Bending the kitchen design rules

[sauvignonblue]

You know the kitchen design rules about optimum distances, space between things etc etc? Well, did any of you break any of these rules in your kitchen design? And if so, did you regret it or not?

Do you mean walkways for example between an island and cooker or wall units? If so then no! You want a big gap there.
If you mean layout of cooker/fridge/sink then you design it how you see fit and suits you

Yes, I broke the triangle rule and put the oven at the short end of the island while the cooker and sink are across from each other in the middle of the long side of the island. Getting to the fridge from the cooker also means walking around the island. No regrets. DH and I cook together 99% of the time so it means I can deal with things in the oven while he mans the cooker. We also get ingredients out and prepped before we start cooking because we like to pretend we're fancy and like real chefs

I also reduce distance between cupboard and island to 1.1m instead of 1.2m. We had 1.2 before and it was perfect but we knew we could cope with a bit less to have more space around the dining table for guests.

We changed our plans lots but it really came together when we decided to write down all the issues when cooking. I always asked him to move if I needed oil from the cupboard. I was constantly moving when he grabbed a pan. I couldn't reach the pots to stir while he was faffing with something in the oven. We ran out of prep space every single time. It helped us plan where to put things by imagining cooking in it. We also made a note of everything that was out on display in the kitchen because of space (and a few other homeless bits around the house) then planned where they'd go.

We ended up a few inches short of the recommended gap between the island and oven and island and radiator on the other side but it's not been an issue. We have a 'slide-and-hide' oven though which probably helps.

Our cooker is a house width away from the fridge because there's just nowhere to put the fridge in the kitchen end of the kitchen diner. It's a bit annoying but not too bad if you're organized and actually I do all the prep on the island which is in between. If I'd been designing the room I'd have put the kitchen in the other end as the kitchen area has three doors in so you lose a lot of wall space. The kitchen is only a few years old so there's no way I'm changing it.

@QueenStromba
We had the same problem - 3 doors in the kitchen - previous owners designed this.

Yes, reduced the distance between the island / row to 1m. It’s made no difference at all - plenty of room for everyone to be hovering around nicking bits as I’m trying to cook. The dishwasher isn’t between the island, though - that would probably be annoying.

We are thinking about having just 1m between island and units. Sink and dishwasher are elsewhere so it would just be the person cooking and prepping who needs to be there.

We have to compromise somewhere because the room isn't wide. It's either that or spending £50k moving chimneys and structural walls.

I've just measured my gap and its only 90cm! No wonder it feels cramped on that side when someone else is there!

We went round our friends and measured their gap and it was only 95cm. It's fine for 1 person.

In my last house our island was about 95 away from the units behind. The only issue was that the dishwasher was on the island so when the door was open only one person could be at the island and I couldn't always put everything away without shutting the door again. But for prep and cooking I'd take it over the 145 I have now.

I deliberately reduced the space between the island and the range.
I wanted to be able to turn round and directly place something on the island without having to take a step.

I do 90% of the cooking so laid the kitchen out to my requirements.

We have a very small u shape kitchen in our second home and I really like everything being close at hand and in easy reach.

laughing at the 'island' this the 'island' that.

Having a kitchen you couldn't swing a cat in (or ever have the money to have a better one put in) - I'm only jealous

I just measured the gap in our house's 1930 galley kitchen and it is 90cm! Guess those were the days when women were thinner and men never went in the kitchen!

Wow - I’ve just gone and measured my galley kitchen - no wonder I feel cramped in there as it’s 92cms between each side! Fortunately I’m now planning a new kitchen diner - my first ever remodel and I’m looking all over the place for ideas.