The kitchen is the heart of the home. Indeed, we spend many hours in this particular space preparing and cooking meals. It is therefore important to think about the organization of the work stations. Here are the things to consider when planning a kitchen renovation:
How to renovate a kitchen: our design ideas
08 February 2022
The activity triangle
With all the elements and appliances found in a kitchen, it is important to plan for adequate circulation that will allow for smooth and unobstructed movement.
We are talking about creating a triangle connecting three elements: the stove, the refrigerator and the sink. The time you spend in the kitchen will be mostly at one of these stations. It is therefore important to consider the appropriate amount of distance necessary in order to provide a fluid and comfortable work flow between these areas.
The path of your daily life
Since tasks are performed daily and often repeated, it is therefore important to provide a clear and fluid path for the sorting of dirty dishes and the storage of clean dishes. It is therefore necessary to plan for a path that allow you to perform these tasks easily and efficiently.
After the meal, the dirty dishes go through the trash or compost bin, then go to the sink, before ending in the dishwasher. These elements should be near and in the same order, to create a natural and fluid movement.
The same goes for clean dishes coming out of the dishwasher. Cabinets and drawers in the storage zone should be near the dishwasher so that you can empty and refill the dishwasher in one easy motion.
The dimensions to respect
Workstations
The island, countertops and cabinets are the main components of any workstation. The height will depend on your size, but the industry standard for the height from the floor to the top of the countertop is set at 36”.
You can provide a space on your island (to eat) that will be at the same height as this one, 36 ”. If you prefer to add a bar countertop to your island, you must adjust this area to a height of 42 ” from the ground. If you prefer to have a lower eating area, or the same height as a table, you will have to adjust this height to 30 “from the floor.
For the seats of the chairs, they will vary according to the heights of the island. Usually, there should be a 12 “clearance between the seat and the countertop.
Wall cabinets
The distance between the countertop and the cabinets is usually 18 ”, however there is an industry trend to provide even greater clearance up to 24”. This cabinet height frees up the worktop and brings a lot of lightness to the kitchen. However, it goes without saying that with a clearance of 24 ” you will have to determine if sacrificing storage space is the right choice for your project.
