How To Build Kitchen Cabinets: Kitchen Planning

Even if you think you already know exactly what you want, don’t hesitate to consider new kitchen design ideas. Visit kitchen design showrooms and home improvement stores.

 THE WORK TRIANGLE, UPDATED

A classic kitchen design principle states that the cooking surface, the sink, and the refrigerator should be arranged at the ends of an imaginary triangle, so that all three features are within easy reach of each other—but not too close together. Added together, the three sides of the triangle should total no more than 26 ft. and each leg of the triangle should be between 4 ft. and 9 ft. long. The area inside the triangle should, ideally, not overlap with a major traffic area; people should be able to travel through the kitchen via another route. The triangle is definitely a good idea. However, things often get complicated. For example, most kitchens today have a dishwasher (which often gets used more than the sink) and a microwave oven (which may get used dozens of times per day). Also, a classic triangle is easy to achieve if your kitchen is U-shaped or if it has an island. But many kitchen spaces will not allow to you to form a perfect triangle. So use the triangle as a starting point but then think things through: 

• Are you designing primarily for one cook or will there often be two or more cooks? If the latter, make sure each has his or her own work.surface as well as access to the refrigerator and cooktop without bumping into the other cooks too often. 
• If kids are around, they will likely want to get at the refrigerator and the microwave several times a day. You may want to position those appliances so snackers will not interfere with the cook.
• If traffic often flows through the kitchen—say, to a much-used back door—try to provide a path-way that doesn’t run through the food-prep area. 
• Avoid bottlenecks whenever possible. For instance, if there is a single 3-ft.-wide doorway leading from the dining room to the kitchen, it may be worth the effort and expense to open the wall up and provide wider access. 
• Will the kitchen be used for other purposes besides meal prep? For instance, will it be a spot for eating informal meals, possibly in a breakfast nook or at a cantilevered counter with stools? The kitchen may also function as a place for hanging coats and taking off boots if there isn’t

This kitchen incorporates the refrigerator, sink, microwave, 

dishwasher, and range into a space that is fairly compact without 

feeling too tight.

In a long, narrow kitchen with a door at the end, a triangle is simply 

not possible. Still, the refrigerator, dishwasher, sink, range, and micro-

wave are positioned so that the longest distance (between the fridge 

and the microwave) is not too much of a schlep.

TIPS:

Many people prefer to place the sink at a window, because it makes dishwashing a bit more pleasant and, well, it’s just traditional. However, there are other considerations: If you have a dishwasher, you will probably spend more time working on a countertop or a cooktop than at the sink. If your current plumbing is far from the window, moving it could be expensive. And if a sink at the window causes you to have your back to the rest of the house, you may prefer a different location.

Share this post