Home Remodeling Guide >>  Kitchen Guide >>  10 Easy Steps to Your Dream Kitchen

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Kitchen Layout

There are really only five fundamental “shapes” when it comes to kitchens.

U-SHAPED. Cabinets and appliances are arrayed along three walls. This works best with the sink in the center of the “U” and the refrigerator at one end of a counter.

L-SHAPED. Cabinets and appliances are on two walls that meet on a corner.

CORRIDOR. Cabinets and appliances are placed on two facing walls. It’s helpful here to have the sink and the stove on the same side.

OPEN PLAN. The traditional kitchen area is enlarged to include the family room, a dining area, and other spaces for relaxing or entertaining.

ONE-WALL. Also known as a galley kitchen. All cabinets and appliances are along a single wall.

The “work triangle” can be drawn by connecting the three basic work points of the kitchen - sink, refrigerator and range.

Our kitchen design specialists come armed with numerous, time-tested guidelines that will ensure efficiency, safety and comfort. These basic planning principles run the gamut and include how much space to leave for walkways, work aisles, seating and counters. They also cover minimum cabinet space depending on kitchen size, appliance placement, ventilation, counter heights, work center configurations and a host of other important considerations.

For example, if you follow these guidelines for a smooth-functioning kitchen, you will leave at least 8 inches of counter space on one side of the sink and 24 inches on the other. You’ll be sure the dishwasher is positioned within three feet of the sink and you will give yourself at least three feet of countertop for food preparation.