Dirty 30
October 25, 2010
Kitchen design has a huge impact on the proper function of the homes Architrix designs. Depending on lifestyle, family composition and the space plan of your home, a person can very easily spend the majority of their time in the kitchen; meal prep, eating, clean-up, homework/work, etc. Here are 31 rules of thumb for effective kitchen design:According to this article: http://bit.ly/ciZzH6 people can spend up to 4 years over the span of their lives in this room alone.
Let’s break these fundamental rules down to the basics for quick and easy implementation:
Triangles + Landing
The preparation + work area/s between the three main appliances (fridge, stove, sink) form the work triangle. The distance between the three, shall have a cumulative length of no less than 12 ft. and no more than 26 ft. per triangle (work space). The sink is the motherboard, keep it between the other two main appliance. If there are two cooks consider the proximity to each triangle and ensure no overlap. The minimum working area for two people to stand back to back is 48″.
Tools of the Trade
Appliances can be extensive when including the plethora of hand-held small appliances that most of us have. Take a moment to count how many small appliances you have and then consider the storage capacity required for these alone. I have eleven and counting… Be sure to plan smart storage space for those items.
For the major appliances, I recommend following the manufacturer’s guidelines for design + installation guidelines for heights and minimum clearances. Research local energy efficiency rebates available in your area, in Vancouver take a look at the possibilities for savings offered by BC Hydro http://www.bchydro.com/rebates_savings/ .
Traffic + Parking
How do you move through the kitchen?
Minimum clearance into a kitchen is 32″, but universal standards require 34″ Also, confirm appliances can pass through before buying! Work aisles require 42″. Cabinet access requires 36″ & min. 15-18″ height between counter and wall cabinet.
Where can you park-off for a quick meal or to read the paper?
A minimum of 24″ wide x 12″ deep counter space is required for each person seated in area. Knee space required is 12″ for a 42″ and 15″ for a 36″ high counter. A 36″ walkway is required from the table/counter to any wall or obstacle.
Safety in Absolutes
- Never design a circulation path through a main work triangle (exception: a ‘Galley’ style kitchen)
-Never place a cooktop or an oven directly adjacent to an entry to prevent accidents ie; handle of a pot positioned in the direct pathway into or out of the space.
-Never place a tall unit between two work areas.
-Never position a dishwasher too close to the corner (21″ is required for a person to access the corner wall cabinets) where a dish storage cabinet will require access .
-Always specify any electrical outlet within 6 ft of a water source as a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupters).
-Always specify a fire extinguisher.
-Always follow local building codes and use the above info as a ‘guideline’ and inferior to any codes.
And there we have it, the basics! For an inclusive list of the rules, the following link is a download-able PDF that you can print out and keep in your back pocket.
Feel free to contact the studio if you have any comments.
Amie Thomas,
Interior Design, DIT
