head of design studio
This article is a real find for those who consider the kitchen to be the main room in the house. Below you will find out what you need to ensure that this room is both functional and comfortable. Sit back, a treasure trove of valuable information awaits you!
I consider corner and L-shaped ones to be the best of all existing options. Cooking with them is a pleasure; everything you need will always be at hand. These kitchen sets have convenient corners in which you can hide various small items.
Because the distance between the hob and the sink is large, the better it will be for the housewife. This space is considered the main work surface. It is desirable that its length be 90 cm. There should not be anything superfluous on it.
The most used item in this room is the refrigerator. I advise you to place it at the end of the kitchen unit. It will be better if the refrigerator is located closer to the table and to the entrance to the room. I also recommend purchasing a built-in model, which will be appropriate in modern-style kitchens. For loft or scandi, freestanding models are recommended.
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Opening upper cabinets
Swing
This option is considered the most common and affordable. I prefer him.
Folding
If you use folding facades, then you need to provide good fittings for them. Otherwise, the gas lifts will quickly break and you won’t even be able to leave the doors open.
Folding
This option is the most expensive. But also the most beautiful. However, short people are unlikely to like it.
Convenient kitchen design
Heights, dimensions, ergonomics
Lower cabinets
The classic height of the lower drawers in the kitchen is 90 cm. Note that each cabinet has self-adjusting legs. It is also convenient that you can independently determine the height of the tabletop. It will be possible to adjust from 87 to 92 cm with the usual 4 cm thickness of the tabletop. For those who are tall, it will be useful to raise the tabletop level higher. This can also be done using the thickness of the countertop. The bottom drawers should have sliding mechanisms. It is convenient to keep various small things in them.
Working surface
The entire cooking process takes place on the work surface. This surface should be between the hob and the sink. The permissible distance is approximately 90 cm, or even better 110-155 cm.
Upper cabinets
The classic depth of the top cabinet is 30-40 cm. As for height, there are no rules. Most often you can find cabinets with a height of 62cm, 70cm and 90cm. For modular sets, the typical height can be 72 and 90 cm. Today, ceiling-mounted models are very popular. They're trending. In such kitchens, cabinets are up to the ceiling. In the interior of the apartment they look very stylish. But, unfortunately, they are very inconvenient in everyday life. The upper cabinets are difficult to reach, so it is recommended to keep items there that are not required for daily use.
At what height is the hood?
Oh, this question has been gathering big discussions for a long time. Even the kitchen workers themselves do not know at what height the hood should be. Some people think that 80 cm from the countertop is suitable, others 60 cm. The hood should be positioned at such a distance as not to hit it with your head. I recommend that it be installed 3-5 cm higher than the tallest member of the family.
Principles of correct placement
There are no special rules for location, but the following factors are still taken into account:
- First of all, pay attention to the technical characteristics of the product, the size, shape of the room and ceiling height.
- Even if there is not enough space, the refrigerator should not be placed close to the stove, as this leads to overheating of the device and its rapid contamination.
- The place intended for placing the refrigeration unit must have a perfectly flat floor. Minimal vibrations have a detrimental effect on equipment, which leads to its rapid wear.
- It is recommended to think about the location of the nearest outlet in advance.
- It would be more correct to place the refrigerator, sink, stove, hood and storage systems so that they form a working triangle.
- According to Feng Shui, the refrigerator, freezer, sink, dishwasher and washing machine belong to the water element, so these appliances should not be placed next to an oven, stove or microwave, which are fire elements. Also, this philosophy does not recommend installing a refrigerator opposite the kitchen door. It is better to place the product on the right or left side of the opening.
Modern style
in the kitchen interior
I really love kitchens built into niches!
They look stylish and thorough! Well, we have sorted out the functionality and ergonomics of this room, it’s time to move on to discussing the interior design. Kitchens in a modern style predominantly use perfectly smooth facades. Nowadays painted MDF facades are very popular. There are both glossy and matte and matte. Plastic facades are considered more affordable. They are inexpensive, but look like MDF facades.
Kitchens in this style do not have handles. The doors open by pressing. These models have push-up fittings. In particular, fronts with integrated handles are used; they have a small recess in the front.
Lots of modern kitchens!
Factors to consider when choosing a location for installing the device
Before installing a refrigerator separately or building it into furniture, in a panel house you need to take into account some features:
- A mandatory condition for all refrigerators is that they be at least 5 cm away from any objects or walls. This is especially important for the back wall of the device, since it needs good air circulation for high-quality heat transfer.
- It is recommended to choose a level place. It is important to strictly maintain a vertical position using precise measuring instruments “by eye”. It is imperative to place it so that no swaying is noticed. Due to small but constant displacements during operation, parts may fail.
- Many modern designs contain special support legs, thanks to which the device can be easily adjusted in height, this will help smooth out unevenness. Usually there are 2 such legs; they are located on the front of the device.
Neoclassical style
and kitchen design
Neoclassical kitchens are no different in functionality from modern models. They differ only in facades. In neoclassical kitchens you can often find paneled facades. In such options, there are almost always ordinary handles.
If the facades are smooth and without handles, then they will be identical to modern kitchens.
Neoclassical kitchen is here!
Compressor type
Modern manufacturers offer two-door refrigerators only with an inverter compressor. Thanks to this, there are no sharp temperature fluctuations in the chambers, the noise produced by the mechanism is minimal, and energy consumption is economical. As a rule, such compressors have a long service life. Manufacturers provide a guarantee of at least 10 years. There is one disadvantage of inverter compressors: they are sensitive to changes in network voltage. Serious manufacturers definitely take care of special protection for such refrigerators.
Double door refrigerator with wine compartment
Ideas for a kitchen apron
Tile splashback
This option is very popular and widespread. No matter how much time passes, it will not lose its popularity. In addition, the choice of tiles is very large!
Tempered glass apron
This option opens up enormous possibilities for kitchen interiors. If the kitchen is designed in a minimalist style, then a tempered glass apron will work well under plain walls. By the way, even wallpaper will look stylish with it! For kitchens in the neoclassical style, this option will be especially popular. There is also another option - glass with photo printing, but it is used extremely rarely.
Wood effect apron
For those who are tired of the asceticism of the kitchen, a wood-effect apron is perfect.
By the way, laminate was previously used for this. Cleaning laminate flooring is easy. But the material has its drawbacks. If water gets on the seams, the seams will be very damaged. Today laminate is used infrequently. As an alternative, wood-look tiles are used. Lots of ideas for an apron!
Table and bar counter
In a small kitchen of 5 sq. meters to fit a large table will be a truly difficult task. One might even say impossible. But then you should ask yourself how to save space and organize the dining area conveniently and correctly.
An L-shaped kitchen layout leaves room for a small table in the corner, but what about people with other layouts?
There is always a solution. For example, you can use a window sill as an extension of the table. This will be an unexpected solution - an additional multifunctional surface will appear.
You can order a tabletop that will replace the window sill, or you can make a multi-level table. You will need to buy chairs for it, or better yet, bar stools that can be pushed under the tabletop.
Important: calculate the appropriate distance so that those sitting at the table do not feel uncomfortable due to the radiator. It may have to be moved (in consultation with housing services).
In addition, a retractable table would be an interesting solution. It can be pulled out from anywhere - from the same window sill, from the headset - there are a lot of ideas!
You can even put a table and attach an additional tabletop to it. And if there is a free wall, install a folding table along it, which will fold out if necessary.
Or, if there is no space at all, a bar counter will be an excellent replacement for a table. It can also become a continuation of the window sill, part of the headset, or even help with zoning in a studio apartment! They are compact and take up little space. Moreover, bar counters come in different shapes, so everyone is sure to find something to their taste.
Small kitchen design
in a standard apartment
A large percentage of standard apartments were designed even before coffee machines, dishwashers and various household appliances began to be sold. Perhaps this is precisely why it is very inconvenient to place everything in kitchens. For example, Khrushchev apartments were built at a time when refrigerators could be confused with low bedside tables. Therefore, you can often notice that in such apartments it is impossible to put anything in the kitchen. Modern homes have more comfortable and spacious kitchens.
In such premises, only a standard arrangement is permissible. It's very difficult to experiment with placement in the kitchen. After all, one wrong decision and there will be no comfort in the kitchen!
Small typical kitchens!
Layout schemes for different kitchens
Since the refrigerator is an organic part of the furniture, its placement is influenced by the layout and configuration of the kitchen.
Corner kitchen
A kitchen set with a corner arrangement forms a kind of triangle with all the necessary equipment. The best option is to place the refrigeration unit near a door or window. With this layout, it is better to install an oversized two-door side-by-side model in the center, and the built-in product should be located closer to the edge.
The photo shows a steel-colored refrigeration unit in a blue corner design.
Linear kitchen
The main principle of this kitchen space is the placement of the refrigerator in one straight line with other household appliances. The product can be built into a set, placed in the middle, to the right or left of the kitchen.
For a linear design, a refrigeration unit installed on a small podium with additional upper cabinets is suitable.
The photo shows a spacious kitchen in one line with a red freestanding refrigerator.
L-shaped kitchen with refrigerator
In such a case, the device is generally placed in a row with the headset, so as to form a structure with an L-shaped configuration. It is also possible to place the unit on the opposite side of the kitchen, built with beech.
The photo shows the design of an L-shaped kitchen unit with a large double side-by-side refrigerator.
Kitchen letter P
It is a very convenient solution for spacious rooms. A kitchen with the letter p involves the installation of household appliances and furniture along three walls. The refrigeration appliance will be a successful completion of the U-shaped line.
The photo shows a small U-shaped kitchen with a narrow glossy black refrigerator.
White kitchen
Design ideas
Anyone interested in all-white kitchens clearly isn't afraid of cleaning. I will make you happy - such kitchens do not require frequent cleaning. They are no different from regular models. After cooking, you need to clean up after yourself and wash the facades a couple of times a week. Nothing more special is required! But to make the kitchen more practical, I advise combining different materials. Light-colored facades are very easily soiled; I recommend using light wood for their finishing. And the facades on top can be snow-white. But let me note for those who are especially obsessed with cleanliness, you can make facades with the texture of wood or stone. In this case, it is better to immediately abandon monochromatic options!
Lots of white kitchens!
Zoning
Modern two-door refrigerators have compartments that provide different temperatures for a specific product. There is often a zero zone in which fresh products are stored for as long as possible, while maintaining all their beneficial properties.
The shelves can be rearranged and the distance changed for specific dishes. As a rule, they are made of glass that can withstand up to 20-25 kg of weight.
Built-in double door refrigerator
Grey colour
in kitchen design
The color gray has a very interesting history. Just three or four years ago he was considered sad and boring. Undeserved, isn't it? But today this color is at the peak of its popularity! And I really like it. Thanks to gray, the interior of an apartment can become more serious and even a little strict. It makes any color more noble and sophisticated.
There are gray kitchens here!
Beige kitchen
Interior Design
I will never tire of repeating that beige is the best color for renovation. This is a natural and pleasant color. Almost all the interiors of our studio are made in beige tones. Personally, I think the most optimal shade is gray-beige. It can be called universal, as it goes well with other colors. By the way, we have prepared an interesting selection of interiors and design projects for beige kitchens. Be sure to come check it out!
Beige kitchen ideas!
What materials do you need to buy for a kitchen renovation? Is it possible to purchase parquet or laminate? What to use to decorate the apron? The designers of our design studio in Moscow took care of this, so I recommend you an article about finishing materials. Go to the “Tips” section, there is a lot of useful information there!
