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!!