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MAPPING THE FIVE WORK CENTERS

Written by peter    Monday, 15 December 2008

MAPPING THE FIVE WORK CENTERS The real key to planning an efficient kitchen layout is to concentrate on the five work centers, allowing for both adequate countertop space and storage in each area. Listed below (and shown on the facing page) are guidelines for planning each center. These rules are not absolute, and in very small or oddly shaped spaces you'll need to compromise. Adjacent centers may share space. Corners don't count you can't stand in front of them. As a rule, items should be stored in the area of first use. The one exception? Everyday dishes and flatware: store them near the point of last use the dishwasher or sink. Refrigerator/food storage center. Allow at least 15 inches of countertop space on the handle side of the refrigerator as a landing area for groceries. Ideally, the refrigerator is at the end of a cabinet run, near the access door, with the door rotating out. (Need to place the refrigerator inside a cabinet run? Think about a built-in, side by side model.) Also consider an 18- or 21-inch drawer unit. A smaller unit is too narrow to be useful, and 24-inch or larger drawers will almost inevitably fill up with junk. An over the refrigerator cabinet is a good bet for infrequently used items. Custom pullouts or a stock "pantry pack" are a hit for the tall, narrow spot flanking the refrigerator. Sink/cleanup center. Figure a minimum of 24 inches of counter space on one side of the sink and 36 inches on the other. (If you're planning a second, smaller sink elsewhere, those clearances can be less.) It's best to locate the sink and cleanup center between the refrigerator and range or cooktop. Traditionally, designers place the dishwasher for a right hander to the left of the sink area and to the right for a lefty. But do whatever makes you comfortable. Consider the location in relation to your serving center (see at right). Plan to store cleaning supplies in the sink area. A large variety of bins and pullouts—both built-ins and retrofits—are available for undersink storage. Tilt-down fronts for sponges and other supplies are available on many sink base cabinets. Range/cooking center. You'll need at least 12 inches of countertop area on each side of the range or cooktop as a landing area for hot pots and casse-roles, and to allow pot handles to be turned to the sides while pots are in use. If the cooktop is on an island or peninsula, the same rule applies. You also should allow 15 inches of countertop on one or both sides of a wall oven. Typically, stacked wall ovens are at the end of a cabinet run; if they're in the middle, allow 15 inches on both sides. Although we think of a microwave oven as part of the cooking center, many people prefer it near the refrigerator/freezer or in the serving center. Mount the microwave inside an oven cabinet, on the un?derside of a wall cabinet, or just below the countertop in a base run or an island. Plan to store frequently used pots and pans in base pullout drawers mounted on heavy duty, full extension drawer guides. Food preparation/mixing center. This auxiliary center is ideally located between the refrigerator and sink; plan a minimum of 42 inches of countertop, a maximum of 84 inches. Although it may not be a good idea to raise or lower countertop heights (if you have an eye toward resale, that is), the food prepa?ration area is a good place to customize. A marble counter insert is a boon for the serious pastry chef. Appliance garages with tambour or paneled doors are still popular in this area. (Be sure to add electrical outlets in the recess.) Need a place for spices or staples? An open shelf or backsplash rack provides a nice accent. Serving center. If you have space, locate this optional work center between the range and sink if possible; size it between 36 and 84 inches (remember, you can share space here with both cleanup and cooking centers). Everyday dishes, glassware, flatware, serving plates, and bowls, as well as napkins and placemats belong in this area. The dishwasher should be nearby; some models even have integral trays that can be placed right into the flatware drawer.

Last Updated ( Wednesday, 25 February 2009 )

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