Kitchen floorplan

I have done a few sketches below of the how the kitchen could be laid out, taking into account the client's requirements.

This image is how the kitchen must be laid out following the requirements. The rest of the space is up to me to design. However after looking at the ergonomics of designing spaces, I will need to allow 4'0" in front of the worksurfaces to allow space to work in the kitchen and at least 2'0" minimum for walking around the kitchen. Therefore, the other units in the kitchen will have to go on the back wall. I have also taken away the door to just have a doorway, opening up the room and making the room appear bigger. The idea being taken from the article I researched, Small Space Solutions for every home.

I have given a choice of three different floor plans for each room to my client, so that she can choose which is her favourite. As Susan Serra says in her first philosophy (my researched designer), choice opens up ideas that otherwise may not have been thought of.

In this layout plan I have put the fridge freezer next to the wall,  but the door when opened will hit the built in cupboard on the adjacent wall. By having the work surface next to the back door, it will mean that when the client is cooking, she will have to stand in the path of the door, so this plan is not an ideal solution.

Client: "I don't like the fridge/freezer in the corner because it will bang against the new cupboard every time it's opened."

In this layout plan I have moved the fridge freezer away from the wall, but this will make it look disjointed with smaller cupboards each side and wall cupboards each side once they have been fit. With the cooker/hob in the corner, there is no work surface next to it to put pots and pans or plates once the food has cooked. So this is not an ideal solution either.

Client: "I don't like the oven next to the wall and the fridge/freezer because I won't have any work surface next to it to put my other cooking utensils. Also I would feel a bit squashed with the wall there when cooking."

Therefore, the floor plan layout above is the best solution. It meets the client's requirements and meets the ergonomic requirements. I have shown the client this floor plan and she was happy with it. 

Client: "I really like this layout. I have plenty of space either side of the cooker to put things when cooking and I can have some wall cupboards above for more storage space."

I have drawn out the final floor plan on Vectorworks (shown above) including the fixed wall units and appliances. The curved wall cupboard next to the doorway softens the sharp edges, and doesn't stick out, which could have resulted in banging one's head on the corner of the cupboard. Below are each of the elevations for the kitchen.

Elevation 1

Elevation 2

Elevation 3

Elevation 4

All of the vectorworks plans are done to scale 1:50.

Ergonomics of space

Bedroom

After looking at the ergonomics for the bedroom, I can conclude that when I come to design the floor plan, there needs to be 3'6" to 4'0" space in front of the chest of drawers, to allow the client to open the draws fully. 

In order for the client to make the bed and move around it with ease, it is best to leave about 24" all the way around the edges. 

When designing the bedroom, it is best to consider the placement of the bed first as this is the central furnishing. Then the chest of drawers, bedside tables and wardrobes can be placed around the room where there is sufficient space to use them with ease.

Bathroom

From looking at the ergonomics for the bathroom, I can conclude that in my design, I will need to allow 1'6" minimum from the centre of the toilet to the wall, and 1'3" minimum from the centre of the toilet to the next unit fixture. The sink will need to also be 1'6" from the centre to the wall, but can be 1'2" from the centre to an adjacent fixture.

Kitchen

When designing the kitchen layout, I will need to ensure that there is at least 4'0" between opposite counters to allow enough space for the client to work in, and between 2'0" and 2'6" 'circulation zone' for the client to be able to walk around the kitchen with ease.

Bibliography

The above text and images were sourced from the following book:

MITTON, M. and C. Nystuen, 2007. Residential Interior Design A guide to planning spaces. New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Likes and Dislikes

I had another meeting with my client to find out the types of colours and patterns she likes, designs that she doesn't like, and any ideas she had for the designs of any of the rooms.

For the Kitchen she would like the units to be light in colour as the kitchen is small but not white as they are too modern for her tastes and will get dirtier quicker. She would also like blinds for the window and the glass part of the door, preferably with a bright pattern on them with flowers or fruits to add colour accents to the room. Tiles around the top of the work surface is also a preference.

In the bathroom, she would like the colour scheme to be matched to the towels and curtains that she already has, so this would be pinks and browns. She would also like the room to be light in colour as the bathroom is a small room as well.

In the bedroom, she would like the curtains to be plain not patterned and a light colour on the walls.

Her favourite colours for rooms are pinks, purples, browns and creams in pale tones, and likes the modern country look. She likes rooms to look bright and spacious, but also to have patterns that give colour accents.

She doesn't like very modern designs, specific period designs or heavily detailed designs.



After looking at the client's likes and dislikes, I have researched some images that I think would match the type of rooms she would like in her maisonette.

Bathroom

         

Paler colours make the room look spacious, off-white tiles 

add a warmer feel. Wall radiator doubles as heat provider 

and towel rail.

Contemporary style, light and airy, floor to ceiling tiles help

bounce light around the room. Border can help create a wider 

horizontal illusion. Pale blind lets light in but keeps privacy.  

The bathrooms above are pale in colour and have pink and brown/cream colour schemes. They also have tiles on the walls like my client wants.


Bedrooms

Country style, calm atmosphere, floral feminine elements,

white furnishings, patterned bedspread, soft pastel colours.

Country style, light and airy, pale furnishings, dark 

colours create an accent, peaceful. 

Traditional, light, natural tones, white furnishings,

red/purple accent colours.

Contemporary, warm colours, relaxing, bright accent

colour in bedspread, texture.

Contemporary, purple accents, light walls, bright and 

spacious, texture, luxury.

All of the bedrooms above show the colour schemes my client likes, and have accent colours to create a brighter and more spacious feeling to the rooms. 

Bibliography

All images are sourced from:

SAVILL, J., 2003. 101 Ideas for upstairs Bedrooms & Bathrooms. London: BBC Books

Discount

The builder who will be fitting the bathroom and kitchen has industry links and receives discounts at some of the kitchen and bathroom stores in the surrounding areas. As the client will be spending a lot of money on the redesigning of her house, she would like to take advantage of these discounts. So when I am sourcing products to be used in her maisonette, these discount stores will be the first place I will research. The discount stores are:

Topps Tiles - Can use for buying tiles for the bathroom and kitchen

Howdens - Can use for buying the kitchen units and work surface

Bathstore - Can use for buying the shower, sink and toilet units

   

Below are a few moodboards I have created showing the type of products that each company offer.

Client: "I am very happy with the quality of the products sold in these companies, and would like to use them in my new home. The style of the products and the colours are what I like, especially the multicoloured tiles in the kitchen images."



Bibliography

http://www.howdens.com (viewed 16th october 2011) 

http://www.toppstiles.com (viewed 16th october 2011)

http://www.bathstore.com (viewed 16th october 2011)

Original Floor plan

When the maisonette was for sale, the floorplan below was the one the client received when she was given the property details from the estate agents. I can use these to create my own floor plans.

Bibliography

Floor plan from estate agents - Kinleigh, Folkard and Hayward

Products needed

Below is a list for each room of the products needing to be bought and the products that the client is taking with her.

Kitchen
Need to be bought:

• Kitchen units
• Work surface
• Sink and taps
• Window and door blinds
• Cooker
• Fridge freezer
• Flooring
• Wall paint
• Tiles

Taking with her:

• Washing Machine
• All cutlery/utensils/cookware etc.

Bathroom
Need to be bought:

• Shower
• Toilet
• Sink
• Wall radiator
• Tiles
• Carpet

Taking with her:

• Curtains
• Towels
• All toiletries/bathroom items

Bedroom

Need to be bought:

• Wall paint
• Carpet
• Curtains

Taking with her:

• Double bed
• Bedcovers and bedding
• Chest of drawers
• Bedside tables
• Lighting (bedside lamps)

Client's requests and Concept boards

After chatting to my client about the new design for her maisonette, I concluded the following requirements:

Kitchen

• To have a combined cooker with oven and hob rather than an eye-level cooker to allow for maximum work surface possible.
• To have a double oven instead of a single one so that she can predominantly use the top one when just cooking for herself and not have to bend down too far, but have the option of a second oven for when friends and family come to visit. 
• To have a combined fridge freezer to allow for maximum storage space in the small kitchen.
• To have the sink underneath the window, so she can look out over the courtyard.
• To have wall cupboards to provide extra storage space.
• To move the washing machine next to the door so that it is no longer a focal point of the kitchen when entering.

Bathroom 

• To take out the bath and replace it with a shower.
• To include a wall radiator to give extra heat and provide a place to hang towels.
• To move the toilet and sink over a small amount away from the wall to add some extra room.
• To have carpet instead of vinyl flooring.
• To tile the walls from floor to ceiling.
• To decorate the room with a colour scheme to match the curtains. 

Bedroom

• To decorate the room with a colour scheme to match the bedcovers.
• Use furniture from her previous home.

After looking at these requirements, I have produced some concept boards for each room being designed. I have looked at colour schemes and a style that is similar to the furnishings she is taking with her. 

Client: "I really like the tiles in the top right image and the bottom left image. I like the wooden units too but I don't want them to be too light in colour."

Client: I like the white units because they make the room feel really bright. However I don't like the tiles on the floor, I would prefer carpet as it is softer underfoot."

Client: "These rooms look very spacious and bright, but some of them are too white. I would want the colours to be a bit more cream."