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Kitchen Floor Plans
The Three Shapes Of Kitchen Floor Plans
Planning your kitchen can be a challenge, but the rewards you’ll receive are worth the time and effort you put into the design process. There are so many different kitchen floor plans to consider before making a decision. The floor plan you ultimately choose will determine the overall effectiveness of your kitchen.
Designers use the kitchen work triangle to create efficient use of the kitchen. The work triangle is an imaginary line drawn from each of the three primary work stations in the kitchen - the food storage, preparation/cooking, and clean-up stations. By drawing these lines, you can determine the distance required to move to and from each area and thus determine how well the traffic will flow. If you keep the triangle as compact as possible, you'll reduce your travel time between these key areas and make your kitchen more enjoyable and efficient.
Most kitchen floor plans will be one of three shapes. The Galley shape, the U- shape or the L-shape. Each shape has its own advantages and disadvantages. Think and plan this part of the design very carefully. The galley shaped kitchen is very popular in many homes, but their design can feel cramped as the cabinets and the appliances are generally located on opposite walls to create better workflow. The galley kitchen is a good efficient use of space, and is one that many professional chefs tend to prefer. Though the space is small, the appliances and preparation areas are close together, which can decrease food preparation time. The galley kitchen floor plan is best utilized in kitchens that are not long. One wall in this kitchen design is usually used as the “cooking and cleaning part of the kitchen while the other wall is generally utilized for food preparation. The U shaped kitchen design gives room for ample countertop space and storage below the countertop. You will have three walls for cabinets and appliances. This kitchen layout tends to create a working triangle that is very efficient. It naturally encourages an efficient working environment and works best if the refrigerator is placed at the end of the counter. Good corner storage is essential because there are two to contend with. Most often with this design, there will be two or three appliances placed along one wall. The L shaped kitchen design consists of one long run of kitchen base cabinets attached to a shorter run of kitchen cabinet base cabinets. Due to the L shaped kitchen cabinet design it provides a sufficient amount of workspace and fits the kitchen work triangle model well. This shaped kitchen works well in a rectangular room and also allows an open living space or dining area to one side.
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