Creating a seamless easy-to-use kitchen

ARTICLE Maggie Gardner 

Q:

“How can we create a seamless easy-to-use kitchen?”

A:

A kitchen which is a pleasure to work in must have a well-planned layout to ensure the work flow between each zone flows easily and the cook is not doing extra mileage or bending and straining to access things. 
A kitchen must have good storage, well placed lighting, adequate bench space and carefully considered heights and positioning of appliances and overhead cabinets to ensure safety of the users. Drawers in under bench cabinets are an ergonomic must. As a kitchen designer, I make the best of each space by using clever solutions which keep the kitchen tidy, optimise storage and allow easy access to food and kitchen equipment in each zone, thereby creating an efficient and ergonomic work space.
A place for everything – everything has a place. Drawers can be specified in any width and height and don’t overlook internal drawers, which are great stacked vertically in a tall cabinet for food storage. I specify Blum drawers for the kitchen. Blum drawer inserts can organise utensils, knives, boards, spices and oils near the food preparation area make cooking a pleasure.  Rubbish bins with SERVO-DRIVE uno at top drawer level makes rubbish disposal fast and efficient – push to open with an elbow or knee when your hands are full.
Kitchens today are social spaces so allow 1100-1200mm between benches so two cooks or the whole family can work in the kitchen together.

Read more about Effective storage solutions. 

This article by Maggie Gardner featured on page 37 in Issue 020 of New Zealand Renovate Magazine. New Zealand's first and only magazine solely dedicated to home renovations.

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