A kitchen is essentially a room or segment of a large room used specifically for food preparation and cooking in a home or in an institutional establishment or commercial place. Commercial kitchens can be found in hospitals, restaurants, offices, cafeterias, military bases, schools, and many other similar establishments. The layout or arrangement of a kitchen often depends on the size of the kitchen and its function. Small kitchen units are usually located near the dining area or in the kitchen itself, while medium-sized kitchens can be found in the main or back areas of homes. Large kitchens, sometimes referred to as “high end” kitchens, are usually located in mansions or other large houses. They are very popular among celebrities and high-class families because they offer a sense of prestige and wealth.
There are many types of kitchen designs, and each has its own particular set of characteristics. However, the three most common kitchen designs include the galley kitchen, the L-shaped kitchen and the inverted U-shaped kitchen. Each of these kitchen models has their own pros and cons, but more on that later in the article.
The galley kitchen design, also known as the single line kitchen, consists of one work triangle featuring a flat work surface on top and two vertical support cabinets at the side of the work triangle. Underneath the cabinets, a cook top is located. This design makes it easier to maintain the hygiene of the kitchen utensils and to move around the kitchen quickly when there are changes in the use of the kitchen. However, the galley design also lacks any sort of storage drawers or cabinets and generally doesn’t offer any countertop space.
The L-shaped kitchen, also known as the triangular kitchen, consists of one large work table on top of two or three smaller work tables. In a triangle like configuration, this design offers the advantages of providing ample workspace even without any additional storage drawers. The triangle’s four corners also help in providing a sufficient amount of storage space. The downside however, is that it does not allow for optimal use of the other three corners of the table. It can also be difficult to maneuver the triangle towards the oven or refrigerator if there isn’t enough space to get to them.
The U-shaped kitchen, which is also commonly used as the inverted U-shape or the triangular U-shape, is another commonly used type of kitchen design. Like the galley design, the U-shaped kitchen offers the benefits of providing adequate workspace without any storage drawers or cabinets. It is ideal for homeowners who wish to maximize kitchen efficiency. As its name suggests, the U-shape provides more space above the stove than underneath it. This makes the stove and the appliances above much easier to access and use.
However, the biggest disadvantage of the U-shaped kitchen is the fact that the extra space above the stove can let air in, which can reduce the temperature of the cooking food. A downside to having these types of kitchen cabinets is that they have larger dimensions than the normal rectangular doors. This means that the installation of the doors can be more difficult than usual. For these reasons, it is advisable for homeowners to opt for the colorless upper modules instead.