We’ve discussed more about how to compose kitchen areas. You can read about it in our materials. This time, we want to introduce you to the choice of kitchen shape, which has a huge impact on both the overall look of the kitchen and the space of the whole house. Since everyone’s home is unique, just like our needs, we will try to present as many options as possible to help you choose the most practical and attractive one. The kitchen can be arranged as follows:
- L-shaped kitchen
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U-shaped kitchen
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Parallel furniture
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Kitchen with peninsula or bar
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Right
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Kitchen “Sala”
However, it is difficult to define all kitchens in only six different forms. Most of them can be composed and varied. For example, an L-shaped kitchen goes well with an island, or an L-shaped kitchen with an extra row of furniture. In smaller homes, a single-row kitchen is the most common choice: a cooking alcove, a cleaning area and a cooking area. However, even in the smallest of rooms, the most important furniture and appliances can be arranged in a way that makes everything fit comfortably. Smaller hobs and dishwashers are now available.
However, if you have any questions about the kitchen, it is best to contact a professional who can help you design the right shape. This is usually determined by:
- specific user requirements,
- kitchen drawing,
- room size,
- and indoor wiring.
For larger families, it’s very convenient to add a utility room next to the kitchen, which is perfect for household chores, mainly laundry and clothes.
Areas inside the kitchen
The kitchen is divided into zones according to function. These are:
- storage space (for food, crockery, smaller appliances),
- workstation (for cooking, placing items/food),
- cooking and baking area (with steam trap),
- Cleaning area (water tap, sink, dishwasher),
- a place to have a snack or meal,
- space or room for household chores (it is very convenient to have a small room or space next to the kitchen for household chores. Here you can store cleaning products and appliances, long-life food products that can be stored, etc.)
Furnishing area
When planning the kitchen, you need to take into account not only the total area, but also the walls, such as whether they can be used for hanging cupboards or other elements, and the windows and radiators, which need to be given some space to save space and to be able to make the kitchen more intelligent in terms of design. To make cooking and preparation in the kitchen enjoyable, you need to take into account the design of the circulation space. Because when planning kitchen furniture and appliances, not only the overall layout of the room, but also the wall planes, the location of doors and the important angle of opening, and window sills. Thus, all the installation possibilities depend on the height of the furnishing plane.
Of course, the number of inhabitants in the house must be taken into account when furnishing the kitchen. So it’s very much a matter of how many people will be using the kitchen, one layout applies to a large or growing family, whereas we would recommend a different layout for a single person living in the house. Therefore, in any such case, the kitchen specialist will need to compare the existing length of the furnishing plane with the area required for the planned furniture and appliances. They will then be able to indicate in the detailed plan whether the client’s wishes can be realised and, if necessary, how they can be adjusted or whether they can be offered their own options.
Space for movement
The movement area between furniture and walls must be such that the kitchen equipment can be used without hindrance, without having to bend or feel squeezed. In our experience, a minimum distance of 120 cm between two rows of kitchen furniture or appliances should be ensured. If we calculate that the depth of the two rows of furniture is 60 cm, the minimum width of the room is about 240 cm.
Installation queue
All the kitchen essentials are otherwise known as the “installation row” and are usually located on the longest wall of the kitchen. The sink and dishwasher need a water connection, drain pipes, electricity or gas connection, and ventilation is needed for the hob and oven. So all these essential elements have been given the name “plumbing row”. In order to optimise the organisation of the work process in the kitchen, the following sequential left-to-right layout is proposed for right-handers in this area:
- stacking area,
- sink,
- countertop,
- stove,
- storage space for items/food.
But for left-handed people, it is proposed to reverse the layout – from right to left. This way, you won’t have to move things from hand to hand, you won’t have to move your arms and legs unnecessarily, and it will be a pleasure to rotate around the kitchen!
To help you calculate how much space will be needed for the “installation queue”, here are some simple calculations.
- Dishstanding area = 60 cm wide (countertop or area near the sink for draining water from dishes). A washing machine may be installed under the work area or part of a cupboard may be provided.
- Sink = 80-120 cm wide
This is the maximum area needed for a sink with two bowls. However, now that dishwashers have become an integral part of our daily routine, double sinks are no longer relevant. To save space, you can choose an area of 80 cm where you can freely fit a sink with 11/2 bowls, the smaller bowl being designed for waste. - Cooker = 60-100 cm wide
The width for a cooker depends on the type and configuration of the appliance. However, we are seeing an increasing popularity of half-cookers, with two cooking zones instead of four. Additional space should be provided above the cooker for ventilation equipment, but it should not obstruct the head. - Storage space for items/food = 30-60 cm wide
The minimum storage space for items must be 30 cm. However, it is known that a wider staging area has more advantages. Adding all the areas required for the sink and the cooker, the work area and the storage areas, the kitchen specialist’s plan provides a minimum of 270-290 cm for the ‘installation aisle’. If, for technical reasons, it is not possible to install everything in one continuous wall, this can be conveniently done at an angle. Sufficient electrical sockets shall be provided above the display area for small electrical appliances and above the worktop.
Place of storage of stocks
After the “installation queue”, the remaining furnishing area is used to install cupboards for crockery and food storage. Lower cabinets with worktops and hanging cabinets shall complement the furniture row to increase storage space. Specific cabinets, such as cabinets for a food processor or other appliances, or shelves for spices, shall be arranged in such a way as to allow unhindered access to them.
We’ve shared some essential rules for creating a comfortable and practical kitchen, and you’ll get professional and accurate advice from our kitchen specialists.
