How a Kitchen Designer Can Help You Design a Functional and Efficient Kitchen

Kitchen designers provide their services in various ways. They may charge by the hour, as a percentage of total project cost or even flat fees or combinations thereof.

Implementing a focal point into the kitchen design adds character and helps it tell its own unique tale. This could include anything from an ornate hood, custom countertop, or an artistic work like paintings and murals.

The Work Triangle

The kitchen work triangle is an integral component of home cooking space design. This framework ensures that the three most frequent points of movement within your kitchen are close together, thus minimizing steps and increasing efficiency.

An effective work triangle layout can be particularly advantageous in smaller kitchens where space may be at a premium; however, even larger kitchens can benefit from having such an arrangement in place.

Additionally, a work triangle helps minimize unnecessary movements between refrigerator, stove and sink, as well as keeping areas where germs may be more prevalent, such as food preparation areas free of obstructions to help reduce cross-contamination.

Though not commonly implemented in modern kitchens, the work triangle should still be considered when creating your home’s layout. You can tailor its implementation according to your specific habits and preferences depending on the size, layout, and cooking style of your space. A good rule of thumb would be ensuring all sides of the triangle have equal length sides as well as no major traffic patterns that obstruct it.

The Floor Plan

It is key when designing a functional kitchen space to consider the layout. For instance, make sure there is ample room for movement throughout and that there is adequate lighting with general, task and accent lights available.

Another key component to ensure an ideal kitchen design is having ample outlets and storage areas for all of the essentials you require, including hidden trash cans or food waste compartments that keep unsightly clutter off of the floor while freeing up cabinet space for more storage solutions.

Finally, it is crucial to carefully consider what types of kitchen appliances will best fit into your space. An island may prove more suitable than a peninsula for certain homeowners. When considering lighting options such as recessed, pendant or track lighting as well as LED strip lights for countertops; 3D rendering software like Foyr Neo can help visualize proposed layouts before making decisions.

The Appliances

An effective kitchen layout takes into account both your cooking and usage journey, with special consideration paid to the classic work triangle. The concept behind it is that paths between the fridge, sink and cooktop must be clear and direct, with ample space between these areas (ideally 3.5-4′ for ease of use).

An effective strategy for optimizing space is incorporating your appliances into cabinets and walls. A professional kitchen designer will offer various solutions here, from integrated hobs that sit flush with worktops to fridges that are hidden behind panelled doors.

For a sleek finish, try pairing bookend appliances like an oven and integrated fridge-freezer on either side of your hob to create a balanced look that also allows easy access to frequently used tools and utensils.

The Finishes

An essential aspect of kitchen design is selecting and coordinating all the details, from cabinet hardware and backsplash tile, wall colors, to lighting. We suggest choosing metal finishes for faucets, lights and cabinet handles so as to create an intentional aesthetic throughout the room. It may also help if you bring home samples of cabinet doors, tiles and flooring so you can view how they will appear before making your decisions.

Consider creating a light blue and white Hamptons-inspired look, featuring timeless materials such as polished marble countertops with modern details such as silver hardware.

Curvaceous shapes are becoming a trend in kitchen design as an effective way to break up an otherwise monotonous kitchen without sacrificing storage. Australian designer Tamsin Johnson created this design, adding visual interest by carving curvier forms into marble tiles for her backsplash and cooker hood – connecting visually with its curved silhouette of an island benchtop for visual continuity.