How to Fix Awkward Kitchen Layouts
Odd Kitchen Layout Solutions & Ideas From Experts
Designing a kitchen is always an exciting process, but what do you do when facing an awkward kitchen layout? Homeowners face many awkward design challenges when renovating their kitchens, from oddly shaped rooms to structural pillars and chimney breasts. But with the right design expertise and creativity, you can turn them into a functional, stylish, and comfortable kitchen.
In this article, KCA’s kitchen designers share valuable advice on transforming your kitchen from awkward to awesome. We’ll share examples from real-life projects, with before and after photos.
Meet the Kitchen Experts
KCA is a family-run, independent kitchen company in Berkshire that specialises in kitchens for homeowners, builders, and interior designers.
Since 1993, the KCA team has designed hundreds of kitchens across London and the home counties and won several prestigious design awards. They are no strangers to overcoming odd kitchen layouts to maximise the impact and functionality of their client’s kitchens.
1. Should I Move My Kitchen to Another Room?
Before we dive into awkward-shaped kitchen ideas, there’s one essential question to ask at the start of any kitchen renovation: Is the kitchen in the best place in the home? While there are many clever ways to design around challenging features, sometimes relocating the kitchen can lead to the best outcome.
This was precisely the case for the Marlow family in Windsor. They wanted an open-plan kitchen with garden views, but their existing kitchen was in a darker area of the house. Moving the kitchen to the former living room and knocking through a wall, allowed us to achieve their vision. We transformed the space by putting the kitchen at the far end of the room, with tall units and a fridge-freezer where the chimney once stood and added a spacious L-shaped island with integrated corner bench seating at its heart.
The result is a bright, spacious, open-plan kitchen, giving the family plenty of room to dine and relax while enjoying garden views.
2. How to Design a Kitchen Around a Structural Column
The owners approached us because their kitchen wasn’t meeting their needs. Upon visiting, we saw they had added an extension, which had been completed some years earlier. The impressive pitched glass roof and exposed wooden beams let light flood the living area. However, the kitchen remained in the darkest corner, limiting natural light and creating a dim workspace.
The layout presented a unique challenge, with the extended area wrapping around in an L-shape and a large structural pillar situated right in the centre. Instead of viewing the pillar as an obstacle, we turned it into a feature, anchoring the kitchen island to the column as the central focal point.
This is just one example of how to design around a structural column. There are many other great solutions for kitchens with columns, from hiding the column within cabinetry to using cladding to make it a feature.
3. Ideas for Galley Kitchens
The Milner family were tired of their galley kitchen, which didn’t suit their style. Most importantly, their kitchen felt cramped and didn’t flow well. With doors to other rooms at both ends of the kitchen, it was becoming more of a thoroughfare, which wasn’t maximising the space.
First, we needed to find a new home for the washing machine protruding into the room and creating a narrow pinch point. The kitchen was 2.6m wide, and the laundry appliance made it feel much narrower. Our clients used the worktop space behind the washing machine as an unofficial breakfast bar for casual dining. However, the cabinets underneath meant there was no leg space. Lastly, the lefthand kitchen wall was mostly tall units with the fridge freezer, again making the room feel narrower and closed in.
The final design blocks up one of the internal doors at the far end of the kitchen, creating more wall space for cabinets. We moved the laundry appliances to this end of the kitchen, neatly hidden within a cupboard. We stacked the washer-dryer, which is always a great space-saving solution.
We also moved the dining to this end of the space, creating a separation between the cooking and dining zones. Keeping an opening underneath the breakfast bar creates the appearance of more floor space, making the room feel more spacious. Last but not least, by swapping some of the tall cabinets along the lefthand wall for base units, we widened the room at eye-level, making it feel much bigger. This also meant we could create a new home for the TV, which was a must-have on our clients’ list.
4. How To Fit a Kitchen in an L-Shaped Room
The Simon family came to us looking for ideas to improve their galley kitchen layout and the adjoined conservatory. They always planned to renovate after buying the house and wanted advice on making the most of the space. The galley kitchen was fairly narrow and long, and the conservatory wrapped around in an L-shape, leaving our clients wondering how to maximise the awkward kitchen layout.
The dining table was tucked into the conservatory. Instead of feeling relaxed and comfortable during family meals or gatherings with friends, the family felt cramped and crowded, having to use the window cill as a bench. Beyond the dining table, the rear of the conservatory had become more of a corridor needing some smart storage solutions.
We could see so much potential with the space. First, the opening between the kitchen and conservatory was widened, which made the rooms feel more connected while maximising the light flowing into the kitchen.
We wrapped the kitchen cabinets around the corner, extending to the rear of the conservatory. This created extra counter space and storage for the children’s books and toys. There is also a tall larder cupboard for shoes and coats, which are easily accessed when they go and play outside.
We designed a new breakfast bar overhanging on the corner to solve the awkward dining table. This creates the perfect space to perch for breakfast, do homework or entertain friends.
5. How To Use a Chimney Breast in a Kitchen
It’s common to find a chimney breast where you don’t want it. While removal is possible, there are often clever ways to keep the chimney breast and give it an alternative use. For example, the chimney breast in this kitchen is now a coffee station for our client’s treasured coffee machine. This works well because the coffee machine is kept away from the main working area, and shelves provide useful space for tea, coffee, and cups.
There are many other ways to use a chimney breast in a kitchen design. The chimney breast could be the cooking zone with a hob, a storage pantry, or open shelving.
6. How Much Space Do You Need for a Kitchen Island?
Kitchen islands are high on the wish list for many home renovators. However, they can crowd small kitchens and restrict movement without adequate space.
Despite this kitchen’s generous size – measuring 4×4 metres – there wasn’t enough room for an island. With units on both sides of the room, a 1-metre-deep island would leave less than a metre of space around it. This awkward layout would feel cramped and disrupt the flow.
The new layout has a peninsular breakfast bar turned 90 degrees to cut into the centre of the room. This, like a kitchen island, creates a central hub for eating breakfast and mingling with families and friends. The best part? A slimline integrated wine fridge, perfect for those fun nights entertaining.
7. How To Design a Small Kitchen With Dining Area
Formal dining rooms are becoming less common as more people wish to dine in a place connected to the kitchen. However, an awkward layout or compact floor plan can make it hard to fit a table.
This was precisely the problem for the Solonas family. Although they had a small dining table in their kitchen, it couldn’t comfortably seat four people. The doorway from the hallway into the kitchen limited the size of the table, as it would restrict entry into the room.
To give our clients more storage and the large dining area they desperately needed, we created built-in corner bench seating for a cosy and practical breakfast nook. The drawers below add helpful extra storage, and they can now seat six people comfortably.
Final Kitchen Advice From the Experts at KCA, Berkshire
Awkward kitchen layouts don’t have to be a headache. These case studies show that, with thoughtful planning and creative design, you can transform even the most challenging kitchen into a functional, beautiful space tailored to your needs.
After working with thousands of homeowners, we’ve noticed a common theme: people often feel stuck when planning a new kitchen, finding it hard to imagine the space used differently. It’s completely understandable—when we live in a space every day, we become attached to both the layout and our routines, making it tough to think outside the box.
But that’s where our kitchen experts come in. With a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective, they can reimagine your space, offering ideas and solutions you may never have considered.
Get expert advice for your project by arranging a no-obligation design consultation.
