Kitchen Design and Safety Tips
Adding Interest And Accessibility To Your Kitchen
One size never fits all in a kitchen — neither from a functional nor a design standpoint. Good kitchen plans accommodate users’ varying heights, ages, mobility limitations, dexterity, and, most important, the changes in those elements which, inevitably, come with time.
Similarly, aesthetic tastes are different. “Cookie cutter” kitchens lack interest and individuality. A well-designed space makes a statement about its users.
But the best kitchen plans accomplish both. These simple ideas can improve both the functionality and the look of your kitchen:
Vary Counter Heights
This creates work spaces for various tasks (mixing/baking vs. cutting/chopping for example), and will better accommodate cooks of varying stature, including seated cooks. Varying heights also adds an interesting design element. The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) recommends that at least two counter heights be offered, one between 28″ - 36″ and another between 36″ - 45.”
Raise the Dishwasher
Raising the dishwasher 9″- 12″ above the floor makes it more accessible and easier to load/unload because you don’t have to bend to reach the bottom rack. Doing so also creates a variance in counter height, as suggested above.
Lower Some Wall Cabinets
Who says wall cabinets should all be hung at the same height? Mix it up a bit and you’ll get more storage within a comfortable reach range. Cabinets can be placed right on the counter top, or can be stepped up and down to match changes in counter heights.
According to NKBA, for a standing person 5′3″ to 5′7″ tall, cabinet space between 15″ and 69″ above the floor is most accessible.
Roll it Out, Pull it Out
Maximize storage with drawers and roll-out shelves. In base cabinets, roll-outs improve accessibility by bringing pots and supplies out to you. Drawers of varying shapes and sizes used in or between upper and lower cabinets increase storage and add design interest. NKBA recommends including at least 120″ of drawer or roll-out shelf frontage in kitchens under 150 sq. ft., and 165″ in larger kitchens.
Is your current kitchen safe? Will your new kitchen be safe? Review this checklist of planning guidelines, developed by the National Kitchen & Bath Association. They’ll help reduce the risk of accidental burns, electrocution, fire, collisions and other mishaps.
- Keep household “traffic” out of the primary cook’s work triangle (the area between the refrigerator, sink and cooking surface).
- Plan a landing space (at least 15″ wide by 16″ deep) for hot dishes, pots and baking trays either next to, above, or directly across from both the microwave and oven.
- Include a minimum 15″ by 16″ landing space on one side of the cooktop in all kitchen, space must also be allowed on the opposite side of the appliance.
- Include: At least a 9″ wide counter space if the cooking surface is placed in an open run of counter.
- At least 3″ of counter clearance space if the cooking surface is at the end of a countertop which meets a wall. The wall should be protected by a flame retardant surface.
- At least 9″ of straight counter space if the cooking surface is on an island. Also allow a 9″ clearance at the back of island cooking surfaces.
- Select a cooking surface with control knobs at the front or side of the appliance.
- Place the microwave so its bottom is 24″ to 48″ above the floor.
- Make sure all major appliances used for surface cooking have a ventilation system, with a fan rated at 150 CFM minimum.
- Do not place a cooking surface below an operable window unless the window is at least 3″ behind it and more than 24″ above it.
- Put a fire extinguisher in a visible kitchen location, away from cooking equipment.
- Install smoke alarms near the kitchen.
- Be sure ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI) are specified for all electrical receptacles.
- Round, curve or clip countertop edges and corners to eliminate sharp edges.
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