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G-Shaped Kitchen U-Shaped Kitchen
in one zone, that it does not inhibit the special considerations will affect the to your lifestyle, will influence your
use of the kitchen by others. We would layout, design and hardware your design and layout choices.
recommend that the distance between select.
the two counters be a minimum of 1,2m • Give good thought beforehand to On the whole, a successful layout will
to ensure space for an oven/refrigerator what elements your kitchen layout give you optimal workspace. This is
door to be open and for a person to still needs to incorporate – an eating best achieved by placing tall units, like
get past. It is advised that the sink and the area, an entertainment area, a view, pantries, outside of the triangle and at
hob are kept close and the fridge is pushed open-plan harmony with another the end of a bank of cupboards. Ideally,
to the very edge of the triangle and at the room, a work or office space. a good layout will give you adequate
end of the run of cupboards. • What storage needs does the prep space between the sink and the
space have to cater for - Look at hob.
The L shaped kitchen layout: your small appliances that need What all the above tells us, is how
Here you must have two zones or special access storage like mixers important pre-planning is. You, as
elements of the work triangle on the or breadmakers. Do you have large the homeowner, need to have done
same run of kitchen units and the triangle platters for entertaining, a warming some homework before you chat to the
becomes elongated. tray or baking equipment that need kitchen designer so that they have all
Splitting your kitchen up into clear unusual sized storage? Do you have the information they need to suggest
‘zones’ will help you to plan for your a lot of silver or glasswear that you the optimum layout and design for your
storage/prep/cooking needs adequately would like to have displayed? Do you lifestyle and your needs.
and efficiently. have pets and want special storge for
No matter which of these layouts your their food? All these aspects, unique www.ksa.co.za
home facilitates, there are certain design
basics you need to keep in mind when L-Shaped Kitchen
planning the kitchen with your kitchen
designer:
• What is the average height of those
who will be using the kitchen – if
anyone in the family is very tall or
very short, allowances for this will
need to be considered in the height
of the countertops, the eye level
cabinets and the extractor. You
may need to add lift systems to top
units so a shorter person can access
them, or you may need to raise the
countertop height so that a very tall
person does not strain their back.
Any special needs the user may have
need to be considered. Are they in a
wheelchair? Do they have arthritis,
or other physical hindrances? These
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