Helping homeowners get it right when designing, building or renovating their family home.
This #uatips is about how to design a kitchen, my preferred layout and recommended dimensions (shot whilst hiding in my bedroom, totally exasperated by my kitchen during school holidays!)
Other blogs you may find useful …
This one gives great detail in my Design Masterclass for Kitchens
Here’s how to design a compact kitchen that works (plus a design you can use)
With over 30 years industry experience, Amelia Lee founded Undercover Architect in 2014 as an award-winning online resource to help and teach you how to get it right when designing, building or renovating your home. You are the key to unlocking what’s possible for your home. Undercover Architect is your secret ally
Number ONE advise for kitchen designs:
NO DEAD CORNERS!
Hi Margot
Most definitely – I have to agree! That’s one of the reasons I really don’t like U-shaped kitchens.
Thanks for your comment.
– Amelia, UA x
Thanks so much for that Amelia, I totally get the hiding from kids!
What are your thoughts on the depth of the island bench? Also what are you views on farmhouse sinks? I love that it can be close to the edge of the bench so I’m not bending over so much while I’m washing up, is it possible to have a standard sink set closer to the edge if it is all-in-one with a stainless bench top?
Hi Cath
Thanks for your comment! Hiding is necessary in the school holidays!
Island benches … usually I do these a minimum of 800mm. That gives you 600mm for joinery underneath them (a standard joinery depth) and a 200mm overhang (which stone can do unsupported, and is sufficient for a brekkie bench).
Farmhouse sinks … aesthetic choice that suits some homes. You bending over will be more to do with the height of the bench, than where the sink is positioned within it.
I will generally do my own kitchens at 920 – 930mm bench height. It is just that little bit taller and helps the bending factor. The sink depth will also impact bending too.
You can weld a sink into a stainless steel bench, so all joins are seamless. I generally set sink openings etc 50mm back from the front edge of the bench – just so there’s enough material there to finish well and not look strange.
Stand with a tape measure and map it out at 1:1 – you’ll get a feel for it.
Hope that helps!
– Amelia, UA x
That is awesome, thank you so much Amelia! I discovered your blog two days ago via a FB link and I have been devouring it ever since. We are at the very beginning of the design stage and there is just SO MUCH to think about. Your blog has been such an education, I really appreciate all of the advice you have put out there.
Thanks,
Cath x
My pleasure Cath – thank you for your kind feedback! Keep on devouring!
– Amelia, UA x
Hi Amelia,
I love your blog – thanks for all the great info!
I’m in the process of planning a kitchen and am wondering how much space you generally recommend for units?
I have a big family 4 kids. My current kitchen is waaaaaaaay too small and causes daily headaches / arguments. Is there a trick for planning how much cupboard and bench space is needed for a kitchen?
Many thanks.
Thea
Hi Thea,
Thanks for your kind feedback about the blog – I’m so glad you find it useful. 4 kids – you DO need a working kitchen!!
One trick you can consider is to mentally plan out the things you need to store, and where you’d need to have them located – and then design your storage that way (and determine the associated size of it).
I don’t have any rules about size of storage, just to make the storage you do have super useful. So drawers in lieu of cupboards, and shelving at the depth it needs to be for pantries vs other cupboards.
I like an island bench to not be less than 2,400mm x 800mm as it starts to look stumpy by proportion (if it has to be shorter than 2,400mm, then I make it deeper than 800mm). And for family kitchens, I avoid U-shaped layouts.
When I start working with clients, I usually ask them about what type and size of appliances they’re seeking, and then the kinds of things they’ll store in their kitchen … and how much entertaining they do (and if any of their entertaining stuff gets stored in the dining area instead of the kitchen). Those types of conversations and thoughts inform how big a kitchen needs to be.
Hope that helps!
– Amelia, UA x
Do you recommend a certain layout/ working relationship between e.g. oven, sink, fridge and cooktop?
Hi Yvonne,
I don’t subscribe to the ‘triangle’ theory. I focus more on the dimensions between the benches, and how those components work individually (in terms of pulling a hot item out of the oven, for example … or getting items out of the fridge and putting on benchspace). Packing and unpacking the dishwasher is an exclusion – thinking about rinsed items being loaded, and unpacking to put items back – these things work when the dishwasher position is located in relation to other areas in the kitchen. Hope that helps,
– Amelia, UA
I have just come across your website and watched the great video on selecting the best energy efficient glass, such informative questions and answers. Thanks so much.
In regards to designing our kitchen I am finding it difficult to nut out the layout as we are about to knock out our kitchen southern wall extend a living area which will take in the rural view (hence all the glass!) We will then only be left with really only two solid walls to a our kitchen area which is a good size of 7×5. I like the idea of a bench top, but unsure of which way to orientate it, not wanting to stop the flow of the kitchen into the large living area. Probably very hard to suggest specific suggestions without seeing photos but thought you may have some simple rules of thumbs and ideas that could help me with the layout. Totally agree with your above comment on unpacking, packing dishwasher by the way.
Hi Amy,
Thanks for your feedback on the website. I recommend you listen to the podcast episode in Season 2 where I discuss kitchens in more detail … LISTEN HERE
– Amelia, UA
Hi Amelia, late comer to the UA party, so starting to work through the blog/site for hints and tips. – it’s bloody awesome BTW.
Wondering if you have any similar design hints and tips for the laundry as it cops a similar flogging with kids, is an access way and often a dumping ground for dirty clothes and shoes.
Hi Ben,
So glad you’ve found Undercover Architect! We have a whole season of the podcast that takes you through design tips room-by-room. The laundry episode is here (and the season starts here). Hope it’s helpful!
– Amelia, UA
Hi Amelia, I’ve just discovered your podcast and website a few days ago when watching a Youtube video on design and orientation by 30×40 Design Workshop where he recommended your site! I’ve been listening to all of your episodes from 2016 to this one on kitchens. I’m so thankful for your podcast as I had not even thought of my kitchen dimensions. I only knew that I wanted L shape and was unsure about the island bench. I’m still in the early stages of the build but gosh, wishing I had found you back when I was stressing over the design and layout of the floor plans. But on board now and thankful for all your sharing. Cheers from the barndominium Georgia, USA project you’re helping me plan! Tiwana
Hey Tiwana,
Thanks for your lovely feedback and for listening to the podcast. I’m so glad that you’ve found the info helpful, and it’s assisted with your kitchen design. Best wishes for your project!
– Amelia, UA
Amelia ~ I’m REALLY late to discover you – but so glad I have. I am listening to your 3 Day Challenge/ Nov 2024, (your kids are probably in high school now!) and somehow tapped into your podcasts. You have put in such a lot of work to include such wonderful details about individual rooms – it’s amazing! Thank you. I am about to start the pre-design stage of a kitchen reno (that I’ve waited 30 years to do…) so really appreciate you sharing your wisdom giving me a better chance to be excited about the finished results. Have so far just listened to this Kitchen podcast, but look forward to exploring your info about the other rooms, too. Thank you, again!
Hi Karen, thanks so much for the kind feedback and for tuning in to the podcast! We are so glad that you have found it and the 3 Day Challenge helpful. We wish you the very best on your kitchen renovation.
– Amelia, UA x