Kitchen Design Essentials
In most homes, the kitchen is the center of activity where family members congregate and it is therefore one of the most important considerations when designing a home. In fact, many believe that kitchen design alone can make or break a successful home design. This may seem intimidating but by following a few important and essential rules, designing a successful kitchen becomes a snap.
Very often, we get carried away with all the fancy and useful appliances that we will use, forgetting that in order to use most of them, we will need to place dishes next to them at various heights. The lack of proper space for dishes can lead to disorganized activity which is the last thing we want in a kitchen. The right amount of clear counter space for dishes that can be set down next to appliances and cabinets is therefore the most important rule to follow.
The Triangle Rule comes next and this refers to the the work area related to the three core kitchen activity points-the cooking range or cooktop, the sink and the refrigerator. The distance from each point to the others should be between four and twelve feet with the total distance from the range to the sink to the refrigerator and back being not being less than twelve feet or more than twenty seven feet. This ensures that the cook takes the minimum number of steps required between the three corners of the triangle for cooking and cleaning which in turn ensures an efficient kitchen layout.
An easily ignored detail is the counter corners and edges which should always be rounded and not sharp. This minimizes the potential for painful jabs and pokes in a high traffic area where one may be carrying a pot full of scalding sauce!
Storage areas like shelves and lazy susans should be easily accessible near related appliances and work areas and lighting should be good over the sink, stove and other work areas.
Since the kitchen is a multi-activity area, one will often find oneself doing more than one thing at any given time. This is why it is extremely helpful to have appliance controls that are big, easy to reach, easy to handle and easy to read. Ideally, they will be easy to operate by touch alone, without having to be seen or read.
Finally, the kitchen workspace will involve a variety of small electrical appliances from toasters to grinders to mixers and therefore, we should make sure we have a few carefully placed electrical switches and outlets. Typically, these will be close to the work surfaces, either just above the counter on the walls or just below in front where they are easily accessible.
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