How easy is it to cook in your kitchen? The layout is the most important part of kitchen interior design. Within the modular kitchen design, the work triangle should be taken into account to maintain kitchen efficiency. This will ensure you have a functional and ergonomic cooking environment. Designers and experts often use this idea as the basis to determine an efficient kitchen design. Here’s everything you need to know about it.
According to the concept of the golden triangle or work triangle, the principal workstations in the kitchen — the hob, sink and the refrigerator — are placed such that their positions form the vertices of an imaginary triangle. Thus, these points are within accessible distance from each other.
The hob, sink and refrigerator are the three most frequently used areas in a modular kitchen design, with most tasks requiring movement from one of these station to the other. If these areas are in close proximity, you won’t have to walk too much between zones while cooking.
Lighting Guide: 7 Golden Rules To Plan & Light Your Kitchen
With kitchens, the ergonomics are vital and can substantially be improved if the kitchen work triangle is implemented well. It makes working in the kitchen less tiresome. Additionally, you can be done with your cooking in lesser time. This also helps minimise the traffic within the kitchen.
In the parallel kitchen above, the three working spots are aligned in a way that allows the user to work with comfort.
Each side of the triangle, i.e., the distance between any two of the three spots should ideally be between 4 feet and 9 feet. The total sum of the sides of the triangle should be between 13 feet and 26 feet. This allows enough space to work comfortably at each station and move between them as well.
Things To Know Before Designing A Modular Kitchen
The work triangle should not be blocked by any other element of the kitchen by more than 12 inches. Make sure that the triangle is not obstructed by counters, cabinets or islands. Keep movement pathways away from the triangle so that the area can be kept as free as possible. For a kitchen work triangle with island to work, you can place the sink on the island.
The original idea of the work triangle didn’t include modern day appliances like microwaves, dishwashers, etc, which are now frequently used stations. However, these requirements can be efficiently accommodated into the layout by placing them within easy reach of the user. Besides, this ensures that the work triangle is not hindered.
Take a cue from the L-shaped kitchen work triangle above where the microwave is placed next to the refrigerator for easy use. Subsequently, it doesn’t block movement in the kitchen, thus making for a functional layout.
Do I Have Space For A Kitchen Island? (and Other Kitchen Island Questions)
You should also take care of the kitchen work zones while planning the design. Read this for more: 4 Dedicated Zones for Every Task in the Kitchen.
Modular kitchen design come in all shapes and sizes! While the kitchen triangle works for most shapes, we can modify it for a straight layout. Subsequently, all you need to do is place the cooktop in between the sink and the refrigerator. This will make the kitchen more ergonomic and efficient for you!
The straight kitchen above, which is designed to be functional and aesthetically appealing, has the hob in between, located at minimum distance between the refrigerator and sink.
Kitchen Layouts Dimensions & Drawings
Besides, the next time you’re designing your kitchen, make sure you check if your layout incorporates the work triangle. Moreover, a little bit of planning and thought can result in a well-designed, ergonomic layout that will make everyday cooking a breeze.Here is a summary of 39 kitchen design rules that will help you design and plan your new kitchen. I have listed below what I think are the most important considerations when designing a kitchen.
Memorize or bookmark (Ctrl+D) these kitchen layout rules and use it in conjunction with your own kitchen layout. These design rules are not set in concrete and you can vary the distances but they should be considered minimum workable distances.
Your kitchen should not be the main thoroughfare to the rest of your home. This means foot traffic should not cross the kitchen work triangle. (An exception can be made for the refrigerator).
Kitchen Design Tips
In Figure 1 (below) you can see that the wall oven is located to the left of the hallway door and that foot traffic intersects the work triangle. As this is a main thoroughfare to the rest of the house, it is important to move the oven to a safer area.
In Figure 2 (below) the wall oven does not become a safety issue as we have swapped the wall oven position with the refrigerator.
The new position of the wall oven will also satisfy kitchen Rule #18 (a minimum 400 mm (16″) set down space is required beside an oven).
How To Setup A Kitchen (5 Ways, Based From A Diagram)
The new position of the refrigerator will also satisfy kitchen Rule#22 (A minimum of 400 mm (16″) landing space is required on the door opening side of a fridge).
Note that it is OK for a refrigerator to be outside of the work triangle as this minimises frequent visits by other members of the family interrupting your cooking or preparation activities.
The total length of the kitchen work triangle (the cumulative distance between the cooktop / fridge / sink) should not exceed 7000 mm (23′).
Tips To Think About When Designing An L Shaped Kitchen Layout
Rule 2 - The kitchen work triangle is measured from the centres of the oven/cooktop, sink and fridge. Can you spot a kitchen design rule error in this drawing?
Figure 1 (below) shows the refrigerator dividing the cleaning work centre and the cooking work centre. The refrigerator needs to be moved elsewhere.
Kitchen design rule #5 figure 1 - you should not place a full height cabinet or appliance between any two of the major work centres
Embracing Creativity: Breaking The Rules With Kerala Kitchen Design Trends By Nithya Das
Figure 2 (below) shows the refrigerator moved to the left of the cleaning work centre. This is a much more favourable kitchen layout as the bench space is now continuous.
Kitchen design rule #5 figure 2 - you should not place a full height cabinet or appliance between any two of the major work centres
If there are two cooks in the kitchen a minimum of 1200 mm (47″) is required for one person to edge past the other by turning and passing with bodies parallel.
Factors To Consider For Your Kitchen Design
At least 300 mm (12″) of counter space should be allowed from the edge of the sink to the inside corner of the counter top.
When placing a dishwasher near a corner, allow at least a 500 mm (20″) space from the corner for ease of access.
The minimum safe distance from a window to a gas cooktop should be 500 mm (20″). (Best to check with local government guidelines in your area).
Kitchen Planner Online
At least 300 mm (12″) of counter space should be allowed from the edge of the cooking surface to the inside corner of the counter top.
Kitchen design rule #16 - countertop space from the edge of the cooking surface to the inside corner of the counter top
If this is not possible then a benchtop within 1200 mm (47″) of the oven is OK (except where this crosses a major walkway).
Commercial Kitchen Design Principles
If this is not possible then a benchtop within 1200 mm (47″) of the oven is OK. (except where this crosses a major walkway).
If this is not possible then a benchtop within 1200 mm (47″) of the fridge is OK (except where this crosses a major walkway).
Consideration to the location of services requires careful planning. To prevent appliances (i.e dishwashers etc) projecting past the countertop you must place the services in a cabinet
Fundamental Kitchen Design Guidelines To Know Before You Remodel
If there are two cooks and you don’t have 2 separate 900 mm (36″) wide preparation areas, a consolidated area of 1500 mm (59″) wide is good.
You should consider items to be stored at the first or last place of use. Heavy equipment should be stored near floor level.
When working out natural lighting for the kitchen a good rule of thumb is no less than 10% of the kitchen floor area.
Tips For How To Design A Kitchen Where You'll Love To Cook
Natural ventilation should be provided by windows, doors or other devices that can be opened and closed. Allow for a minimum of 5% of the total floor area.Part 1 of the kitchen design series looked at how to develop the brief for your kitchen design, including the type of questions you need to be asking the client. We also looked at different layouts, along with the work triangle.
In Part 2 we will look at standard kitchen sizes, along with some really useful and important rules of thumb that will help you design a practical and functional kitchen.
Kitchens units, appliances and worktops come in standard sizes. These sizes allow for consistency throughout the industry and are a very economical options compared to the requirement of bespoke units at random measurements.
Commercial Kitchen Design Rules
The following table shows coordinated dimensions for kitchen units. The height of worktops should be adapted to suit the height of the user and can vary between 850mm – 950mm – generally speaking 900mm is most common.
There are some fundamental design principles when it comes to planning your kitchen that should be considered. These rules of thumb should help you avoid potential awkward spaces, and poor functionality.
Ensure there
0 comments:
Post a Comment