Residential Real EstateStaying in Shape: Creating the Ideal Kitchen Layout
You"ve taken the plunge ... you"ve decided to build the home of your
dreams. You"re about to embark on some serious lifestyle analysis and
soul-searching. What kind of floor plan works best for you and your family?
Chances are good that the kitchen is likely to be among the central areas
of activity in your new home. It might even resemble Grand Central. Think
about it: It"s the first place you stumble into in the morning, and one of
the last places you go at night. You might be someone who spends evenings
and weekend afternoons at your "second office" -- the kitchen table, with
your laptop computer and a stack of paperwork spread out in front of you.
You spend hours chattering on the kitchen phone, in a quiet spot away from
the dog, the kids and TV. You might entertain friends in the kitchen, and
whether you want them beside you while you"re cooking or not, we all know
that guests always migrate into the kitchen eventually.
Does your idea of a home-cooked meal mean that you empty the TV dinner onto
a dinner plate before you eat it? Before you build yourself a smaller
kitchen to make room for a larger family room -- or before you rent
yourself an apartment or purchase a condo with a galley kitchen and a
dishwasher small enough to be confused with a trash compactor, remember
that it might be safer to err on the side of oversized. When it comes to
kitchen space, it"s much easier to live with too much than too little.
Before buying a new home or creating a floor plan for a home you"ll be
building yourself, you"ll want to consider a few things first. If you"re
designing blueprints, ask yourself if the entrances and exits make sense.
Remember that regardless of how often you cook, your kitchen is still
likely to be a high-traffic area. Does the only passageway through the
kitchen run straight through the narrow spot where you"ll be opening the
oven door? That"s a hazard for any family, but especially families with
small children. If your refrigerator sits in a similar position, the layout
is just likely to cause occasional frustrations, as family members have to
shut the door in exasperation as others pass through the area.
Also for those who are building, where are your windows positioned? Are
they going to provide you with adequate light? Cross-ventilation? Any
ventilation? Privacy? Have you ever thought about a window seat, a garden
window or bay window? If you"re designing blueprints, your imagination is
your limit, although your budget might give you a reality check. Comparison
shop to see if your dreams can come true on your budget. Asking neighbors
and friends for references might lead to a bargain. (Make sure that quality
construction comes with that good price, however.)
As we"ve mentioned in previous articles, you"ll want to give a lot of
consideration to the layout of your kitchen in relation to the family room,
if you plan to have one. Do you want the two rooms open to each other, in
order to encourage family interaction and provide the cook with the ability
to watch TV or keep an eye on the kids during meal preparation? Or would
you like a quiet spot to yourself, and reserve a separate family room for
the activity?
Do you prefer a more informal kitchen? If so, you"ll want to design a
layout in which the eating area and preparation area are either in the same
room or open to each other. That allows for easy interaction and food
transport. This is a good set-up for families. If you"re seeking something
more formal, or if you entertain frequently, you"ll want your eating area
to be located in an area closed off from the kitchen. This is an ideal
layout for entertaining because it allows you to do the preparation alone
(although guests will always sneak a peek out of curiosity) and keep the
mess out of sight. A butler"s pantry is always an excellent feature, as it
allows you a spot between your kitchen and eating area in which to place
casserole dishes, extra napkins and flatware, drinks, etc., for those who
wish to come back for more.
While custom-designed kitchens come in all shapes and sizes, the majority
of kitchens found in existing homes, condos and apartments are in the
following shapes:
*L-shaped: Homebuyers and homebuilders alike choose the L-shaped kitchen
more often than any other. A large area isn"t required to construct an
L-shaped kitchen; and yet, it"s roomier and more functional than some other
kitchen varieties. Depending on how much space you"ve got, an island might
be included in the layout.
*U-shaped: This is an ideal layout because you"re provided with maximum
countertop space. In response to the fact that many apartment-dwellers view
their apartments as long-term or even permanent homes these days, many new
and/or luxury apartments are designing U-shaped kitchens these days. Even
if you don"t cook often, you"ve got plenty of room for decorative items,
appliances, even books. It"s very easy for cooks to move around the
kitchen; you"ll have full access to all of your appliances -- fridge,
stove, oven, microwave and sink -- without having to resort to creative
measures. Some U-shaped kitchens have countertops at which bar stools may
be placed, offering cook-guest interaction during meal prep. One risk is
inherent in the U-shaped layout, however: "cook collision." You know what
they say about too many cooks in the kitchen? If you"ve got too many in a
U-shaped kitchen, and two cooks back into each other, you"ll have a fine
mess ... and perhaps an innovative combination of ingredients.
*Galley: Very popular in small apartments and studios, and still present in
many single-family homes as well, gallies are space-efficient yet
challenging when more than one person sets foot inside them. The plus side
of a galley kitchen is that everything is close to you. There"s minimal
risk of spillage as you carry something from oven to counter, for example.
The down sides are more numerous. You often run out of space for your
belongings, even if you live alone and don"t own many dishes, bowls and
appliances. If you don"t have a floor-to-ceiling pantry, you"ll be
particularly space-deprived because you"ll eat up valuable cabinet space
for the storage of your canned goods and other perishables. If you decide
to entertain, cooking can be a challenge. Unfortunately, there won"t be
much if any room for anyone to assist you in the kitchen. Decisions as
simple as where to put your trash can be perplexing. A trash bucket may
have to be placed in front of your dishwasher or refrigerator and then
moved whenever those appliances need to be opened. One thing"s for sure:
Galley kitchens inspire creativity.
*Single wall: This is a popular layout in studios or loft apartments. By
aligning your entire work space along the length of one wall, you"re
reducing the amount of space consumed by your kitchen and allowing yourself
more room for your living areas. The addition of an island is ideal for
maximum work space.
*Open concept: This is a popular choice among new-home builders and some
luxury condos and apartment communities. The kitchen, living or family room
and dining areas are essentially one large room with no walls. You might
find a countertop for barstools or an island that creates some division
between kitchen and living area; but the division is minimal and still
allows for interaction between the two areas. This layout also creates the
illusion of a larger home. High ceilings can add to that effect. Advantaged
of the open concept layout include ease of interaction with family and
friends in your living and dining areas; easy transport of food from
kitchen to dining and/or living areas; and visibility of TV and fireplace
from the kitchen.
If you"re designing the blueprints to your dream kitchen, go ahead and
sketch in your furniture, as well. Planning ahead can prevent scenarios
like pulling your chair back from the table to discover that you"re
blocking the main passageway, the door to the backyard, the refrigerator or
else. Allow yourself the flexibility of changing your furniture arrangement
around at will. After all, tastes change, but layouts don"t.
Related Articles:
Designing Your Kitchen
Are You Running a Marathon in Your Own Kitchen?