Kitchen Design Tips
Great kitchen design tips are usually simple ideas. There are a few things you should consider if you want a truly usable kitchen. Have you ever heard of a Work Triangle? Think about the shape of a triangle. All triangles have 3 lines that connect and create 3 points. Each of the three points represents a kitchen Work Zone, and each of the three lines represent the path that you would travel to get to these Work Zone. A typical kitchen has three critical Work Zones: the sink, the stove, and the refrigerator. It is critical to study your Work Triangle to determine the location of the three critical Work Zones.
The dishwasher is considered part of the sink Work Zone. Don’t let the details confuse you. It’s very important to consider the dishwasher placement, and there are essentially two positions to choose from: on the right of the sink or on the left of the sink. This is determined by which hand is your dominant one. An under the counter dishwasher can be a great addition to your kitchen, and they even come in stainless steel models.
Concerning the stove Work Zone it is critical that you have a proper ventilation system. This includes a hood with a fan that can move enough air to the outside of the house. The stove itself should have plenty of counter top space on either side of it. This is a good place to prep food, place prepped food and spices, and it gives you a place to put utensils and lids or other tools used while cooking. A hook bar over head for hanging frequently used pans is helpful and creates a pleasing display especially for those kitchens stocked with copper cookware.
The sink Work Zone typically has a window, since it is an ideal location to have a window over the sink. A dual sink is necessary for washing and rinsing. A third smaller sink can be beneficial for pouring out liquids without dirtying the dish water or the clean dishes waiting for rinsing. It is also a convenient feature to have a secondary single basin sink. This sink can be small and serve as a water server, a hand washing station, or fruit and vegetable prep station. If you have more than one person working in your kitchen at the same time then, you will definitely enjoy this added feature. Lastly, a good quality refrigerator can make any kitchen a more enjoyable place to work.