When it comes to kitchen design, the L-shaped kitchen is often the most popular choice among consumers. This design features two adjoining walls that extend perpendicular to each other, creating a workspace that is both open and functional. It's a great option for kitchens of almost any size, and it works especially well when there are two cooks in the kitchen. The work triangle was first developed in the 1920s as a way to measure efficiency in residential kitchens.
This triangle creates a clear path between the food preparation area (stove), the cleaning area (kitchen sink) and the food storage area (refrigerator). The one-wall kitchen is a great option for smaller kitchens, as it consists of cabinets installed against a single wall. This design can be further optimized with upper and lower cabinets or shelves above the base cabinets, creating a clean aesthetic. The galley kitchen is another popular choice for small and large kitchens alike.
This type of design consists of two rows of cabinets facing each other, creating an interior passage or kitchen between them. By eliminating the need for corner cabinets, this type of design uses every millimeter of space without wasting. It also requires fewer special devices, making it a cost-effective option. The U-shaped kitchen is an excellent layout for larger kitchens, as it consists of cabinets along three adjacent walls.
This type of design provides plenty of storage space, but may appear closed if there are upper cabinets on all three walls. To avoid this, choose upper cabinets along just one or two walls, with open shelves, focal tiles, or an exhaust hood on the other. The U-shaped kitchen allows for a large workflow and multiple users at the same time. The kitchen with an island is a popular choice in open-plan homes.
This design offers a large work surface or storage area in the center of the kitchen. The island can incorporate a cooking surface, a preparation bowl and a wine bar or fridge. It can also be simply used as a preparation area or to enjoy family meals. The peninsula is related to the island's kitchen and incorporates a kitchen countertop that protrudes from a wall or cabinets.
This is a great solution that offers the benefits of a kitchen island where space does not allow for one to be installed. An L shape is one of the most common designs for kitchens as it requires less space and offers more flexibility in the placement of workstations. This plan works well when the kitchen is adjacent to an informal room, such as a family room or an eating area. One advantage of an L-shaped kitchen floor plan is the ability to center a table in space, which places family members close to where meals are prepared and draws guests closer to the cook when entertaining. This open area can also be filled with a kitchen cart to expand storage and preparation space. The sink and dishwasher are usually located along one wall with the refrigerator and stove, creating a large working triangle.
Islands usually work best in an L-shaped kitchen floor plan with dimensions of at least 10 x 10 feet and open to another area. You can increase the functionality of your kitchen by equipping the island with a hob or sink. To create space for informal dining, equip the island with stools for seating. Small kitchens, such as this kitchen floor plan with dimensions of 8 x 10 feet, are often designed for a single cook. Intelligent space planning will help optimize functionality in a small space. For example, placing appliances along both sides keeps the working triangle open.
The stone countertops in this galley-style kitchen are perfect for working or serving food, and light-colored cabinets help make the space feel bright. The most efficient kitchen designs are U-shaped and island kitchens. These designs provide ample countertop space for cooking and preparing, and allow for smooth movement throughout the room. A working kitchen island can include appliances and cabinets for storage, and it always adds an extra work surface to the kitchen. First, let's give a brief summary of kitchen ergonomics, which forms the basis of great kitchen design. O'Hanlon Kitchens offers thoughtful design that maximizes efficiency without sacrificing style.
Think beyond the basic work triangle; kitchens come in all shapes from space-saving designs to U-shaped or L-shaped wrap-around cookers for curved, pentagonal, wedge-shaped or completely out-of-the-box spaces. A peninsular kitchen is basically a connected island which turns an L-shaped design into a horseshoe or turns a horseshoe kitchen into a G-shaped design. Kitchen kitchens often have the problem of feeling “bottled up” because there's only one way in.
