There are four main kitchen layouts: “Galley,” “L,” “U,” and “G” (Peninsula). Each accommodates a work triangle in its own way.
The U-Shape
Arguably the most versatile layout for any size of kitchen, a U-shaped floor plan surrounds the user on three sides, so it allows for longer countertops and extra storage cabinetry. “If you have enough space, I love a U-shaped kitchen with an island in the center,” says interior designer Tina Rich.
There are six basic types of kitchen layouts: Island, Parallel, Straight, L-Shape, U-Shape, Open, and Galley.
According to the kitchen triangle rule, each side of the triangle should measure no less than four feet and no more than nine feet and, ideally, the perimeter of the triangle should be no less than 13 feet and no more than 26 feet. In other words, not too small and not too large.
The fridge should always be located in close proximity to a bench with ample available space. This will allow grocery loading to be prompt, meaning the door is open for a lesser amount of time, and when gathering ingredients for food preparation one can easily grab what is required and place down promptly on the bench.
Galley. This efficient, “lean” layout is ideal for smaller spaces and one-cook kitchens. The galley kitchen, also called a walk-through kitchen, is characterized by two walls opposite of each other—or two parallel countertops with a walkway in between them.
The L-shaped kitchen is one of the most popular layouts because it's super functional and can be adapted for almost any sized space. As the name implies, an L-shaped layout features cabinetry and appliances along two adjacent walls, creating an obvious triangle path between work zones.
A 10x10 kitchen is a standard kitchen in size, it is a total of 20 feet of wall space. 10x10 pricing is a common method used by kitchen cabinet retailers to help customers gauge which cabinets cost less and which cost more.
It's also not ideal to have the kitchen very close to the front door. As mentioned previously, it's best for the kitchen and stove to be deeper into the home. If you can see the stove and kitchen from the front door, you can hang a feng shui crystal ball halfway between the front door and the stove.
There's no rule set in stone to install a kitchen sink under a window. It's all up to personal preference. However, some would argue it's more practical to do so. For example, placing a kitchen sink under a window will make plumbing installation and access easier.
Island Kitchens:
Islands are often synonymous with luxury kitchens as they require the most space of any kitchen layout. Providing both additional work, storage and often seating areas, island kitchens offer a great deal of flexibility for how the space can be used.
Lay out the cabinets working from the corners into the center of the wall. If a sink cabinet must be centered on a window, then set the corners and sink cabinet in place and work toward the middle using filler strips as needed. Locate the wall cabinets based on an 8-foot-tall wall panel or pantry cabinet.
Cooking and baking pieces should be kept close to where you do food preparation. Utensils should be in the drawer nearest to the prep area as well. Glassware might be best near the sink or refrigerator. Make a coffee or tea station that includes sugar, mugs and filters, and place it near the water source, if possible.
In addition to keeping the sides clear, the fridge shouldn't have anything next to it that generates too much heat. In an ideal world, there would be at least 9 inches of space between a stove and a refrigerator.
Can You Put A Stove Next To Refrigerator? The short answer is yes. A stove can be right next to a refrigerator, especially in a very small kitchen. However, it's not the best placement for two appliances that serve the opposite functions, to cool and to heat.
Dishwashers should be placed next to the kitchen sink – either on the right or left-hand side – as well as being close to storage units. It is also important to ensure that your dishwasher placement allows freedom of movement.
'Where possible, it's best to keep the hob as far away as you can from the edge of the unit run or any tall units,' says Conrad Hendrick of LWK Kitchens London – at least 60cm from the end of a unit run and 30cm from a tall unit.
Kitchen sinks are typically placed under windows because the window can help filter the bad smell from the sink. Also, kitchen sink plumbing will have a short drain pipe filtered to the outside.
The sink, main refrigerator, and stove should be in close proximity to each other. You require a minimum of 4 feet between each point to easily maneuver, and equally not more than 9 feet. This allows easy access to get food from the refrigerator to a preparation point, and then into the oven.