Kitchen Design and Layout

[bunnyz]

Hey folks,

Recently I polished off the demolition phase and now I find myself scratching my head about putting the kitchen back together ...

I'm still undecided when it comes to L shape or U shaped, and the position of the appliances (sink, fridge/stovetop/oven).

I've heard that the optimal way to go is to have a triangle so that the fridge, sink and oven are separated, or located on different walls of the kitchen. Apparently this maximizes the space and you get an optimal amount of room for movement etc.

And then you look at location of pipes etc to see what limitations there are on what cabinets can fit where ...

So can anyone offer me some advice about how to go about deciding on design and layout? I had a look through the forum and couldn't seem to find anything on this. It's my first real reno and I want to make sure it's all clear in my head before I pick the cabinets etc. I'm probably going with a flat Pack ikea, and this is going to be a budget job, but i'm looking to pay a bit extra on benchtops, doors handles and the like ...

Cheers :)

[arms]

Layouts of kitchens (http://www.kitcheninabox.com.au/layouts.htm)

[bunnyz]

Good resource thanks for the heads up :)

[Black Cat]

The triangle concept is to avoid walking too far between related activities. Not sure it contributes to additional space though. Just more efficient use of space.

[shauck]

If anything, L or U shape actually creates hard to get at spaces. Galley style gives better use of cupboards. Drawers in lower cabinets make space more user friendly.

As an example, we have a one wall kitchen and used drawers, even under the sink as the space was just under 3m in length and that cabinet had to be useable. It works really well, especially if you can plumb out the wall. That top drawer under the sink is fake and the only unusable space in the whole kitchen.

Maybe post a picture of the space so that everyone can get an idea of what you have to work with. I doubt you have the spacial constraints of my kitchen but where windows, doors, existing plumbing, gas, etc, are located can be factors involved in the decision making. Changing plumbing and gas can add a bit to the bill.

[blak]

As an example, we have a one wall kitchen and used drawers, even under the sink as the space was just under 3m in length and that cabinet had to be useable. It works really well, especially if you can plumb out the wall. That top drawer under the sink is fake and the only unusable space in the whole kitchen.

Getting a hot bowl of soup down out of that microwave above your fridge could get a bit dicey ...

[shauck]

blak you are absolutely correct. It's a step you take with care. There's just so little space here it was the best we could do. Personally I'd rather chuck the thing out.