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Kitchen Design

The kitchen is the heart of a home; it’s where the family gathers and where meals are made. A kitchen with an awkward layout can be stifling and can make cooking more of a hassle than it needs to be. Many home improvement stores offer free kitchen design with the purchase of flooring or cabinets, and there are also free online applications to help as well.

To start with the kitchen design, the shape of the kitchen needs to be determined. Most kitchens are L-shaped, U-shaped, or galley style. If it’s possible to change the layout consider each shape for its function: L-shaped kitchens are usually the most effective, U-shaped offers the most counter space, and galley style works best with small spaces.

The design needs to encompass the flooring, countertops, appliances, lighting, and storage. Placement of the appliances usually works best with the triangle effect- the stove, refrigerator, and sinks no more than 22 feet apart and no closer than 12 feet. This layout gives the cook room to maneuver but also reduces running all over the kitchen. Use magazines and books to help get inspiration for colors, warm colors make the kitchen cozy and inviting while bright colors bring in light and cheer.

 

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