The Kitchen Triangle

The concept of the kitchen triangle dates back to the 1930s and was based on one person working efficiently in a small separated kitchen space. It is a triangular workflow model effectively connecting the fridge, cooker and sink with spacing parameters and limited traffic through the triangle.

There are benefits to adopting the triangle rule in kitchen design, but it also has its limitations. It is definitely something that is more practicality focused rather than used for aesthetics. The kitchen triangle promotes ease of circulation without obstruction, allowing you to move seamlessly and easily between working areas of the kitchen. It is in mind when we approach kitchen design, along with other design principles and the client brief. It is a good design principle but sometimes not ideal for multiple cooks using the space or for every spatial layout.

We believe that the biggest thing that is ‘breaking the rules’ of the kitchen triangle is the changing needs of the modern family and how they use the kitchen space. Cooking is no longer, or not always, the responsibility of one person in the household, with modern kitchens being a multi-function space. And because many families might now have more than one cook operating at a time, the three points of the triangle are now likely to be ‘working zones’ within a kitchen. These zones include a cooking zone, cleaning zone, preparation zone, storage zone etc. By creating zones within your kitchen space these can be applied to any size or shape of kitchen and allow for multiple cooks within your kitchen. 

Weststyle’s objective when designing a kitchen is to translate our client’s aesthetic desires and lifestyle habits and routines into an efficient, well-functioning, beautiful space. Our focus is to listen to our clients and offer unique solutions and interesting material combinations to create usable spaces that are pleasant to inhabit. Every kitchen is different, in its’ relationship with the spaces around it and how it is used every day. Recent projects have seen galley kitchens, U-shaped kitchens, large island benches, sculleries, hidden pantry spaces, appliance nooks and more. They all work harmoniously within the home allowing for ease of circulation and busy lifestyles.

Kitchens are no longer just being used as a space to prepare and cook food, they are often seen as the centre of the home, a gathering spot, which may incorporate additional spaces, such as a Bar or Study Nook. As we have been seeing over the last few years, clients today are wanting large feature island benches and open concept Kitchens with plenty of storage, so the triangle ‘rule’ is often tweaked to suit the individual.