If you know anything about kitchen design, you may have heard of the concept of the kitchen triangle. But what exactly is it? How does it work? And is it still relevant today?
If you’re planning a new kitchen in 2023, take a read through this article to find out more about the kitchen triangle.
What is the kitchen triangle and how does it work?
The kitchen triangle is a traditional kitchen design concept based on three of the main work areas of the kitchen – the sink, the fridge, and the oven. The idea is that these three areas should be laid out roughly in the form of a triangle, so that day to day tasks can be performed easily and freely.
Ideally, each side of the triangle should measure somewhere between 4-9 feet so that the working area is large enough to be practical and comfortable but not too large to necessitate lots of unnecessary walking back and forth between the different elements of the triangle.
Where possible it’s also best to keep the kitchen triangle area completely free from obstruction. So, for example, try not to place a kitchen table or any other freestanding item of furniture in the middle of the triangle, that could restrict easy flow between the different elements.
Is the kitchen triangle still relevant to contemporary kitchens?
The kitchen triangle is not a new concept. In fact it dates back to the 1940s. It was originally developed by researchers at the University of Illinois School of Architecture as a way of cutting construction costs, and was then embraced by kitchen designers as an innovative way to make kitchen layouts more efficient .
But is it still relevant to contemporary kitchens?
In some ways yes. The kitchen triangle is still very much a valid concept, and it makes sense to locate key areas of the kitchen within close range of each other. So it should still be considered as a core principle of kitchen design.
However, the evolving needs of the 21st century family mean that in many cases the kitchen triangle may need to be extended. For example, many families may now have more than one person preparing a meal at any given time. Which means that they will both need to use the three points of the triangle at the same time.
So in many contemporary kitchens the points of the triangle are more likely to be designed as working zones rather than a fixed point. Sometimes working zones are extended into other areas such as a kitchen island, and sometimes storage zones – including a fridge or freezer – may be boosted by an adjoining pantry, larder or utility room.
We also explored in a recent article – Are you ready for the six zone kitchen – how many kitchens in the UK are becoming multi-purpose family living areas. And as well as the traditional three zones they are likely to include additional zones for food preparation, extended storage, and – very importantly – entertaining and socialising.
And this might be the answer to your ideal kitchen design : use the well-established principle of the kitchen triangle, but add around it the extra kitchen zones that you and your family need.
Whatever you want for your new kitchen in 2023, Stone and Chrome can help. We will listen to your initial ideas and help turn them into stunning designs that will show you just how beautiful a Stone and Chrome kitchen could look in your home!
So why not browse through our fabulous gallery of kitchen projects, then come to see us at our Camberley showroom to see first hand some examples of how we could transform your kitchen in 2023.