Are you considering redesigning your kitchen in NJ or NYC? Although it’s easy to get drawn into the style and decor that you’ll embrace in your kitchen, there are a few important technical aspects of the space that it’s important you consider in your redesign, too.
Foot Traffic
If your luxury kitchen is anything like most busy kitchens in the United States, your family members will come and go through the space an awful lot. Pay close attention to how the entrances and exits to the space are situated. Is there a way for someone to pass through the space? Also, pay attention to how you get to the kitchen from the outdoors. You’ll frequently need to access the kitchen with groceries. Is it close to the garage? Can you park relatively close to the kitchen and unload your packages with ease?
Work Flow
The concept of the “work triangle” was created in the study of kitchen design. The work triangle refers to the common paths a cook takes while preparing meals in the kitchen. The three major points of this triangle are the stove, the sink, and the refrigerator. The cook must not only have easy access to each of these points, but he or she must be able to move freely between them.
The key to working with the work triangle is to make sure that the space between these areas is ample enough that the cook doesn’t feel cramped, but close enough that traveling between these areas doesn’t cause a hiccup in the cook’s workflow.
The work triangle works in three basic kitchen setups:
There are additional spacing features to consider. For example, the refrigerator needs to have enough room to swing open fully. The refrigerator should also have a countertop next to it so that if someone is preparing something to go in the refrigerator or if someone has just taken something out of the refrigerator, there is enough room to do so comfortably without having to travel much.
Storage
A major function of the kitchen, in addition to providing an area to prepare meals, is to provide ample storage for all of the dishes, glasses, and cookware that the family uses. Here are some tips for how to organize your storage:
Glasses:
Store glasses near the sink so that if someone wants to grab a glass of water, they can do so easily.
Silverware:
Store silverware near the dishwasher so it can be put away easily. However, keeping silverware outside the work triangle is a good idea. This way, if someone is preparing a meal and asks another family member to set the table, the two can complete their tasks without interrupting one another.
Pantry Items:
Storing foods directly over the cooktop can affect their quality since those custom kitchen cabinets will often heat up inadvertently during the cooking process. Instead of storing food there, it’s a good idea to have a separate pantry where dried goods are kept.