1. Kitchen Planning
2. Kitchen Shapes
3. Planning
4. Final Considerations
1. Kitchen Planning
A kitchen needs to be well planned to create an efficient and safe work place that will meet your lifestyle needs.
Before you start the planning process you will need to look at:
Physical requirements
List appliances, fixtures and fittings, noting manufacturer, model, all dimensions, installation requirements and manufacturer's instructions.
Sink (note: number of bowls, number of drainer/s)
Dishwasher (note: hot or cold water connection)
Fridge/Freezer (note: door swing)
Rangehood (note: ducting method)
Lifestyle requirements
Take time to think about your lifestyle requirements giving thought to the number of people and their age range, how often you entertain, and how often you shop.
Make a list of your personal requirements, such as:
- Vision to kids play area
- Access to phone
- Large bench space (e.g. for rolling pastry)
- Storage for baking trays > > > allow for more vertical storage
- Eating in kitchen > > > allow for breakfast bar/table and chairs
Relationship to rest of house
Consider the relationship of the kitchen to the rest of the house, in particular:
- Entry point > > > incoming goods
- Dining area > > > access for serving meals
- Main living area > > > communication between
- Laundry > > > convenient access
- Other service areas in house > > > bathroom and laundry
- Outdoor activities > > > visual access to children playing
- Orientation > > > north facing to maximise sun control and natural light
The physical space
On an accurate, scale drawing of the space, locate all windows and doors, showing architraves and which way they open.
Locate usable space
Usable space depends on the location of doors, door swing (in or out) and traffic paths. To gain an indication of the amount of usable space available, draw a line 600mm in from the walls.
Allow 1000mm between benches for through access (e.g. back door) and 800mm for access in and out of a room (e.g. to laundry).
2. Kitchen Shapes
Most kitchens take one of four basic shapes, namely:
U-shape Kitchen
Efficient use of space as it excludes traffic movement through the kitchen and provides adequate wall space for tall storage.
Gallery Kitchen
To promote safety, ensure traffic movement through the kitchen does not disrupt the cooks path, and plan spacing between benches to maximise access.
L-shape/Island Kitchen
Suitable for open plan living by providing for traffic movement within the kitchen. Spacing between benches promotes access to island beach.
One Wall Kitchen
Plan flow of work along the kitchen to ensure safety and efficient use of space.
3. Planning
The main function of a kitchen is the preparation, cooking and serving of meals and this identifies three design considerations:
- Position of appliances
- Provision of adequate bench space
- Provision for storage
Workflow
A good starting point is to look at the sequence in which tasks are done.
Use the workflow to determine the positioning of appliances and bench space.
Safety Considerations
Safety in the kitchen depends in part on:
- Adequate set down bench space adjacent to both sides of the hotplates and at least one side of wall oven
- Separating the active area (hotplates/preparation bench/sink) from the passive area (pantry, refrigerator and adjacent bench space)
- Locating hotplates 300mm from vertical surface, edge or corner to allow for saucepan handles
- Cooker / sink relationship
Bench Space
The choice of cooking appliances will affect the amount of bench space available. For safety and efficiency allow adequate bench space for the following:
| Preparation bench space | 1200-1800mm between sink and hotplates |
| Set-down bench space: adjacent to refrigerator adjacent to wall oven adjacent to pantry |
450mm (can include sink drainer) 450mm 450mm |
| For serving | 300mm for 2 plates, 600mm for 4 plates |
| For safety | 300mm adjacent to both sides of hotplates |
Recommended Clearances
Refrigerator for door swing allow 200mm clear of wall adjacent to door hinge.
Wall Oven for elbow clearance when unloading allow 200mm clear of adjacent wall.
Ventilation
Effective mechanical ventilation provides greater comfort in the kitchen by extracting grease, steam, heat and odours. Duct to open air, not into roof-space.
Lighting
Adequate lighting should be provided to all work areas. A professional lighting plan is recommended. You should ensure that you are not working in shadow.
Natural Lighting: to maximise natural light select smooth surfaces and light colours
General Lighting: provides overall illumination - locate switches at all entry points
Task Lighting: to main work areas e.g. under overhead cupboards, downlights
Storage
When planning storage allow for visual and physical access, and location within area of use.
Allow for the following:
- Pantry - 900mm wide with adjustable shelving for family of 4. Also walk-in and corner styles, shallow shelves, say 300mm, cupboard with pull-out shelves.
- Drawers - one bank of utility drawers 450-600mm wide. Also for pots and crockery.
- Corners - Bi-fold doors, lazy susan, cupboard accessible from other side.
- Verticle storage - for baking trays, tea towels.
Rubbish
Locate in sink area, and allow adequate receptacles for recycling, compost etc.
4. Final Considerations
Prepare final drawing of plan with elevations, and specification that should include:
Extent of work (e.g. removal of existing cabinets)
Materials
Finishes
Appliances
Fittings
What you will supply
What the builder will supply