Designing An Open-Plan Kitchen

Here’s our guide to creating one that suits your lifestyle and blends harmoniously with the rest of your home.

No longer strictly functional, kitchens have become great looking spots for entertaining guests or children while you cook. Follow our tips for a kitchen that seamlessly integrates with your living and dining spaces.

Planning Your Kitchen layout

A smart space with good flow will help make whipping up your daily meals a cinch.

1. L- SHAPED, U-SHAPED OR GALLEY KITCHEN?

A galley kitchen is practical for small spaces. This narrow layout is usually complemented by a kitchen island, which physically divides the area from the other living spaces. An L-shaped kitchen maximises space by utilising the corner of the kitchen and opening up plenty of potential for storage. A U-shaped layout places units on three sides of the kitchen, with the top of the ‘U’ left accessible, and increases the storage capacity along the wall.

2. WORKTOP HEIGHT & ELBOW ROOM

Note the dimensions required for counters, built-in appliances and aisle spaces. The standard height for countertops is between 85cm and 90 cm. Consider going higher if you are tall to avoid backache from bending over to chop veggies or wash the dishes. To avoid squeezing between counters, the ideal aisle width would be 1m for one cook and 1.2m for two cooks.

3. UNDERSTAND YOUR NEEDS

There’s no one size fits all when it comes to kitchens. Its design depends largely on its size and primary uses. For instance, do you bake often, do heavy cooking or use it for entertainment? Evaluate your appliances, too. “Busy families may prefer ovens with multiple heating modes to save time on defrosting and heating food,” says Adrian Kok, Head of Marketing ASEAN, BSH Home Appliances.

4. STORAGE SPACE