#Renovation Solutions: Tricky Kitchen Floorplans

When it comes to your kitchen, every design decision you make has to count, particularly if you haven’t got an ideal space to work with. Here are some top creative ideas to reconfigure your zone and make the most of what you have .

The hub of the home has to tick a lot of boxes. As one of the hardest-working areas of your home, a kitchen should have a layout that allows you to cook and entertain with ease, complement the living space and encourage gatherings of friends and family. Practically speaking, there should be ample storage, all designed to make the kitchen a user-friendly space that you’ll want to spend time in. But what to do if you don’t have the room for a walk-in pantry or an island bench? We spoke to Stuart Vokes, architect and co-founder of Owen and Vokes and Peters. and asked for his advice and design solutions for three problematic kitchen blueprints*.

1. Think short vs. tall. “What I would call tall are the fridge, cooktop/ rangehood/oven and pantry,” says Stuart. “They should be grouped together at the back wall along the benchtop.” ‘Short’ items include the “sink and dishwasher, which can be located in the central island”.

2. Focus on the island as a prep zone “particularly in a smaller open-plan area,” says Stuart. “At one end, you could install a recessed appliance alcove for the toaster, kettle and coffee machine.”

3. If you’re retrofitting fixtures, consider the orientation of “hinged items, such as fridges, ovens and the pantry,” says Stuart. Whether a door opens to the left or right will affect where you place it along the kitchen’s back wall.

Problem 2: Compact room

Got a traditional U-shaped cooking zone? Get back some bench space by putting your fixtures in the ideal spots for an efficient and considered area.