Will it be a U, an I or an L? This is important in kitchen planning

Factors such as room dimensions, kitchen triangle and ergonomics should be taken into account in the floor plan - our experts know more

It is the heart of the apartment, the gathering point of the family and magnet of every party. Clear that the kitchen should be given special attention. Because here is not only the fast pasta pot set up, but the cooking celebrated - alone, as a couple or with friends. Above all, it is important that it works flawlessly, that the paths are short and that the kitchen floor plan is tailored to the room dimensions and the needs of the residents.

Whether it should be a kitchen with an island, the L-shape is preferred or the kitchen must be arranged like a U - our experts from Küchen Beck Profi Center from Leipzig and Peter Jensen from Hamburg will give you helpful tips on planning the layout of your new kitchen - and explain why left-handedness, age and size also play a role in kitchen design!

Basically, you should ask yourself a few questions before planning your kitchen. What bothers me about my previous kitchen? Should the new kitchen be a meeting place and place to stay, or do I really just want to cook here? Who works in the kitchen - one, two or more people at the same time?

It's best to do a little hand sketch and plan roughly what you want to put in the kitchen. "We always recommend to our customers to give themselves enough time to think before. The more ideas and wishes they have when they come to us, the easier it will ultimately be for us to realize their ideas, "says Branko Broz from the Leipzig kitchen studio Küchen Beck .

Above all, the approximate dimensions of the kitchen, including the location of the windows and possibly existing connections, are important, so that the expert can introduce you to the right shapes and layout ideas. Which variants are possible when, what to look out for and which mistakes should be avoided - together with our experts, we'll tell you.

The classic and standard in kitchen planning is the one-line kitchen. The shape was born out of the necessity to cook well in a small space. Above all, it is one thing: functional. "For small apartments and narrow kitchen areas, this variant is often the only solution," says Broz. But even if more space is available, there are customers who like their simplicity.

Upper and lower cabinets can be arranged practically and the so-called "Kitchen Triangle" easily taken into account: " The kitchen triangle consists of refrigerator, sink and stove as the most important work areas, " says Broz. "You plan the kitchen in such a way that the work steps are simple, either from the fridge to the sink to the left, to the stove, or vice versa."

If this is not possible from the ground plan, the focus is on easy paths within the kitchen to lay. Ideally, between the refrigerator and the sink should be 1.20 to 2.10 meters, as well as between sink and stove (in smaller rooms from 90 centimeters). There should be a distance of between 1.20 and 2.70 meters between the oven and the refrigerator.

A railing above the worktop ensures that knives, trowels and cooking spoons are always available.

Even though the single-line kitchen form seems rather simple, Ulrike Besirsky from Peter Jensen from Hamburg recommends always working with an expert. "Kitchen planning is far too complex to do without a specialist. After all, you would not plan a house without a good architect. "

Speaking of which: Branko Broz recommends involving the kitchen planner right when planning a house construction or renovation, "The home builder should come to us right at the beginning, so that the power and water connections can be set correctly. Otherwise, the kitchen can only be planned around the connections in the end - and not completely according to your own wishes. "

The two-line kitchen

This kitchen form consists - as the name already suggests - of two parts, which are usually placed on two opposite walls. "It is also suitable for small and narrow rooms, but also for an open kitchen design," says Broz. Mostly on one side of the cooking spoon is swung, while you can wash and schnippelt on the other side. "It is also important here that the paths are short and you do not have to handle everything twice - the cooking process should be as easy as possible," says Broz. Between the kitchen lines a minimum distance of one meter should be kept, rather still 1.20 meters, so that doors and drawers can be opened without problems.

The kitchen should be at least 2.40 meters wide, so that there is still enough freedom of movement even when the cabinet door is open.

The fact that commissioning an expert can be of great help is shown by considerations that one would hardly have come to expect. "My clients, for example, always look quite puzzled when I ask them if they are left- or right-handed ," says Broz. "With right-handers, the sink belongs to the right side, the shelf should be to the left of it." And the age of the user also plays a significant role in the planning. For older customers drawers are important to take off, but cabinets that you have to crawl into, but not very suitable.

Bulky kitchen furniture or the fridge should not be placed in the entrance area of the roombut further back. If the room is long and tubular, the expert recommends placing the refrigerator and stove further back on one side and the worktop and sink on the other.

The U-shaped kitchen

U-shaped kitchens are ideal for large rooms as well as for kitchens. Short paths optimize work processes, and cabinet elements provide ample storage space and work space. No matter how big the room is, you should always consider the kitchen triangle .

Small utility kitchens are, also as U-formats, usually separated from the living space, as in this Berlin old building . A practical arrangement of the individual functional areas also facilitates the work here.

A misconception that Branko Broz wants to clean up with is that the refrigerator should never be next to a high-built oven. "Of course, a little more distance for freedom of movement is better, but you can today by the good insulation of the equipment both side by side."

The L-shaped kitchen

This kitchen form is ideal for semi-open or self-contained spaces. Either the L-shaped kitchen is attached to two walls, or it acts, as in this example, as a room dividerseparating the kitchen from the living area.

The L-shaped kitchen is also ideal if the dining table should be in the middle of the room. With this kitchen form, you can create more usable space by integrating special cabinet solutions, for example, by installing rotatable roundels in the corners. "What should be avoided in any case, is a dishwasher in the corner," said Besirsky. When loading and unloading the machine otherwise often just those cabinets are hidden, in which the dishes should actually be stowed.

The island kitchen

The island kitchen is perfect for large or open spaces in which a whole extended family with friends can find a place. While you cook, the others can sociably cut or nibble the vegetables at the kitchen counter. " Cooking islands are very popular right now. The kitchen is then no longer just a kitchen, but a part of the living space and, accordingly, should no longer

However, the question of ventilation is all the more important in this ground plan, If the cooking area is located on the kitchen island, you should consider whether an extractor hood can be installed here, or if there are alternatives such as a nearby window. "I always try to move my customers to an extractor hood, because - despite the windows being open - the grease usually deposits on top of the cabinets," says Branko Broz from the Leipzig kitchen studio Küchen Beck .

BESPOKE Interior Design & Production

A kitchen with an island block can be created from all imagined shapes, from L to U - provided you have enough space for it. With a spacious room, you can even divide the entire kitchen into different blocks, creating an open space structure.

You should ask the question about the right working height for every kitchen shape, because: "It should always be adapted to the body size of the user - ergonomic kitchen planning is the A & O", says Ulrike Besirsky of Peter Jensen from Hamburg . Backache while cooking spoil any dish so good. The height of the kitchen cabinets should play a significant role. Basic base cabinets are usually 83-91 inches high.

The special case: the sloping roof

slopes are homey, but unfortunately often associated with compromises. High cabinets are usually not possible here, the existing space must be used skillfully. "I speak from personal experience," says Broz. "I myself have a kitchen with a pitched roof, but with matching furniture and a deep worktop you can get a lot out of it." White, clean cabinets also make the room look more open and brighter.

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