MODULAR KITCHEN DESIGN IDEAS

A modular kitchen is one that is made up of pre-made cabinet parts. These parts are fitted together to create a whole, functional kitchen design. Modular cabinets are popular in kitchen remodeling projects and are available in two main types: upper and lower units.

ONE-WALL OR STRAIGHT-WALL KITCHEN DESIGN

A One-Wall Kitchen is a type of kitchen built along a single wall. One-wall layouts are generally found in small homes and efficient apartments to save floor space and construction costs.

This layout has all appliances, cabinets, and countertops on one wall. This permits the cook to perform all tasks in a single workspace. As it has a limited area of working a one-wall kitchen layout will often contain a compact refrigerator and range. These two appliances are generally separated by a sink.

A modern one-wall kitchen, sometimes equipped with an island that is located across from the wall, allows the resident to have more workspace. One wall kitchen layout does not have a separate food preparation area due to its limited space.

It offers residents the to cook and clean up in a single space, which is very convenient. One-wall layouts are popular among homeowners who have plenty of space but want the kitchen to remain open.

Pros of Single Wall Kitchen Layout

Inexpensive: According to a study a one-wall kitchen can save for countertops and kitchen cabinets accounting for nearly 42% and 31% of the entire remodeling budget respectively. As it is built on a single wall, it utilized limited space and substantially reduces your kitchen remodeling budget. with this type of kitchen, the DIY option can be easily utilized without running the risk of ruining the kitchen.

Compact Design: As it is only built on a single wall, it offers lots of free space for you to use it however you feel like an island or a dining table or both.

Good Workflow: In this type of layout you can do more stuff from prepping to cooking to cleaning up without evening moving around. This boosts your efficiency substantially.

Cons of Single Wall Kitchen

Limited Appeal: Today, compact limited space design kitchen is trending among homeowners. The single-wall kitchen layout is not most suitable for that purpose. Rather, it is only selected when there’s limited space for your kitchen design. As per today’s modern trends, it doesn’t have much universal appeal.

Potential Resale Value: Sometimes, homeowners spend lots of money on their kitchen remodeling in order to boost the resale value of their homes. But a single-wall kitchen may not be beneficial in boosting resale values.

Scanty Counter Space: Sometimes, it has eight-foot-long countertops. This makes the cooking process tedious because you have to keep moving long countertops.

PARALLEL OR GALLEY KITCHEN DESIGN

A galley kitchen is characterized by two parallel walls of kitchen cabinets and countertops, which run along a narrow space, with an exit at either end. A galley kitchen is sometimes known as a corridor kitchen because it creates the feel of a corridor, with the remaining floor space available being a long and narrow walkway.

Galley kitchens are a style of kitchen named after the cooking area on a ship. These kitchens were known as ‘galleys’ and were designed to provide ultimate functionality and efficiency in a limited space. Here we investigate the pros and cons of galley-style kitchens in homes and look at examples of galley kitchen layouts.

Pros of Galley Kitchens

Fits Small Rooms

This type of layout makes the most sense for kitchens that are small or long and narrow. It allows for the installation of plenty of kitchen cabinets and long lengths of countertops, which would be unachievable in small kitchens with more complex layouts.

Functional and Efficient

The layout of a galley kitchen makes a lot of practical sense because all of the equipment you will need when preparing food or cooking meals will be in close proximity. This makes for a very functional and efficient workspace, allowing for a more streamlined experience that will prevent inconvenience and wasted time.

Inexpensive

When it comes to purchasing and installing a galley kitchen, they tend to offer a money-saving alternative to more complex kitchen designs. A galley kitchen will feature two rows of standard kitchen cabinets, which cost less money to buy than the corner cabinets you would need in other types of layouts.

A galley kitchen also requires two lengths of countertop surface, which will not need to cross any corners and therefore won’t need any joins. It is the joins in countertops that take time and skill to install, which increases the cost of installation and also results in wastage; offcuts of countertops that you have to pay for and don’t use.

Good Countertop Space

Galley kitchens benefit from good countertop space with long lengths of work surfaces. The lack of corners in the countertops means that they are more usable, as space is not lost in areas you cannot easily reach.

Generous Storage

If you need plentiful storage in your kitchen, then a galley layout can satisfy this requirement. Kitchen base cabinets and kitchen wall cabinets can be installed along both stretches of walls to allow for maximum storage space.

Cons of Galley Kitchens

Small Floor Space

One disadvantage of a galley kitchen layout is a lack of floor space, especially if the room is particularly narrow.

This means that in spite of having plenty of countertop space for several people to be cooking together, the small floor space will result in everyone getting in each other’s way so that group cooking becomes unenjoyable. This might be problematic if, as a couple, you enjoy spending time cooking together or if your children like to help you prepare meals.

The small floor space can also make it difficult to have numerous cabinet doors or appliances open at once.

For example, if you have a dishwasher door open on one side of the kitchen while you empty out the clean dishes, you may not be able to open cabinet doors on the opposite side without them banging into each other. This can make for an annoying and inconvenient setup in some scenarios.

Lack of Natural Light

The size and shape of galley kitchens mean that they often suffer from a lack of natural light. The window in a room of this size may be very small, or in some cases, galley kitchens do not have walls that are on the exterior side of the house and therefore don’t have any windows at all. If you like to have a view of the backyard while you’re working at the kitchen sink, this may not be possible in a galley kitchen.

L SHAPE KITCHEN DESIGN

The L-shaped kitchen layout will feature countertops on top of cupboards along two walls that meet at the adjoining corner to create an L-shape.

This is a very functional layout for a kitchen because it means you are within easy reach of anything inside your cabinets and drawers and so won’t need to travel from one end of the kitchen to the other while cooking or preparing meals. This type of layout design has become increasingly desirable due to the rise in popularity of open-plan homes and loft-style living areas.

The L-shaped kitchen plan allows for a generous amount of floor space where you could position a dining table or island, and it also opens outwards into a room, making it ideal for entertaining and open-plan living.

With an L-shaped kitchen, you typically have more floor space than countertop space, making it well-suited to families where more than one person might want to work in the kitchen at a time.

Benefits of L-Shaped Kitchens

More functional floor space is available

An L-shaped kitchen typically uses two walls of the room, leaving the remaining two walls and the center of the room vacant for other uses. This means you could position a bar or dining table along an unused wall or leave it empty to provide adequate space for movement around the kitchen.

Creates social area

An L-shape is like an open triangle, and it has the advantage of inviting people into the space because it has no walls creating visual or physical barriers. This makes for a much more social space that welcomes guests and encourages people to mingle. It works great as a gathering place for a dinner party, as well as for everyday use by the family.

Ideal for lofts or open-plan living

Another advantage of L-shaped kitchens is that they open out into the space, making them a great choice for loft living or open-plan rooms.

Belongings in close proximity

With an L-shaped layout, the cabinets and storage components of the kitchen are all huddled into one corner, making everything easily accessible and in close proximity for when you are cooking or preparing food. You won’t need to continually walk from one end of the kitchen to the other to grab a pan or another utensil because all will be within easy reach.

Maximize small rooms

If you have a small the medium-sized kitchen, then an L-shaped kitchen works to maximize the functionality of the space. The result is plentiful storage and countertop space for preparation, as well as suitable empty floor space for free movement, so you don’t feel like you’re shuffling around the kitchen.

U SHAPE KITCHEN DESIGN

A U-shaped kitchen is defined by three connecting walls of cabinets and countertops, which create a shape like The-letter ‘U’ when viewed from above. These types of kitchen layouts can also go by the name of ‘horseshoe’ kitchens because of their similar shape.

This is a layout that is very common, especially in older or more traditional style homes, though it is still popularly used in modern homes because it ticks a lot of boxes in terms of storage space, countertop space, and ease of use.

Here we look at the advantages and disadvantages of these types of layouts, along with examples of U-shaped kitchens.

Pros of U-Shaped Kitchens

Impressive Storage

As these types of kitchens cover three walls, they offer a generous amount of storage space. If storage is an important factor in your kitchen, you could look at the possibility of having both base and wall cabinets to maximize cabinet space or consider a wall of floor-to-ceiling tall cabinets in your U-shaped kitchen.

Ample Countertop Space

One reason people love U-shaped kitchens is the amount of countertop space it provides. With three walls of countertop surface, there is sufficient space for baking, and food preparation, as well as plenty of room for countertop appliances to be kept, such as a toaster, a coffee machine, a blender, and a kettle.

Functional

In a U-shaped kitchen, you will have everything you need for food preparation within close proximity, as when you are standing in the middle of the ‘U,’ you will be surrounded on three sides by kitchen storage and countertops.

This makes the room a more functional and efficient space as you won’t need to be walking back and forth from one end of the room to the other every time you need to grab something out of a drawer or cabinet.

Versatile

The great thing about U-shaped kitchens is that they can work in open-plan spaces or in single-use rooms. If you like this kind of floor plan, then you will most likely be able to make it work in your home because it will work in so many different types of room shapes.

In an open plan design, for example, in a kitchen diner,  you can use one wall of the ‘U’ as a separation between the kitchen and the dining room area to help define the spaces. In a single-use room, you can fit the U-shape to the size of the room so that three of the four walls are covered with kitchen cabinets.

Cons of a U-Shaped Kitchen

Corner Cabinets Required

Some people like to avoid using corner cabinets in their kitchens because they can be awkward to use, but in a U-shaped kitchen, they are an essential element to complete the connected layout.

Corner cabinets are deep, so they are great for storing large items; however, they can be very difficult to access and so getting anything out of the corner cabinet can be quite a tricky task. This is because the cavity in the cabinet is extensive, but the access door to get into the cabinet is very small by comparison.

These cabinets are so deep that they are actually quite ineffective for storing day-to-day items because you would need to remove all of the front items first to reach the item you want at the back.

Most people with corner kitchen cabinets choose to store lesser-used items at the back of them, such as tandem boxes or seasonal dinnerware. Another drawback of corner cabinets is that they tend to be more expensive, so they can rack up the cost of a new kitchen.

Minimized Floorspace

Although U-shaped kitchens can work in almost any type of room, they will significantly reduce the floor space available in small or narrow rooms.

If you have a small kitchen, you may find that it is better suited to an L-shaped kitchen or galley kitchen because they occupy less floor space and therefore make it more functional for two people to use at once. If you fit a U-shaped kitchen into your small space, you may find that it feels too cramped, or you struggle with traffic jams when multiple members of the family try to occupy the same area.

ISLAND KITCHEN DESIGN

The kitchen island is freestanding cabinetry or island that is a supplement to countertop space in the kitchen area. There are lots of opportunities to locate the kitchen island in the kitchen area.

Generally, homeowners purchase additional Islands to increase a kitchen’s preparation area. An island is can be manufactured as per requirement and space available appropriate to the kitchen space available.

Most commonly, Kitchen Island is built by purchasing additional base cabinets from a manufacturer to ensure that all the kitchen features are exact matches. In a modern-styled kitchen, people like to design intricate kitchen islands by adding sinks and cooking surfaces to them.

Sometimes, a feature elevated stools along with a non-cooking-preparation side of the island as a supplemental dining area. Though an island provides a must of space to include more storage in the kitchen, there are some island designs that have no internal storage.

Pros of Kitchen Island

Extra Amenities

A kitchen island is all about having extra amenities in your kitchen area. Adding Kitchen Island is a wonderful way to include a beverage unit or even a microwave drawer. We can also provide an extra sink or an additional smaller one or even the cooktop which will free up space in the main kitchen areas.

Extra Storage

Islands are the best solution for the storage of those non-everyday items such as a stand mixer, countertop oven, and so on.

Extra Seating

It offers extra space that can be used as the seating area at the island is a great spot to serve breakfast, have your kids do homework, or even help out the cook.

Possible Cons

Takes up Space

If you have a small kitchen area an island typically sits in the center which can make the space more cramped and possibly even become a roadblock.

May Disrupt WorkFlow

If the island does not have a specific daily use purpose to serve, it will become an obstruction to the workflow.

The Wrong Size

We cannot have too big islands, or too small where it becomes a nuisance is not an island you want. It is not important what is the size of the island big or small, but the question is whether it has a specific purpose set in the kitchen area. If it has its availability values otherwise it’s just an obstruction.

KITCHEN WITH BREAKFAST COUNTERTOP DESIGN

This is our gallery or L shape of gorgeous kitchens with breakfast countertops. A breakfast countertop in the kitchen can be a great way to bring friends and family together and is great for eating a quick meal or entertaining. A true kitchen breakfast bar has a 12 to 18-inch counter overhang to offer room for legs while also providing plenty of space for table settings and meals. Breakfast countertops can be elevated or remain at the same height as the kitchen. Above you’ll find a variety of breakfast countertops styles to help you get ideas and find the one that’s right for you.

In the picture above the contemporary luxury kitchen showcases beautiful hanging crystal chandeliers that allow the breakfast countertops to shine and attract attention.  Adding a sink to the island provides more space for food preparation.  This furniture island is stylish for its classic custom-made design; as well as practical with more storage space design.  White subway backsplash tile and white classic style inset panel cabinets with dark counter and stainless steel appliances give this kitchen an added elegance.

The kitchen is not only a place to prepare food but is also a place where the family gathers whether to enjoy a quick meal or to engage in casual conversation. Nowadays, entertaining guests also usually involves people congregating inside the kitchen. The multiple purposes that this room offers make it a significant part of the home which requires attention in terms of planning and design.

Or if you already have an island counter in your kitchen, add a couple of comfortable chairs, fix some pendant lights overhead, and you have a DIY breakfast bar countertop! Here, in this kitchen, the island breakfast countertop complements the overall colour scheme of this kitchen’s interiors and cabinetry. The countertop is designed using stunning material quartz, Edison light bulbs in tiny cages dangling overhead as pendant lights and two bar stools cum chairs for seating.