renovating, building new kitchen..

Currently again, I am working on few kitchen projects and many questions come while working with clients and spaces… It doesn’t matter if you are moving into an existing kitchen, remodelling the one you have or building a new one, understanding a few key measurements and organizational guidelines can help your culinary life run more smoothly. 

Kitchens provide storage for your food and cookware, provide a place where you can cook and bake. When it’s thoughtfully arranged, these functions operate logically, making work in your kitchen a better experience. Here’s few tips for an ideal setup.

Ideally:

1.refrigeration and dry-goods storage should be located nearest to the kitchen’s entry point.

2.the cooking area should be located toward the dining spaces, and the sink is best positioned between those two functions. This creates what’s called a work triangle.

The best work triangle is less than 21 linear feet (6.4 meters). Work triangles that exceed 26 feet (7.9 meters) make moving from one function to another inefficient in most cases.

Preparation. Ideally, prep and cleaning space is best located around the sink. Within these areas will be everyday glasses and dishes, along with trash receptacles and the dishwasher. Allow 18 to 36 inches (45 to 92 cm) of countertop space on one or both sides of your sink.
Preparation areas are best kept clear of other items, since you will always be taking out bowls, plates and utensils there. Allow at least 36 inches (92 centimetres) of uncluttered countertop space for preparation in a small kitchen. Larger kitchens will have much more. This is one reason that islands are so popular. They provide broad and well-lit surfaces on which to perform the majority of kitchen tasks.

Cooking. The cooking centres should be arranged around the range, cooktop and wall ovens. Place pots, frying pans and baking sheets in the vicinity around your burners and ovens. It is a good idea to place small appliances such as toasters and coffeemakers in this area also, as it will leave your preparation areas unobstructed.

Allow 21 to 36 inches (53 to 92 centimetres) of countertop on either side of your cooktop. If possible, place wall ovens with a free countertop immediately next to them so that you can set down hot food immediately. Place seasonings, breadboards and potholders in nearby drawers and cupboards.

Recommended Dimensions of Kitchen Elements

The dimensions of all the pieces in your kitchen are important to get right to make the best use of your space. A common refrigerator width is slightly less than 36 inches (92 centimetres). The problem is often the depth. In recent years some manufacturers have designed them to be much deeper than a 24-inch (61-centimeter) base cabinet. You can still buy shallower freestanding refrigerators, but you have to pay close attention to the dimensions listed in its specifications to be certain. The other option is built-in configurations, but they are significantly more expensive. 

Look for a depth of 30 inches (76 centimetres) or less, excluding handles, unless you can design your kitchen space to accept a deeper unit. Another thing to consider is the swing of the refrigerator door. Always examine the swing direction to see if it will meet an obstruction.

Here you can see how the height of the cabinets plays an important part in the configuration. Upper cabinets are normally positioned at 18 inches (46 cm) above the countertop and are 30 to 42 inches (76 to 107 cm) in height. Consider that your average maximum reach over and into an upper cabinet is 70 to 80 inches (178 to 203 cm) above the floor. Cabinets set at above 7 feet will likely need to be accessed with a step ladder. Cabinets above 8 feet are not practical for the majority of people; however, they may serve as storage for seasonal or decorative items, to be reached with step stools and ladders. 

The standard dimensions for base cabinets are 24 inches (61 centimetres) deep and 36 inches (92 cm) high. In general people are getting taller, so some homeowners are bumping up the counter height to 38 inches (97 cm).

Another important dimension to consider is the distance between cabinets. Entry points can be as little as 36 inches (92 cm) when there is a cabinet on only one side. Stay at least 42 inches (107 cm) from the face of a cabinet to the one on the other side; 48 inches (122 cm) is even better, but going beyond 60 inches (152 cm) is too wide in most cases. However, if it is a U-shaped kitchen, you could get away with up to 96 inches (244 cm).

And the most important thing – after the selections are made, the contract is signed, and you’re ready to start your construction project. 

Not so fast! Before work begins, make sure you and your contractor and designer are on the same page about how things will go. This often takes the form of a pre-construction meeting, which may be most useful when held at your home and at least one week ahead of construction — particularly if you have furniture or other belongings to move. 

For more home tips and advice visit www.reDecor.me