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How do you design kitchen cabinets?

7 years ago

How does one design their kitchen cabinet layout? What kind of considerations would you use? My head is spinning with googling triangles and looking at photos. I'd love to hear how some real people figured out their layouts. Anyone?

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Comments (3)

dcward89
7 years ago
I designed my own kitchen layout and then posted here and got a ton of suggestions when we remodeled 2 years ago. I started with things that wouldn't be changing...the doors and entryways. I decided I wanted my sink in front of the window, although not centered. There was really only one good place for the fridge. Consider venting for your range/cooktop...that my require particular placement. Dishwasher next to the sink...just start with what is not changing and go from there. I went through several iterations of the layout before we were happy with it.
Buehl
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
Welcome Trudy! We have a few "intro" threads that will help you!

If you're brand new to the Kitchens Forum, we have a "Read Me" thread that will help:

New to Kitchens? Read Me First!
- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638784/new-to-kitchens-read-me-first
.

Regarding designing a layout, there are many things to take into consideration - your goals, family composition, how you plan to use the Kitchen, and "technical" considerations such as the size of the space and budget.

To help with the layout side (not budget), we have a "Layout Help" FAQ as well as several Kitchen Design FAQ threads. The Design FAQs will also help you understand comments from reviewers if/when you post your layout ideas or to understand why someone is suggesting a particular design (if you decide to let us help you design a layout).

.

Layout Help

FAQ for asking for layout help. It has a sample measured layout as well as a description of the other information we need

How do I ask for Layout Help and what information should I include?
- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2767033/how-do-i-ask-for-layout-help-and-what-information-should-i-include
.

Kitchen Design FAQ threads:

These FAQ threads explain best practices/good design guidelines for items such as work zones, aisles, island/peninsula seating, etc. These threads will help you understand questions/comments you will receive.

Kitchen work zones, what are they?
- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638270/faq-kitchen-work-zones-what-are-they
Aisle widths, walkways, seating overhangs, work and landing space, and others
- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638304/faq-aisle-widths-walkways-seating-overhangs-work-landing-space-etc
How do I plan for storage? Types of Storage? What to Store Where?
- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/3638376/faq-how-do-i-plan-for-storage
Ice. Water. Stone. Fire (Looking for layout help? Memorize this first)
- http://ths.gardenweb.com/discussions/2699918/looking-for-layout-help-memorize-this-first
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NewSouth: I think this is a really hard decision. Trust is the biggest factor, I think. It's part of the comfort-picture too. I went with a KD who I didn't really like much and didn't make me terribly comofortable. But she worked for someone who did and who sweetened the deal tremendously with price and his own attractiveness. As I figured, he has been hugely helpful in ensuring things stay on track. But she has been really a problem all along. However she was part of the deal. DH seems to think part of the tacit agreement was that I train her! I bet she would be massively offended to hear this. So the answer of who to choose has to depend on what you want from the KD. If you want hand-holding, then obviously you need someone who will 'remain with you' to hold your hand through the entire process. If you want imagination, then you've already made your choice. If you want no-drama; enabling of your own plan cleanly and professionally, then you've outlined who to choose for that priority too. But if your hesitation reflects that you haven't yet described a KD who fulfills what you're needing, then you do need to go interview another. Are you looking for someone who can identify and fill in gaps in what it is you've already done? Perhaps there isn't enough spark among the two you've mentioned already to do this. That's a personal call. It depends also on how much more time you want to devote to this; you've already said you're impatient to get going. And if you mostly need the KD simply to formalize your plans, then another interview might just wind you up with 3 to choose between equally unclearly. I think at this juncture you have to get smart in asking yourself good questions: what do I need now? Who/what can fill that need? Have I a possibility yet or do I need to generate more choices? Don't get impatient or panicked yet before you need to -- spring is a long way away yet. Try to calm down your agitation enough to get a good, clear signal of what it is you're needing; then you can proceed with answering the question of who to choose. Feel free to jettison the suggestions of course!
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Trash pullout and sink run...If the trash pullout in the Cleanup Zone run (i.e., the main sink & DW run) will only hold one bin, I would consider making it 12" or 15" and adding the "extra" 3" to 6" to the cabinet on the left. Depending on how much cutlery you have, 20" may not be wide enough. Ours is 24" wide and that's the minimum I would go to be able to separate out the dinner forks, salad forks, soup spoons, teaspoons, knives, serving spoons, serving forks, and small ladles (as an example). Besides, the more space you have in your other cabinets, the more and more varied items you can store in them! Here is ours: We actually have more forks & spoons in it; this is what wasn't in the DW at the time! The back holds the things we didn't have room for...butter knives, iced tea spoons, seafood forks, pie server, non-wood handled steak knives, etc. Our drawer height is 3-1/4" and is plenty tall/deep enough. Range cabinets...I'm assuming you already have those? If not, consider making the cabinet to the left of the range 24" instead of 18"...it not only will give you more work and landing space, but it will also give the Cooking Zone a little more protection from casual kitchen traffic and people in the Cleanup Zone. Just as an fyi...here is my 4-drawer stack. It holds, top to bottom, flatware/cutlery, plastic bags & wraps, extensions cords & misc electrical-related items, and bread. (The dimensions of the drawers are listed above.) Note: Not all semi-custom cabinets require you to use 3" increments...my semi-custom line had a 31.5" tall oven cabinet...at least there was no upcharge for the size, so I'm assuming it was an available cabinet size.
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I have a string of rope lights up there on a timer--looks warm and cozy in the evening. Also the largest of my collection of pitchers--I'll attach a photo. Yes, they get dusty but I don't actually use them, so every five years or so they get taken down and washed. I can't imagine scrubbing the top of the cabinets. I'm sure some of you think it looks "cluttered", but I like it and I'm not changing my cabinets. The picture was actually taken to illustrate the ceiling fan, but you get the idea on top of the cabinets. As you can see, I am not a minimalist!
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suzanne_sl
7 years ago
It's also important to take your time. Really, relaxed planning makes the whole thing come out better in the end. You're not going to have a new kitchen for the 2016 holidays, so let that one go. You could rush the whole thing and let a kitchen company crank out a one-size-fits-all job, but how pleased would you be with the result? Buehl's links may seem like a lot, but it's so rewarding to tackle the subject and plan a kitchen that suits you, your family, and your budget.

Reading through threads you'll discover all sorts of things you didn't know about even if you choose not to use them - ever run across Silgranit sinks? I'm not fond of them, but many are and I was glad to know there was such a thing. How about an air switch for the garbage disposal? Now that one I love. And everyone loves lower drawers vs cabinets. The nice thing about doing research and planning here is that you're dealing with "real people" who are interested in getting great kitchens, but not in selling you something.

Also you get real people photos, not pros with wide angle lenses and pro lighting. I posted one the other day to illustrate something (spacing on a Kohler Stages sink?) where I didn't take the time to move the stuff that was sitting there (dish rack, knife in use, paper towels) before I took the photo. Those extraneous normal kitchen things were irrelevant to the issue and I'm pretty sure everyone else's kitchen has those items too.

Perhaps the most import "real people" aspect is that GW people are dealing with widely varied budgets from counting every penny to what's a penny?, funky 1905 kitchens, 1950 specials, 1960 never-been-remodeled, remodeled badly, bumpy floors and walls, tiny NYC apartments, huge kitchens in Dallas, and all the issues that make real life go better or worse.

Start with Buehl's links, ask questions and it will happen. Personally, we (husband and I) sat in the dining room off and on for weeks just looking at our kitchen and mentally working through all the possibilities - add on? not? push out here? use the same footprint? what works now? what needs to be better? You'll get there.

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