Professionals like Pete Evans, Celebrity Chef, will testify to the fact that a kitchen is indeed much more than just gorgeous cabinets and a stunning backsplash. Whether you’ve got a small space in the suburbs or an extensive galley in a high rise building, a kitchen that is well-designed produces minimal clutter and is very efficient. If you’re designing for a commercial kitchen, it would be recommended that you look at the Australian Business Licence and Information Service (ABLIS) to verify what compliance requirements you’re expected to meet in terms of standards, permits and approvals.
Integrate the following thoughtful tips and ideas when planning your kitchen renovation to achieve a space that is easy and enjoyable to work in as well as being highly functional. Remember, when it comes to designing your kitchen, form follows function.
Identify Your Kitchen Focal Design Point
Select one focal point in your design and balance that particular area with several other quieter, softer eye-pleasing accessories. Bright cabinets, fancy kitchen floors, extensive range hoods, as well as engaging countertop patterns will give the eye quite a lot to look at.
Consider Your Countertops
As you plan your renovations, take into consideration that those who tend to cook more frequently may require added counter space – especially between the sink and the kitchen range — than people who only cook now and then or who just prepare undemanding simple meals. What would be needed by Pete Evans for a TV commercial kitchen would be more complex compared to a kitchen that only serves five members of a family. Consider incorporating two different countertop heights to make baking less strenuous and reachable by kids who might be assisting the preparation of meals.
Eliminate Wasted Steps
Think about how to cut down on unnecessary physical movements in the kitchen. For instance, store your breakfast bowls and foods near the family breakfast table. Locate your dishware and major flatware close to the dishwasher to ease the offloading process. Have plastic containers and wraps in one handy convenient spot near your work surface for easy and fast wrapping of food leftovers.
Design Walkways That Are Wide And Convenient
Ideally, paths throughout your kitchen ought to be on the minimum 36 inches wide. Within the cooking zone, the paths should be at least 48 inches wide for a 2-cook set-up and 42 inches for a 1-cook kitchen configuration. As you plan, adjust your kitchen peninsulas and islands accordingly. Master Builders Association of the ACT have developed a particularly useful design resource, ‘Housing for Life, 2001’ from where you could gather some useful design ideas and tips
Direct Your Kitchen Traffic
For a kitchen design that is kid-friendly, keep the cooktop way out of normal traffic areas so that your kids don’t accidentally or (even intentionally!) catch handles when running through and cause dangerous spills. In addition, make your refrigerator easily accessible to all who may be utilizing the kitchen and the other house dwellers.
Use Colors Appropriately
If you’re designing a small kitchen, keep in mind that colour schemes that are dark will tend to make the small space appear even smaller. Utilize natural light and soft shades on your kitchen cabinets to visually give an impression of extra space.
