Remodeling a Kitchen?

10 Helpful Measurement Suggestions

Paying close attention to measurements, as well as aesthetic appeal, can make your finalized kitchen all the more convenient and harmonized:

• To improve efficiency and balance, it’s a good rule of thumb to ensure the area between the sink, refrigerator, and stove, or the work triangle, measures out to 26′ or less. No single side should be longer than 9′ or shorter than 4′.
• It’s always a good idea to choose at least 13′ of base cabinets, 12′ of wall cabinets, and 11’ of countertop in kitchens that are smaller than 150 sq. feet. Larger areas, however, should be outfitted with at least 16′ of base cabinets, 15 1/2′ of wall cabinets, and 16 1/2′ of countertop.
• Work aisles should be at least 42″ wide in one-cook kitchens, and about 48″ wide in multi-cook kitchens. This provides added convenience and accessibility.
• For substantial counter-space to complete prep work, cooking and, aim for no less than 24″ in on one side of your sink and about 18″ on the other side.
• To ensure you have enough space to easily unload groceries, measure at least 15″ of counter-space on the handle side of the refrigerator. For side-by-side models, leave 15″ of room open on both sides. Additionally, you can add a grocery landing (at the most 48″ away) across from the refrigerator.
• Installing a dishwasher within 36″ of the sink’s edge, and leaving at least 21″ of space open next to it provides greater accessibility and faster, easier cleanup.
• Specifying about 15″ of counter-space that’s at least 16″ deep within proximity of a microwave or oven is a good way to promote efficiency and ease-of-use.
• Installing entry, appliance, cabinet doors carefully and strategically prevents obstructions, making it easier to move about the area freely.
• Setting up work counters that are of varying heights can prevent repetitive-motion injury. For instance, counters used for chopping and seated-work should be somewhere between 28″ and 36″ off of the floor. For general kitchen tasks, they should be between 36″ to 48″. For taller cooks, counters may be higher.
• Correctly installing a cabinet above a cooktop is vital. For fireproof materials, allow for at least 24″ of clearance. On the other hand, a clearance of 30″ is needed for more vulnerable materials.