kitchen planning

• Ergonomics


  The process of designing or arranging workplaces, products and systems so that they fit the people who use them
• Items usually stored in the kitchen

  • Spices
  • Pots & pans
  • Flour
  • Utensils
  • Food mixer
  • Dishcloths
  • Cups & mugs
  • Plates & bowls
  • Bun tins & cake tins
  • Tea & coffee
  • Pasta
• Cupboards under the sink

  Normally used to store the bin/s and washing liquids and supplies
• Corner cupboards

  • More accessible and spacious with pull out and/or rotating shelves
• Drawers

  Indispensable for any kitchen, can now find very large drawers ideal for storage of food items and large equipment
• Drawers


  • To prevent items from knocking against each other when opening, wooden pegs or separators can be fitted
• Lighting

  • Adjustable pendant lights
  • LED or fluorescent strips under wall units, inside cupboards and drawers
• Ventilation

  • Windows are the best form but may contribute to heat loss in winter
  • Wall vents are a form of natural ventilation, some can have a fan fitted to increase efficiency (mechanical ventilation)
  • Cooker hoods extract air to remove odours and grease, normally placed directly above the hob
• Work surface materials


  • Granite
  • Marble
  • Seamless solid surfaces
  • Stainless steel
  • Quartz
• Granite

  • Can crack if hit hard, needs good support, difficult to remove once installed
• Marble


  • Very easy to stain, scratches easily, sensitive to acids
• Seamless solid surfaces

  • Used in hospitals, restaurants, clinics, can be moulded into any shape, repels moisture and inhibits mold/bacteria growth, resistant to stains, moisture and sunlight, but sensitive to heat and scratches
• Stainless steel


  • Durable, shiny, nonporous and easy to clean, can be cut to any size, not affected by heat, rust, corrosion or stains, but dents and scratches easily, fingerprint smudges show up easily
• Quartz


  • Extremely hard and durable, glossy sheen, non-porous and stain-and-crack resistant, slip resistant, easy to clean, hardwearing, heat resistant, waterproof, without any loose parts or edges
• Kitchen flooring types

  • Ceramic tiles
  • Vinyl flooring
  • Rubber flooring
  • Laminate flooring (parquet)
• Rubber floors

  • Becoming popular as they are very easy to clean and non-slip
• work triangle


  -between 4m and 7m total length of the three sides

  The work triangle is an imaginary line that connects the sink, stove, and refrigerator.