Kitchen layouts to suit every home

In the Victorian era, kitchens were mostly positioned at the bottom of the house. Servants were responsible for the cooking and the rest of the household rarely came downstairs. But, nowadays kitchens form the centre of many living spaces, providing an area for the family to gather during the weekday, or to entertain in the evenings and weekends.

Kitchen design can be difficult. As well as easy access to the cooking, washing and food preparation areas, there needs to be plenty of storage space. As a result, there’s a wide range of possible layouts, with different designs to suit different spaces.

Once known as the ‘pullman kitchen’, this is the ideal layout for a smaller space. If you live in a studio or a flat with a combined kitchen and reception room, this will often be the best option. Taking advantage of vertical space is key: overhead shelves and cabinets provide extra storage, while a mobile unit can offer extra work and serving space.

The L-shaped kitchen also suits a smaller space, as well as an open-plan layout where the kitchen and dining room are combined. It’s a more flexible design than the one-wall kitchen, giving extra work surfaces and more low-level storage options. In addition, it makes use of any awkward corners with carousel units or pull-out drawers fitting into the empty space. For a larger room, another leg could be added, creating a U-shaped kitchen.

Island kitchens are one of the most popular and functional designs. They are particularly suited to larger kitchens intended for both cooking and entertaining. The island limits traffic through the food preparation areas, while remaining open to the rest of the living space. What’s more, it can serve a range of functions, from the main cooking area to a breakfast bar and storage space. To complete the effect, why not place a decorative light fitting above, turning the island into its own design feature.

The peninsula is also popular for larger kitchens and open-plan designs. Like an island, but attached to the rest of the kitchen units, this layout means you can still separate the cooking and living areas, without interrupting communication. In addition, the peninsula provides for more work surfaces and can easily accommodate a breakfast bar or extra storage. This design works especially well if you want to open an enclosed kitchen to the rest of the living area by removing an internal wall.