of people who don't like having a sink on the island - I'd just never heard anyone say they didn't like them because of safety reasons. But I definitely come from the school of thought that H&S has gone mad in recent years, and not having children might see the world very differently from those who do.

The "all facing one direction" downside of most breakfast bars is why I like the OPs idea of attaching a dining space to the island. Much more social that a breakfast bar, as it would essentially give you a 3 sided eating area.

Generally with an island, you would either have the sink on the island, or the hobs. Hobs are problematic in terms of venting and having a visible rangehood in the middle of the room which creates a division, as that would dominate the space. You can have popup rangehoods, but not as effective, and then you have to build the venting into floor. Sinks work well in an island, as you also often need water when preparing too, and apart from making sure you have the plumbing in place, I can't think of many negatives. But many larger kitchens will have two sink locations.

Quite right. There was a trend a few years ago to have a 'statement' rangehood above your island, but I never saw that as being practical - there's such an air gap between your cooking and the extractor, and no hood to catch the fumes like a commercial kitchen.

Image result for kitchen island rangehood

When we designed our kitchen in 2017, we were told that people were moving away from freestanding rangehoods back to powerpack - indeed, we went for a Schweigen, which is wonderfully quiet and powerful.

bfginger

1268 posts

Uber Geek

#2416796 12-Feb-2020 18:40

Where to put my tv (hopefully one day projector screen) in family room with 5.1?

You may want to tint the glass grey in that room as projectors are severely vulnerable to glare. Grey tint can coexist with low-e glass.

I don't recommend that toilet arrangement. If there are two toilets and one is in the ensuite you'll have a child barging in there day and night when the other is occupied. Having the toilet separated from the bathroom like that is annoying.

Having the hob in an island with no splashback can be a burn risk for people on the other side of the island if the island isn't large enough.

Paul1977

5043 posts

Uber Geek

#2416966 12-Feb-2020 23:34

bfginger: I don't recommend that toilet arrangement. If there are two toilets and one is in the ensuite you'll have a child barging in there day and night when the other is occupied. Having the toilet separated from the bathroom like that is annoying.

What would you suggest as an alternative? Of course one of the two toilets will be in the ensuite, are you suggesting not having a toilet in the ensuite. And a separate toilet is way better than having it in the bathroom, how is this annoying?

33coupe

988 posts

Ultimate Geek

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#2423646 19-Feb-2020 08:27

Hey everyone, sorry for not replying for a while, just so full on.

@nofam is that your kitchen? wow

Ive moved on from the kitchen and back to the (most important lol) family room and a slight dilemma. Not sure which way to have sofa / tv etc. The room is 3800 x 4626 and my sofa is 3320 x 1720.

I was originally wanting the tv on the outside wall facing the kitchen (better speaker placement for house / deck / neighbours), but with the doors opening 800mm it would make the sofa pretty close to the tv approx 1280mm (I could ask for bifolds which may increase it to 1680?).

Changing it the other direction, tv on Entrance wall would result in 480mm gap between sofa and sliding door onto deck but 2906mm viewing distance.

Opposite end (tv on external wall by sliding door, the sofa wouldnt fit with the door opening, and the chaise would block doorway)

Any help, ideas would be greatly appreciated once again. Thank you

LostBoyNZ

584 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2423727 19-Feb-2020 09:22

Random little suggestion but I'd highly recommend adding a small basin to the seperate toilet. Without that the person can't wash their hands until after they've opened the toilet door and gone into the bathroom, assuming no one is using that bathroom already. For some reason (small cost cutting I assume, or is there a better reason?) it's often excluded from plans. Even with a small wall hung cabinet, it should only cost a few hundred dollars to the total.

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