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Choosing the Layout
Home » Home Remodeling » Kitchen Remodeling » Choosing the LayoutA well designed, thorough plan is important in any kitchen project. Whether you design the kitchen yourself, work with a kitchen designer, or visit your local home center, putting together a plan is the first step. Storage, preparation and clean-up are the three basic kitchen functions to consider as you create the arrangement for an ideal kitchen.
Most kitchen designs have been based on three standard layouts: the U-shaped kitchen, the L-shaped kitchen and the galley kitchen. More recent research done by the National Kitchen and Bath Association recognized the changing use patterns in the kitchen. It found that most women now:
• Work outside the home
• Share the cooking
• Prepare very few foods from scratch
• Require storage space for 800 items
Based on this study designers now think in terms of multiple work centers in the kitchen to allow more than one person to work efficiently without getting in anyone else's way. Adding an island is one of the most common ways to add multiple work centers into a kitchen. It might block the clear paths of the classic work triangle, but an island creates 2-4 small work stations along its perimeter.
Before jumping into your kitchen remodeling project, measure your space and determine what layout works best for you. There are many magazines and books available that you can review at your local home center or book store for ideas.
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