Kitchen Design Ideas

Kitchen Design Ideas

Universal Design
People who inhabit and visit the houses we live in come in all shapes and sizes, ranging from infants to seniors, with various ever-changing abilities and skills. As we grow up, grow old and welcome new people to our homes, our housing needs change. A house that is designed and constructed to reflect the principles of universal design will be safer and more accommodating to the diverse range of ages and abilities of people who live in and visit these homes.

Everyone appreciates having a kitchen that is safe, spacious and easy to use. The successful design of a universally accessible kitchen starts with identifying potential users and anticipating their needs.

Kitchen design
People are demanding functional, usable and flexible kitchen designs that will work for their families. Core universal design concepts are being incorporated into many aspects of kitchen design including appliances, cabinets, lighting and flooring.

Also gaining in popularity is the concept of “aging in place.” By providing design features that follow the principles of universal design and FlexHousingTM and by incorporating flexibility and adaptability into kitchen design, the life and usability of a kitchen are increased and families, couples and individuals are able to stay in their homes and neighbourhoods as they grow and age.

Design considerations
A universally designed kitchen is comfortable and safe for all family members. It considers all the design elements of a kitchen:

• its location in the house
• location of appliances and workspaces
• floor, wall and countersurfaces
• types of lighting
• ways to reduce noise
• overall use of colour and space.

Ask yourself

• Are you a gourmet cook or do you prefer to microwave prepared food?
• Do you have a disability that affects the way you prepare food?
• Are there usually two or three cooks in the kitchen at one time?
• Does a caregiver do most of the cooking?
• Do you have a child you need to keep an eye on while preparing meals?
• Would a nearby space for homework be useful?

These are important considerations that will help you identify your kitchen design requirements. Your requirements should address the following factors:

• Efficient design
• Manoeuvring space
• Minimal effort
• Adaptability
• Ease of cleaning
• Audibility
• Safety.

Efficient design
Efficient design begins with general planning issues, such as the location of the kitchen within the home:

• Is the kitchen near the primary entrance?
• Is it close to the dining area?
• Is garbage easy to take out?

Traditionally, kitchen designers have focused on a compact work triangle formed by the sink, stove and refrigerator. In reality, we must expand the triangle to include all work areas as well as garbage disposal and the dishwasher. If your ability to move around the kitchen while carrying things is limited, it is even more important to consider these additional elements within the traditional work triangle. Designing an efficient kitchen also involves keeping the work triangle compact. Logical, sequential, routine movements will define the way your family use the kitchen and will help you design a kitchen with a work triangle that meets your needs.

A U-shaped kitchen may be the most convenient layout for one or two people working in a
kitchen, but having a work area that is accessible from outside the “U” is also advisable.
A galley-style kitchen requires less space and provides people with more than one entry and exit point.

However, a galley-style kitchen usually limits a person using a wheelchair to a side approach to counters and appliances and does not provide enough turning space.
An L-shaped kitchen, with or without an island, provides several work surfaces, including some outside the primary work triangle, which means people can work without bumping into each other.

All kitchens have various routes, some that everyone uses and others that are only occasionally used. Primary throughways should be designed outside the expanded work triangle. Remember that  dishwasher and refrigerator doors may be open when the family is racing through the kitchen.

An island creates alternate work areas. A sink and an electrical outlet in the island maximize usability and convenience for everyone. Appropriate size and location of both garbage bins and recycle bins in the kitchen is appreciated by everyone and reduces clutter.

For people with limited agility or mobility, a wheeled trolley can be useful for carrying food from the kitchen to the dining area.

Also remember to consider window height. People should be able to see through windows when sitting and there should be easy access to window controls. It is a good idea to reduce the number of doorways that open into a kitchen. All doors should have a minimum clear width of 810 mm (32 in.) and should be designed tomaximize manoeuvring space.

Manoeuvring space
A design for someone who uses a walker or wheelchair should allow manoeuvring space of 750 x 1,200 mm (30 x 47 in.) in front of controls, work areas and appliances. This work area can be part of the overall required minimum manoeuvring space of 1,500 x 1,500 mm (59 x 59 in.) in the work triangle. For power wheelchairs and scooters, which have a larger turning radius, the required minimum manoeuvring space is 1,800 x 1,800 mm (71 x 71 in.).

Minimal effort
Designing for minimal effort is an important principle of universal kitchen design.
Planning for efficiency considers the location and relationship of all major elements within the kitchen.

This will result in the placement of similar or related items in the same location within the kitchen.

Emptying the dishwasher is easier if the dishes and glasses are stored nearby. Baking is easier if baking supplies are close to a work surface and the oven. Meal clean-up is easier if the table is located close to sink, dishwasher and garbage.

Flexibility and efficiency of effort can be achieved through such design considerations as providing storage options at a variety of heights.

Planning for efficiency of effort and ease of use incorporates features such as more lighting, a place to sit down to work, a lower workstation, and storing  materials where they can be easily seen and reached.

Other kitchen design components that increase usability include:

• Continuous countertops that allow pots, dishes and so on to slide along
• Hands-free faucets
• Wall-mounted oven at countertop height
• Countertop convection/ microwave oven
• Open shelving rather than cupboards with doors
• Space for using a wheeled trolley
• Resilient flooring rather than a hard surface.

Adaptability
Adaptability can be achieved by:

• installing adjustable height counters
• buying a refrigerator with a left-right-hinged reversible door
• installing adjustable shelving in cupboards
• installing drawers for storage rather than under-counter cabinets.

Ease of cleaning
When making decisions about new appliances, floors and countertops, remember to consider surface finishes.

For example, glass cooktops tend to be easier to clean whereas stainless steel appliances show fingerprints and may require specialized cleaning products. Some countertop surfaces need yearly maintenance with a sealer to protect them from staining and harbouring bacteria.

Kitchen cleaning products should be stored in easy-to-reach locations, preferably in drawers or baskets that slide out. If family members include children, people with Alzheimer’s, people who are very forgetful or who have developmental disabilities, give careful thought to the storage and security of these products.

Audibility
Special thought should be given to the ways that people who are hard of hearing or deaf will be alerted to timer buzzers and smoke alarms. Appliances that provide information in two different formats (visual and audio signals for example) are widely available.

Efforts should be made to limit sources of noise, especially when the kitchen is used by persons who are hard of hearing. Soft, absorbent surfaces such as cork flooring can reduce noise in the kitchen. Also consider creating a quiet work area outside the main kitchen area as it may be helpful for people with learning disabilities or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and may reduce the busyness of the kitchen.

Safety
Safety considerations in the kitchen deserve the highest consideration. Small rugs and mats in the kitchen should be avoided because they are a tripping hazard and an obstacle for many people with mobility impairments.

There are situations where it is safest to limit access to appliances in the home, for example, when a member of the household suffers from Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. If this is the case, consider installing an override switch that must be activated before using an appliance or outlet in the kitchen. Install the switch in a place that is inaccessible to those who might be at risk of injuring themselves.

Consider providing wall space in the kitchen for a notice board. Although a notice board is a useful feature for everyone, it is of particular benefit to people whose cognitive abilities are changing or who are losing their memory. Post reminders and safety notes on the board.

Plan for easy access to water, a fire extinguisher and the gas shut-off valve in case of emergency.

Contact your REALTOR at Coldwell Banker Vantage Realty for more tips and advice on how kitchen design can affect the price of your home.

Reference