Kitchen Trends: How the Island Turned the Triangle into a Center

For decades, the �work triangle� dominated the kitchen design landscape giving homeowners something tangible they could use to make sense of their kitchen�s layout and flow. However, the inclusion of the steadfastly popular kitchen island and the more common occurrence of multiple cooks in the kitchen has transformed the work triangle into a series of work centers.

Strictly speaking, the �work triangle� is defined by the National Kitchen and Bath Association as an imaginary straight line drawn from the center of the sink, to the center of the cooktop, to the center of the refrigerator and finally back to the sink. Furthermore, the sum of the work triangle�s three sides should not exceed 26 feet, and each leg should measure between 4 and 9 feet, the work triangle should not cut through an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches, no major traffic patterns should cross through the triangle and finally if the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area, or refrigerator.

In theory, the working triangle helps homeowners by establishing guidelines for positioning of the three major work areas of a kitchen; the sink, cooktop, and refrigerator. However, the addition of central islands in contemporary kitchen design interrupts the traditional working triangle by bisecting one or more leg of the triangle.

This interruption leads to the creation of independent working zones or centers. Well designed centers actually help a kitchen function more smoothly, especially when there are multiple people working in the same kitchen. The centers still need to be close enough in proximity to be functional while also being separated enough to be practical.

Common centers include food prep, cooking, and cleaning. Often a smaller prep sink with a disposal is needed to assist with cleaning of foods during the prep stages which frees up the main sink for cleaning of dishes and hands. Locating the refrigerator near the prep area is ideal since foods can be retrieved, cleaned and prepared without disrupting other areas of the kitchen. The refrigerator also works best when it is located on the outside edge of the kitchen where children and guests can retrieve drinks or condiments without interrupting the cooks.

Centrally locating the cleaning center allows both cooking and prep tools to be brought to the cleaning area without interrupting each other. The cleaning center should have a large sink with disposal and dishwasher.

The cooking center should include a cooktop, oven, and microwave. Placing the microwave on the outside edge of the cooking center allows it to be used by others for reheating, etc.

The island, in the meantime, serves all the centers and is multi-functional providing space for everything from cutting and chopping to serving and eating.

As you begin to imagine what you want to improve about your kitchen don't hesitate to think outside the triangle and take a more centered approach to your kitchen redesign dreams.

A Contemporary Kitchen Gets a Modern Makeover

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Existing Cooking Station

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??????????This contemporary kitchen was originally designed and built as a bachelor's kitchen; and it showed. The kitchen was tucked away � out of sight, out of mind. The lines were clean and understated and not very functional. The current layout forced the cook and helpers to face a wall at all times with their backs turned to one another and to company. There was little prep space with a lot of wasted floor area floating around between the cooking, cleaning, and assembly areas.  The fixtures, appliances, and finishes were showing their age and had outlived their days as sleek and modern and were now looking drab and lifeless. The cabinets and counters had a shiny gray laminate with a cool gray tile floor and textured gray wall paper which served as the backsplash. It was time for some updating.??

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Floor Plan of Existing Kitchen, Living, and Breakfast Room

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Besides the aesthetic problems facing this kitchen, the relationship between this central hub of the family and the other adjacent spaces was strained, to say the least. The kitchen was located near the living room and adjacent to the breakfast room; however flow between the spaces was interrupted by varying floor levels, partitions, and walls. All three spaces needed to be reworked, reorganized, and reoriented to allow for unity, balance, and sophistication. ? ? ?? ??

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Floor Plan of New Kitchen, Living, and Breakfast Room

The new kitchen, living, and breakfast spaces needed to blend modern flare with functional rationale. The kitchen itself needed to perform equally well for special occasions where six to eight women would converge on the space at once to prepare traditional Korean cuisine and for daily use where the husband and wife could work effortlessly to cater to the three children and close friends. This all needed to be accomplished while opening the kitchen up to the living room and breakfast area. A flawless flow needed to be created to unite the spaces while allowing them to maintain their separate identity and individual functions. And of course, when all is said and done, the space should look feel and function like it was the original crowning jewel of the home.

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View from Existing Hall to New Kitchen

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?The solution required a lot of redirecting of traffic flow and reorienting circulation. The wall at the end of the hall was removed to allow flow directly into the kitchen while leaving an open floor space for multiple cooks inside the kitchen itself. An island was designed at an angle to complete the kitchen triangle and allow for an unobstructed work surface, convenient storage, and place for the children to sit at stools and work on homework or eat their snack.

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View of New Cooking Station

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The cooking station remained in its original location, but became a focal element rather than a back alley nuisance. The sink and dishwasher remained along the outside wall with views to the side yard and the partition between the kitchen and breakfast room was removed. Meals could now be easily prepared and served either on the island or in the breakfast room. The existing hall was extended to form a bridge between the once separate main house and the kitchen and breakfast room. The circulation into the living room was redirected with new steps located off the hall and breakfast room. A partial wall was constructed along the extended hall to define the living room and allow for better furniture placement.

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View of Vertical Tile Backsplash

Existing  Stucco Fireplace

The finishes in all three spaces were redone. The warmth of the maple floors, stained cabinetry, and natural stone countertops replaced the austere and drab gray that had plagued the home before. The modern character of the home was update with European style cabinetry, sleek stainless steel appliances, slender glass tiles run vertically in the backsplash, and contemporary hardware, lighting, and faucets.  The seashell laced stucco was removed from the living room fireplace and replaced with a raised firebox and stacked natural stone. New cabinets and glass shelves were added to each side of the new fireplace.?

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View of New Family Room Fireplace with Built-Ins

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???? ???? ? ? ??? ?The results are as dramatic and beautiful as they are functional. The spaces work in a clever unified balance and give warmth, harmony and purpose to this once understated and out dated kitchen. When asked how they liked their new kitchen, the client said, �It is perfect and far beyond anything we could have imagined on our own.� A modern makeover for a contemporary family.? ?

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