Choosing the best kitchen plan for your family

Probably the most important aspect of a kitchen remodel is choosing the floor plan. When deciding how to design your kitchen, you really should take the time to think about how your family uses the space and choose a plan that works best for you.

A kitchen layout consists primarily of the cabinets and island and perhaps a separate eating area. There are basically 5 different “ways” that you can set up your cabinets.

Cabinets along one wall

In the simplest kitchen, you can find cabinets along a single wall. This could come in handy if you have a long narrow kitchen. This is the least functional type of kitchen. If you must have this type of plan, make sure the sink is in the center with the oven and fridge close by so the cook can easily prepare the food. Also make sure you have plenty of counter space between appliances – a common mistake is to put only 8″ per foot between appliances and there’s not much you can do with that little space. This type of layout is not conducive to family gatherings in the kitchen unless you have a larger area where you can fit a table and chairs – even then, you’ll have your back to everyone while you prepare food.

galley kitchen

This style of kitchen is often seen in apartments and smaller houses and consists of a somewhat narrow kitchen with cabinets along 2 opposite walls. While this plan is space efficient, it can be difficult to work on since the traffic pattern is right in the middle of where you’re trying to prepare food. The setup makes it a bit easier to prepare food than the “once on the wall” setup, but it doesn’t leave room for family or friends to join in on the fun. The typical galley kitchen is narrow with walls on either side. In this style of kitchen, it is best to place the sink and stove on one side of the galley and the refrigerator on the other.

L shaped kitchen

An L-shaped cabinet arrangement can make good use of space and be much easier to work with. Try to position appliances near the middle of the L, but leave enough counter space between each appliance for the cook to have room to work. If one end of the L is open to another room, you can add bar stools and turn it into a counter; This type of kitchen is great for gathering family and friends together while preparing food.

U-shaped kitchen

The AU-shaped kitchen requires a lot of space: 8 feet by 8 feet minimum. This type of layout maximizes storage, but can be difficult for more than one cook. Putting a table at the entrance to the U can add seating for the family to gather. Another option is to open one side of the U and put bar stools on the other side of the counter. In a U-shaped kitchen, the major appliances (sink, refrigerator, stove) should each be placed on one leg of the U.

islands

Islands are great additions to any kitchen style, as long as you have the space. An island can be incorporated into any of the above kitchen floor plans and can add to the ease of cooking in kitchens that are quite large, since you can locate a sink or stove on the island and have it close to the other appliances. to facilitate its use in cooking and preparing food. To add an island to our kitchen, you need to have 42″ of hallway space on all sides. If your kitchen is too small to allow this, try a portable island that you can move in and out of as needed. Islands are great places to have an extra appliance or add an eat-in counter.