When designing kitchens, you often hear about the work triangle in which the refrigerator, stove and sink are all placed so that they form a roughly equilateral triangle. This is a great concept to use when designing a kitchen, especially a smaller one, but another idea that is gaining popularity is the idea of work zones rather than the triangle. This means that you group appliances and fixtures according to use. Here’s how to apply work zones to your kitchen design.

First of all, make a list of all the things you do in your kitchen, such as storing food, prep, cooking, serving, eating, cleaning, etc. The tasks that are most important to you will become your work zones, and everything you need for that task will be situated together. For example you should place your dishwasher, sink and bins near each other to streamline kitchen cleanup. You could also have a particular cupboard or bench space for making coffee which would contain the coffee machine, mugs, coffee beans and sugar for making coffee.

Storage is important. In addition to grouping appliances and fixtures together, make sure you allow yourself enough storage in each zone to perform the task. You will also have to think about where to store certain things and where they will be needed the most.

Try to provide landing areas next to major appliances. This means that you will be able to quickly set down hot dishes without having to walk across the kitchen or potentially colliding into someone else. This area will also come in handy when preparing food.

If you have children, and you have the space, you may want to consider including a kids zone in your kitchen design. This is a great space where the kids can hang out, do homework and eat snacks, all while being in the kitchen together, without them getting underfoot.

Another good zone to have is one for guests. How often do you have people over and everyone ends up in the kitchen watching you cook? If you have a designated area such as an island or peninsula, it keeps guests out of your way, while still being able to socialise with them. If you add a few stools, a bar fridge and some cheese and dips, it’s the perfect place for your guests to hang out.

Using the idea of work zones to design your kitchen is a great idea, which will see you use your kitchen more effectively. It will be easier for you to do the tasks you do most often, and your family and friends will appreciate it too!

Here at Harrington Kitchens we consider your style, needs and budget when designing the best kitchen for you.

Harrington Kitchens offers a wide variety of kitchen designs and styles including:

For more information on our various kitchen designs, please visit our Gallery. Our Gallery brings together a selection of our custom kitchen designs ranging from traditional to contemporary kitchens. Each kitchen style has the flexibility to work in any home environment and can be designed to suit all tastes and budgets.

The entire Harrington Kitchens team is focused on designing kitchens that utilise premium materials and offer each and every customer the highest level of service. Harrington Kitchens partners with the best quality kitchen suppliers within the kitchen manufacturing industry and employs experienced and professional tradesmen to ensure the longevity of your custom designed kitchen.

For a free quote and free design consultation please contact us at Harrington Kitchens on (02) 4647 4474 or submit an online enquiry, alternatively you are welcome to visit the Harrington Kitchens Showroom at 12 Graham Hill Road Narellan NSW or 5 Old Hume Highway, Mittagong NSW.

See more great kitchen ideas in our Online Gallery.