How to Design Your Dream Kitchen
Here’s how to get the most out of your kitchen space
Whether you are an avid cook or a tabao (takeaway) kind of person, the kitchen is one place that takes up a sizeable portion of the reno budget due to the scope of work – plumbing, electricals, walls, floor, cabinets, sanitaryware and appliances. You would rightly expect to have the kitchen of your dreams for all that spend. But in a small home, where would you find the room to realise your dream of an island or breakfast bar? Take a look at these kitchens that have done that and more.
If you have a galley kitchen layout, you’ll need to take down one wall to open the kitchen up to the living/dining space.
Then you can set your kitchen island where the wall was or even extend it slightly into the living area. This would be a great way to create an eat-in counter with a fe bar stools or a bench.
If you have more of a rectangular or square kitchen space, layout your cabinets in an L or U-shape. The wall that faces the open end of the run of cabinets can be removed and replaced with an island.
How much room around the island?
If you’re going to have more than one person regularly in the kitchen at the same time, you should really have about 100 to 120 centimetres between the island and the other run of cabinet or /built-in appliance.
If the island is also for dining, remember to have enough room to pull out the stool or chair. Allow for at least 90 centimetres between the edge of the island top to the wall and a width of 60 centimetres per diner.
If you’re going to have more than one person regularly in the kitchen at the same time, you should really have about 100 to 120 centimetres between the island and the other run of cabinet or /built-in appliance.
If the island is also for dining, remember to have enough room to pull out the stool or chair. Allow for at least 90 centimetres between the edge of the island top to the wall and a width of 60 centimetres per diner.
The standard height for kitchen worktops is 90 to 95 centimetres. If the island is also for dining and you wish to have dining chairs or a bench rather than stools, you can design a two-level island with the lower one at 75 centimetres of height.
6 things to consider when designing a kitchen island
6 things to consider when designing a kitchen island
Tip: If there is absolutely no room to build an island, you could get a kitchen trolley instead and move this around as and when needed. It is also handy as a serving table or a bar.
Consider a peninsula
Eat-in kitchens are a popular concept for families that like casual dining and save the dining room for leisurely weekend meals and parties. A peninsula is great for this and suits spaces that can’t accommodate an island. A peninsula is attached to the wall but still gives you access to three sides.
11 kitchens where a peninsula beats an island
Eat-in kitchens are a popular concept for families that like casual dining and save the dining room for leisurely weekend meals and parties. A peninsula is great for this and suits spaces that can’t accommodate an island. A peninsula is attached to the wall but still gives you access to three sides.
11 kitchens where a peninsula beats an island
Get the look: This is a stunning combination of kitchen and dining area that has an eat-in area that doubles as a dining table. The cooking area of the kitchen can be completely closed off by sliding the glass doors.
Get the look: This is an interesting way to create a semi-open kitchen and dining space.
Fitting in appliances
Buy appliances based on your needs. A family of three has less need for a 8 kg-capacity washing machine than a large family. If you only bake occasionally, would a convection-microwave be more suitable? When buying fridges, look at the net capacity as well as the gross capacity. Gross is the volume of the total refrigerated space whereas net capacity is the usable space. Include your appliance dimensions in your layout plan.
Buy appliances based on your needs. A family of three has less need for a 8 kg-capacity washing machine than a large family. If you only bake occasionally, would a convection-microwave be more suitable? When buying fridges, look at the net capacity as well as the gross capacity. Gross is the volume of the total refrigerated space whereas net capacity is the usable space. Include your appliance dimensions in your layout plan.
An appliance ‘garage’ is a good way to keep small appliances from cluttering up your countertop. This dedicated cabinet has electrical outlets to plug in things like a coffeemaker, mixer, blender and toaster. When not in use, simply pull the shutter down/close the doors.
Tip: Having a new kitchen is the time to cull what you don’t need and donate the rest. Be realistic about that fondue set that you’re only going to use at Christmas and do you really need a tool to help you measure out dried spaghetti?
Be a master at kitchen storage
Be a master at kitchen storage
Don’t forget to look up and use the space above your head too. Hanging pot racks and flyover shelves offer huge storage potential.
Don’t forget personal style
A small kitchen doesn’t have to be utilitarian and boring. Take advantage of the smaller area and go for luxurious materials.
A small kitchen doesn’t have to be utilitarian and boring. Take advantage of the smaller area and go for luxurious materials.
TELL US
Were these tips helpful? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
Were these tips helpful? Tell us in the Comments below. And don’t forget to save your favourite images, bookmark the story, and join in the conversation.
First, work out what you are going to use it for – storage, worktop or casual dining?