Bermuda Triangle? Ha! Have you heard about the Kitchen Work Triangle?

I couldn't talk enough about, the pleasures of enjoying my kitchen or the treasured moments we created in it. Reminiscing the aroma of the rising bread dough filling the kitchen on a Sunday morning, the whiff of grilled pork chops, meatloaf and Mac & Cheese with mash that only increased the intensity of my hunger pangs as I am making my way out of bed.

I remember finding mom serving dad a tuna sandwich and brewing his coffee.  Picking up a cookie with a glass of cold milk *A winning combination*. She would say, “Sit down, Hun, I’ll fry you some hash brown and eggs. You don’t have to be hungry to eat those”. I smell the chicken as it cooks. The joy of being in the kitchen with my mom, priceless! Seeing her mastering it was simply inspirational.

As a designer, these memories lead me when advising my clients about crafting their unique "living in the kitchen" story. A recent recurring question that kept coming up this week was ‘How can I manage my space in the best possible way?’

Well, have you ever herd about the ‘kitchen work triangle'? If not, you definitely should!

The "work triangle” is an imaginary straight line drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the cooktop, to the center of the refrigerator and back to the sink.  Since all primary tasks in a home kitchen are carried out between the cook top, the sink and the refrigerator. This concept will help you and your designer best in determining your most efficient kitchen layout. The objective is that when these three elements are in close proximity to one other, the kitchen will be easy and efficient to use, cutting down on wasted steps.

Here are some important basics you should know.

-          The sum of the work triangle's three sides should not exceed 26 feet, and each leg should measure between 4 and 9 feet.

-           The work triangle should not cut through an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches.

-           If the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area, or refrigerator.

-           No major traffic patterns should cross through the triangle.

-          A full-height obstacle, such as a tall cabinet, should not come between any two points of the triangle.

How does this come into play? Let's explore some trendy Italian kitchen cabinets visuals.

- The linear European kitchen is the best solution for a narrow space, if an eat-in kitchen is desired or if extra room is needed to carry out other activities the additional storage space can be obtained by using shelving. #PediniDune

-       The corner European kitchen (the L shape design) can be made up of a preparation area, a cleanup area and a storage area. The compositions/cabinets should make maximum use of the corner area making it totally accessible. #PediniMagika

-       In the live-in European kitchens, without limits of modularity, there are available solutions which vary in adapting to today’s architectural requirements. One option is creating ‘open shapes’ for storage and decorating that could be combined in harmony with the living space. #PediniSystemCollection

- The double corner European kitchen conforms to the shape of the existing walls; therefore there is the need to maximize the utilization of the space. Ergonomics and space economy both can be achieved by using curved surfaces. #PediniArtika

- The ‘U’ shape European kitchen takes up three sides with a flowing motion and offers the best ergonomic performance. It can accommodate an island in the middle or a peninsula at the end of the cabinets on one of the walls. #PediniIntegra

- A kitchen space that can accommodate a peninsula creates a work surface that can be used for various purposes by extending the area of the base cabinets. For example storage space can be obtained by an independent pantry area. #PediniIntegra

-       In a case where there are two functional walls and the European kitchen opens into the living room as well, the atoll (ring shaped) kitchen style can be adopted. There are only a few products that can create the atoll kitchen. This type of composition creates a highly concentrated area surrounding those who work in the kitchen; a large console that places everything within easy reach. #PediniArtika

-       For spaces without any functional wall, an ‘island kitchen’ can be assumed. The island European kitchen creates a multi-functional area around you concentrated in a limited space. This design can only be created by a few products available today. #PediniDune

There! You can fit dominant geometric shapes; the four-sided cabinetry varieties, square appliances, and curves in/ around a triangle and still have a fully functional kitchen.

What happens when life happens? 

Let's say you have a single wall kitchen (hello New Yorkers), or no walls at all, or your space cannot accommodate this imaginary triangle lines. The work triangle is not a must, but only a suggestion. Although it can be a helpful tool, don't let it frustrate you, it gives us an opportunity to think out of the box and play with it!

Each kitchen design project must address the available space and type of users / family that will be using it. Just keep in mind that you need to minimize traffic within the kitchen so the work, wash and preparation points are obstructed, interrupted or interfered with.

Feel free to post any questions you might have, or call us at Pedini New York 212-334-0944. Let's tackle this triangle!

Yours,

Rhoda.