The kitchen is one of the most used and especially popular places in the house, regardless of your lifestyle and habits. Whether you like to cook full meals, make pastries or just look at it in order to “intercept”, have a quick breakfast in the morning or prefer to gather a dinner party for a large group of friends for the weekend. Historically, the kitchen in our lives is a classic place to meet friends over a glass of wine or a cup of coffee, so the kitchen area should be not only aesthetically attractive, but also functional.
In this article, we will try to highlight the most common problems and mistakes in kitchen design and planning.
1. Common window problems. Sometimes an obstacle to a convenient layout of the kitchen can be too small a distance between the adjacent wall and the window. If this distance is less than 60 cm, it may complicate the installation in the corner of the stove, sink, standard kitchen cabinets or refrigerator. In addition, the height of the window sill from the floor level is also important. So a too low location of the window will not allow you to install standard furniture or household appliances under it. The minimum distance from the floor level to the window sill must be at least 86 cm. Large balcony doors and windows can only be used in large and spacious kitchens. The use of such windows in small kitchens will complicate the installation of appliances and furniture, since it is necessary to provide not only free access to it, but also to ensure the convenience of opening windows and doors.
2. Storage areas need to be equipped wisely. Usually the kitchen is filled with a bunch of various little things, sometimes unnecessary. In kitchen cabinets, we often store voluminous items that take up a lot of precious space, but are completely useless for the kitchen. The main task when planning storage areas is to place all kitchen utensils so that they take up as few places as possible, but at the same time are always “at hand”. The use of built-in modules in the kitchen is convenient, but do not forget that they are quite expensive and often significantly reduce the size of the kitchen working area. In addition, another common mistake when planning a kitchen is the irrational use of free space. So almost every designer in his project misallocates a given space, which, with careful planning, could be effectively used. If you are the owner of a small kitchen, then one of the best options would be to use long built-in top drawers, in which you can perfectly organize the storage of everything you need. You can decorate the boxes with molding, and place small plants on them or arrange a local lighting system. Keep in mind that a lot of potential storage space can be found above, say, a refrigerator or freezer.
3. Increase the area of the working surface. One of the common problems in the kitchen is the catastrophic lack of a work surface. When planning it, you must take into account all the individual features of the cooking process, as well as allocate horizontal surfaces for installing and storing various appliances. In this case, this problem can be solved by installing a bar or “island”.
4. Work surface too long. In most cases, the owners of large kitchens make a typical mistake, arrange a long work surface and place all the furniture along one of the walls. This arrangement of furniture and kitchen equipment makes the cooking process extremely inconvenient, since you have to constantly move from one end of the kitchen to the other, thereby “winding” unnecessary kilometers. If the size of the room and the layout allow you, then it is best to plan a kitchen with an “island” or choose a U-shaped design. At the same time, the useful area of the working surface will not change, and you will no longer have to run around the entire perimeter of the kitchen.
5. Lack of sufficient lighting. The kitchen is one of the rooms in which insufficient lighting is considered absolutely unacceptable. This is due not so much to the comfort of the atmosphere and interior design issues as to personal safety issues when using sharp piercing and cutting cutlery tools in the preparation process. The ideal kitchen is one in which three types of lighting are implemented: general light to illuminate the entire perimeter of the room, directional lighting for work surfaces and various light accents to create the necessary atmosphere. In the process of planning the placement of lamps, you must, first of all, evaluate each area of \u200b\u200bthe kitchen, decide on the arrangement of objects in it and the need for additional lighting. Particular attention should be paid to the illumination of all work areas, for which you can use both single (spot) lamps and entire groups of various types of mini-lamps, which can perfectly emphasize the comfort and style of your kitchen. Single pendant lights look great above the sinks, and groups of mini-lights can harmoniously complement the “island” part of the kitchen or bar counter. We should not forget about the additional lighting located on the bottom group of cabinets, which is a very stylish and functional solution. And, in the end, after completing work with the main lighting zones, “turn on” a little imagination and complement your interior with a variety of light accents that will help bring style and personality.
6. Use the “apron” not only in the stove area. As usual, when developing a kitchen project, such a detail as the wall behind the worktop and behind the sink is overlooked. In most cases, it is ignored or completely overlooked. On the one hand, this mistake significantly saves the budget during repairs, but on the other hand, it can result in additional unforeseen expenses. You can simply wallpaper this entire surface without spending money and effort on arranging the so-called protective “apron”. But just imagine for a moment how much steam, humidity and greasy splashes inevitably appear every day in any kitchen. Installing a protective surface not only behind the stove, but also around the entire perimeter of the working surface can greatly simplify your life. It is much easier and more effective to remove grease and dirt from a protective coating (made of plastic, metal, tiles) than from ordinary wallpaper.
7. Sufficient ventilation. No matter how sophisticated the interior of the kitchen would be, all its charm is lost if there are bad and unpleasant smells in the kitchen. For example, how unpleasant it is to feel in the kitchen, where the smell of yesterday’s fried fish remains. For the most part, cheap ventilation systems simply drive “stale” air around, while good and high-quality ones really purify it and help keep the kitchen clean. Using a high-quality ventilation system will help you not only get a healthy atmosphere in the kitchen, but also significantly extend the life of household appliances. The presence of high-quality ventilation becomes especially relevant if your kitchen is directly connected to the living room or dining room.
8. Placement of wiring and pipes. As a rule, a technical riser in the corner of the kitchen can interfere with the convenient location of appliances and furniture. In most cases, due to the location of the pipes in the corner, it is impossible to hang hanging standard cabinets, and when ordering “custom-made” furniture, in addition, the cost of its manufacture will increase. If the sewer connection and water supply are too close to the ventilation holes, it will be difficult to install an additional countertop between the hob and the sink. It is worth remembering that it is easiest to connect the ventilation duct if it is located in the immediate vicinity of the stove, and connect the sink if the water and sewer supply is closer to the sink. Take care of these little things at the initial stage of repair before finishing work in the kitchen, ask the plumbers to carry out the transfer of pipes, this will save you a lot of inconvenience and problems. According to current regulations, the gas stove should not be located closer than 50 cm from the window so that a gust of wind cannot blow out the flame. The distance between the sink and the water riser is not regulated according to Ukrainian standards. In addition, Ukrainian building codes do not apply to the design of in-house sewage systems with risers, as well as to ventilation ducts that do not have an outlet to the roof of the building.
9. Don’t forget the trash can. At present, in the modern world, with the advent of new waste recycling technology, the issue of simple disposal of household waste has become more extensive than simply placing a trash can in the kitchen. One of the main requirements dictated by the time is the planning of a special bucket designed for primary sorting of waste. This little detail should not be forgotten when developing a kitchen project.
10. Use of protruding handles. When using protruding handles on facades, especially in the corner, it reduces the angle of their opening. At the same time, not fully open doors prevent the drawers from moving freely.
11. Work surfaces and flooring made of natural marble. Please note that these surfaces are quite difficult to maintain. By its nature, marble has a porous structure, which allows various kinds of pollution to penetrate deep enough and at the same time makes the removal of dirt impossible. As the material for the countertop, it is best to choose artificial stone or granite, which are much easier to clean.
12. Erroneous “invulnerability” Korian. Many have an erroneous opinion about the strength and durability of this material. In practice, a Corian countertop, like any other material, eventually becomes covered with tea stains and scratches. The only indisputable advantage of this material is the ease of surface restoration, but this procedure can only be entrusted to specialists.
13. The use of mosaics as cladding for kitchen facades. Of course, this type of finish has a special appeal and originality, capable of emphasizing the style of the kitchen, as well as bringing a “zest” to its interior. Please note that it is highly undesirable to use this finish for decorating doors and drawer fronts, since the plasterboard base will “eat up” a certain amount of usable kitchen area, and will also significantly weigh down its design.
14. Use of massive air ducts. If the hob is located at a considerable distance from the ventilation opening, it is not necessary to use a long and massive air duct, it is best to install an extractor hood equipped with a special charcoal filter. This filter will perform high-quality indoor air purification, and the presence of an air duct for it is not mandatory. In this case, it will only be necessary to periodically change the carbon filter.
15. Use of glossy facades. They look very impressive, but you should be prepared for the fact that they “slam” very quickly. These surfaces need to be wiped down almost every day.
16. Using wood as a flooring material. Although various wooden products have an excellent aesthetic appearance, it is considered extremely undesirable to use this material as a floor covering in the kitchen, as the wood will quickly become dirty and lose its “presentation”.
17. Use glass tops for dining tables. These countertops have gained particular popularity due to the fact that they visually less clutter up the space, give the interior transparency and lightness. Despite the aesthetic appeal for the kitchen, these table models are not at all suitable, since even the most durable glass scratches over time and loses its former attractiveness. In addition, at such a table it is simply impossible to have breakfast in the morning, so as not to wake up all the household members. No matter how hard you try, you will not be able to quietly put a cup, plate or cutlery.
18. Excessive drawer width. The rule that the larger or more spacious the better does not work for kitchen drawers. Many furniture stores offer a wide range of kitchen drawers up to 120 cm wide, supposedly very spacious and easy to use, easy to open. The consultants offer you to try the ease of opening them, but do not forget the fact that they are empty in the store, and therefore very light. If such a box is tightly stuffed with kitchen utensils or utensils, then it will be extremely inconvenient to operate it. You will need to constantly make a lot of effort to open or close it.
19. Misconception: A shelf is better than a drawer. This statement is one of the most common mistakes. A clear advantage of the box is that by pulling it out, you can easily contemplate all its contents, and the necessary thing will quickly be found. If you need to find a thing in the case of shelves, then in order to “get to the goal” you will have to turn over the entire contents of the shelf. Shelves are useful for storing infrequently used items, such as food storage.
20. The more stitches, the worse. When planning protective or working surfaces, it is necessary to use large parts whenever possible, rarely resorting to small, butt-joined elements. In the joints, as a rule, various kinds of dirt and grease accumulate, which is quite difficult to clean. So, for example, if you decide to paste over the kitchen “apron” with ordinary wallpaper and protect it with glass, then one large solid glass sheet is best suited for this purpose, rather than a number of small elements interconnected end-to-end.
21. Sink “irregular” shape. This element of the kitchen can not only please the owner, but also annoy him over time. You should not experiment with sinks of a non-standard and unusual shape, for example, in the shape of a Jerusalem artichoke flower. An unusual shape of a sink in the kitchen will create a creative design, but how do you wash dishes in it? You will not just admire it, you will live with it and use it. It is best to choose a more classic and functional form, so that it is not only beautiful, but also comfortable.
22. Place for small household appliances. In any kitchen, you simply cannot get by with only built-in appliances. Therefore, it is imperative to provide a special place for storage, as well as sockets for connecting these items (mixers, blenders, electric meat grinders, juicers, etc.).
23. Heavy and massive cabinets placed on light walls. If you have planned to place a special storage system in the kitchen, then it must be mounted exclusively on a solid (strong and reliable) wall. In this case, drywall walls are not recommended, as they will not be able to support their weight. In this case, it is necessary to first place special supports on the plasterboard wall and only on them to mount the upper cabinets.
24. Incorrectly and irrationally hung equipment. Planning the location of household appliances in the kitchen must be approached with full responsibility. So, for example, built-in ovens, steamers and coffee machines should not be placed either too high or too low. The ideal solution for their placement is the level of the belt.
25. Very high plinth. The standard plinth height is 10 – 15 cm. When choosing kitchen furniture, you need to pay special attention to this, since most of the built-in household appliances are currently designed for a 10 cm plinth.
26. You should not chase fashion. This design error can not be considered as such. When planning a kitchen design, chasing cutting-edge technology and fashion is not always justified. As practice shows, the most trendy and trendy design, the conceptual colors of the season, etc. do not always become relevant for a long time. Over time, your “refined” and expensive design may not please you, but you will not be able to return the considerable financial resources invested in the kitchen.
27. Do not rely on your own strength, cooperate with professionals. One of the most common mistakes in planning and designing a kitchen is complete self-confidence, that you yourself are able to correctly and efficiently plan your future kitchen, without the involvement of experienced interior designers. Basically, these undertakings are primarily due to the desire to save money, but, as a rule, it turns out that an unprofessional approach causes a large number of critical errors, the correction of which can result in large economic and physical costs. In addition, there are a number of works for which the involvement of professionals is not a whim, but a matter of quality and safety. Along with this, experienced interior designers have a huge stock of knowledge in the field of the latest innovative ideas, trends, design features of equipment from various manufacturers, which helps them to optimally solve your individual needs, arrange and combine them into a competent design project that will be not only convenient and functional, but also fully tailored to your individual taste. In this article, we tried to look at the most common mistakes when planning a kitchen.
We hope that these recommendations will help you avoid such mistakes, and your kitchen after the repair will not only be beautiful, but also comfortable and functional.