KITCHEN LAYOUT MADE EASY

A KITCHEN TODAY IS USED FOR SO MUCH MORE THAN JUST COOKING. GETTING THE RIGHT DESIGN IS CRUCIAL, AND HETTICH HAS ALL THE ANSWERS.

Credit: Yellowfox & Cube Dentro

Many homes today have the kitchen as their heart. This means it’s a hub for preparing and cooking food, cleaning and entertaining. These activities are a breeze when you can put your hands on everything you need within a few short steps.

An intelligently planned kitchen will mean you can make logical decisions about where things are placed on the floor plan, making it effortless to move throughout your space. Whatever your kitchen shape, Hettich demonstrates common layouts that make the best use of the area by minimising steps between your working zones and keeping distances short.

The concept involves dividing your kitchen into five functional zones, based on the key activities and areas we need our kitchen for: cutlery and crockery, cleaning agents and waste, food preparation, pots and pans, and food storage.

SINGLE COUNTER KITCHEN So that your kitchen still looks well-balanced and is easy to use, Hettich suggests placing taller appliances at the end of the bench space. This creates a cosy nook for food preparation, cooking and washing up.

U-SHAPED KITCHEN The U-shaped kitchen is a popular choice for those with ample space. It also gives that wrap-around feel and keeps the distances between work areas to a minimum.

For families with multiple kitchen users, it’s a great space to work in. Credit: Yellowfox & Cube Dentro

L-SHAPED KITCHEN

Perfect for spaces with two adjacent and usable walls, Hettich recommends L-shaped kitchens to group tall features such as ovens and fridges to the outer end of each wall. This leaves the inner space for your preparation area, sink and stovetop. With a great aesthetic flow that limits your moving around, you’ll have ample floor space available for a statement kitchen island or dining area.

GALLEY KITCHEN

If you’ve got limited space, a galley kitchen may be the best layout for you, especially if you have high ceilings. Galley kitchens maximise the available wall space and ensure everything stays within easy reach.

G-SHAPED KITCHEN

This is essentially the same as the U-shaped kitchen with a semi-island, or ‘peninsula’ connected to one side. There is plenty of design freedom here to bring in multiple functions, for example, a seating area on one side or extra storage capacity.

So, what does this look like for each layout? By considering the five working areas of your kitchen, you can find a layout that makes the best use of your space and minimises footsteps between frequently used items and appliances. And that’s got to be good, for everyone. ISLAND KITCHEN

While a kitchen island can provide a social area for entertaining, it can also create a greater sense of connection between the kitchen and other living areas. It’s always a great way to add more storage spaces, too, or a feature stovetop or sink.