PLANNING YOUR LAYOUT
Our design service will take care of all the nuts and bolts of your design. However, if you would like to think about your design before meeting up with one of our design consultants there are a few planning guidelines to follow for the most effective and safe use of your new kitchen.
The Working Triangle is a method of designing your kitchen for the best possible functionality. The principal idea is to draw a line from the three essential items of the kitchen - the fridge, oven and sink. For the best use of space these should form a triangle with each placed 1.5m - 2.4m apart – the basis for a successful layout. This ensures an optimal work flow when you prepare meals and do the dishes afterwards.
The working triangle can help you design your new kitchen more efficiently, to make it a comfortable workspace. But you may have other priorities as well when it comes to the design of your kitchen. You may want your family to be able to join in with the cooking or to have as much room as possible or to have a unique kitchen or any number of things.
- If you want to place your sink under a window, make sure the taps won’t block inward-opening windows.
- Try to position your dishwasher and washing machine near the sink to keep all the plumbing together.
- Make sure that your stop cock is always easily accessible - never fit an appliance in front of it!
- Our units come in a range of widths allowing you to make the most of whatever space you have with 300mm, 400mm, 450mm, 500mm, 600mm, 800mm, 1000mm and 1200mm units; and pan drawers in 500mm, 600mm, 800mm and 1000mm sizes.
- If positioning units and appliances opposite each other make sure the doors don’t clash.
- Position worktop joints away from the sink where possible to prevent spills which may cause damage.
- When planning wall units, allow enough space for decorative end panels and cornices.
- Allow a minimum clearance of 900mm between a run of units or around an island to allow for safe movement.
- Allow a minimum distance of 300mm between tall units and a hob, to prevent heat damage and allow the easy movement of pan handles.
- Tall units look best positioned together and located at the end of a run of wall units.
- Never position a hob or oven under a window or behind an inward opening door – with some appliances a gust of wind could blow out a flame.
- Never place appliances in a corner, as they will prevent the unit doors opening fully.
- Try not to position an oven next to a fridge – the fridge will have to work harder to keep food cool making it less energy efficient.
- Try and place Extractor hoods and chimneys on an outside wall. Recirculating models can be fitted on inner walls.