The Island Kitchen

Photo from Crystal Cabinetry.

Crystal is one of the premier American
manufacturers of custom and semi-custom quality cabinetry.





The Island Kitchen is the most popular look of all the various kitchen designs. It is the one that everyone wants. The problem is that many people decide they want it even though they don't really have the space for it. Builders often include an island in a new construction because it sells the home more quickly. However, I have seen too many cramped kitchens,with islands that don't work, to tell you that you need to really think about the space and the way you want to use the space before deciding if an island is right for you.

I went to the home of a friend that bought a gorgeous 2 million dollar home, only to find that the kitchen was very poorly designed. They put an island so close to the refrigerator(with seating on the refrigerator side as well) that you had to stand sideways to open the $7,000 sub zero refrigerator. No rules had been followed and she had to just live with it.

Yes, there are many rules to follow in kitchen design. I will go over most of them in future posts. However, the most important one is space allowance around an island. For the side of the island with seating you should allow 60" of space. Why so much...because when someone gets up they need more than 2 feet of space behind them. If there is a passage way or aisle, then you need to allow 36" for that = 60". On the work sides of the island you need a minimum of 36" clear. However 42-48 is preferable. These space allowances are studied to allow appliances to open (dishwasher door and range or oven door) and for someone to pass while someone else is working.

The other really important thing to remember when designing with an island is that the work triangle needs to be on the same side of the island. The island should not bisect the work triangle. This is for ease of use and practicality. If your island obstructs the work triangle, you will need to travel further and not have easy use of the space.

The Galley Kitchen

Photo from Channel 4






The basic galley kitchen is actually very efficient to work in. Everything is at arms length and easy to work in. I had a galley kitchen many years ago and loved it. The children were small at the time. So, when I needed a little peace and quiet, I would shut the doors to the kitchen and have some quality cooking time.

The galley kitchen consists of two walls of cabinets and appliances across from each other. The work triangle can be quite efficient. The one draw back is the lack of counter space. Unless it is quite a long space, the galley is usually lacking in counter prep area. With a little creativity though, it can be a very attractive and inviting design space.



You can find more information on designing a galley kitchen at the link below:

http://www.channel4.com/4homes/design-style/design-byspace/
kitchen/how-to-plan-design-a-successful-galley-
kitchen-09-01-27_p_3.html

Welcome back. Now for the U shaped kitchen. This can be done in a few ways. The U can be formed with 3 walls or it can be formed with two walls and a peninsula at the end. If the space is large enough, an island can also be added for more space.



This is the best of all the layouts for the most efficient work triangle. When you have the refrigerator, sink and range at optimal distances, your work in the kitchen seems so effortless!


A peninsula layout is great for doing a breakfast bar or table. People love to congregate in the kitchen, so why not give them a place to sit!

If its Wednesday, it must be floor plan day on my blog. What is a floor plan and why is it such a big deal in kitchen design? Well, a floor plan or layout is the basic shape of the kitchen.

There are a few main types:

The straight wall
Example of European Kitchen
The L shape

The U shape

The galley

The Island kitchen

The Peninsula


Today I will touch on the Straight kitchen

The straight wall kitchen is usually found in apartments. It is one wall of cabinetry with the refrigerator, stove and sink all on the same plane. This is as efficient as the space allows. Usually, it does not allow for a great deal of storage or counter space. There is no work triangle, since everything is lined up straight. However, it can still be designed in an interesting way. Colors can be mixed, cabinets can be staggered in and out and wall elevations can be varied up and down. Cool accessories can be added to add space, such as: pull out table or cutting board, accent lighting and a backsplash hanging rail system to hold cooking utensils, cookbook or other items.

Keep checking back for more info. on design. Feel free to ask any questions you like about kitchen design. I will try to answer. Don't forget to invite your friends to follow my blog and my Facebook page.

Have a great evening.

Carla

THE WORK TRIANGLE

An example of a good work triangle in an L shaped kitchen with an island.

These are Georgetown cherry colored cabinets from JSI Cabinetry. They are all wood and look great!






What is a kitchen work triangle and why is it necessary? This is really the main starting point for any kitchen design. The work triangle is a guide line of design principles developed over many
decades by the University of Chicago, the National Kitchen and Bath Association
and other organizations that concentrated on daily use of the average kitchen.

The TRIANGLE is the space formed between the refrigerator, sink and range or
cooktop. This space should not be obstructed or bissected and should not be longer than
26 feet in total length. Why? Well, this is the main working area for any cook. You should
be able to work without interruption, have plenty of counter space and easily move between
the appliances and water supply.

Now, look around your kitchen. If you like your work triangle and it works for you...great!!
If it doesn't then, you may want to consider changing your kitchen.

Tomorrow, I will talk about some basic floor plans.

Kitchen Basics

Ok, so now I know how to return to my blog and post more. What a sense of
accomplishment!

Where to start in Kitchen Design? The first step is really taking a good look at the space.
This sounds easy but it really isn't. You will find that looking at a space, that you live in daily,
with an impartial eye is really very difficult. Take a good look and decide what you most like and
dislike about it. Also look on the other side of walls, to see if the space could be enlarged or
altered in some way. This is useful if your kitchen lacks natural day light, enough square footage
or you just want a more open and modern floor plan.

Next step is to get a sense of your design style. How do you know what you like with the incredible selection of styles and choices that are on the market? There is also the option of full custom cabinets with infinite possibilities. Well, the best way of judging what appeals to you is to do some research. Look at neighbors kitchens, buy magazines, search kitchen design photos on the web and also look around your house at your decorating style. Usually, what appeals to you will almost jump off the page.

I would recommend you take all your research to a Kitchen Designer to discuss design options based on what you like and the space you have. In future blog posts I will go over the basics of good design, material choices, mistakes to avoid and how to choose the right designer and contractor.

Have a great day. Remember that you can always ask me questions. I would love to hear from you.

Welcome to the 'Dear Kitchen' blog that I just started. My name is Carla Gaeta. I have been in the kitchen and bath design field for over 14 years. My experience spans Europe, South America and, of course, the US. I have decided to start this blog to share with people some of the knowledge and experience I have accumulated. On it, you will find help and ideas for your kitchen and bath questions. Kitchen and bath remodeling is excruciating. Most people
do it once in their lives, if that. Why...because it is overwhelming and confusing. Most people are really afraid to make choices, do not know what their design style is, and are petrified to work with a contractor and/or designer.

The key is to gather information, get recommendations and do some research. This blog will give you tips on how to work with the trades, what are the cool trends in design, how good design can make or break the project, and how to stay on budget.

It is so much better to have knowledge before the project starts than to find out their was a
better, cheaper, and more attractive way to do the job after it is installed.

So, grab a coffee, take a seat and follow me on the journey of a lifetime....

Don't worry, it will be fun!!