You must choose between an open and a closed kitchen when remodeling or creating a new one.
Open kitchens are designed to be accessible and to lead into your living room or dining area. In certain designs, the kitchen might be a component of a "great room," which combines the dining area, living room, and kitchen into one open-concept space. For homeowners who prefer to consolidate the majority of their family's activities into a single communal area, this is fantastic.
Open kitchens have the drawback of making your home appear cluttered and untidy if they aren't cleaned frequently. It's simpler for odors from trash or cooking to spread throughout the rest of your house.
Closed kitchens, on the other hand, are kept entirely apart from the rest of the house. Chefs who appreciate their privacy may find this kind of kitchen to be a haven for baking or cooking. Additionally, it keeps the mess and odors away from the rest of your house.
Since they are more formal, closed kitchens may reduce the amount of interaction you have with others while preparing food and hosting visitors. Additionally, they have fewer apertures, which might cause traffic jams. Additionally, having numerous cooks in the kitchen at once could be more challenging.
Universal and Accessible Kitchen Design
If you care for older family members, have a family member with a disability, or are preparing to age in place, you may be interested in universal and accessible kitchen design.
The beautiful thing is that because universal kitchens operate on the same principals as regular kitchens, you may select whatever layout you like and modify it as necessary.
Here are a few of the most fundamental adjustments you should make to your universal kitchen.
- Consider the counter space near appliances. It's recommended to have between 18 and 24 inches of clear countertop area on both sides of your cooktop and sink because moving between workstations could be more challenging.
- Lower work surfaces, light switches, and outlets. Your refrigerator and oven should have at least 24 inches on one side. Countertops in general are 36 inches tall. Kitchen counters in accessible homes should be 30 inches high. Light switches and outlets can even be installed on the front of cabinets as long as they are no higher than 37 inches from the floor.
- An open area for seating underneath the cooktop and sink. Under the cooktop or sink, standard kitchens often feature cabinets for storage, but accessible kitchens must leave this space open (particularly when building for wheelchairs). Ascertain that the open area measures roughly 30 inches across, 27 inches up, and 19 inches deep.
- Take care when using your equipment. Install handles, touch handles, levers, and pulls for cabinet doors and drawers that are simple to use.
- Install wider-opening cabinet doors. Your cabinet doors should have 170-degree hinges, as recommended.
- Lower the cabinets' upper shelves. Upper cabinets are typically 18 inches above the counter top in height. Upper cabinets should be installed no more than 15 inches above the counter for greater accessibility.
- Boost visibility. A kitchen designed for accessibility may benefit from open shelves or cabinet doors made of clear glass so that you don't have to open them to see what's within. Additionally, your cooktop needs front access controls that are clear to notice.
- Increase the number of sliding drawers. It could be challenging to reach the standard shelves in your cupboards, especially while seated in a wheelchair. Locating all of your kitchen supplies is made simpler by installing sliding shelves in your cabinets.
- Upgrade the ergonomics of your sink. Installing single-lever, high arc faucets with pull-out sprayers is something we advise.