Do You Need a Work Triangle?
"The work triangle is important, but it isn't the only solution," says interior designer Alison Glen. Traditionally, kitchen layouts revolve around a basic connection between the refrigerator, stove and sink. While this shape keeps everything within arm's reach while you're cooking, sticking to it too strictly can actually make a kitchen's design more complicated.
More about the kitchen work triangle
by Melton Design Build "The work triangle is important, but it isn't the only solution," says interior designer Alison Glen. Traditionally, kitchen layouts revolve around a basic connection between the refrigerator, stove and sink. While this shape keeps everything within arm's reach while you're cooking, sticking to it too strictly can actually make a kitchen's design more complicated.
More about the kitchen work triangle
"The kitchen work triangle doesn't have to be a triangle," says architect Hiromi Ogawa. "I think it's called a triangle so that people understand that those three pieces work together. But the most important thing is workflow, and this can be different depending on the space and the owner's needs."
Above all else, make sure the route between your three work centers — prep, cooking and cleanup — stays clear and direct. "It's OK to spread them out, but just make sure the cook doesn't have to go around the island to get from one spot to another," says architect Heather McKinney.
For larger kitchens, these work centers can be divided into different zones with their own individual work triangles. A prep sink might be located next to the refrigerator, while the microwave and cleanup zone might be closer to the main sink.
by Polhemus Savery DaSilva Above all else, make sure the route between your three work centers — prep, cooking and cleanup — stays clear and direct. "It's OK to spread them out, but just make sure the cook doesn't have to go around the island to get from one spot to another," says architect Heather McKinney.
For larger kitchens, these work centers can be divided into different zones with their own individual work triangles. A prep sink might be located next to the refrigerator, while the microwave and cleanup zone might be closer to the main sink.
Some less frequently used appliances might be better off placed away from the main kitchen work zone. Wall ovens can be set remotely if the cooktop is central. Make sure you zone the kitchen for cooking and for socializing. "If you can keep circulation from crisscrossing the chef's work zone, it really helps to keep the kitchen feeling and functioning more efficiently," says McKinney.
by Divine Kitchens LLC
Picking Appliance Sizes
"It's important not to get too hung up on the appliances or the cabinets," says Ogawa. "Let them inform the other." Sometimes a large appliance can compromise storage or counter space. If you have to compromise on something because of an appliance, ask yourself if the appliance — no matter how much you love it — really needs to be that big.
by Village Architects AIA, Inc.
"It's important not to get too hung up on the appliances or the cabinets," says Ogawa. "Let them inform the other." Sometimes a large appliance can compromise storage or counter space. If you have to compromise on something because of an appliance, ask yourself if the appliance — no matter how much you love it — really needs to be that big.
While 30-inch ovens are standard in the United States, ovens run closer to 24 inches throughout most of Europe. Architect Amy Alper suggests looking into an oven between between the two sizes — around 27 inches wide — if you're running low on space. These smaller ovens heat quickly and are very economical.
by Sweet as a Candy
Glen advises keeping your appliances in proportion with one another. A 48-inch refrigerator might end up overwhelming a 30-inch range. Having a massive refrigerator that sticks out beyond your counters won't just interrupt your traffic space; it's unsightly too.
Alper also suggests looking into undercounter appliances. While they're often more expensive because they need to be built in, they help minimize counter clutter and can be easily accessed. Countertops often work well for appliances not used every day and that can be stored away most of the time.
by Knight Architects LLC Alper also suggests looking into undercounter appliances. While they're often more expensive because they need to be built in, they help minimize counter clutter and can be easily accessed. Countertops often work well for appliances not used every day and that can be stored away most of the time.
Small Kitchens
Appliances can be tricky in kitchens with limited square footage. While a smaller kitchen may have a more straightforward work triangle, sometimes it just won't work with the layout. Even so, a smaller area also makes it easy to keep everything close at hand.
by Jeanne Finnerty Appliances can be tricky in kitchens with limited square footage. While a smaller kitchen may have a more straightforward work triangle, sometimes it just won't work with the layout. Even so, a smaller area also makes it easy to keep everything close at hand.
"The style of kitchen and space available sometimes dictates what achieves the best space overall," says Glen. If you can't get an appliance triangle to work in a small kitchen, make sure your storage for food and tools is in an appropriate space — that can help with the workflow. Alper suggests a galley style as an alternative — having the sink, oven and fridge on one wall and the prep space opposite can work well in small kitchens.
by Tracery Interiors
Be honest about how much space you can devote to appliances. "I can think of almost no useful appliance that doesn't need 2 feet of depth," says McKinney. But also think carefully about what you truly need. A range and oven may provide a small kitchen with more counter space, but if you really need two wall ovens, stick with those instead. In the end, it's always about what works best for your home.
More:
Find the Right Oven Arrangement for Your Kitchen
Kitchen Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
by AHMANN LLC More:
Find the Right Oven Arrangement for Your Kitchen
Kitchen Workbook: How to Remodel Your Kitchen
Latest Ideabooks
People found the photos in this ideabook after searching for:
View over a million photos:
Find Local Pros by Category:
Architects & Designers · Carpet and Flooring · Closet & Home Storage Designers · Design-build Firms · Fireplaces · General Contractors · Home Media Design & Installation · Interior Designers & Decorators · Kitchen & Bath Designers · Landscape Architects & Designers · Landscape Contractors · Specialty Contractors · Tile, Stone & Countertops
Find Local Pros by Metro Area:
Atlanta · Austin · Baltimore · Boston · Chicago · Dallas · Dc Metro · Denver · Detroit · Hawaii · Houston · Las Vegas · Los Angeles · Miami · Minneapolis · Nashville · New Orleans · New York · Philadelphia · Phoenix · Portland · Salt Lake City · San Diego · San Francisco · Seattle · St Louis
Bring in groceries, set them down, put away cans, frozen, fridge and pantry items.
Get out dishes and set table.
Get food to prep zone, chop and mix, cook or bake, and serve to table.
Clear dishes, load dishwasher, empty dishwasher.
If one person is prep/cooking, can another empty the dishwasher? Can another get to the fridge and microwave to nuke a snack? Can another sit and chat? Are there safe places for toddlers or animals or elderly?
If the coffeepot draws traffic, where will it go?
And don't forget the trash/recycle needs a home.
My last house came with a "dream kitchen", including a SubZero fridge and Viking range. It also had a wall of windows, so all the cabinets were base cabinets. It featured a big island work surface with more storage underneath. I found I got very tired of crouching down to peer into drawers and shelves to find all my ingredients and put groceries away in those lower shelves. Getting out a glass or plate meant bending over every time to get them out of the drawers - I have a bad back and this really lost it's charm after a short time, though I loved the way the kitchen looked. The wall of windows was so bright that it was uncomfortable to work in the kitchen on sunny afternoons, herbs would wilt and butter would melt if left on the counter. The Viking range was fun to cook on but very difficult to clean - taking apart all those heavy cast iron pieces and giving them a scrub every few days was enough to discourage me from cooking. Plus, the igniter broke, as did the gauge in the oven. The fridge developed a leak that required several services and ruined the wood floors. It also was so big that I tended to forget things that were pushed to the back until I started to smell them :( . So from my experience, those professional appliances aren't all they are cracked up to be.
My current house has a much smaller kitchen, which meant I had to get smaller Euro appliances. Now I find it is so much more enjoyable to use than my big old kitchen. The 27 inch Bosch oven holds up to three 13x18 baking sheets, or a 20 lb turkey if needed. The 21-inch Gaggenau cooktop gets 10k BTU of fire power and can fit 4 pans cooking at once, plus all the parts are easy to wipe down, lift off and pop into the dishwasher. My counter depth fridge is only 17.4 cubic feet, but so far I haven't had any trouble fitting all my groceries in it. The food seems to keep at least as well as it ever did in the old SubZero, and I spend less than $2k for the fridge, instead of $8k for a SubZero.
To me the key to workable design is that there are 3 ft. counters on either side of both the cooktop and the sink, so there is always enough space to work. I also think it's essential to have an extra deep/wide sink to keep the dirty bowls and pans out of the way. I've prepared holiday dinners for 15 people, baked 144 brownies at a time for a bakesale, and made 48 jars of tomato sauce in one session so I would say it's sufficient for all of my cooking needs. I do have limited cabinet space, but this forced me to edit my supplies and kitchen tools down to the essentials, which is actually a simpler and more efficient system.
Hope this helps others considering all the options out in kitchen remodel land. Really think about the comfort of how you will use the space. Take your time in planning, and I would recommend hiring a real professional kitchen designer - money well spent.
A tad off topic but still focusing on appliance placement, can some one tell me why Manufacturers as of late insist on putting such unsightly large protruding handles on their appliances that IMHO only add to the dilemma of laying out a small functional workspace. Hopefully that doesn't sound petty but I just do not see the purpose of and/or for them.
DO NOT create kitchen purgatory where all the family activities are happening in another room and you are shut up in the kitchen box. That will sap away your love of cooking.
If your kids are at the age to be involved in after school activities you need a warming drawer, so that meals can be held. Can your children be nearby working on homework without being under foot.
Coats, book bags and sports bags end up in the kitchen, do you have a tidy drop zone? Do you have space for a snack area?
If you entertain, your guest will often follow you to the kitchen and stay. Can you create a space where they can "keep you company" and you can still work unobstructed. Can you keep the messiness of cooking/serving/cleanup under control without having to completely clean up the kitchen. I don't want to do the dishes right after dinner I want to visit. the dishes can wait, but not if everyone is looking at them.
What kind of food do you want to make? If you don't really like to cook, don't build a designer kitchen, spend that money else where. Good quality stock cabinets with some trim upgrades, great looking hardware, good counter tops and nice, but not chef quality appliances will create an great kitchen for thousands less.
Go look at your friends' kitchens and ask them what they did right and what they did wrong. It is very interesting to hear about what a pain in the neck some really cool feature is, and why they wouldn't buy it next time. You will also hear about some suggestion they almost didn't take which has turned out to be the best.
Ask people who are 5 and 10 years ahead of you what matters to them now, toddlers are only toddlers for a few years, don't let your design get to stuck in what is happening now, good kitchen design should last for years.
Mercifully, I no longer live in that home. I am NOT happy with large kitchens. I personally wish I had an alley kitchen. I loved that when I lived in an apartment, and that was the best kitchen I have ever had. The sink was relatively close to the stove (perfect for someone who cooks a lot of Italian, boiling noodles requires a lot of water) and the fridge was too.
I could look over the sink to the next room and chat when I was facing the stove. It was perfect.
Of course, that's perfect for me. Even the house I am buying doesn't have that. Oh well... (rant subsided).
Another trick is put cabinet doors over some of the appliances and use handles that match the rest of your kitchen hardware.