|
PLAN
like a pro
Today's
typical kitchen has evolved into more than just
a place to cook and eat meals. Now the
nerve center and heart of the home, the kitchen
is home to active kids getting ready for school
or soccer and both parents preparing for work.
When the family gets together, they want a place
to relax and tell the happenings of the day and
the kitchen is that place. Plan like a pro
and transform your kitchen space into a place
that you and your family and friends will
cherish to gather in for years to come.
Determining
Your Needs
It's best to
ask yourself who is the primary cook? Is
it Mom or Dad or both, or has one of the
teenagers assumed the culinary position?
The more you know a bit ahead of time, the
better your plan will have a successful outcome.
|
BASIC LAYOUTS
Most kitchen
layouts fall into one of these categories:
The Galley, L-Shaped and the U-Shaped.
Each of these layouts have unique advantages and
features that can result in an efficient and
beautiful kitchen.
|
 |
Be Sure to list...
all of
the non-cooking activities that you would like
to have in your kitchen area. A mini
television or computer area, a desk area for
paying bills or doing homework? After
determining the list of activities, both cooking
and non-cooking, now you can determine how to
incorporate them.
Analyzing Your
Plan
When gazing
at your current kitchen, it may appear too small
to accommodate all the features and gadgets that
you so desire. Before moving walls or
building an addition, examine the layout to see
if the space can be rearranged within its
existing parameters.
Put your
ideas on paper, where you can move appliances
and cabinets easily. This will allow you
to see how your ideas work and gives you a head
start with a kitchen planner. You may want
to use graph paper and layout your kitchen in
this manner. It is best to use a scale of
1/2" to one foot.
Arrange your
area based upon the work area. The work
area is usually a triangle area between the
sink, refrigerator and the range or cooktop.
Try to keep household traffic to a minimum
through your work area or 'triangle". Once
you have a functional work area you can add in
your elements and features that you desire.
|
| |
The U-Shape
The
U-Shape kitchen solves an abundance of problems.
This layout cuts out unnecessary household
traffic through the kitchen. Also the
continuous counter surface could provide a
peninsula eating area. The U-Shape layout
provides ample space for more than one cook to
work comfortably.
|
|
Galley
Shape
The
Galley kitchen is the most comfortable as a one
cook kitchen. This is because the layout
reduces the distance between the work areas,
minimizing walking throughout the kitchen.
There should be at least 48 inches in corridor
width to allow passage when a cabinet door is
opened.
|
