Kitchen Layout Design

Kitchen design is personal, it is a high-traffic space that nourishes, entertains, and comforts. When dreaming up your ideal kitchen space, it is helpful to know the basics layouts and styles. In part 1 of this article, we will discuss the 6 most common types of kitchen layout designs. In Part 2, we will cover the 3 most popular kitchen design styles. Welcome to Kitchen Design 101!

When choosing to remodel your kitchen, deciding on a layout that works best for your family and your space is everything. About half of homeowners choose to change their kitchen layout design during remodeling, according to Houzz . There are many options for kitchen layouts for all types of spaces, big and small. This guide will help you find the best use of space for your kitchen.

The key to a successful kitchen layout is the work triangle. The work triangle measures the efficiency of a kitchen. The triangle creates a working path between the stovetop, the sink, and the refrigerator so that the flow of work while prepping food, cleaning, or storing is as productive as possible.

Kitchen Floor Plan Layout Ideas — The Little Design Corner

In a single-wall kitchen, cabinets and appliances are fixed along one wall. This option is space-saving, perfect for apartments or small homes. The work triangle is just a work line in this example, so works stations must be carefully considered and spaced appropriately. For increased storage, go vertical. Stack cabinets to the ceiling to maximize space. Learn more about kitchen renovations.

Galley kitchens are two parallel walls with a walk-through between them. It is an efficient use of space for small, narrow kitchens. With no custom corner cabinets to worry about, this can be a cost-effective option for projects on a budget. Work station placement should be carefully considered, as galley kitchens can become a crowded thoroughfare. 

The most popular choice for kitchen layout design is an L-shape. An l-shaped kitchen is two adjoining walls that are perpendicular to each other. They are an ideal option for kitchens located in a corner space, particularly if they open up into another room. L-shaped kitchens are a great choice for any sized kitchen. This layout optimizes the flow of traffic. Corner cabinets can be customized depending on the space available. Enhance an l-shaped kitchen by adding an island, a breakfast nook, or a walk-in pantry. 

Kitchen Layout Designs

Next, U-Shaped kitchens have three connected walls of cabinets and counterspace. The main benefit of this type of kitchen is an additional wall for storage. A u-shaped kitchen is best for a large kitchen, as a small u-shaped kitchen can feel closed-in. Including open shelving or a large hood and backsplash area on one of the walls can help open up the space.

Island kitchens are quickly becoming the most popular style of kitchen remodel. Islands are often an addition to a single-wall or an l-shaped kitchen to maximize functionality. There are numerous benefits to adding an island – increased storage, more countertop space, and eat-in options –  just to name a few. The kitchen island is the new command center of the room, provided you have the space for one. 

The final kitchen layout, a peninsula kitchen is a u-shaped kitchen with a connected island. It has all of the benefits of u-shaped and island kitchens – increased storage, countertop space, dining, and designated work stations. A  peninsula kitchen has a smaller footprint than a stand-alone island, however, this layout can sometimes feel crowded.

Kitchen Design 101 (part 1): Kitchen Layout Design

In conclusion, the layout of your kitchen should depend on the amount of space you have and the amount of storage you need. If you would like to work side by side with a designer to help you create your ideal kitchen, contact us. Visit our Kitchen Gallery or our Portfolio for kitchen inspiration. To learn more about kitchen design, read on to Kitchen Design 101 (Part Two): The 3 most common Kitchen Design Styles.I often get asked what is the ideal kitchenlayout and design. Kitchen design has gone through several phases from being a closed confined space to what is now, an open floor plan that gathers family and friends. One of my real state friends mentionedthat a kitchen is what sells a house in most cases.Below is a summary of what I consider a functional space planning based on experience and research I conducted.

All of this diagrams show a “work triangle”. The triangleconnects the refrigerator, stove and sink.. The best work triangle is less than 21 linear feet. Work triangles that exceed 26 feet make moving from one function to another unpractical.Each kitchen layout works depending on your limits or wall, door and window locations. From experience the L-shaped with island is the most popular recently.

Ideally, food preparation islocated next tothe sink. Allow 18 to 36 inchesof countertop space on one or both sides of your sink.Kitchen islands are so popular because they provide extrasurfaceon which to perform the majority of kitchen tasks.

Kitchen Design Drawings

Allow some countertop empty spaceon either side of your cooktop. Place seasonings, pots, cooking trays next to cooktop. * Tip: I always advice my clients to make a list of the items they would like to include in the kitchen. For example : list of all appliances needed, size of sink, open shelving, bookcases to hold cooking books, wine storage, recycling bin, etc. This helps to start laying out the main floor plan and configuration.The dimensions of all the pieces in your kitchen are important to make the best use of your space.

Upper cabinets are normally positioned at 18 inches above the countertop and are 30 to 42 inchesin height. Consider that your average maximum reach over and into an upper cabinet is 70 to 80 inches above the floor. Cabinets set at above 7 feet will likely need to be accessed with a step ladder.You may have your cabinets, flooring, tile, appliances, and paint all selected. But what makes a kitchen livable has little to do with the way it looks, and everything to do with functionality.

If you’re planning a kitchen, there are a few essential kitchen layout ideas you need to keep in mind as you’re designing and planning.

Kitchen Planner Software

Before you make any big decisions or get carried away with the aesthetic, here are7 essential kitchen layout ideasyou will want to incorporate to make your kitchen design a success:

No matter what, the kitchen is probably going to be a high-traffic area of the house. But there are ways you can get around making the kitchen a catch-all for mail and backpacks and coats.

Create a space before you get into the kitchen, like a mudroom, to control the chaos that can come sweeping in every day. Once in the kitchen, make sure the primary pathway through the kitchen is hazard-free and will not be obstructed by the refrigerator or oven door when open.

Small Kitchen Ideas That Prove That Less Is More

When laying out your kitchen it’s important to keep the main tasks in mind – preparing, serving, and cleaning up from meals. You don’t want to put the stove across the room from the sink, or the fridge too far away from the stove because that will complicate whichever task you are working on.

A kitchen island is where much of the meal preparation happens. If your kitchen layout will include one, consider its location carefully. Make sure that it will not block the area in front of your major appliances, such as wall ovens, dishwashers, and refrigerators.

Allow enough space for the appliance door swing plus room to pass when the doors are open. But you also don’t want to place it too far. Make sure your island is located within a comfortable arm’s reach from each of these fixtures.

Kitchen Consulting Services

When creating a kitchen layout, many designers place the sink first and then design from there. While this is probably grounded in tradition from the days when people spent a long time scrubbing dishes, it remains a good rule of thumb.

The oven and fridge are vital to preparing meals, but somehow the sink seems to still be the place where we spend the most time. Think about placing the sink where there is a view out a window or into the room. A kitchen island is also a great location for the sink.

When you’re deciding where to put the stove and oven, remember to put them on an exterior wall rather than an island or interior wall. This will make it easier (and less expensive) to install a proper ventilation system.

Kitchen Layouts: 6 Ways To Arrange Your Kitchen — Wood & Co

Instead of focusing all of your energy on creating enough cabinet and drawer storage, put a little of that energy into configuring convenient wall storage.

Storage walls are a great way to incorporate pantry storage, small appliances, baking accessories, extra china, or even a broom closet – in one convenient location. Open shelves, wall hooks, and overhead pot racks are not only convenient – if stocked with the right stuff, they can also add dimension to the aesthetic.

No matter how much designing, measuring, and pinning to your dream kitchenPinterest boardsyou do, your completed kitchen can still come as a surprise once the contractors are finished – and not always in a good way.

Best Small Kitchen Design Ideas

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