Kitchen Design Pet Peeves
For those who may not know, I spent the first fourteen years of my career working full-time at a small cabinet shop. I’ve designed all types of kitchens, from large to small, luxury to budget. Good kitchen design is set around a particular set of rules in order to maintain safety and functionality standards. Beyond this, however, the designer and client are able to interpret the space as they see fit. While I try to allow my clients to take the lead when planning their kitchens, I still have my own set of standards when it comes to kitchen layouts. Below is a list of some of my biggest pet peeves and why they bother me.
Over-Planning Spaces
Kitchen designers and homeowners have access to a wide array of storage accessories intended to make kitchen storage more functional. These can range from basic pull-outs to specialty drawer inserts for k-cup pods. I don’t have a problem with incorporating a few selected organizers in a kitchen. My issue lies with the kitchens that load every square inch with some type of accessory. For one thing, these inserts do take up a little bit of space, and when multiplied over an entire kitchen, that can add up. Mostly, though, I feel that kitchen storage should have a certain amount of flexibility. At some point, you may purchase a new set of spatulas or find a great spice blend that comes in a bottle of a different size. An overly structured kitchen can make it harder for you store new or different items.
Giant Appliances
I have worked on kitchens with some BIG appliances, as in 60” ranges and 48” refrigerators (times two). Large kitchens can handle large appliances or even duplicate appliances, like wall ovens or extra dishwashers. The problem lies with trying to shoehorn those large appliances into a smaller kitchen. Ten feet of wall space sounds like plenty of room, but not when it gets eaten up by a 48” fridge and a 36” range. Even undercounter appliances can take up valuable storage space in a smaller kitchen. Appliances need to be in proportion with the rest of the kitchen. If you do need larger appliances for cooking or food storage, your best option is to expand the footprint of the kitchen. If that isn’t possible, try to find space for a pantry, which can provide extra storage and even room for additional appliances.
Awkward Prep Space
Spacious kitchens are wonderful, especially ones that provide plenty of counter space. The trick is to position that counter space where it is the most functional. I have seen kitchens with lovely expanses of open counter, unfortunately positioned well away from the main work flow or cut off by tall cabinets. Let’s be honest; those spaces turn into a dumping ground for mail, keys, and other flotsam. Meanwhile, the primary cook in the house is prepping all the meals on whatever bit of countertop is closest to the range, fridge, and sink. Prep space needs to be located where it will be used the most.
Island Issues
I could go on and on about islands, but I’ll try to summarize some of the major issues. Everyone wants an island in their kitchen, but not every kitchen can fit an island. At a minimum, you need 36” of clear walk space between the island and the main cabinets, more if possible, especially near appliances. Standard cabinets are 24” deep, and if you want to sit and eat at your island, your counter overhang should be a minimum of 12”. It eats up more room than you think. So what looks like an abundance of space in the middle of your kitchen may still not be enough to fit an island. My other issue is with kitchens that can technically fit an island, but it ends up being tiny and unusable, or just makes the room feel cramped. If you are going to the expense of adding an island, it needs to be functional. In these cases, I would suggest a rolling cart or a table, which can be used for an additional prep surface and then moved out of the way. Better yet, incorporate a cute piece of furniture to add interest and work space.
Keep in mind, none of these issues really qualify as “bad design,” but there are definitely better ways of designing a kitchen layout. What are your biggest kitchen pet peeves?
