Kitchen Design Considerations

In most homes, a kitchen is not just a place where meals are cooked; it's often at the centre of daily activity. It could be a place where people sit and discuss their day, where children do homework or where people entertain their friends. All of this needs to be taken into account when you are designing a kitchen for your client. Here are several important factors to consider when planning a kitchen project.

What are your client's priorities? 

As Stonehouse Furniture puts it: "the first step to having a well organised kitchen is to ensure it is not only decorative, but it is also functional". Ask your clients what they really need from their kitchen. For instance, if they mostly eat out they probably will not need as much counter space or a top of the range hob and oven.

Are there children in their home?

If children are going to come into the kitchen you need to make sure that it's a safe environment. Make sure that there is special storage for dangerous items, limit access to the microwave or the hob, and plan for locks to be fitted on cabinets where necessary. 

Do they want an island?

An island can give clients access to the additional countertop space that they need. They can use it as a food preparation area or as a place where people can sit and socialise. However, you need to make sure that there is between 42 and 48 inches of free space around the island. This is not practical if it is a small kitchen as an island should be at least two feet in length. 

Think about the kitchen triangle

Three items make up the points of the kitchen triangle; the sink, the stove and the refrigerator. Effective kitchen design ensures that the kitchen triangle can be easily navigated with no awkward obstacles to manoeuvre around. 

Consider worktop space and design

When designing kitchen worktops, it is not just the material that is important, you also need to consider the amount of space required. If your clients do a lot of cooking, this usually means that they are going to need a lot of worktop space. You also need to think about the level of the worktops. They should be at the right height for easy access for adults and limited access for children.