Design- Kitchen

014-No matter how frequently you use your kitchen, there are times when you need it to be designed of efficiency.
One of the best designs i have ever seen was in an apartment.
It was not elaborate but was actually a narrow room with counters and a sink on one side and a stove, cabinet and refrigerator on the other side.
As you entered the room on the right was:
counter with silverware drawer and dishwasher--sink----pantry

On the left was: refrigerator---cabinet---stove --exit to hall
Several things made it work smoothly.

You could cook and not interfere with the people getting dishes to set the table or items out of the refrigerator.

After you cooked you could place food on the counter to your left and people did not have to cross over to get the cooked food to place on the table.

The exit to the hall allowed people to enter and get to the pantry or laundry room without interrupting the cook.

The cook was within arms length of the pantry if ingredients were needed.

Pantries are great!
There is something about the logistics of a pantry that allows for much more storage.

The laundry room off of the kitchen allows the cook to monitor clothes while cooking.
The laundry room shelves also has large shelves for big items.

An Extremely important feature to have in a kitchen is a space between the refrigerator and the stove. This is a great place for that counter that was mentioned in the apartment design. It also makes a great storage space for large pots and pans.
Often I have seen the refrigerator adjacent to the stove and presents the possibility of a fire hazard.
Many refrigerators are covered Whit a vinyl that will ignite if heated.

One of the most disturbing cases of this stove adjacent to a fridge was in an upscale high-rise building.

The problems is that I know a professional team of designers had put this building together and with all of their expertise they had left the residents of the building venerable to fire hazards with their over site.

Do not assume that your building is well designed and all features are safe .
Do your own evaluation!

Another good feature to consider in designing your kitchen is pull out drawers instead of cabinets with doors and shelves.
It allows much better use of the backs of these areas because you can pull them out to get to the back and especially in the bottom, below the cabinets it will be much more convenient when you do not have to get o your knees to look in the back of the shelves.