"Kitchen Layout’’

It is already said in the shape of your kitchen that sink, preparation area and hob should never be too far apart and that the fridge should be near the entrance of the kitchen. This will have effect on where you plan to put your basic equipment (fridge, hob, microwave and sink) and where the service points for water, electricity and gas (if needed) will be. Keep the existing service points in mind when planning your new kitchen as rewiring and re-plumbing your kitchen will take a lot of time and money.

When you draw up a plan for your new kitchen, try to place the sink, preparation area and hob first. Then draw 3 lines to connect the three areas. This will usually result in a triangular shape. The smaller the triangle, the shorter the walking distance will be between the three main working areas in your kitchen. If this walking distance looks too big, try to put the three areas closer together.

Another important point of consideration is that sinks will often be placed against an outside wall under the window. This will make the plumbing easier, but also gives daylight where you need it most. You also have to think of existing ventilation points when planning your new wall-cupboards, as you don’t want to cover them by a new cupboard. Ventilation will be of the utmost importance in kitchens that are also used as dining area, as you will want to get rid of greasy steam and odours before it reaches your furniture and your guests.

Tips
When measuring the size of the kitchen, make sure that the exact shape of the walls is known. If there is an inwards corner in the room it will influence the shape of the worktop and the place of the wall-cupboards. Mark the service points in your plan, as this will define where the main working areas will be placed.
The longest unit will consist of the sink, drainer and maybe a dishwasher, so it is best to place this area in your plan first.
If you like to cook with a lot of fresh vegetables or you need a big freezer, consider a big fridge/freezer at the end of your worktop for loads of storage and easy access.