Kitchen Design Layout
Sizing a Kitchen on a Step Saving Triangle.
To prepare two meals (breakfast and dinner) a family cook often walks 120 miles a year. As much as one third of this mileage may be waste motion, due to appliances placed for economy in construction. In an efficient kitchen, three " activity centers" or the refrigerator, the sink and the range lie within easy reach of the cook - and according to a study made at Cornell University, better placement of these activity centers can eliminate as much as 40 miles a year from the kitchen marathon.
There are Four Basic Kitchen Layouts.
The corridor kitchen.
The L kitchen.
The U kitchen.
The one - wall kitchen.
Two other variations of the above kitchen layouts are the Double L and the G.
The 3 activity centers make up 3 points called the "work triangle" (The refrigerator, the sink and the range).
Usually - The smaller the triangle the greater the efficiency.
In an efficient kitchen - the sides of the triangle add up to no more than 23 feet.
Also Consider: Each activity center must also have a minimum of counter area and storage volume. 48" between facing base cabinets or appliances. (There is Enough space to stand at an open cabinet, refrigerator, or oven while another person edges past)
Main Activity Center = The Sink = 40 to 46 % of all the kitchen work time.
18" of counter space is great on each side of the sink. If more space is available - add 6 - 8 " on one side for preparing food and stacking unwanted dishes, and 10 - 20 inches on the other for draining and stacking washed dishes. With a DW (Dish Washer) 24" of counter space will be provided next to a sink. For a sink near a counter-top corner (inset) allow at least 14" between a sink center line and the corner.
Ideally the sink is the Center of the work triangle. (4 to 6 feet of the range and 4 to 7 feet of the refrigerator)
Dishwasher - 12" from the sink. (Avoid right angles to the sink where you will have to move away from the sink every time you open the dish washer door)
Single bowl sink is adequate for kitchens with a dishwasher, use a double bowl model if you plan to wash and rinse dishes by hand. In a double sink, at least one of the two bowls should be large enough for a roasting pan (pan at least 20" long)
Kitchen Injuries
Where do most kitchen injuries occur? Passing from the kitchen to the dining area.
Avoid an arrangement where passing people are likely to brush against the range ( stove ), and never place a range under a window. (Grease - laden curtains blaze up easily)
Allow at least 15" of counter space beside the range for resting pots and setting out serving dishes or 24" if space allows. A range with less than 10" between burners must have at least 10" of counter space (Or 16" from the center of the burner) on each side , so that pot handles will not jut into the work area.
Wall Cabinets over the range should be at least 30" above the cook-top surface.
A Large Kitchen may want a separate oven and range. An oven is used the least of all kitchen appliances - and can lie outside the work triangle without a significant loss of efficiency (less than 10 % of the trips to and from the activity center). If a wall oven - the bottom of the wall oven should be 3" below elbow height (A level minimizing the chance of burning an arm on an oven rack and is comfortable for turning or basting food)
Refrigerator Location - End of counter where it will not cut counter space. Hinge the refrigerator away from the counter where the open door will not block work space. To allow heat from the condenser coils at the back of the refrigerator - allow at least 3 " between the top of the unit and any overhanging cabinets and 1 - 2" between the side and an adjoining wall or broom closet.
Island or Peninsula Cabinet may hold any of the three activity centers, yet islands are seldom practical in an average kitchen because they need at least 5 feet of floor space on one of their long sides and three feet along their short side. Even though you have adequate space for an island, avoid using it for the range or the main sink: Both centers need more counter space than most island installations permit.
With limited space - activity centers may share counter space. (When doing this try to add 1 foot to minimum counter-top space) Also at some point (usually between the refrigerator and sink) try to keep at lest 36" of counter space for a mixing and food-preparation center.
A large kitchen permits more variations, but has one limitation: Try not to exceed the maximum recommended dimensions. Extra counter space means extra steps between the work centers- and extra work for the cook.
Making a Dangerous Room Safer
According to the National Safety Council many serious accidents take place in the kitchen. The placement of appliances and the arrangements of the work spaces reduce or eliminate many hazards, yet designers and safety experts also recommend safety measures for specific danger points.
* Kitchen Range - Controls at the front or sides , not at the back of the burners.
* Hang an ABC dry chemical fire extinguisher that is especially designed for grease fires. Locate it within easy reach of the range - but be careful: Do not hang it directly above the cook top , where you might have to reach through a fire's flames to get at it.
* Locate hanging or wall mounted light fixtures at least 6 feet 8" above the floor unless they hang over an island, a base cabinet, or a table.
* Install a feed-through-type receptacle ground-fault interrupter to protect receptacles at or near a sink. (GFI is intended only for ordinary 120-volt circuits)
· · Isolate the storage areas of dangerous tools and chemicals. Store your sharp knives and choppers separately from other utensils, and store cleaning products separately from food.
4 Kitchen Zones:
- Food Prep - Cooking - Baking - Cleaning
Food Prep
In the food prep zone you slice and dice. If your kitchen is spacious enough to accommodate an island, the food prep zone would be well placed there. It’s helpful to include a second sink for rinsing fruits and vegetables, as well as a refrigerator drawer for milk and eggs if your main refrigerator isn’t easily accessible.
Include:
· · Butcher block pullout (if you aren’t working on a butcher block surface)
· · Drawer for knives
· · Pullouts for mixing, measuring and serving items
· · Pullout trash center
BAKING Zone
The area built for fun, the baking zone is where cookies, breads, and casseroles come to life. Aside from the appropriate countertop space and material (marble slabs work best for rolling dough), you’ll need to keep a number of supplies within easy reach. Include:
· · Apothecary drawers for storing small items like cookie cutters
· · Bins for flour and sugar
· · Tray divider rollout for baking sheets and pizza pans
· · Pull down cookbook rack
· · Drawers for rolling pins, measuring cups, and teaspoons
· · Easy-to-reach cabinet space for heavy casserole dishes and mixing bowls
· · Storage for oven mitts, pot holders, and trivets
· · Divided utensil storage for spatulas and wooden spoons
· · Pop-up stand for your mixer
Cooking
Always a hot place to be, the cooking zone is where fire enters the picture. Centered around the range or cook top, this is the spot where stir-frys, spaghetti, and sauces sizzle. You may want to keep your microwave and toaster oven here as well. Include:
· · Deep drawers for pans
· · Shallower drawer for pot lids
· · Spice drawer (or cleverly hidden racks in pull out corbels that flank the cook top)
· · Microwave cabinet for concealing and saving countertop space
· · Utensil drawer for spatulas and spoons
Cleaning
By your sink and dishwasher, the cleaning area is the home of water and washing. Be sure to keep “water dependent products” like your coffeemaker and salad spinner nearby. You’ll also be emptying the last bits of lasagna and soup into containers here, so keep storage supplies nearby. Include space for an adequate number of cleaning and drying supplies, as well as a convenient way to store clean dishware. Include:
· · Pullout rack to neatly tuck dishtowels
· · Plate rack for storing daily or occasional dinnerware
· · Under sink pullout for dishwashing detergent and cleaner
· · Tilt out sink tray for sponges and scrubber
· · Foil box rack or drawer for aluminum foil, paper, and plastic wrap storage
· · Pullout drawer for Tupperware, divided for lids and containers
Don’t forget about the “dining zone.” Though there’s a lot more flexibility involved with designing your eating area, consider adding easily accessible storage for tablecloths, placemats, napkins, or infrequently used china.
This information was edited from original source www.kitchens.com
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