An architect has revealed the five design elements that could ruin the flow of your kitchen and one of them has sparked a heated debate.
Georgina WilsonAn award-winning Sydney architect has shared the design mistakes she would never make in her own kitchen.
Pantries, dining rooms and downdraft range hoods are some of the features that make the space inefficient and less pleasant to work in, according to the expert.
1. Never install a pantry
The architect said that pantries, typically a must-have in high-end kitchens and an object of envy for many, actually decrease the area available for storing items.
“Never make a large pantry, you get more storage space by not having one,” he said in a video.
He explained that kitchen spaces that function efficiently do so because they share circulation well with the existing space and that an entryway can interrupt that flow.
Scroll down to watch the video
Georgina Wilson, a Sydney architect with 20 years’ experience, said that no matter how popular pantries and dining rooms are, she thinks they are a bad idea in terms of design.
2. Never place a sink or cooktop on an island countertop.
The Australian designer said she wanted to shout the following advice louder “to the people in the back,” advising them to never install a sink or cooktop on an island.
“It’s a fantastic, uninterrupted prep area, and you don’t want to splash guests or kids with water or cooking oil,” she said.
3. Always remember the 900 rule
Ensuring that benches and islands are not too far or too close to each other is a key element of achieving a kitchen that is pleasant to use, and Georgina says 900 is the magic number.
Sinks and island countertops are also potentially dangerous and messy according to the design expert, who said hot water and oil often splash onto the rest of the area.
“The absolute minimum distance between your island and anything is 900mm,” he said.
4. Never install a service or passage window.
The architect also warned people against having a utility or pass-through window in their kitchen that opens to an outside space.
“Don’t be fooled by magazine photos of cute kids eating ice cubes in restaurant windows. They’re a terrible idea,” she said.
5. Never install a downdraft extractor hood
Downdraft cooker hoods are often a popular choice because they save so much space, but Georgina believes they aren’t as effective for a reason.
“Remember that hot air rises,” he said.
While some agreed wholeheartedly with Georgina, many Australians came to the defence of their pantries, saying they were the best part of their kitchen.
“I love mine, I wouldn’t change it for the world,” said one.
“A pantry is my dream,” adds another.
Others agreed with the architect, saying the built-in feature was a waste of square footage unless working with a huge kitchen space.
Many said a sink or stovetop in an island was “scary,” but others who had them insisted they worked well and allowed for socializing while cooking.
Another said he wouldn’t trade his service window for anything.
“It’s very practical to be able to distribute things among the guests. Plus, my partner can cook outside while I’m busy inside and we can continue working together. It’s the best,” she said.
An Australian suggested that instead of debating the virtues of kitchen features, people should choose the ones that suit them best.
“Just do what you want in your space, these rules are just opinions,” she said.
