Kitchen Tips
The starting point when planning your kitchen layout should be the sink since, with its attendant plumbing, it is the single most expensive and impractical item to move. The sink should be close to the cook top, with generous work space on either side. Neither the sink nor the cook top should be relegated to a corner, they need to be a good two feet from the side wall so that you don’t bang your elbows, and so that you have a landing space on either side of these key areas. Avoid interrupting the work surface with housing for a built-in oven or a refrigerator. It’s better to group these together at the end of the countertop.
For general food preparation, the countertop should be about two to four inches below the level of your elbow. Countertop heights for base cabinets are generally three feet. The cooking zone should be about six inches lower than surfaces for preparation work so you can see into the pans
Good ventilation is essential, even in a kitchen with plenty of windows. Windows let fresh air in, but you need a vent hood to filter grease, so it’s fine to display them near the stove.
Planning for safety because forty percent of all home accidents happen in the kitchen, which makes it by far the most dangerous room in the house. Most at risk are young children and the elderly, but carelessness can make statistics of us all. The cook top is the most hazardous area of the kitchen. Do not install it beneath a wall cabinet, near curtains or drying dish towels. Fire is an ever-present hazard, so place a small foam fire extinguisher or fire blanket where you can easily find it. If you have children, store sharp knives and caustic cleaners in locked cupboards or drawers. Never let steam discharge onto an electric socket. Install all switches and outlets well away from water.
Good lighting is vital in a kitchen, which is essentially a working environment. Task lighting and background lighting are both needed in the kitchen. Counters, the sink, and the cook top need to be evenly lit from above. Avoid positioning the light behind you, or you’ll be working in your own shadow. Spotlight, under-cabinet strip lights, or well-positioned pendants can be used for this. For ambient lighting, down lights, track lighting, or wall-mounted up lights all work well, positioned so they wash pale walls or ceiling with light. The color of light depends on the type of lighting you choose. Fluorescent light can have a harsh, flattening effect, and it distorts color a little. Halogen bulbs give a crisp, sparkly, white light; the low-voltage types are small, while saving on electricity, but halogen does get very hot.