Kick-start the kitchen construction

Kitchens are the heart of every home; the room that keeps the show going!

Key points

• Every family has a different way of cooking and that needs to be considered on priority while planning the kitchen design.
• The kitchen work triangle connects the three significant functional zones – cooking, cleaning, and storage.
• The main illuminance can come from ceiling and pendant lights while task lights should be continued above the counter along with under-cabinet LED strips.
• A kitchen is a deeply personal space to the members of the family using it and should be curated as per their needs.

Kitchens are the heart of every home; the room that keeps the show going! A good kitchen works well when various ingredients come together in the right proportions. It is the space where a sizeable portion of daily life unfolds and where all the major activities take place. It shouldn't just look pretty on the first day, but should have room for future evolvement. Here are some pointers for a well-functioning kitchen.

Every family has a different way of cooking and that needs to be considered on priority while planning the kitchen design. From decisions like having a closed kitchen or an open one with a view and involvement of the family members to keeping crockery on open shelves or neatly tucked away – these impact daily movement and can define the design.

Storage in a kitchen is as significant as salt in food. Planning the storage should be done keeping in mind not just the current needs of the family, but the future needs as well. Provisions for upgrades in appliances should be planned for in advance. All items including everyday utensils should have a home to minimise clutter. Appliances should be well stored, too, without them taking over counter space. Pantry units for staples and tall appliance units are ideal, if space permits, leaving the counter for main activities like chopping, cooking, and washing. Electrical planning is vital too. All sockets should be planned in a way that appliances are not carried around to be applied. Points kept away from the sink/water source, sockets behind cabinets, and lights under shelves all have significant roles to play. Add a few extra points to accommodate more appliances going forward. Power outlets for basic appliances like the dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, stove, chimney, RO water filter, and so on, should be accounted for at the planning stage.

Meanwhile, the kitchen work triangle connects the three significant functional zones – cooking, cleaning, and storage. The seamless flow between the cooktop, sink, and refrigerator makes any kitchen function better. A minimum distance of 4 ft-9 ft is ideal to move between activities.

Ventilation should not be compromised in kitchens. If the space permits, have sizeable windows for natural light as well as good ventilation. Indian cooking involves a lot of frying and high smoke dishes. If the ventilation is not thought of, the space can smell and feel claustrophobic shortly. Chimneys are as significant as windows if not more to keep the smells at bay.

For kitchens, too, layered lighting should be incorporated. The main illuminance can come from ceiling and pendant lights while task lights should be continued above the counter along with under-cabinet LED strips. As they not only serve as a functional room but can turn into a hosting space as well that would demand a subtler luminance, kitchens require the flexibility of mood lighting, too.

Notably, a kitchen is a deeply personal space to the members of the family using it and should be curated as per their needs. While heights and depths of the counters are standard, the space can have storage and functionality designed around the habits of the one using it; there is no one size fits all when it comes to design. Check for the provisional needs and keep the rest of the design personal to you.

Taken together, the developments around kick point to a situation that is still moving, and the coming days should bring more clarity.