A Kitchen's Design Begins With the Layout

The kitchen is the heart of the home and every kitchen has its own layout. A luxury kitchen is not defined by the best design, appliances, fixtures, or features but by the layout. Industry professionals say there are six different categories the layout of a kitchen falls under.

1. The Island

This style type of kitchen will fit most home designs. It gives additional counter, cabinet, and appliance space. There will need to be a large footprint allotted to the kitchen as the island will take up a good bit of space. An island requires space for itself and space for walking room around the island.

2. The Peninsula

A peninsula kitchen works great in a home with a kitchen that has many walls. Benefits include an extension of cabinet space and counter space that looks out into open space. Similar to the island, the peninsula is not free-standing and takes up less space. It does close off part of the kitchen almost like a wall would.

3. The One-Wall Kitchen

A one-wall kitchen is the best layout for saving space. This is a great layout for lofts, studios, or extremely long kitchens. In this style of kitchen, everything is fixed to a singular wall. This creates a very clean design with plenty of room. The only downside is the lack of prep space. An island can be added in front of the wall to create more prep space but this takes this layout and changes it to more of a galley kitchen.

4. The L-Shaped Kitchen

An L-shaped kitchen is the best layout to get the most corner space and fits into any home design. This layout can limit foot traffic in a large kitchen. The space made by the L can have many unique features such as a large kitchen island.

5. The Galley Kitchen

A galley kitchen is a little bit on the smaller footprint side. There can only be one cook in the kitchen so to speak. This layout maximizes functionality in a narrow space. The only home design this layout will not work in is a layout with a great room or keeping room concept. It is not functional as an eat-in kitchen and is isolated from the rest of the home.

6. The "U" Kitchen

A "U" kitchen is great for creating an open cooking space with tons of cabinetry, prep space, and functionality for multiple cooks. This type of kitchen can have an eat-in kitchen or huge island. This layout is perfect for a large footprint and it needs at least 2 walls if not 3.

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Learn How To Design a Kitchen That Is Perfect for Entertaining

 

The kitchen is said to be the heart of the home and a place where family and friends gather. Delicious food is also a big part of most gatherings. A kitchen with a practical layout and up-to-date appliances is the recipe for a good working kitchen. If you want to make sure your kitchen is in working order, follow these tips to create both a beautiful and functional space.

1. Create Space for Gathering

The layout of your kitchen can make all the difference. You will want your kitchen to function as an entertaining-friendly kitchen. This can be done by selecting a floor plan that allows more than one person to be working in the kitchen. To do this, you will want tons of counter space to prep meals and allow everyone to have a place to gather.

A perfect way to create this extra counter space is by adding an island or peninsula to your kitchen space. An island can hold your kitchen sink, breakfast bar, and appliances. Remember to include good lighting for your space.

“I want people to help themselves to coffee or a glass of wine and to sit down and talk while I prep,” says Kate Arends, blogger and founder of Wit & Delight.

2. Choose Hardworking Appliances

Investing in hard-working, good-quality kitchen appliances is a must if you love to entertain. “It’s about efficiency. When entertaining, I want to do just that — entertain. I don’t want to be thinking about whether or not the oven is working or if there’s enough room in the fridge,” states Arends.

A big French door refrigerator can hold large platters. One appliance that you do not think about when entertaining is a dishwasher. Choose a dishwasher with adjustable racks so you can accommodate different sizes. A beverage fridge is another great idea so guests can have access to cold drinks.

3. Select a High-Performance Oven

An appliance that does come to mind when entertaining is the oven. You want to choose a high-performance oven that has a large cooking space. A built-in double oven is a good choice if you do not have a big kitchen. A double oven allows you to cook several dishes at the same time.

“Home appliances can be an investment and it’s important to get the right tools for the job,” she says. “I love to cook, so my focus was finding a range that could do all the things and an oven that I could set remotely. Some people won’t need these features — it’s a very personal decision,” offers Arends.

4. Use Materials to Tie Spaces Together

This applies especially to an open floor plan. Choose appliances, flooring, counters, cabinets and colors that flow with the living and dining areas.

“Look at the color of the walls in the living room and pull that into fabric in the kitchen, or use hand-painted tiles that pull a color from the dining room. Your cookware could be the color of the sofa,” she says. “It’s about being creative and seeing the opportunity to create a harmonious color palette,” says Arends.

5. Take Some Risks

Put your own stamp on your kitchen. Doing this makes your kitchen feel like your own warm welcoming space. Add some floating or open shelves where you can store personal collectibles. Color and texture can also anchor your kitchen. This can be created by adding tiled backsplashes, a brightly colored range and rich color countertops.

"Sometimes we forget that the spaces in our homes are for us, not for others,” she says. “We all deserve to live in spaces that delight us, no matter the size or if we own or rent. I hesitated on decisions because I was worried about resale value. I have such pride and ownership in this house, more than I felt in the last one, because I’ve leaned into what I wanted from a space."

“I wanted my kitchen to feel cozy and relaxed,” Arends says. “To achieve this, I moved in lamps and art — things that you often find in living spaces. That’s how I made the space feel more like me.”

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