The
kitchen layout is probably the most important design element for your overall
kitchen style. It is the layout, not the concept or colours, that determines
the usage of space for cooking, moving around and socialising. The layout of a
kitchen tells you the placement of your cabinets, sink(s), appliances and
furniture, and more often than not, it is restricted by the position of your
windows, doors and the shape of the room.
Careful
thoughts are needed in structuring the layout and more priority should be given
to the person using it as the kitchen should accommodate the needs of the
person, making sure he or she feels most comfortable within it. Kitchen layouts
can be done as creatively as you want but it should fulfil what we refer to as
the ‘work triangle’.
The
triangle touches three important work stations: cooking top, sink and
refrigerator. Appliances can be rather flexible as long they are position
conveniently, nothing goes out of the way. Refrigerator is often said to be the
link to the living as it should be easily accessed even by those who are not
cooking, for example, guests and other family members.
Later
on you will realize how the shape of your kitchen affects the placement of your
work triangle and vice versa. The most common kitchen layouts in Malaysia
include the one-wall kitchen (also known as I-shape), the galley (two I-shape
overlooking each other), the U-shape, the L-shape and also the incorporate of
an island.
I-Shape,
the Kitchen Layout for Small Homes
Due
to the restriction in size, an I-shaped kitchen fits best in small homes as
everything in the kitchen including appliances, tools and ingredients are
within reach.
As
you can see here, the sink sits between the cooktop and refrigerator, an ideal
position for cleaning up. There should also be enough space for people to move
around at all the work stations, though some kitchen area may not be large
enough to accommodate that. In that case, the distance can be placed nearer
depending on homeowner’s preference.
Due
to the narrow space, it is advisable that you design your kitchen with base and
overhead units to maximize the storage space. The incorporation of appliances
must also be done cleverly as built-in appliances would take lesser space on
the countertop, giving you more room for cooking preparation. Issues like this
are things you should put into consideration as your kitchen is done, changes
may come as a dreadful trouble. Some people use a mobile island or the dining
table as additional work space due to the lack of room on the worktop.
Galley
Shape Kitchen for Efficient Cooking
The
shape name galley is inspired by the kitchen of a ship or airplane which
translate to small, cramped spaces being used as a kitchen to cook for hundreds
or even thousands of people. We can conclusively say that the galley shaped
kitchen is the most efficient for cooking as many commercial kitchens in
restaurants are also designed in such a way where two long kitchens against the
walls with narrow space in between.
This
is likely suitable for people wanting a wet kitchen that focuses on cooking and
nothing more. The limited space can only accommodate one or two people cooking
and preparing; no rooms are available for social or shows. Some homeowners may
think as much as it’s efficient, this drawback makes the kitchen wholly
appropriate only for cooking. They might enjoy more family interaction within
the kitchen or have one that links to the dining area for a more open concept.
The
best idea is to have a wall filled with cabinetry for storage purposes and sink
for cleaning while the other can be fitted with appliances and cooktop for
cooking. The refrigerator can then be placed nearer to the entrance so those
who need to access would not need to interfere or pass through the cooking
area.
U-Shape
A
U-shaped kitchen layout is also an efficient kitchen design though the size of
your space will tell how good the shape is. If you have a larger space, very
often the U-shape kitchen allows more room for traffic and some even like
adding an island in the middle for extra storage and work space. But standard
recommendation is having at least 3 and a half feet between the island and
cabinetry in order for people to manoeuvre safely and doors opened properly.
This
shape of kitchen works typically like the galley with some additional space
with one closed side. Again, the refrigerator should be placed at the entrance
for easier access while the cooktop and sink can be positioned according to
personal preference. Like the one in the picture, the sink is placed against
the window while on the right is the cooking station and appliances. It allows
sufficient space for the cook to move around.
Similar
to the galley kitchen, this layout does not permit a connection to the dining
area, unless it is large enough for an island or dining area to be placed near
to the kitchen. Comparatively, the u-shape can definitely offer more storage
cabinets as compared to galley and the I-shape kitchens.
L-Shaped,
The Popular Kitchen Layout
The
most commonly seen kitchen layout is the L-shaped as it sits against two walls
with adjacent cabinetry and suitable for small to large kitchens. The L-shaped
kitchen is open enough to occupy multiple cooks or even guests into the cooking
area for more interaction in the kitchen. If you would love to demonstrate
cooking to family or guests, then an island is a great add-on with a cooktop on
it so you can face them during the session.
This
layout allows great movement in the kitchen with every work station spans out
with sufficient space in between. It can accommodate moderate to heavy cooking
without feeling too cramped.
A
Kitchen with Island
Any
kitchen with island, be it an I-shaped, U-shaped or L-shaped, is great for
family and guest interaction during cooking or dining. The island is a versatile
piece of cabinetry to provide ample room for storage or as an extra space for
preparation. You can also integrate a sink or cooktop into the island so you
can spare rooms in the built-in kitchen.
Some
people believe the island adds a touch of style to the entire kitchen feel. It
enhances the look of the kitchen and offers the space for more people to
utilise the kitchen at one time. If you have two cooktops, then more people can
join in the cooking too. Plus, with the island, movement of traffic will not be
an issue unless your island is placed too close to the kitchen cabinets. Any
distance less than 3 feet could cause massive cramp.
Most
people love that the island can provide storage in the forms of shelves or
drawers then guests or other family members not involved in cooking may prepare
the dining area by fetching utensils, plates, bowls and other necessary items. They
would not interfere the cooking area yet still able to access to the kitchen.
The storage space can also be cleverly utilised to store cooking books,
ornaments and or transformed into a candy bar zone for the kids.
Depending
on the room size of your kitchen, the best layout to complement an island is
the L-shaped kitchen as it is more open and traffic will not be restricted. The
I-shaped layout is also wonderful to complement the island as it serves as a
cooking and preparation area while the island can be made a dining area at the
same time. As mentioned, the U-shaped kitchen with an island requires a large
space so unless you have the luxury of space, it is not advisable to force an
island into the U-shaped layout.
To
view more images on kitchen layout and shape, you may visit www.kubiq.com.my and even get an online
quotation using the Kubiq Price Estimator. Needless to visit the showroom
unless you are ready to view, feel and touch before finalising on your purchase.
Kubiq offers wide range of kitchen designs that would be ideal for all the
kitchen layouts mentioned above.
