Getting ready to drop some hard earned cash on your upcoming kitchen remodel? Let me share a few tips that will save you from making expensive mistakes and spare you a few remodel blues. Over the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing a total of TEN mistakes to avoid in any kitchen design and remodel.
Mistake #1: Ignoring the Working Triangle
You’re probably thinking “what’s a ‘working triangle’ and what does it have to do with my kitchen”!? If you’re getting ready to redesign and remodel your kitchen, understanding the kitchen work triangle is a great tool to ensure you’ve planned your space out well.
The kitchen triangle has three main work areas and is what connects your cooking surface (like your gas range or induction cooktop), the sink and refrigerator all in one space. The three points in your most efficient kitchen triangle concepts will have a distance of no less than 4’ and no more than 9’ from each of these components with no obstacles, such as a kitchen island, in between.
Working Triangle Design Examples
I bet there are some rule breakers out there thinking “I love a big island, but you’re saying it should not block the path from the sink, range and fridge… how does this work?”.
Here are a few ideas and solutions that you’ll appreciate for your kitchen layouts:
- Adding an under counter fridge (or even under counter drawers!) in the island cabinets closest to the sink side. The Zephyr Brisas Dual Zone Wine & Beverage Chiller is one my faves! It’s a trusted, quality brand that helps to satisfy the working triangle when a refrigerator is just a tad out of reach.
- Incorporating the main sink or even a prep sink in the island closest to the fridge and cooking surface. The Kohler 15” Vault Single Bowl has been one of my “go-to” prep sinks in many of my design projects.
- Keeping all stations of the working triangle on one side of the island.
A Working Triangle Approved Kitchen with an Island
What Happens if you Ignore the Triangle?
What happens if you ignore the working triangle in the kitchen? Well, there are no codes or rules as these are proven guides to maximize the efficiency of your kitchen that also increases your comfort in the home and of course the resale value. But imagine your refrigerator right next to the stove…where do you put your produce when you cook? Or how about that glorious island you want so badly between the range and refrigerator…you’ll have to get used to making the walk around when you’re planning and prepping meals.
The easiest solution here is to plan out those kitchen zones in the interior design stage of your project! Here are a few pro tips to help you design a well functioning kitchen using the working triangle:
- Aim for spacing out the sink, fridge and cooking surface at least 4’-0” apart, but no more than 9’-0”.
- Give yourself ample countertop space on either side of the sink and the cooking surface, at minimum 12” will do.
- When locating your refrigerator, make sure you have some countertop space to the left, right OR directly across (between 42-48” away) at an island or peninsula so you have a landing spot for taking produce and dishes out of the fridge.
Examples of Less-Efficiently Laid Out Kitchens
RESULT OF EXPENSIVE MISTAKE #1
Reworking your kitchen layout while in construction will increase your overall costs and cause delays in your remodel schedule.
VALUE SAVINGS
Save yourself the headache of spending more money to rework your kitchen layout and plan your working triangle well ahead of time!
Anxious to dive into all 10 EXPENSIVE KITCHEN MISTAKES TO AVOID? Get your hands on the “10 Expensive Mistakes to Avoid in Kitchen Remodeling” video by subscribing to our email list… and get ready to spare yourself the headaches of remodeling your kitchen. Rock on Remodelers!
Xoxo, Megan
