KITCHEN 5 WORK ZONES
Much has happened since Kvik invented the concept "SociableKitchen" in 1999. The way we use our kitchens has changed, and we have had more and more varying needs that the modern kitchen must cover. Both when we are few and when we are many. For everyday and special occasions.
A cool kitchen should not just have a nice design. It must be easy to clean, durable and not least functional. But what does it really mean - and how do you ensure high functionality when you set up your new kitchen? We give you ideas and inspiration for the optimal interior design, which can be of great importance to your everyday life in the kitchen.
Perhaps you have heard of the kitchen's "working triangle" - stove, refrigerator, table. It worked in the past as a good starting point for decorating most kitchens. Today, the oven and hob are typically separated and we have received far more appliances and kitchen appliances. Many want a dining area in or following the kitchen. We would also like to be oriented towards the room, for example with a kitchen island or a U-shaped kitchen with the worktop out into the room. In many homes, the kitchen and living room completely melt together and become the room where we spend the vast majority of our daily lives at home.
5 work zones
One speaks today of five closely connected work zones, which are defined by the location of the kitchen's various elements. How the zones are placed in relation to each other is of great importance to how efficiently you and your family can move and work in the kitchen.
- Cleaning zone
- Cooking zone
- The cooking zone
- Food-zone
- Non-food zones
1: THE CLEANING ZONE
The sink is the central point of the cleaning zone. If you are right-handed, the dishwasher should be located to the left of the sink. In this way you can scrape or rinse off scraps with your right hand with minimal effort and put the service in the dishwasher with the left in one continuous movement - without first having to set it off on the kitchen table.
2: THE COOKING ZONE
In the optimally furnished kitchen, the cooking zone is located to the right of the cleaning zone. Here you have table space for chopping, cutting, kneading, etc. Place the tools you need to prepare raw materials, in drawers and top and bottom cabinets as close to the preparation zone as possible.
3: REFRIGERATION ZONES
The area around your hob should be aligned to the needs you have when cooking and cooking on the stove. The cooking zone should be right at the preparation zone, and you should have pots, pans and other important cooking utensils at your fingertips. The stove also belongs in the cooking zone, but does not have to have a central place in the kitchen, as we typically only use it 4-5 times a week.
4: THE FOOD ZONE - ALL FOODS
The food zone is the area around the refrigerator and should be close to the cooking zone. It ensures you easy access to short-term raw materials from the fridge / freezer and to long-lasting foods placed in the other's cabinets when cooking. A good tip is to give the refrigerator a more central location than you might have imagined - we open and close the refrigerator on average a full 36 times a day.
5: NON-FOOD ZONE
The non-food zone is typically the area where extra service, kitchen appliances, trays and other equipment are stored. These are typically things that you do not use daily, and therefore do not need to have a central location in the kitchen.
COMPROMISES MAY BE NECESSARY!
Decorating a kitchen 100% according to the principle of the five work zones cannot always be done. It depends, among other things, on of the room's size and shape, location of windows and doors and how the kitchen should be integrated with the other rooms of the house. As a rule, compromises will be necessary. Kvik can help you make the most of your kitchen space.
SURPRISINGLY SMART WASTE SYSTEM
Rather than having the trash bin under the sink, we recommend a smart extraction system located between the cleaning zone and the preparation zone. In this way, two people in the kitchen can work in the two zones at the same time and use the trash can without standing in the way of or disturbing each other. A small optimization that makes a surprisingly big difference!
LIVING IN THE KITCHEN: INSIGHT FROM 500 FAMILIES
Our advice and recommendations for kitchen fittings are based on many years of experience in selling kitchens. In addition, a comprehensive study of no less than 500 families has given us insight into the different families' everyday lives in the kitchen - how they move, which appliances they use and when, and how they are together.
On average, we open and close the refrigerator a full 36 times a day. For comparison, we just open the oven 4-5 times a week.
HOW DO YOU SET UP A SMALL KITCHEN?
Decorating a small kitchen is the art of compromise, and it is about getting the most out of its possibilities. It is not always possible to integrate all the work zones. However, a compact kitchen can easily be fat, and with the right solutions you can also get plenty of storage space in the upper and lower cabinets.
3 GOOD ADVICE FOR DECORATING A SMALL KITCHEN
- Use XXL and get more storage space in the cabinets.
- Build to the ceiling and use the space to the maximum.
- Focus on the interior design of the cabinets so that you can fit the essentials.
Get more kitchen life in less space.
DECORATING A LARGE KITCHEN
Considering its kitchen interior carefully is at least as important if you have lots of square meters to romp on, as if you have a smaller kitchen.
3 GREAT TIPS FOR DECORATING A LARGE KITCHEN
- Think of the work zones to avoid long distances and unnecessary movements.
- Choose drawers instead of shelves hidden behind doors for the things you use daily. Drawers provide easier access and a better overview.
- Make room in the sink for extra installations such as a Quooker or waste sorting.
Find more inspiration for your kitchen - see our selection of kitchens here.
