What’s determines your kitchen layout? You’ve heard of the phrase “form follows function”. This is true when it comes to the layout of a kitchen. There are, however, some basic kitchen layout shapes i.e. Straight, Galley, L, U, and G that are based on the work triangle.
The work triangle is formed by tracing an invisible line between the sink, range, and refrigerator. No leg of the triangle is shorter than 4 feet nor longer than 9 feet. With the total of all legs not being greater than 26 feet.
No obstructions in the triangle.
STRAIGHT | ONE WALL
The one wall kitchen layout is the smallest of all design layouts. There really is not work triangle as such for obvious reasons. This kitchen layout is ideal for smaller homes or as a secondary kitchen in a larger homes. This type of plan is best suited for an efficiency style of apartment and is often incorporated into loft style or open floor plans.
Because its small stature the one-wall kitchen design often lends itself to the use of combination appliances. Hood/microwave works well here as does a range for cooking rather than a cooktop and separate oven. Try not to crowd appliances too closely together. Leaving ample space for cabinetry between appliances will make the much more functional.
Pros:
- The single wall design totally eliminates outside traffic flow in this kitchen.
- This is the perfect choice for an open floor plan or basic layout.
- Likely to be the lease expensive kitchen to remodel.
Cons:
- The lack of a traditional work triangle in the one-wall design makes it a less efficient kitchen layout.
- Lack of size can lead to limited storage space.
- Storage can be very limited in a smaller kitchen such as this.
GALLEY | CORRIDOR
The galley or corridor style design layout gets its name from the galley of a ship. This kitchen is also refer to as a corridor layout or plan and with this plan all cabinets and appliances are in a straight line on opposite walls. This can be one of the most highly efficient to cook in due to its small size. Everything the cook needs is not far from hand and a lot of the back and forth movement by the cook can eliminated here.