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Kitchen Planning: How Do I Choose an Extractor Fan?

Kitchen Planning: How Do I Choose an Extractor Fan?- With the increasing popularity of open-plan kitchen, dining and living rooms, excellent extraction is more important than ever for creating a pleasant environment in which to cook, dine and relax – soft furnishings, lounging and socialising just don’t go with the smell of frying.

There are, of course, a number of key practicalities to consider when shopping around for the best extractor for your space, such as the power of your preferred model, whether you opt for a ducted-out or recirculation design (more of which shortly), how noisy it is and where it will be located. But equally important, especially in an entertaining and living space, is how your extractor fan looks.

Luckily, there are plenty of choices to suit any interior, from unobtrusive, ceiling-mounted models to eye-catching pendant extractors and super-practical downdraft designs, so there’s no need to sacrifice style for function.

Professional advice from:
Roberto De Marco of Kitchen Republic
Peter Allatt of Elica UK

APD Interiors

Set your budget
The aim of kitchen extraction is to remove grease, smoke and unpleasant cooking odours from your environment, as well as steam, depending on the extractor type you choose. Extractors vary hugely in price, costing from as little as £50 right up to £3,000 for some of the more advanced models, so decide on your priorities in order to set a budget.

‘A typical price for a functional, well-designed extractor is about £350,’ says Roberto De Marco. ‘However, more and more people are spending in excess of £800, especially if the extractor is beautifully designed, creating a visual centrepiece to be admired in its own right.’

Alex Maguire Photography

Choose your extraction method
Decision number one will be whether to go for a ducted-out or recirculation extractor, as this will determine where you can – or can’t – position it. ‘Ducted extractors pass the air through ducting and remove it completely from the building,’ explains Roberto. So you’ll need access to an exterior wall or similar. ‘This effective method of extraction tackles smoke and odours well.’

A recirculation extractor works by taking the air and passing it through a filter before it exhausts that air back into the room, rather than expelling it outdoors. The filter needs to be changed every few months.

Though this may be less effective than a ducted-out model, there are advantages. ‘You don’t need to plan for ducting,’ explains Roberto, ‘and you’re often able to place an extractor in a traditionally unsuitable location.’ If you live in a flat, say, this might be your only option. ‘They are also quick and easy to install, making them a cost-effective option,’ he adds.

Many hood styles can be configured to either recirculation or ducted-out extraction. Talk to your kitchen fitter about the options and limitations for each within your proposed design.

TLA Studio

Silence is golden
Another major consideration when purchasing an extractor is noise. ‘All models come with a dB (decibel) rating, which refers to the noise level associated with the particular hood,’ explains Peter Allatt. ‘The faster the speed, the noisier the hood will be, though higher-end models do tend to be quieter across all power levels.’

COUPDEVILLE

Calculate the perfect capacity
Traditionally, the volume of the kitchen (length x width x height) is multiplied by 10 – the approximate number of air changes required per hour – to calculate what capacity extractor you should buy.

‘It’s also important to take into account the type of cooking you’re likely to be doing. Some cooking techniques, for example frying or indoor barbecuing, require greater extraction than others,’ says Peter. ‘Generally, we suggest selecting a hood with a minimum airflow of 400m3 per hour if you are likely to be cooking two or three items at any one time. New energy-saving regulations mean that hoods with an airflow higher than 650m3 per hour are fitted with a timer.’

Completion

Get the height right
Make sure the extractor is the right height above your hob. You will need to leave a space of between 65cm and 75cm, depending on whether you have a gas, electric or induction hob. Also, check the width of your selected extractor – it needs to be wider and larger than your hob.

Chantel Elshout Design Consultancy

Select your hood style
However your kitchen is configured and whatever its size, there’s a type of hood to suit. Traditionally, chimney hoods (seen here) and canopy hoods were the only extractors available.

These days, the options have grown to include island, ceiling-mounted and downdraft extractors. And more recently, extraction is integrated within the hob itself.

Read on to discover more about each type.

AR Design Studio Ltd

Ceiling extractors
A ceiling extractor is built into the ceiling or a bulkhead designed to lower the height of the ceiling. ‘The benefit of a ceiling extractor is that there is no obstruction to the cook’s line of sight, which is preferable in an open-plan space,’ explains Peter.

Explore more ideas for incorporating a kitchen island into your scheme

Glenvale Kitchens

Wall-mounted extractors
Lots of us have a hob facing the wall, so this is a common style. Look out for angled wall-mounted designs, which are less intrusive in a smaller space. The owners of this kitchen opted for the Adelante wall-mounted cooker hood by Gutmann.

COUPDEVILLE

Island extractors
These are fixed to the ceiling above an island or peninsular unit. Depending on the location of your kitchen and the island, it may be possible to duct out for optimum extraction, especially if the kitchen is being designed from scratch and this requirement can be planned for. Many models are also suitable for recirculation if this isn’t an option, and may well be sufficient for your needs.

Find out more about how to plan your kitchen design

Lex McMillan Architects Ltd

Decorative pendant extractors
Similar to island extractors, pendant extractors are suspended from the ceiling above an island or peninsula. Many are suitable for recirculation only, so take advice as to whether this will be enough for your kitchen’s needs. Some, such as the Star by Elica, seen here, resemble a light fitting and, indeed, provide secondary lighting.

Glenvale Kitchens

Downdraft extractors
The beauty of a downdraft extractor is that it rises up out of the worktop when in use, but sits completely flush with the surface when not. Often installed to the side or behind the hob (as seen here), downdraft hoods work on the theory that the closer you place the extractor to the source of cooking, the more chance you have of successful extraction before the ‘dirty’ air can disperse around the room.

Chantel Elshout Design Consultancy

Built-in extractors
Built-in extractors, also known as canopy extractors, are built into the kitchen cabinetry above your hob, so they’re a seamless addition to the kitchen. This is great for people who want a minimalist look as the extractor doesn’t intrude on the kitchen design.

TELL US…
Which type of extractor hood do you favour? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.

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Inventive Ways to Use Florals in the Heart of Your Home

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Inventive Ways to Use Florals in the Heart of Your Home- Do you love florals? If you have ditsy-print floral bedding in the boudoir, trailing flower wallpaper in the living room and even rosy blooms in the bathroom, why not go the whole hog and let flower power take root in the kitchen, too? You can be as daring or as delicate as you like with this look, be it a giant digital mural, a vibrant floral splashback or simply huge vessels and jugs filled to the brim with the real thing. What better way to welcome the spring?

Incorporated

Soup up a splashback
Combine florals with a pared-back, modern backdrop and the effect is striking without being overpowering.

Here, a favourite piece of flowery fabric has been cut to size and laminated to create a bespoke splashback. As a result, what could have felt like a rather a cold kitchen is now bursting with character.

Emma Britton Decorative Glass Designer

Flaunt your florals
Splashbacks are a great way to introduce pattern and colour into a kitchen and it’s easy to create a personalised design. Try pasting floral wallpaper behind glass or Perspex or, for a unique and personal touch, commission a floral design based on your favourite blooms or to reflect your garden.

This bespoke hydrangea glass splashback was hand-painted and made to order. The vibrant mix of cobalt blue and sunshine yellow is spirited and stylish, and adds a big jolt of retro flair at the same time.

Contemporary Kitchen Contemporary Kitchen

Think outside the box
If you want floral curtains in the kitchen, then you can have them. OK, so it’s not often we spy full-length drapes in the cooking zone, but don’t you just love the floaty, spring-like vibe this flowery pair instantly brings? The fresh, colour-packed pattern is light and fun, and ties in effortlessly with the rainbow of chairs and vase of real blooms.

Pick light, cotton curtains that can be freshened up with a quick wash and air at home.

blackLAB architects inc.

Maximise with a mural
Large, overscale murals are hot interiors news at the moment. But don’t save these divine decorations for the living room or boudoir – let the big prints and patterns spill over into the kitchen.

This zoomed-in, pixilated image of a lily in zesty lime and crisp white was hand-painted onto the wall. The two-tone artwork gives just a classy hint of flower power, too, as you really have to stand back to see what it is, and it looks perfectly at home with the clean, white units.

Boscolo Interior Design

White it out
If it simply has to be white and only the real thing will do, then focus on texture rather than colour when choosing kitchen florals. This sleekest of white kitchens is treated to a softer edge thanks to the huge bowls of papery hydrangeas on the worktop and sculptural orchids on the windowsill. It goes to show you don’t always need colour to make a big impact.

Be inspired by more cool and contemporary white kitchens

E.R. Miller

Dare to be different
I really admire the unexpected when it comes to decorating. And that can be something as simple as taking a bedroom-happy floral paper out of its comfort zone and into the culinary epicentre.

Because while this pretty grey and white floral will do the job beautifully in the bedroom, over in the kitchen it transforms into a fresh and exciting backdrop for these metal shelves, spices and cookbooks.

Callender Howorth

Ramp up the romance
You may not think a kitchen could ever be deemed ‘romantic’, but one quick glance at this light and airy room and you might change your mind.

It’s the generous use of china blue floral paper that does the trick, transforming a mostly utilitarian space into the prettiest spot in the house.
Finish off a room like this with pictures, a mirror or decorative clock and a chandelier (all of those bits you’re more likely to find in the living room) for a cosy kitchen hang-out.

Optimise Design

Cover up with a cloth
A cute, colourful tablecloth is sometimes all that’s needed to flutter a few florals into your kitchen. The rich cobalt and cream colour scheme in this room offers an unexpected neutral and un-cutesy backdrop, against which the china blue and red rose tablecloth makes a striking impact.

You can, of course, swap and change your floral cloth at will – from a pretty, all-over daisy design to powerful poppy prints – depending on the occasion and your mood. If you can’t find the perfect ready-made tablecloth, source fabric by a favourite design house, cut it to size and hem.

Butikken

Rouse with a rainbow
You don’t have to plump for anything too permanent or precious to hit the right note for the floral trend in the kitchen. This rainbow-packed display of melamine tumblers in plains and florals creates a beautiful piece of wall art that’s practical, too.

California Closets

Plate up
This is a classic tip for introducing a splash of florals into the kitchen – and a supremely simple one, too.

Gather up a pile of vintage floral plates – the odd crack or chip doesn’t matter in this instance – and hang them on a sorbet-coloured wall for the most charming of kitchen welcomes.

Browse more creative ways with plates and trays

TELL US…
Are you a fan of florals? What about in the kitchen? Please share your ideas and photos in the Comments below.

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Kitchen Planning: What to Consider Before Starting a Kitchen Renovation

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Kitchen Planning: What to Consider Before Starting a Kitchen Renovation- The difference between a nice kitchen and an award-winning design is not necessarily budget – it has a lot to do with intelligent planning and accuracy. Sure, you can get an attractive and functional kitchen without much planning, but if you want to make the most of your space, then a little more care is required. Starting from the ground up, here are some practical and aesthetic points to think about…

Susan Teare, Professional Photographer

Plan your heating wisely
Underfloor heating is increasingly favoured over wall-hung radiators, especially in big, open-plan kitchens with tiled floors. But there’s a way to do it efficiently: establishing your precise layout ahead of time will allow you to run the underfloor heating only where it’s needed. You want to avoid areas near appliances, too, as it will reduce their efficiency, particularly fridge-freezers, for obvious reasons.

Jones Associates Architects

Consider how the elements relate to one another
A wonderful way to make a kitchen feel really special is to think carefully about how different parts of the room link together. This might be an island that mirrors a skylight, or a breakfast bar running under a window. In this room, the skylight is aligned with the basalt flooring and the extractor and hob.

Once decisions on these design points have been made, the key to achieving them will be in the planning and the skill and experience of the architect, designer and builder you’re working with.

See tips for hiring the right builder for your project

Domus Nova

Design in any dwarf walls
Something that requires thought from the construction phase of the project is the dwarf wall. Dwarf – or mid-height – walls are one of the best ways to separate areas in an open-plan space.

As a feature, they present opportunities for so much – ornament placement, food service worktop, clever lighting – and if built from stud timber, you can incorporate recesses and niches. Plan ahead and run cables inside the frame to give yourself the option of having power sockets and lighting built in.

Cream & Black Interior Design

Layer your lighting
Kitchens tend to be one of the larger spaces in the home and are very functional, so a little extra thought needs to be put into the lighting scheme.

The possibilities are endless: spots, tracks, pendants, plinth lights, under-cabinet lights, strip lights, wall lights, floor lights, uplighters, downlighters, mood lights, warm white, cool white, colour-changing LEDs…

Mix in different types of light so you can create different atmospheres depending on the task at hand.

Landmark Lofts

Incorporate plenty of glazing
When you’re planning your lighting scheme, don’t forget about natural light. Starting with popular bifold and sliding doors, the trend is to have a ‘minimal profile’ – more glass, less frame – to give less obstructed views. It’s very impressive engineering.

For the roof lantern, which you have, of course, aligned perfectly with your island unit, choose a quality system that allows seamless, watertight joints. GRP fibreglass and zinc roofing are great options, and both can be matched beautifully to the grey of a bifold frame. If more light is required, throw in a couple of remote-controlled skylights in a vaulted ceiling and you’ll practically be eating lunch in the garden.

Kevin Dakan Architect

Think about tile shapes
Choosing your tile shape based on the shape of your kitchen is a great way to achieve a coherent and well-thought-out look. So a more square space may benefit from square tiles, while for a longer space, consider rectangular tiles to accentuate the shape of the room.

Browse more galley kitchens

Gaylord Design LLC

Hire a good team of professionals
Working with good architects and builders with solid industry knowledge will be instrumental in guiding you through the renovation. They should be able to hook you up with all the best suppliers, advise you on the newest building materials and processes (look to the Scandinavian countries for inspiration here), and they’ll know any pitfalls to look out for.

Hopefully these words give you a starting point for further investigation into any project you want to undertake.

OSCAR E. FLORES DESIGN STUDIO, LLC

TELL US…
Have you recently renovated your kitchen? Share your advice and tips in the Comments below.

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Kitchen of the Week: Supersized Storage in a Striking Surrey Kitchen

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Kitchen of the Week: Supersized Storage in a Striking Surrey Kitchen- Having renovated several homes in a row, the family that bought this house in Surrey was drawn to its neat and new appearance. It had been recently built and needed very little work – or so they initially thought. It was only after they’d moved in that they realised the kitchen needed help. ‘It was not completely finished, with some of the doors falling off,’ says Sofia Bune Strandh of Sola Kitchens, who redesigned the space. ‘The layout wasn’t great either.’ Time for a rethink. The owners had spotted a kitchen they loved in a magazine and copied it exactly. ‘They basically said, “We want this one!”’ says Sofia. The design is home to an impressive amount of cabinets, with a giant island workstation its striking centrepiece. ‘Now, the owners can cook, socialise and store everything in this space,’ says Sofia, ‘with key appliances designed in, so they can enjoy views of the garden beyond while cooking.’

Sola Kitchens

Kitchen at a Glance
Who lives here A Swedish couple with their three children
Property A five-bedroom detached house
Location Cobham, Surrey
Size 15m x 5.5m
Designer Sofia Bune Strandh of Sola Kitchens

‘Storage and work space were priorities for the owner,’ says Sofia. The previous kitchen had little of either, so Sofia designed in a supersized island. ‘It measures 5m by 1.2m,’ says Sofia. ‘It’s big! Now, the children and any guests have somewhere to sit while the owner prepares meals.’ The Bianco Crystal granite worktop overhangs the units at one end and the cabinets dogleg in on this side, so that stools can be positioned here to create a seating area.

Sola Kitchens

Mounting the large island on legs helped it to look lighter and created a floating effect. ‘It was a challenge to do this, though, because of its sheer size and weight,’ says Sofia. ‘For extra stability, the cupboards are supported by thick steel beams hidden inside the legs.’

Sigma dual-fuel range, Britannia. Dining table and chairs, Skandium.

How to add dramatic black without it overpowering your space

Sola Kitchens

Adjacent to the island, a long run of cabinets contains further storage, a concealed fridge-freezer at one end, a larder at the other and a sink in the middle. ‘The eating area at the far end of the room has a dresser that’s about 5m long,’ says Sofia. ‘It’s in the same style as the run of units, with those little glass insets at the top of the doors, and has the same dimensions. It means this long wall looks completely symmetrical.’

Curtains and wallpaper in muted tones help to soften the monochrome of the cabinets. They were suggested by interior designer Georgie Rudge of Town House Interiors who worked with Sofia on this project.

Ceiling-mounted extractor fan, Westin. Arte Flamant Suite V wallpaper in Lin Smoke, Brian Yates.

Sola Kitchens

The owner’s huge collection of cookbooks is stored in this cabinet. For balance, an identical cabinet stands on the other side of the doorway. There is a formal dining space beyond, but the family eat most of their meals at the round table, situated at the opposite end of the kitchen.

Sola Kitchens

The kitchen was made in Sweden and hand-painted on site, and channels many features of classic Scandi style. ‘It’s quite sleek with no fussy details,’ says Sofia. ‘The doors and drawers have a little bit of beading around them. We don’t put a panel on the fronts, to keep them flat for a very clean look.’ The cabinet fronts are all made from solid ash. ‘It has a very beautiful grain,’ adds Sofia, ‘which is visible through the paint.’ The handles are polished chrome.

Newport Shaker-style kitchen, Sola Kitchens.

10 reasons to work an island into your scheme

Sola Kitchens

The owner wanted the range cooker to be incorporated into the island. ‘It means she can look out towards the garden when cooking,’ says Sofia. A prep sink was also included in the island for practical reasons. ‘Now, you don’t have to carry hot pans from the island over to the main sink behind,’ says Sofia. ‘A small sink right next to the cooker is a safer solution.’

The ceiling spotlights were already installed. ‘There are a lot of them, so it does look a bit like a landing strip!’ says Sofia. ‘We added the pendant lights over the island and the chandelier over the table to create a slightly cosier light.’

Sink, Blanco.

Sola Kitchens

Solid oak drawers in the larder provide storage for bread and vegetables. All the cabinet interiors are unpainted oak, so the timber can be enjoyed in its natural state. It also makes a warm contrast to the black and white door and drawer fronts.

Sola Kitchens

Lights fitted inside the tall larder come on when the doors are opened. ‘The ceiling height is about 3m in this room and we built up to about 2.75m,’ explains Sofia. ‘This makes the most of that very tall ceiling and also means the kitchen looks well proportioned.’

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Share your thoughts on this striking, spacious kitchen in the Comments below.

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Kitchen Planning: How to Make Your Small Kitchen Look Bigger

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Kitchen Planning: How to Make Your Small Kitchen Look Bigger- Small kitchens can be difficult to design: they have to be highly functional while feeling as airy as possible, and store lots of kitchen kit yet still leave room for a cook or two to create their favourite dishes. But with thoughtful planning, even a small kitchen can be both beautifully efficient and a lovely space in which to spend time. The trick is to create the illusion of more space using clever storage, a smart layout and a harmonious colour palette.

Be inspired by the 10 space-boosting tips you can steal from these small kitchens to kick off your planning process.

APT Renovation Limited

Maximise your worktop
When planning the layout of a small kitchen, one of the most important aspects to consider is surface space. Sections of uninterrupted worktop help to create the illusion of a larger kitchen, as well as providing practical prep space for cooking.

This kitchen has been carefully designed with three decent-sized worktop runs, as well as a smart layout that allows easy access to the cooker and sink. The galley arrangement also has the benefit of being free from awkward and often inefficient corner cupboards.

Explore more stylish galley kitchens

Sustainable Kitchens

Choose wall cabinets carefully
Wall units can make a bijou kitchen feel claustrophobic. Take a tip from this elegant blue-grey number and (where ceiling height permits) keep cabinets long and lean, rather than square, to lead the eye upwards and emphasise the height of the room.

By leaving a gap between the cupboards and the ceiling, and using light-reflecting metro tiles and a pale wall colour, the edges of the space are blurred, making it seem bigger.

Martins Camisuli Architects

Incorporate breathing space
In tiny kitchens, it can be tempting to cram in as many cabinets as possible. However, leaving a little room around doors and windows will avoid making the room feel cramped and uninviting.

In this kitchen, the window has been carefully accommodated, with low drawers beneath it and slim floating shelves to the side. There’s still plenty of storage, but the space feels more open.

Get more ideas for giving your kitchen character

Roundhouse

Look beyond the obvious
This kitchen in the eaves makes maximum use of the available space, despite the potentially awkward sloping ceiling. Tucking the u-shaped cabinet run under the lowest part of the ceiling packs plenty of storage into an otherwise dead space.

Positioning the hob on the extended corner allows enough height for an extractor fan – in this case a neat cylinder fan designed for kitchen islands, which provides ventilation and sculptural appeal. Induction hobs are a good choice for exposed areas as they don’t get hot, and some can be treated as an extra work surface when not in use.

The longest wall with the highest ceiling is reserved for a tall bank of cabinets and also houses the fridge and oven.

Fredric Boukari Photography

Keep it simple
If your kitchen is truly tiny, it’s wise to keep the design simple, as you’re likely to have a lot going on in a compact area. Stick to one or two colours and choose similar shades for cabinets and walls.

A small sink means more worktop space and a built-in extractor fan preserves the line of a cabinet run – and may offer a smidgen of extra storage above, too.

Alex Maguire Photography

Do drawers, not doors
When space is limited, you need sleek, effective storage that you can pack with everything from plates to pasta. In general, drawers are more useful and accessible than cupboards, from which you often need to pull everything out to find the one thing you’re looking for, which always seems to be at the back!

Wide, deep drawers are ideal for storing pans, while a slim drawer beneath the oven makes a handy spot for baking trays. For a slick finish, choose fronts with inset handles.

Christoph Kremtz Fotografie

Master the micro galley
In a long, narrow room, a classic galley kitchen isn’t always the best idea, especially if you’re left with a corridor-like sliver of space down the middle. Instead, think about fitting one linear run of cabinets and storing some of your less-used items in an adjacent room.

This kitchen features a row of extra-slimline cabinets (on the right), perfect for glassware and smaller crockery, which doesn’t encroach too much on the floor space around the main appliances, making the room feel more spacious.

Denis Esakov

Line up a table
When trying to accommodate a dining area in a small kitchen, consider positioning the table parallel to the worktop so it can act as a secondary prep space when necessary. Transparent chairs and clear glass globe lights create minimal visual obstruction.

Nina Struve Photography

Use your open-plan assets
If your kitchen is part of a larger open-plan space, consider the area as a whole. This chic white kitchen is built with a peninsula that projects into the room. By making this section double-sided, unobtrusive storage is added and the large worktop also functions as an island.

Openstudio Architects Ltd

Pack it away
This clever compact kitchen packs away behind folding doors when not in use to preserve the living space within this small studio flat. Drawers and shelves are fitted in like a jigsaw puzzle and there’s enough space for a small oven. Now you see it…

Openstudio Architects Ltd

…now you don’t. Behind the sliding doors, stairs lead to a mezzanine level. The all-white scheme keeps the structure as low-key as possible.

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Kitchen Planning: New Ways to Zone a Kitchen Beyond the Usual Triangle

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Kitchen Planning: New Ways to Zone a Kitchen Beyond the Usual Triangle- Many designers plan kitchen layouts using the traditional ‘working triangle’ method, with the fridge, hob/oven and sink arranged in a triangle formation. Developed in the 1940s, the kitchen triangle came about as a way to reduce unnecessary steps between appliances and improve kitchen efficiency as a result.

While it can work brilliantly, this classic method also has some limitations – and it doesn’t work for every kitchen. It also assumes there are only three appliances (fridge, hob/oven and sink), whereas most modern kitchens now include multiple appliances. So could it be time to look at an alternative way of zoning your kitchen to achieve your perfect design? Read on to find out more.

The Myers Touch

What are kitchen zones?
Zones in a kitchen are the separate work sites within a layout, each intended for different tasks and activities. The primary zones are those for preparing food, cooking and washing up.

Depending on your space and preferences, further zones can be set up. These might include areas for serving and eating food, as pictured above, where the eating area is separate from the cooking area, and zones for working or study, or for watching TV. You might even want a separate spot for pets.

The purpose of kitchen zones is to maximise both the space and ease of use, while retaining a good-looking scheme.

Sustainable Kitchens

What’s in the prep zone?
The kitchen prep zone is really important, as this is where we spend around 70% of our time when using our kitchens. It should include ample work surface for completing everyday tasks, including chopping, peeling, mixing, making a sandwich and more.

Preferably, your storage units and fridge should be in close range of the prep worktop, allowing easy access to ingredients, utensils, pots and pans. Similarly, the kitchen bin should be located within the prep zone, so you can easily dispose of peelings and packaging without having to cross a kitchen and risk messy spills on the floor.

In the market for a fridge-freezer? Check out this expert advice on choosing the perfect one for you

LWK Kitchens London

What’s in the cook zone?
The kitchen cook zone typically contains the oven, hob, extractor, warming drawer(s) and any other cooking-related appliances. Ideally, the cook zone should sit adjacent to the prep zone, as pictured, or else opposite it.

You should easily be able to lift newly prepared food into a pan or the oven from your prep work surface. Importantly, this will mean there will be less distance for hot food to travel back to the worktop from the oven or hob – safer both for the cook and other household members, since you won’t have to cross a kitchen while carrying hot food.

Teddy Edwards

Will a cook zone work on an island or in a galley layout?
If the cook zone is opposite the prep zone, such as in a galley or island layout, the oven/hob and sink should be slightly staggered rather than directly opposite each other. This means you turn through fewer degrees between your appliance and sink.

This is not only the most efficient arrangement, it’s also safer; when turning from hob to sink to drain your piping-hot rice or vegetables, this staggering allows a clear line of sight should anyone else enter the kitchen, reducing the likelihood of accidents and burns.

Wondering whether you have room for a kitchen island? Read this expert advice

APT Renovation Limited

What’s in the wash zone?
The wash zone typically includes your sink, dishwasher and washing machine. Around 20% of our time in the kitchen is spent clearing up after ourselves, yet there’s no fun in this, so it pays to plan an efficient setup, letting you finish up quickly and get back to relaxing.

Ideally, your wash zone should be separated from the prep and cook zone, although having your bin within reach of the sink and dishwasher makes it easy to scrape, rinse and load plates. Similarly, wall cupboards should be at arm’s reach, making unloading a dishwasher full of mugs, plates and glassware an easy task.

If your kitchen design means you’ll avoid traipsing back and forth across the room carrying things, you’ll be done faster. It’s also safer, since there’s less risk of breakages, or someone tripping over an open dishwasher door.

LWK Kitchens London

What’s the best way to map out zones and workflow?
During the initial concept stage of planning a kitchen, talk with your kitchen designer about what you want and how you use, or would like to use, your kitchen. They can then assess the space to establish the best layout for achieving this, effecting a smooth flow from one work zone to the next.

Ideally the zones will flow in order of use from: fridge > work space and prep zone > cook zone > serving zone or table > wash zone.

This is evident within the kitchen plan above, where the workflow moves anti-clockwise from prep zone, to cook zone, to serving area, to washing up zone.

Here’s how the finished kitchen looks…

LWK Kitchens London

This kitchen was designed for a busy family home with two enthusiastic cooks, who were also keen to retain a clean and tidy kitchen. To facilitate this, and because space permitted, we included an abundance of storage options. This included a LeMans full-height corner storage unit by Hacker to maximise otherwise dead space, as well as additional storage along the left-hand wall.

While they had a separate dining room for main meals, the family requested a breakfast bar where they could serve up food and enjoy quick snacks, and where the kids might do their homework.

Finally, it’s worth noting that the fridge is sited clear of the cooking zone. Fridges will often appear on the periphery of a kitchen, as it makes them easily accessible for hungry family members, but without them getting in the way of any cooking while hunting for treats.

TLA Studio

What are overlapping zones?
Zone overlapping usually occurs if space is restricted, but this can work just fine as long as there is sufficient workspace for both activities. For example, an overlap of the prep and cook zone is common, consisting of work surface on either side of the hob or oven. This allows separate areas for preparing food as well as landing it after cooking, so the zone overlap doesn’t impede the user.

However, some overlaps of the principle zones should be avoided where possible. This includes an overlap of the prep and wash zones.

Imagine you decide to make dessert following a main course, but your fridge (which is integral to prepping food) infringes on the wash zone. If someone else was still clearing dinner plates, you would certainly be in their way. Equally, someone unloading a dishwasher would be under your feet as you try to whip up that dessert.

This overlap also doesn’t work because dirty dishes easily become lost among those still being used for food preparation.

If this is unavoidable in a small kitchen, then the sink should separate the prep area from the wash zone, as pictured in this compact but well-organised space.

Sunflower Creations

Which workflow rules can be bent?
As with overlapping zones, you don’t have to follow the exact workflow as detailed above, just so long as the format remains close. For example, the fridge could be moved out of the prep zone, and separated from it by the cook zone, as in this kitchen. These zones are similar, so it doesn’t impact the workflow too much.

Zona Cucina

How flexible can I be?
Essentially, kitchen zoning is based on a designer’s knowledge of aesthetics, usability and efficiency, but the beauty of this approach is that there’s room for flexibility.

Kitchen design and kitchen products have changed significantly since the dawn of the working triangle in the 1940s. More than this, not all kitchen spaces are the same, and neither are users’ needs.

Ultimately, it’s your kitchen and you that has to use it, so when working with a designer, don’t be afraid to ask for changes to the suggested layout and work zones. Modifying the flow can work (and if any requested changes impact too heavily on its success, a good designer will advise you of this). This ensures you can make a fully informed decision to achieve a perfectly personalised kitchen layout.

TELL US…
Does your kitchen include separate work zones and, if so, is it helpful? What additional zones do you have in your kitchen? Please share your thoughts, tips and photos in the Comments below.

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