Kitchen planning

Use metric measurements as this is what manufacturers use

Planning your kitchen
Start your kitchen plan by mapping out your current kitchen layout (or empty kitchen if you plan
to start from scratch) on graph paper. Use metric measurements, as this is what kitchen
manufacturers use. Highlight where the electric sockets are, how these return to the fuse box and
where the plumbing and waste pipes are.
Add windows and any other restrictions, such as a chimney breast and doorway, then mark
which kitchen walls are external or internal. f you ha!e a boiler in the kitchen, highlight where
and what type of boiler it is.
Kitchen gadgets and electrics
"ork out how many sockets you#ll need at work$surface le!el. %ost people ha!e a kettle, toaster
and microwa!e in regular use, so it&s good to think about placing these somewhere easy to
access. 'ther kitchen gadgets to consider are breadmakers, coffee machines, food processors,
fryers, hand blenders and mixers, health grills, (ug blenders, (uicers, slow cookers, smoothie
makers and steamers.
See our kitchen appliance re!iews area to find the best kitchen gadgets $ and information on how
to buy them.
Kitchen storage
)ey to the design of your kitchen are your storage re*uirements. Asses your needs $ what you
ha!e to store away and how much storage space you will therefore need. +onsider also what you
want to be on display or hidden away.
,hink about the different types of storage a!ailable- kitchen islands, open shel!es, pull$out units,
corner storage racks, hooks, freestanding units such as dressers, floor$to$ceiling cupboards, plate
racks and wine racks (built in or freestanding). 'nce you ha!e the dimensions of your kitchen,
you can then determine what types of storage will fit where and how these will best ser!e your
needs.
An option for a compact working triangle
Kitchen planning checklist
)eep the work triangle distance (see picture, right) between the sink, fridge and cooker at
.m or less. ,his makes cooking easier, as you&ll ha!e shorter distances to tra!el.
Allow for a /0cm clearance between an open kitchen door and the nearest opposite unit.
1nsure at least 230cm clearance between runs of kitchen units, so that two people can
mo!e around at once.
Standard 40cm$deep units will be a tight s*uee5e if your kitchen is less than 260cm wide
from one wall to the other. Sol!e this by looking for slimmer 70cm$deep units.
8ea!e at least /0cm clearance between the worktop and wall$mounted cupboards. %ost
unit doors open up to a maximum of 40cm.
9ishwasher doors usually open by 40cm and o!en doors by 70cm. A typical worktop
height is :0cm, although this will not be ideal for e!erybody. 1nsure that elbow height is
a few centimetres abo!e kitchen worktops.
Key kitchen statistics
,he table below shows some a!erage si5e guidelines for kitchen units, worktops and kitchen
sinks-
Key kitchen statistics
Floor kitchen unit
sizes sizes Wall-mounted unit Worktops Sink units
Height .3cm .3;:0cm 3;/cm 27;26cm
Width <0;40cm <0;40cm
3.7m, <m or /m and
cut to fit
.4;:7cm
Depth Up to 40cm <0cm
9epth of cabinet plus
<cm o!erhang
//;70cm
Appliance measurements
Measurement Cooker
Fridge
!reezer
Dish"asher
#!ullslimline$
Washing machine
tum%le dryer
&'tractor
!an
Height :0cm 2/0;260cm 67=60;66cm 67cm 2/cm
Width 70cm 70;40cm 40=/7cm 74;40cm 73;:0cm
Depth 40cm 74;47cm 7/;40=7/;40cm 73;43cm <0;40cm
(a%le notes
nformation supplied by the U) %etric Association ; !isit www.metric.org.uk for more information.
Kitchen companies and local kitchen specialists
f you&re unsure about planning your kitchen design yourself, there are a number of companies
that can do this for you. "e&!e rated a range of kitchen brands, such as >?@ and "ickes, on
their planning ser!ices, customer ser!ice and installation *uality. Aou can also find local kitchen
specialists recommended by other "hichB members at "hichB 8ocal.
"hether you choose to design your kitchen yourself or use a company, see our instillation
checklist to help you keep on top of your kitchen reno!ation.