Craftsman Kitchen by Seattle Design-Build Firms First Lamp – Image Source: Houzz
There was a time when the work triangle was the foundation of kitchen design. The idea goes like this: there are three main work areas in the kitchen the refrigerator, sink and the cook top. These points will then form a triangle which would be your workable place in the kitchen. If these points are near enough to each other, your kitchen works efficiently. This definitely sounds like a good way to start your layout but one main problem has been that the work triangle is not applicable to all kitchens. Because of this, work triangles have finally evolved to work zones. Here are 5 reasons why work zones work better.
- Convenient placing of appliances. The work triangle can be very problematic for the kitchens that aren’t very spacious. When you have work zones in place, you are able to group the tools and appliances in your kitchen that more or less have relevant and complementary uses. This prevents you from having to run around the kitchen to get your tools and to reach your appliances. Everything is in one contained zone; therefore, work is faster and more efficient.
- Conservation of space. Because you are not limited to the confines of a work triangle and can freely rearrange your appliances based on the zones you create, you are able to better maximize the space of your kitchen. For instance, you can widen aisles without having to compromise the location of your appliances. This makes for a more comfortable kitchen experience and lessens the chance of accidents in kitchens that normally have more than one cook.
- Zones are customizable. Another good thing about not being limited to the work triangle is that you can create several zones in your kitchen to accommodate your lifestyle. While the kitchen is primarily used to prepare meals, for most people food is not its only function. You can have a zone dedicated to work if you have a busy lifestyle, or a zone specially designed to accommodate children. Specialty rta cabinets can allow for the creation of zones for your pets in order to keep them out of the way when you’re cooking. This is particularly convenient for those giant bags of pet food that you never have a place for.
- Ergonomic layout. Having an ergonomic layout means your movements are optimized when doing kitchen activities. A kitchen that utilizes a work triangle cannot assure you this, particularly if you have a smaller kitchen. Work zones help you do similar tasks in one place. A good example would be a prepping zone. You can do all the preparation before cooking in one specific part of the kitchen as opposed to going from one side of your kitchen to another. It makes executing tasks fast, easy, convenient, and safe for home chefs.
- Work zones can be safer. This is important when you are already preparing food or baking pastries. With a work zone layout it can actually be more efficient and safe for you to work in your kitchen. For example, you can place designated safety zones near your cooktop so when you take food from the stove or from the oven, you immediately have a spot to place it on. It spares you the difficulty of having to look for a safe place all over your kitchen while you are carrying something hot.
Kitchen work triangles were thought of for a reason and are by no means obsolete. They can still make your kitchen more efficient depending on your kitchen size and layout. However, for many people the kitchen work triangle can be very limited. Work zones, however, can be created in kitchens of just about any size and layout. They’re also more customizable, allowing for a kitchen design that better accommodates our busy and hectic lives.