Cohousing-L Mailing List: Re: Private home dishwashers: 18" vs 24"

[Laura Fitch (lfitch]

I have the most awesome 18" dishwasher that was ever designed.  The
silverware goes in a tray above so which means it fits more than most
poorly designed 24" models that are so common place.  I can fit 14 full
size plates, another ten bowls, 2 dozen glasses and all the silverware in a
single load!  it is a Miele g832 SC.  It cost a small forturne that i have
never regretted.  And it is quiet to boot!  But my guess is that Miele is
not in your construction budget, but if you can find a more reasonably
priced 18" with top silverware tray i think you will be happy.

Laura Fitch
Kraus Fitch Architects

On Sunday, October 20, 2013, Jenny Guy wrote:

>
> I think I would go with the 18". I've been living in retrofit cohousing for
> 6 months, with a smaller kitchen than I'm used to. It's my preference to
> have a 24" dishwasher, and fill it up for a couple of days and then run it,
> but when I think about remodeling my little kitchen (someday!), I plan for
> an 18" dishwasher because that will allow more cabinets. When you have a
> small kitchen, the dishwasher takes up valuable space that could have been
> used for cupboards.
>
> I downsized when I moved here, and gave my son some of my kitchen stuff for
> his new household, because I don't have as much cabinet space as I used to.
> I live alone, but 4 nights a week 3 people eat dinner here. Now, when my
> 24" dishwasher is half full, I run out of plates for dinner. So that's
> another factor: less cupboard space = fewer dishes = you need to run the
> dishwasher, and I hate to run a dishwasher that isn't full.
>
> My brother and SIL have an 18" dishwasher (family of 3, not in cohousing,
> host big dinner parties), and they're happy with it. They have a large
> kitchen but chose it because (unlike me) they don't like to let the dishes
> collect there.
>
> I agree that the idea that you don't need as much kitchen because you'll be
> eating in the common house doesn't necessarily pan out,
> and I prefer a standard-size dishwasher, but I think the trade-off of
> having more cabinet space (an 18" cabinet instead of 12") would be worth it
> , at least in my case.
>
> Can you describe what the difference would be, in terms of cabinetry, with
>  the 2 designs you're considering?
>
> Jenny Guy
> Kingfisher Cohousing on Brookdale, Oakland CA
> brookdalecommons.org
>
>
>
> > On Oct 18, 2013, at 3:48 PM, Taryn Leigh <taryn_leigh [at] 
> > hotmail.com<javascript:;>>
> wrote:
> >
> > > One question that has come up is dishwasher size in the private homes.
> > >
> > > Our architect, Charles Durrett (extensive cohousing experience)
> > recommends an 18" unit however our developers/project managers (extensive
> > small strata development experience but no cohousing experience) say 18"
> is
> > too small and to install 24" units.
> > >
> > > Some context:
> > >
> > > We have designed 31 units, studios, one bedroom, two bedroom, three
> > bedroom and 1 four bedroom unit.
> > >
> > > Our private kitchens are small, a few have only 3 upper half-cabinets.
> > >
> > > Our group hopes to hold 3-5 common meals per week.
> > >
> > > We are four member households away from being sold out and so far the
> > largest family size is two parents and two kids.
> > >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
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-- 
Laura Fitch, AIA, LEED-BD+C
Kraus-Fitch Architects
110 Pulpit Hill Rd.
Amherst, MA  01002
lfitch [at] krausfitch.com

Board Member, Cohousing Association of US
www.cohousing.org