Home Improvement Information


Kitchen Design Online - Understanding the Work Triangle and Kitchen Layouts


Good kitchen design online means having a layout for your kitchen that provides an efficient and pleasant area in which to prepare meals and do related tasks. Understanding the kitchen work triangle concept and basic kitchen layout types is a valuable starting point to design a kitchen online that you like.

The kitchen work triangle consists of the distance between the sink, refrigerator and range or cooktop. Each one of these areas becomes a focal point in the kitchen and forms the three points of a triangle with different distances between them. Done correctly, proper kitchen design online will give you the most efficient food preparation area layout in your kitchen.

Whether you're remodeling an existing kitchen or building a new one, an efficient kitchen design online means that your work triangle minimizes the number of steps the cook must take between the three areas during meal preparation and cleanup. The total distance from the sink to the stove to the refrigerator and back to the sink should be not less than 12 feet total nor more than 27 feet. Each triangle leg should measure between 4 and 9 feet in length. The kitchen isles should be at least 42 to 48 inches wide to allow people to move around easily and for appliances to be opened with ease.

When selecting the floor plan for your kitchen design online, here are basic kitchen layouts to consider:

* L-Shaped Kitchen - this is the most popular kitchen design. It consists of a long leg and a shorter one and this type of design can be used in small and large kitchens. The L-shaped kitchen gives you the possibility of having a center island depending on the space available. In general, this design will have 2 or 3 appliances on one wall. The usual arrangement is to have the refrigerator at one end, the range or cooktop at the other end with the sink located in the middle. This shape of kitchen generally provides good traffic flow.

* Double L-Shaped Kitchen - this kitchen design has a lot of cabinet space and plenty of counter space. This design is used in large kitchens with two cooks, and it has two or more entering areas, which can cause traffic flow problems. To avoid some of these problems, create two separate working areas on each L of the kitchen so that work flow does not get interrupted by human traffic.

* U-Shaped Kitchen - this kitchen design online shape has three walls instead of two, and the sink usually is located in the middle wall section. The refrigerator and range or cooktop are usually on the side walls opposite each other. The U-shaped kitchen design gives room for ample countertop space, and you have three walls for cabinets and appliances. This kitchen layout tends to create a working triangle that is very efficient.

The working triangle for the U-shaped kitchen should be around 26 feet or less. The only problem with this type of kitchen design online is that sometimes the two U corners are not used appropriately. Make sure you buy the appropriate storage items for the corner cabinets created by the U shape design. The U shape design can also create dark kitchens because of the shape and the quantity of cabinets. Using skylights, large windows, lots of under-cabinet task lighting and light colors will help keep the kitchen bright with sufficient light to see what you're doing.

* G-Shaped Kitchen - this type of kitchen shape is becoming very popular, and it gives you a fourth wall to use. The G-shape can be used if you have more than one cook in the house. This fourth wall section can be used for a counter, island and storage space. With this kitchen layout you can have two sinks, perhaps two cooktops or two ranges. You could have two working triangles -- one for sink, cook top or range and refrigerator and a second working triangle with another sink, built-in grill and cooktop. It allows two cooks to do different things at the same time and entertain large groups of people.

* Single-Wall Kitchen - if you do not have much space, you may only be able to have an I-shaped kitchen. No problem. Just be sure the sink is placed between the refrigerator and the stove. Locate the refrigerator so that the refrigerator door opens away from the kitchen sink. This is a very common arrangement for small kitchen design online where narrow spaces exists.

* Galley-Shaped Kitchen - this type of kitchen design is more common in apartments or in homes where space is limited. It is often called the corridor style. The kitchen cabinets and the appliances can be located on opposite walls for better work flow. Place the range or cooktop on one side of the kitchen along one wall and the refrigerator and sink on the opposite wall.

To eliminate traffic issues in this type of kitchen design online, one entry is often closed off. This type of layout should only be used by one cook. If you want to maintain both exits, place the refrigerator near the end of the galley kitchen for easy access. This way, your family and friends can reach the refrigerator without interfering with the person who is cooking.

If you need extra storage in the galley kitchen, install tall kitchen cabinets that go all the way to the ceiling. Wall storage is crucial. Buy a stepladder to use when you need to reach the upper shelf of the cabinets, and place the items you use less frequently on the upper shelves.

By understanding the kitchen work triangle concept and how you want your kitchen to function, you'll be more likely to create the kind of kitchen design online you've always wanted. Today, kitchens are often viewed as the hub of the home as well as a social center for family and friends. Planning your kitchen and doing kitchen design online can be a challenge, but the rewards you'll receive are very much worth the time and effort.

Copyright 2005 InfoSearch Publishing

Read more about how to design a kitchen online that's right for you at kitchen design online. David Buster is webmaster of http://www.yourdreamloghome.com and VP of InfoSearch Publishing - visit the website and learn more about home decorating and remodeling, bathroom design and décor tips, home plans, storage, fireplaces, log cabin rentals and more.


MORE RESOURCES:

Home improvement stores in Manatee prosper
Bradenton Herald
BY JOSH SALMAN MANATEE - Lingering struggles in the housing market have furnished a jolt to home improvement retailers, as consumers look to cut costs by tackling home improvement projects themselves. More homeowners across Southwest Florida, ...

and more »


New York Daily News

Home Improvement Star Arrested for DUI, Drug Possession: Report
People Magazine
By Tim Nudd Taran Noah Smith, who played youngest child Mark Taylor on the '90s sitcom Home Improvement for eight years, was arrested early Wednesday for DUI and drug possession, according to a report. Smith, 27, was arrested around 1 am in Los Angeles ...
'Home Improvement' Star Taran Noah Smith Arrested for DUI & Drug PossessionThe Daily Blabber from iVillage
Tool time: 'Home Improvement' actor arrested for DUI, drug possessionYahoo! Contributors Network
'Home Improvement' actor arrested on suspicion of DUI in BurbankLos Angeles Times
Fox News -New York Daily News -KCRA Sacramento
all 139 news articles »


BBC News

Simplified home improvement rules introduced
BBC News
New regulations have come into force to make it easier for Scots to make changes to their homes. The move means many home improvements will be able to go ahead without planning permission. Projects including extensions, sheds and garages will not need ...

and more »


Daily Mail

'Home Improvement' kid suspected of driving stoned
San Jose Mercury News
(Photo by Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images) BURBANK -- The actor who played the youngest brother on "Home Improvement" was arrested Wednesday in Burbank on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs, police said. Taran Noah Smith, 27, was arrested ...
"Home Improvement" actor Taran Noah Smith arrested for DUI, reports sayCBS News
Home Improvement star Taran Noah Smith arrested for 'DUI and possession of ...Daily Mail
Former Home Improvement child actor Taran Noah Smith in drink driving and drug ...The Daily Telegraph
Ology -Perth Now
all 28 news articles »


Milwaukee/NARI Offers Free Panel Discussion on Roofing Options
Wauwatosa Now
By Dave Amoroso The Milwaukee chapter of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry (Milwaukee/NARI), celebrating 50 years as the area's leading home improvement and remodeling industry resource, will sponsor a free consumer panel discussion ...



InComm Awards "Dreams and Drywall" Sweepstakes Winner with $25000 in Gift ...
MarketWatch (press release)
InComm's Do It Yourself Home Improvement(TM) gift card is available in any denomination between $20 and $500 and is a flexible, secure option for home improvement enthusiasts to accomplish any project. The card can be used at identified home ...

and more »


NARI Home Improvement Show set for State Fair Park
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
The best place might be at the 50th Milwaukee/NARI Home Improvement Show to be held Thursday through Sunday in the Wisconsin Exposition Center at State Fair Park. The show includes hundreds of exhibitors offering home improvement advice, products and ...



The Consumerist

Home Improvement Projects To Warm Up Cold Rooms
The Consumerist
A quick home improvement project can make the room more livable. Family Handyman has several ideas to help you warm things up. Here are a few: * A toe-kick heater. A type of space heater you'll need to wire in to your main electrical panel, ...



Breath of spring at Eastern Iowa Home Show
Waterloo Cedar Falls Courier
A whiff of spring at the Eastern Iowa Home Improvement and Landscaping Show will cure what ails homeowners in a fever-pitch to paint, wallpaper, redecorate, refurnish, refurbish, remodel, build, landscape or garden. Nearly 200 home improvement and ...



Home improvement for your health
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
By (ARA) (ARA) - When considering home improvements, people tend to choose projects that will improve the value of their home. While this is important for a healthy bottom line, investing in the health of those living inside the home also is a ...

and more »

Google News

home | site map
© 2007