Has Anyone Closed in an Amarillo Kitchen???

[GERALDINE]

I don't like the "open" kitchen in our Amarillo Ranch home (or in any home for that matter). I am considering removing the snack bar counter top and putting up a 3/4 wall leaving the top open to accomodate the vaulted ceiling. This would give privacy to the kitchen area and another wall area to the LR and DR areas.

Has anyone done this or known of it being done? If so, do you like it? I'd like to see one that's been done.

If you've done this, or seen it done, or have any comments about how it would affect the home's resale value, please send me an email: jkpowlison@embarqmail.com

THANKS :laugh:

[Dirigo]

I don't like the "open" kitchen in our Amarillo Ranch home (or in any home for that matter). I am considering removing the snack bar counter top and putting up a 3/4 wall leaving the top open to accomodate the vaulted ceiling. This would give privacy to the kitchen area and another wall area to the LR and DR areas.

Has anyone done this or known of it being done? If so, do you like it? I'd like to see one that's been done.

If you've done this, or seen it done, or have any comments about how it would affect the home's resale value, please send me an email: jkpowlison@embarqmail.com

THANKS :laugh:

Patches,

We prefer a well defined kitchen, dining area, and living room ourselves. Please share what you discover with us.

Take a look at how this kichen was closed in: http://mfr.mlxchange.com/MFRimages/159/G4646431_201_18.jpg
http://mfr.mlxchange.com/MFRimages/159/G4646431_301_18.jpg

Very stylish, although the boxy look needs to be softened somehow, methinks.

I'd like to see a wide-angle shot looking toward the island.

Dirigo

[GERALDINE]

Dirigo:

Thanks for your reply. At least I know I'm not crazy all by myself for wanting a more defined kitchen area!!

Interesting idea you sent. That one is good if you want to keep the snack bar eating area. Where did you get this picture? Is it a house in The Villages?

I still think I'd rather forego the snack bar eating area and have a 3/4 wall there instead. My son-in-law, who is a contractor, suggested putting in 2 columns at each end of the wall to add "architectural appeal". I tend to agree.

I will keep you posted on what I find out and you can also follow this thread.

[Yoda]

That is a very interesting look. We had ruled out the Amarillo because of the awkward location of it's open kitchen. This gives new options. Thanks for posting it.

Yoda

[Ooper]

When we ordered our Stetson (later named an Amarillo) the open kitchen was an upgrade. The closed in kitchen was standard. When we looked at models, the closed in kitchen just seemed to make everything look so much smaller. But, hey, everybody has their likes and dislikes. If you contacted on of the realtors here, they may have an Amarillo or Stetson for sale with a closed in kitchen and then you can get a first hand look.

[senior citizen]

Those photos depict a nice alternative to the open kitchen concept.
Defining the kitchen as a separate room, yet allowing the "cook" to be in on the conversation going on in the living area.

Personally, we would like an open kitchen concept in our retirement home.........!
Coming from a huge home which we presently own, "less rooms" to clean, such as eliminating the dining room which only gets used on the holidays as is, and having one large "great room" sounds ideal. Unless one is a very cluttered type kitchen person, then I agree the walls would be better.

Islands and breakfast bars are great when serving buffet style. Islands in particular.
I've yet to see a Villages home with an island. Maybe it's a New England thing.

But, great photos.

[Cassie325]

Patches,

Take a look at how this kichen was closed in: http://mfr.mlxchange.com/MFRimages/159/G4646431_201_18.jpg
http://mfr.mlxchange.com/MFRimages/159/G4646431_301_18.jpg


Dirigo

While I have always liked the "open" look these pictures are gorgeous!! Is this a home here in TV's? It gives so much extra decorating space, extra storage and just the right mix between open and closed kitchen area!
I love it!

[Whalen]

"I've yet to see a Villages home with an island. Maybe it's a New England thing".

Have you checked out the Mandevilla or the Bridgeport?
They have islands.

[Russ_Boston]

Many homes in TV have island kitchens. I could list dozens of links if you need them.

Russ

[GERALDINE]

Thanks. We have seen some of the closed-in Stetsons...BUT they squared it off, put wall all the way to ceiling (and there is NO volume ceilings in them) AND they put a small eating area in kitchen, eliminating the snack bar workspace and under counter storage. We would LEAVE the island and all it's work & storage space (NOT interested in having a eat-in space in kitchen), put up an angled wall that follows the shape of the snack bar (ie: 3 sides), only put wall 3/4 of the way up with it being open on top to show the volume ceilings and for architectural detail (can put plants, baskets, etc. up there).

I agree that the original closed-in Stetsons looked smaller...but that is, in my opinion, because of the shape of the wall, the fact it went all the way to the ceiling (which was flat to begin with) AND...had NO usable space on the kitchen side of the wall.

I think ours will look quite lovely and be very functional.

[GERALDINE]

NO...it's NOT an island kitchen we're looking to do...it's CLOSING IN our Amarillo Kitchen and not having it be open to the surrounding living room and dining room.

[GERALDINE]

n

[GERALDINE]

Many homes in TV have island kitchens. I could list dozens of links if you need them.

Russ

NO...it's NOT an island kitchen we're looking to do...it's CLOSING IN our Amarillo Kitchen and not having it be open to the surrounding living room and dining room. Sorry...forgot to put the quote into the previous one.

[BarryB]

The Whispering Pine has completely closed in kitchen with a breakfast nook

[katezbox]

NO...it's NOT an island kitchen we're looking to do...it's CLOSING IN our Amarillo Kitchen and not having it be open to the surrounding living room and dining room. Sorry...forgot to put the quote into the previous one.

Patches,

I think that Russ was referring to Senior's comment about no kitchens with islands in TV. As Whalen stated - both the Mandevilla and Bridgeport have islands. Also some Lantanas. We are building a Bridgeport and kitchen lust was one of the deciding factors. The kitchen there is semi-open.

[Dirigo]

Dirigo:

Thanks for your reply.

Interesting idea you sent. Where did you get this picture? Is it a house in The Villages?

I will keep you posted on what I find out and you can also follow this thread.

You're welcome, Patches.

Isn't it striking? I was browsing http://www.lylesellsfla.com/index.shtml which is a great site for wannabes/dreamers/planners. This house is in TV.

I would be very interested in hearing about and seeing your design ideas.

Dirigo

[l2ridehd]

An option to consider is to buy a designer Cypress or Oleander model. It seems to be a lower cost designer, only about 20K more then a ranch and has 3 full bedrooms, almost 1900 square feet for the Cypress, and the kitchen, dining room, living room are more defined then most. Also one of the only ones with a hall closet. The Cypress is actually one of my favorite models. It has defined rooms with a somewhat open feel. Also bigger bedrooms then others. But that's why they make so many models.

[GERALDINE]

Dirigo: I found the house on the website you sent. It is indeed very striking. I would consider this type of "closed-in" look as opposed to eliminating the snack bar entirely and putting up a 3/4 wall. It kind of closes it off...but not entirely. I must "ponder" this!! Thanks for the info.

[Dirigo]

Dirigo: I found the house on the website you sent. It is indeed very striking. I would consider this type of "closed-in" look as opposed to eliminating the snack bar entirely and putting up a 3/4 wall. It kind of closes it off...but not entirely. I must "ponder" this!! Thanks for the info.

We have a kitchen similar to most you see with an island. We use the island a lot and really like it. But we have a full wall between the kitchen and living area in our current home, so we can't see the kitchen from the living room. We do not care for one large open room, so we would consider closing in the island in a Villages home when we can retire, as in the striking photo. Keep me posted on what you end up doing...let's see some photos when you get it done.:laugh:

[Sally Jo]

We have a Hibiscus. I think it is called a Gardenia. now. We had the builders put up a wall 3/4 of the way around. You can't see into the living room and vice versa. Youcan see in from the dining room, but not the sink or stove. We are very happy with this arrangement.

[Dirigo]

We have a Hibiscus. I think it is called a Gardenia. now. We had the builders put up a wall 3/4 of the way around. You can't see into the living room and vice versa. Youcan see in from the dining room, but not the sink or stove. We are very happy with this arrangement.

Sounds very nice. May we see a photo?

[Sally Jo]

I'll be happy to put a picture up. if I can figure out how to do it. I'll probably have to bug hubby to do it.

[carole131]

We ordered our kitchen closed before we moved into our new Amarillo in 2002. We realized that we had no contact with our visitors outside the kitchen while were were making preparations, so we had open arches installed in two walls, for a "window" effect. Voila! Enclosed, but with visual access. Marble ledges completed the look. A round table & chairs fit comfortably near the outside walls.

[Dirigo]

We ordered our kitchen closed before we moved into our new Amarillo in 2002. We realized that we had no contact with our visitors outside the kitchen while were were making preparations, so we had open arches installed in two walls, for a "window" effect. Voila! Enclosed, but with visual access. Marble ledges completed the look. A round table & chairs fit comfortably near the outside walls.

Hi Carole131,

What a great idea!

We are kind of leaning toward an Amarillo or a Charlotte/Bourganvilla lately (the former is a "Ranch" the latter is a "Designer").

Any chance you could post a photo to share your design?

Thanks,

Dirigo

[GERALDINE]

We ordered our kitchen closed before we moved into our new Amarillo in 2002. We realized that we had no contact with our visitors outside the kitchen while were were making preparations, so we had open arches installed in two walls, for a "window" effect. Voila! Enclosed, but with visual access. Marble ledges completed the look. A round table & chairs fit comfortably near the outside walls.


Your kitchen sounds GREAT. Could we see pictures of it...Please???? What Village do you live in?

[GERALDINE]

I'll be happy to put a picture up. if I can figure out how to do it. I'll probably have to bug hubby to do it.

We would LOVE to see pictures. Have hubby help you.

Thanks!!

[Boomer]

The title of this thread is "Has Anyone Closed in an Amarillo Kitchen?" And it is a perfectly fine title. It clearly indicates the intention of the thread which was to ask a question about building walls around an open kitchen.

Well, I just have to tell you that after this thread had run for a while, I opened it and looked at it, and at that point, you might have been able to hear the big smack that I gave my own forehead.

Now, I could pretend to myself and to others that I am not a dingbat and that I had just thought what I thought because real estate is such a big topic around here.

But because it is getting kind of close to midnight, I must be in shameless confession mode so I will just tell you that I am indeed a total dingbat sometimes.

You see, before I finally opened this thread, I saw the title go by a lot, and every time I saw it, I thought it meant that The Villages had held the closing for the home sale right in the kitchen of the home that was being bought.

Yep. I really thought that. And then I thought, "Hey! Wow! To think I thought I knew all about what a contract meant when it said Occupancy at Closing. But this one is really something."

(I really did think that. I do not make this stuff up.)

Goodnight.

Boomer

[GERALDINE]

Boomer, you are TOOOOOO Funny!!! Your "Midnight Confessions" made my day. I can see, however, how one could think what you did. Thanks for sharing.

I have heard from quite a few people who have done similar things to what I think I would like to do. Some have sent me pictures...so not everyone thinks this is a real estate thread!!! LOL :-)

[uujudy]

The title of this thread is "Has Anyone Closed in an Amarillo Kitchen?" And it is a perfectly fine title. It clearly indicates the intention of the thread which was to ask a question about building walls around an open kitchen.

Well, I just have to tell you that after this thread had run for a while, I opened it and looked at it, and at that point, you might have been able to hear the big smack that I gave my own forehead.

Now, I could pretend to myself and to others that I am not a dingbat and that I had just thought what I thought because real estate is such a big topic around here.

But because it is getting kind of close to midnight, I must be in shameless confession mode so I will just tell you that I am indeed a total dingbat sometimes.

You see, before I finally opened this thread, I saw the title go by a lot, and every time I saw it, I thought it meant that The Villages had held the closing for the home sale right in the kitchen of the home that was being bought.

Yep. I really thought that. And then I thought, "Hey! Wow! To think I thought I knew all about what a contract meant when it said Occupancy at Closing. But this one is really something."

(I really did think that. I do not make this stuff up.)

Goodnight.

Boomer

Boomer, I thought exactly the SAME THING! Every time I read the title I thought, "Nope, but I closed in a Utah kitchen." :laugh: