How to design a Kitchen for the entire family
More and more people live in multi-generational households nowadays.
Here, we look at how to adapt the most important living space in any busy home, the kitchen, and offer tips on how to design the layout to ensure little ones, parents and grandparents, can cook, relax and even work comfortably and safely together.
Make everything reachable
If you’re sharing a household with children and grandparents, it’s likely there will be a variety of heights and physical ability in the family. So, when it comes to planning your cabinetry layout and the position of your appliances, make sure every member of the household is able to easily access them.
The ideal height for frequently used utensils and appliances should be between 80cm to 160cm above the floor, to avoid bending or standing on a ladder. Make scrabbling around the backs of cupboards a thing of the past by opting for drawer storage instead of base units. We guarantee everyone will love being able to view the contents easily from above without having to kneel on the floor!
Bonus tip: An integrated eye-level oven is definitely the most practical and efficient option. However, if you do have to install an oven below the counter, choose a design with telescopic shelf rails for easy oven access, and soft-close doors that will prevent little fingers getting trapped.
Think beyond the triangle
As well an efficient working triangle that ensures the cooker, sink and fridge are just a few steps apart, try incorporating multiple workstations into your kitchen. Include different prep areas that will allow a number of people to cook together at the same time.
Go for larger appliances, such as a 90 cm free induction hob that allows you to move up to six pots and pans freely anywhere on the hob, without being restricted to size or a predefined cooking zone. This type of hob uses smart technology, which works intuitively with the extractor and allows you to operate it remotely – so you can stay in control, even if the kitchen is at full capacity.
Bonus tip: Think about incorporating a desk area at the end of a run of units. This can then be utilised for homework, as a home office area, or simply as a home hub for staying on top of life admin. Flexibility in a busy kitchen is key, so try and increase worktop space where possible by integrating appliances and adding a pop-up extractor or sockets that can be hidden away when not in use.
Use smart technology
In busy households, routine is everything. From the morning bathroom schedule, to the daily meal time regime, every home has a daily rhythm, and with the help of smart appliances you can make your schedules run even more smoothly.
With a simple voice command you can ask Alexa to ‘start your morning routine’, which might mean the lights come on, the coffee machine starts, the hood operates and the oven pops into action. Genius!
Bonus Tip: Smart tech is also useful for future-proofing a home in anticipation of family members getting older or having mobility issues. By using a smartphone or voice command to control an appliance or device, you’ll make it easy for people with poor sight or limited use of their hands to stay independent in the kitchen.
Consider safety
It’s great to get children involved in food preparation from an early age, so choosing appliances with super safety features will ensure they can help without the worry of accidents.
An induction hob, for example, is ideal when you have little ones around. The heat is only in the pot, while the surrounding area doesn’t get too hot, and cools down quickly once it’s off. And, with innovative tech, like the cookingSensor Plus or fryingSensor Plus, your chosen temperature can be precisely maintained to avoid the pot from boiling over or your food to burn food when frying.
Bonus tip: An induction design is a great choice if you need to position the hob on the island, particularly if your kids enjoy doing their homework on the other side of the bench top. Just keep in mind a clearance area of at least 50cm around the hob