Ever dream of that perfect kitchen?
Do you have design magazine kitchen photos piled on your desk?
Want to remodel?
If you answered yes to at least one of these questions, then let me help you along the way by offering some tips to get you started in the right direction.
My own personal opinion... The kitchen is the heart of the home. Just think for a moment, exactly how much time do you really spend in that room of your house each day? That answer might just make your head spin.
Ok, let's get started by looking at the Kitchen Triangle.
A Kitchen Triangle is an imaginary line that is drawn between the position of your sink, refrigerator, and stove.
This imaginary triangle should have as close to equal sides as possible. It has been proven to be the most efficient AND effective work traffic pattern within a kitchen. The proper kitchen work triangle can save you numerous steps and valuable time each day when preparing a meal.
Next, let's look at some of the Placements of the Appliances.
The correct placement of your appliances in your kitchen is a very important step in considering the layout of an efficient kitchen.
The Microwave
I prefer the installation of a microwave under the counter and not over the stove in combination with an exhaust vent. Your microwave holds very hot dishes and removing them over your head is not the safest method. There are so many beautifully designed under counter cabinets for microwaves and its best to be safe instead of sorry.
The Refrigerator
When installing a refrigerator, make sure that the door opens to the outside of the ‘work triangle”… AND notice if the door doesn’t fully open because it’s against a wall, restricting the use of your crisper or meat drawers inside. Did you know that most refrigerators have the option of opening left handed or right handed?
Speaking of that…..Something most people don’t take into consideration when laying out a kitchen floor plan is whether they’re left handed or right handed. You might think this isn’t an important factor but think about all the tasks you perform in a kitchen and whether you use your right hand or left hand to accomplish them.
Next time you are in your kitchen, think about what it would be like if some items were placed in opposite positions. How about the disposal side of the sink… how about frequently used one door cabinets that have a choice for which side the hinges are installed… even giving you enough work space or counter space to the left or right of your stove and sink can help the task go so much easier.
There are just a few ideas to get you started on thinking about the correct layout for your functional 'dream' kitchen floor plan. I promise I will give more ideas in furture posts... there are so many little helpful tips that are easily overlooked when it comes to the kitchen.
What does your dream kitchen look like?
I think I might pick Kitchen Number 9 below!
 |
| Kitchen Number 1 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 2 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 3 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 4 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 5 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 6 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 7 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 8 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 9 |
 |
| Kitchen Number 10 |
