A kitchen might have the most beautiful cabinets, technologically advanced appliances, and high-end finishes, but if the layout doesn’t meet the needs of a homeowner’s lifestyle, the rest doesn’t matter. Here’s how to plan an effective layout.

When planning a kitchen remodel, it’s important to give careful consideration to how the space will be used. We’ll talk about your cooking style and the appliances that you are going to use. We will also talk about your cooking habits and frequency. How a kitchen should function is an extremely personal matter, and a floor plan needs to be customized to reflect that.

While no two kitchens are alike, there are state and local codes that apply to every kitchen design. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA)
also provides guiding principles that result in a more functional space. For example, if a kitchen has only one sink, NKBA recommends that it be located adjacent to or across from the cooking surface and refrigerator. The sink should be surrounded by a 24-inch-wide landing area to one side
and at least an 18-inch-wide landing area on the other side. When it comes to dishwasher placement, the nearest edge of the appliance
should be located within 36 inches of the nearest edge of a clean-up/prep sink to ensure maximum convenience.

Keeping a landing area by the sink helps keep your floor clean by avoiding splashes from the sink and garbage, and by preventing dirt from falling off the edges. It will also provide proper working and cleaning space for your convenience.

Traditionally, the stove, sink and refrigerator are placed at the points of a triangle for efficient movement in the kitchen.
While the tried-and-true triangle still works for smaller kitchens with one cook, there’s a better design for bigger, busier kitchens;
work stations. With this approach, each standard task station (prep, cooking, storage and cleanup areas, as well as the more specialized ones like baking and canning, for example), is centered around a major appliance and its landing area of at least 15 inches of adjacent countertop.

We also specialize in Kosher Kitchens so we understand how to build them properly.

Islands, which continue to be popular, are a great way to add informal seating, as well as extra prep space and storage, to a kitchen.
Rather than a flat expanse of countertop, todays islands often feature different levels and customized details like prep sinks, second
dishwashers and warming drawers. Islands offer a good place for open shelving for cookbooks, built-in wine storage, and lit display areas.
Any kitchen design that includes an island must allow for at least 42 inches of space around it.

In order for a kitchen to function properly it must be well lit; that means layering and blending four different types of lighting: task, ambient,
accent and decorative, says Randall Whitehead, the world renowned lighting designer. A single light source cannot provide all the necessary light for a kitchen.