Nova Design Group

The cost of delivering these services to a new location is relatively minor in the overall budget.

It is more important to design a kitchen that works for you. There are five basic kitchen shapes.

1. The U-shape is the most versatile of kitchen shapes that makes efficient use of storage area and prohibits dangerous traffic into the path of the work triangle. This shape is suitable for large or smaller kitchen areas and ideal where one of the ends of the “U” is turned into a breakfast/peninsula table.
2. The L-shape kitchen is ideal in long narrow or large rooms that will be integrated into other living areas.
3. The Galley is also an efficient shape for kitchens where access can be gained from two open sides in smaller rooms but here the work triangle is exposed to other traffic.
4. Single-line kitchens are suitable for apartments or studios where space is scarce. Here a minimum length of 3 metres should be observed with storage stretching the full height overhead and appliances located under-bench.
5. The Island kitchen shape combines any shape with a separate stand-alone workbench that is perfect for a second cook and allows entry from both ends.

Whichever design you may deem appropriate for your home, to avoid a hazardous situation, the kitchen should not double up as a passageway to get to another part of the house.

Where to place appliances

The refrigerator, being the most used kitchen appliance, needs to be situated where it can easily be accessed from other parts of the home such as the family or dining area without traffic clashing with the cook and the work triangle.

To this end, place the refrigerator and the pantry at the end of the kitchen nearer its entrance.

The freezer is accessed less frequently so opt for a model that has this feature at the bottom else buy a separate freezer that is operated as a drawer and blends in with the cabinetry.

Did you know that a refrigerator can be accountable for 20% of your energy bill and that inadequate ventilation can increase its power use by another 15%? For this reason, locate this appliance in the coolest part of the kitchen away from direct sunlight.

The sink should be placed near the main bench top working area and not too far from the cook top.

Ovens should be set with space nearby to set hot food down. A wall-mounted oven should ideally be placed at a height so that its middle shelf is at the same height as the cook’s elbow.

Cook tops may be placed along the same length of bench top so as to facilitate disposal of boiling liquids without having to cross to an opposite side of the working triangle. The range hoods above will have to discharged to the outside of the home, vertically, to the rear or sideways but bear in mind that each change of direction of the flue with diminish its efficiency by 15% to 20%

Most microwave ovens have hinges on their left hand side therefore locate a microwave on a left-hand side cabinet to avoid having to unload food dishes around the microwave’s door. Ideally, the maximum height to place a microwave oven is around 1300mm from the floor to its base.

A dishwasher needs to be placed so that access to it is available for the three sides and near the sink for rinsing of plates. Consider also placing it off the floor, if manufacturer’s instructions allow, easing the strain on people with back difficulties.

Finishes

If you’re opting for a tiled floor in your kitchen, insist the tiling be placed first to the entire kitchen floor area then the kitchen installed over the tiles. The tiles will outlast the life of the kitchen and will therefore be accommodating of any future design changes.

Invest in durable hardwearing bench surfaces that are heat and stain resistant and will be easy to clean thus maintaining your food hygienic. Consider fitting handles to below bench height vertically since long handles fitted horizontally may encourage small children to climb the cabinetry.