Shall we talk kitchens?

I've been promising you that we will make real kitchens for the Momplex, and blogging the tutorials and plans. Every since the day I spent $7000 on cabinets for a 10x10 kitchen, I've been tossing and turning at nights, thinking, I could have made my own cabinets. I've been thinking I could have made my own cabinets much easier, much simpler ... because it was quite a chore just installing the cabinets.

On the Momplex, we have two kitchens, and we will be building the kitchens. I can't loose any more sleep over the K word.

Needs Roof

You know as well as anyone that the Momplex is a long way from that step. First we need to get the trusses up, sheathed in plywood, then insulation bats stapled to the underside of the trusses, and all windows covered .... and then we can put heat in the fully insulated Momplex and start thinking about things like paint colors and types of flooring.

Ceiling Lights

But in order to staple the insulation bats to the underside of the trusses, we will need to run our electrical for ceiling lights in the ceiling framing. And in order to do that, we need to know where the lights go ... and because I'm picky about light placement, in order to do that, we will need a solid layout of the kitchen and dining spaces ... right away.

Source: elegantabode.blogspot.com via laura on Pinterest

Tell me I'm not alone in my quest for perfectly placed kitchen lights. It DOES matter if your ceiling lights are positioned correctly over your island, your chandelier is over your dining table .. right?

I've narrowed the kitchens down to three options. Keep in mind each unit is designed to support one mom, but both Mom's have big families and like to entertain. This wall will be the main storage for both kitchen and dining room, so we will need to maximize space and storage.

Momplex

Step 1 Diagram

Step 1

Option 1: The W

With the most cabinets and counter space the double U shapes will offer the most storage. I love the idea of a banquette backing the kitchen cabinets like this one from my Pinterest Board:

Source: creativejuicesdecor.blogspot.com via Ana on Pinterest

The dining nook will actually look more like a U shape but of course only windows on one side ... remember, we have to worry about heat loss up here in Alaska.

Source: bhg.com via Ana on Pinterest

And of course the kitchen itself would be a U shape with everything right within reach

Source: google.com via wynne on Pinterest

BUT it's not all good ... the dining area will be difficult to expand on, and there are two corners in the kitchen cabinets, and me no likey corners.

So that's Option #1: The W. What do you think?

Step 2 Diagram

Step 2 Instructions

Option #2: The Double L

This option is much like the first, expect we open up the space and place a small island in it. The kitchen will be an L shape, meeting up with an L shaped banquette.

Source: tipjunkie.com via April on Pinterest

This kitchen layout would be very very similar to the Momplex kitchen ... notice the perfect lighting?

Source: Uploaded by user via Ana on Pinterest

The island could be made smaller and floating

Source: flickr.com via Ana on Pinterest

Darling!

Source: braitmandesign.com via Ana on Pinterest

And the banquette would be more like this one, a simple L shape with chairs on the open sides.

Source: bhg.com via Ana on Pinterest

Again, perfect lighting. With the Double L shape, we scrap some corners and add an island. The banquette seating will be more accessible and the space more open. But we loose some storage. What do you think of the Double L?

Step 3 Diagram

Step 3 Instructions

<h1>Option #3: Straight Line</h1><div>This one is my favorite because I feel like it enables the greatest opportunity for expansion.  When it's just the Mom's, the simple kitchens will be easy to store and no corners mean easier access to everything.  When the house get's cozy with visitors at the Holidays, the space can accommodate a larger table with ease.</div><div><br></div>

<div style="padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/477732333/" target="_blank"><img src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/40250990389208507_I1eXsUhe_…; border="0" width="470" height="620"></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;">Source: <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/2011/03/sns-73-brings-you-kitche…; via <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/antiquewhite/" target="_blank">Ana</a> on <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></p></div>

<div style="padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/477692155/" target="_blank"><img src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/40250990389208498_k6xlUlEi_…; border="0" width="490" height="640"></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;">Source: <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://primitivedecorideas.com/farmhouse-kitchen-islands">primitivedeco…; via <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/antiquewhite/" target="_blank">Ana</a> on <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

What more do you need than a pantry, stove, sink, dishwasher and fridge?<div><br></div><div> 

<div style="padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/477729926/" target="_blank"><img src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/40250990389208506_bmmCnjU2_…; border="0" width="470" height="616"></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;">Source: <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://primitivedecorideas.com/farmhouse-kitchen-islands">primitivedeco…; via <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/antiquewhite/" target="_blank">Ana</a> on <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

And a great island of course!

</div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

<div style="padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/484877532/" target="_blank"><img src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/40250990389210255_vx5NfPdq_…; border="0" width="360" height="480"></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;">Source: <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://www.bhg.com/kitchen/island/kitchen-island-designs-we-love/?sssdm…; via <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/antiquewhite/" target="_blank">Ana</a> on <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div>The island could be much longer because of the missing L part.  Stools could be added to the island for kitchen company.</div><br><div style="padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/477705938/" target="_blank"><img src="http://d30opm7hsgivgh.cloudfront.net/upload/40250990389208500_bBTDIXGC_…; border="0" width="450" height="585"></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;">Source: <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://prettystuff.tumblr.com/post/285185942">prettystuff.tumblr.com</a…; via <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/antiquewhite/" target="_blank">Ana</a> on <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

And we could continue on with more cabinets, for more storage in the dining space.<div><br></div><div><br></div>

<div style="padding-bottom: 2px; line-height: 0px"><a href="http://pinterest.com/pin/485087823/" target="_blank"><img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_LwUVBC9oKxs/TAe45SmO63I/AAAAAAAABVE/xUCWiKk9b…; border="0" width="464" height="537"></a></div><div style="float: left; padding-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px;"><p style="font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;">Source: <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://lovethattoo.blogspot.com/2010/06/banquette-seating-ideas.html">l…; via <a style="text-decoration: underline; font-size: 10px; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com/antiquewhite/" target="_blank">Ana</a> on <a style="text-decoration: underline; color: #76838b;" href="http://pinterest.com" target="_blank">Pinterest</a></p></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>

Or a dining nook surrounded by cabinets.

Step 4 Instructions

So what do you think?