JR Studio Design Blog

There is nothing better than having a kitchen lay out with beauty in style and function. You should be able to effortlessly move, reach, dice and otherwise make a mess in your kitchen without having to hurt yourself (or others) in the process.  Of course, planning ahead for all your desires is the best way to start the kitchen design process, but there are ways to make the best of any situation no matter what the circumstances.  Here are my tips for creating perfect Kitchen Zen.

Counter height depends on genetics.  What height can you use a knife at that does not necessitate bending over in the slightest?  Answer the question and you have found countertop perfection. If you are not able to recreate your kitchen from scratch (designing counter heights to preference,) you can custom order butcher block of varying sizes & heights from 1” to 6”+ in order to bring the “work at hand” into yours.  Ordering custom wood cutting boards to cover a large area (2 – 3’ in length) will also eliminate the need to huddle up over small cutting boards.  These can be left out provided they are maintained and beautiful themselves. 

Upper shelving is for nuts (or other bulk items…)  If you are tight on space and find yourself using every last inch of shelving up to the rafters, consider bringing some items out of the cupboards and out on display.  I frequently use beautiful glass apothecary jars with snug fitting lids to bring dry pasta, oatmeal, dog food and even snack bars into easy reach.  This frees space in the cabinetry for other items and creates interesting displays of everyday items. 

Don’t forget me!  One of the smartest kitchens I have had low cabinetry designed for a children’s cooking area.  Grandmother worked out cookie dough on marble counters, transferring sheets of dough to her grandkids on the counter below where they could cut it into shapes without standing on chairs.  Ingenious!  Who else may be helping out in your kitchen?  Do you need a wine and cheese tasting area that is separate from your main prep area?  This could be at bar height. Is someone in your family using a wheelchair?  They would appreciate lower counters with plenty of access space below.  Varyied counter heights can be appreciated for their function as much as their architectural features.

The person who invented the slide-in range never cooked a turkey.  Have you ever bent over to pull your perfectly browned Thanksgiving bird from the oven and winced as you lifted it awkwardlya as you staggered to the countertop 3 steps away?  Eliminate this unseemly (and dangerous) situation by using a drop-in cooktop and locating ovens at arm height into cabinetry nearby.  Most manufacturers have double oven combinations that fit into wall cabinets and handle everything from popcorn to poultry with ergonomic ease.

Think twice, twist once... Think about adjacencies when you locate your appliances.  The dishwasher should be next to the sink and near the cabinet where you store your dishes!  Hang your pot rack over your sink instead of the cook top or island – you will appreciate letting the pots drip here instead of across your granite counters. The coffee maker should be under the cabinet where your coffee mugs reside, and the refrigerator should always have a landing space next to it.  Grouping related tasks together helps determine kitchen layout.  Planning makes perfect!

Create a kitchen that cooks!  I’ve recently installed an “assembly line” kitchen for clients with a minimal amount of space – 10’ on one wall only.  (See image above and more photos of the project here...)  The clients were clear that they needed an efficient design that really worked, so we designed an assembly line that ran across the length of the entire wall.   This efficient layout starts with a landing space for groceries, moves onto the refrigerator, then to another landing space for items removed from the refrigerator for prep before rinsing at the sink.  (We even fit a custom cutting board into the sink well to further maximize the space.)  After the sink, there is a small landing space for prepped items before they are transferred from sink to stove.  It ends with a final landing space for food ready to serve. It functions beautifully and we did not have to spare any design flare to make it work either.  

Other inspirations.  Rolling islands that tuck into pantry cabinets for extra space (that hides them away when not in use!)  Pull out shelves in lower cabinets and pantries so you can find everything you need.  Include space for a folding step stool into your cabinetry plan. Create deep drawers below counters for plates and glasses you use every day. Use appliance garages to hide clutter and bookshelves for cookbooks under islands.  And, please, no more desks in the kitchen – they are ridiculous.  Tomato sauce has never been a friend of electronics and paperwork and when you are cooking there is no time for distractions!

Please send on your inspirations as well.  We love creative strategies for everyday problems…