If you’re thinking about remodeling your kitchen, this is the perfect time to address any problems that you may have with the current design. Not all kitchens are made to be useful and it’s all too common to get stuck with a design that forces you to walk all over the place just to cook dinner. You may also find that there are some elements of your kitchen that just make life a little more difficult than it should be. Instead of replicating these issues with your new kitchen, it’s time to figure out what you can do to make your life easier and your kitchen even better.
Let’s start out with the most basic design principle that is present in all well designed kitchens. Most have what is called The Triangle. This means that should be able to draw a triangle from the stove to the sink to the refrigerator. This makes your workflow a lot easier and cuts down on the amount of time spent walking back and forth. Most kitchens utilize this design principle to some degree, even if it’s a galley or a large space.
It’s best to plan out your new kitchen on paper first so that you can get an idea of where you want to place everything. Try out variations of The Triangle on paper to see what you can come up with. It should be pretty easy to place these three items and then build out the rest of your kitchen from there. Even if you’re working with a center island, this principle is still quite effective.
Now, let’s fill in the rest of your kitchen. If you plan on having a dishwasher, you’re going to want to put it right next to the sink. It sounds like a given, but you would be surprised by how many kitchens have a dishwasher that is too far away. Next, you’ll want to decide where you want to put your cupboards for your dishes. Most people prefer to place them above the dishwasher to make it easier to put everything away.
Let’s move onto the cupboards that you’re going to use for your pots and pans. Again, it’s best to place these close to the stove to make it easier to find what you need. If you’re going to have your stove in a center island, make sure that the island will have plenty of cupboard space. It’s also a good idea to include some drawers for utensils.
The pantry or food cupboards should be located in between the refrigerator and the stove. This makes it easier to grab what you need quickly, on your way back and forth. No matter how big your kitchen may be, when you’re using The Triangle, you’ll be able to cook more effectively.
On a related note, it’s also a good idea to consider how much counter space you’re going to need. You really cannot have too much space, so try to add as much as possible near your sink, near the stove and near the refrigerator to make food prep a lot easier.
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If you’re stuck with some aging appliances and replacing them isn’t in your budget, there are a few tricks that you can use to give them a facelift and make them more energy efficient, on the cheap. For this article, we’re going to focus on refreshing your refrigerator and dishwasher, but these tips will work for just about any large appliance you have in your home.
Now, let’s move onto to the dishwasher. Repeat the same processes above, making sure that it is completely cleaned out. You can also add the same contact paper to this appliance so that you have a uniform look for your appliances. You may need to replace the gasket on the dishwasher if it is old and worn out. These wear out pretty quickly since the area inside is so hot and humid. Again, you’ll be saving money on energy costs by taking the time to install a new gasket.
