The kitchen is arguably the most important room in any given house, next to perhaps the bathrooms. And, most important to the kitchen, the kitchen’s appliances and their arrangement can make or break the kitchen’s functionality and, consequently, the overall desirability of the house. Before you remodel or build a kitchen where there was none previously, you must have a clear idea of how the kitchen will function when finished.
When it comes to individual appliances, a whole range of choices are available and are mainly dictated by the users needs. However, there are some common sense considerations to think about regarding the building itself before you go shopping for the appliances. There must be sufficient space to fit the desired appliances. The floor must be able to handle the stress of a heavy fridge or oven. The space must be equipped with suitable connections, such as a gas line or sufficient electrical outlet for the stove and plumbing for the sink and dishwasher. It is a good idea to draw up several plans for the available space and weigh the options carefully before any down payments are made.
While any kitchen’s set-up is inextricably linked to the overall layout of the building, there are some basic layout rules that even professional kitchens use to maximize the functionality of the space. These rules are based around the refrigerator, the stove and the sink/dishwasher. Since they are probably used everyday and perform a wide variety of functions, these are regarded as a kitchen’s workhorse appliances.
The kitchen should be divided into three zones: the wet zone for the sink/dishwasher and the dinnerware storage cupboards, the dry zone for the fridge, food storage cupboards and the food preparation area, and the hot zone for the stove and often the storage of pots and pans.
In addition to the three zones, there are three standard arrangements. First, the one way set-up is a basic single counter with the workhorse appliances arranged in single straight row. Next, the galley set-up is a pair of parallel counters with two workhorse appliances on one side and one appliance on the other side. Lastly, the u-shaped kitchen has counters with one appliance on each side of the room.
It is best if no appliance is more than nine feet from any other appliance. Remember, fewer steps between the kitchen’s zones means less daily work involved in simple tasks. For instance, ample working space, between twenty and thirty inches on either side, is needed around the sink area. Also, the sink should not be more than a few steps from the dinnerware cupboards.
Some final considerations are ventilation for the stove, built in cutting boards and counter space for smaller appliances such as toasters.
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