Planning a Dream Kitchen for a Large Family

One of my favorite places in our house is our kitchen.  It's where we gather to eat, to play, to clean, to do homework, to create.

When we built our house, I got to design it.  We tried to consider how to create the space for a large family's needs.  Seven years later, I still love our kitchen just the way it is.  We saved money where we could.  My husband built the cabinets, and we went for just plain laminate countertops instead of granite or Corion. 

For the sake of those who might be building and wanting ideas on how to plan a kitchen for a large family, here are a few of my favorite features:

1.  I love, love, love, my large 8 x 4 foot island.  I love being able to have multiple people in my kitchen working at the same time.  I love having plenty of counter space, and there's something psychologically uplifting about facing my family and the nearby great room while I prepare meals rather than facing a wall, like I did in my old kitchen.



the view while I'm cooking:
  


2.  I love my little veggie sink.  In college, I took a class called "Housing the family" which talked about, among other things, how to create an efficient workflow in the kitchen.  One main point was to have an efficient work triangle, with only a few steps between your fridge, your stove, and your sink.  Our main sink, near the window, is too far away for this purpose, but this little sink fills the purpose well.  We fill up pans for cooking here, fill up pitchers for the table, and clean our fruits and vegetables.  It has a disposal in it, so we can put all the veggie trimmings in it and blast away.  I think this sink gets used as much as our larger one.
 

3.  Speaking of sinks, I love our large one beneath the window.  And I LOVE what they are made out of.  Unlike porcelain sinks, which stain, and stainless steel, which shows every spot of water, these granite composite ones NEVER look dirty.  They don't stain, they don't show dirt, and they're easy to clean with just a swipe of a rag. As a sidenote, I don't like the faucet.  The part at the bottom is supposed to pull out and you can push a button to change from a pouring fuction to a spray function.  Great in concept, not so great in practice.  The head doesn't click into place and often hangs down, and the button to change the spray function doesn't work very well.  I don't know if that happens with all models, but it has with this one.


4. I love, love, love having two dishwashers.  No explanation necessary.

5.  I love our fridge and freezer.  Though they look expensive, they are really just two stand-alone units placed side by side with a trim kit making them look built in.  They are a Sears brand, so they were a quarter of the cost of the fancy ones they resemble.  They are cabinet depth, so they don't have quite the capacity you might expect, but they sure come in handy.
 
 the inside of the freezer:

6.  I love these cute hooks to hold our aprons.  This is on the wall across from the sink, next to the pantry door.
  

7.  Speaking of which, I LOVE our pantry.  It's just the right size.  

Ignore the flour on the floor:

And on the side behind the door.  It's hard to tell from the picture, but that's an upright freezer on the right of the picture.  I love that we're not treking to the garage for our extra freezer goods and that I have space to stock up when I see a good deal:

8.  We went for a stand-alone two-oven range instead of a built-in stovetop and ovens.  We did it mostly to save money, but if I had to do it over again, I'd go this route again.  We love the double ovens.  The top oven is smaller, so it heats up faster and is the one we use 80% of the time.  The bottom one is standard size.  Essentially, this is the size of a regular range unit but they remove the bottom drawer and put in another oven instead.

9.  I love our table(s).  My husband built them after buying two pedastals for a steal on Ebay.  Pushed together, they seat 12 (two can fit on each end), and we can pull them apart when we have guests to seat another four.

10.  I love this wall across from the table.  Our family motto is up top.  We have room for a basic table and a few chairs that works as both a puzzle table and for homework.

11.  I love the view from the kitchen window, especially in summer and fall. 

Comments

3in3mom said…
I'm having you design mine when I get to have a house again! Love love love
Montserrat said…
Loved seeing how you designed your kitchen! We are currently adding on a new kitchen and enjoyed seeing the similarities in what I designed for our large family and what you did for your. I, too, am opting for a stand alone range, only we will have two because we always seem to need more than four burners. People think I'm crazy for wanting two ranges rather than two dishwashers, lol.

Anyway, loved seeing your beautiful kitchen!
Tasha said…
Love this post! I am the mother of 7 ages 5 months to 11 years. I love learning from other mothers with large families! Thank you for showing your kitchen! Www.organizeddinner.blogspot.com
Anaise said…
I don't get to redesign my kitchen any time soon (and I don't need to), but I am trying to figure out how to make our dining room work. I LOVE your 2 pedestal table plan! You've fired up my brain and given me hope. :)
Unknown said…
Looks comfy and just about right. There is enough room for a large family to walk around in. The wood furnishings also aid in making it all welcoming like nature. Good for you! Though maybe you can mix things up with the colors at some point. Manipulate the textures and facade of the space, then take note of the results.

Frances Herrera
Mum said…
Fabulous kitchen. We need to re - work our's and I just do not even know where to start. You have given me a lot of food for thought. Thank you. :)
Unknown said…
Nice blog! and nice design of kitchen, this type of kitchen make homes attractive.
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Zayden Wood said…
For growing family normal kitchen is not sufficient. If you are creating the dream kitchen for a Big Family The U-Shape and Island Layout, G-Shaped Layout, and L-Shape and Island Layout are the best designs for large kitchens. These are ideal for large spaces to accommodate huge family groups. My Home Handyman offers best kitchen designs ideas with latest trends.
A stacked cabinet kitchen makeover can be a fantastic way to elevate the style and functionality of your kitchen. Stacked cabinets, also known as double-stacked cabinets, involve placing one set of cabinets on top of another, providing extra storage space and creating a visually appealing design element.

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Remember to establish a budget for your kitchen makeover and work within those constraints. Consult with professionals and gather inspiration from design resources to help you make informed decisions throughout the process.

A stacked cabinet kitchen makeover can transform your kitchen into a stylish and functional space, providing ample storage and a visually stunning focal point. With careful planning and attention to detail, you can create a kitchen that reflects your personal style and meets your practical needs.
Rimon said…
wooden cabinet kitchen offers a warm blend of style and functionality. Explore how these timeless cabinets can transform your kitchen into a cozy haven
Zayden Wood said…
It looks like you've created a fantastic kitchen for your large family! I truly like how you furnished the space with unusual features like two stoves and many workstations. The "never look dirty" granite composite sinks seem like a lifesaver for busy families, and the small veggie sink is such a great concept. I have to say, those custom made cabinets that are constructed to order are incredible! They offer lots of storage and create a very lovely cohesive element across the kitchen. Seeing how you and your spouse completed several of the tasks together, such as the expanded table and the cupboards, is encouraging. It actually conveys the thought and effort that went into creating this special space for your household.