Probably the most important aspect of a kitchen remodel is choosing the floor plan. When deciding how to design your kitchen, you really need to take the time to think about how your family uses the space and choose a plan that is most functional for you.
A kitchen plan consists primarily of the cabinets and island and perhaps a separate eating area. There are basically 5 different “ways” you can configure your cabinets.
cabinets along one wall
In the simplest kitchen, you can find cabinets along only one wall. This could be handy if you have a long narrow kitchen. This is the least functional type of kitchen. If you have to 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 food. Also make sure you have enough counter space between appliances – a common mistake is to put only 8″ per foot between appliances and there isn’t 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 put a table and chairs – even then, you’ll have your back to everyone while preparing 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 are trying to prepare food. The setup makes it a little easier to prepare food than the “once on the wall” setup, but leaves no room for family or friends to join in the fun. The typical galley kitchen is narrow with walls on both sides. In this kitchen style, it’s 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 locate appliances near the middle of the L, but leave enough counter space between each appliance so the cook has 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 bringing 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 around. Another option is to open up 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 as you can place a sink or stove on the island and have it close to the other appliances. for ease of use in cooking and food preparation. To add an island to our kitchen, you must have 42″ of aisle space on all sides. If your kitchen is too small to allow for this, try a portable island that you can slide in and out of as needed. Islands are great places to get an extra appliance or add a counter to eat at.