Maximizing the Kitchen’s Working Triangle
Large kitchens and open format kitchens can use a kitchen island cooktop to make the most of the space and the kitchen design.
Kitchen islands are becoming an increasingly popular component of large and open concept kitchen designs. When a kitchen layout becomes so large that the trip between the sink, stove, and refrigerator starts to make cooking and use of the kitchen cumbersome, the kitchen island becomes the ideal spot for the stove.
Laying out the Kitchen Design
When laying out the kitchen design, it’s essential to consider the working space between the most utilized areas of the kitchen. For example, the sink, stove, and refrigerator are the primary working areas of the kitchen and, when laid out properly, should form the design of a triangle known as the working triangle.
To maximize the use of the kitchen design, the working triangle should have a total distance between the three centers of no more than 26′, and each leg of the triangle should be no greater than 9′. However, in huge kitchens and open concept kitchens that open into other homerooms, the working triangle in a conventional design may start to get too large to remain functional. In this case, including a kitchen island in the design and installing the stove or cooktop at this point makes the kitchen more user-friendly.
Venting a Kitchen Island Stove
All cooking surfaces must be correctly vented according to code. While most regulations specify venting each cooktop according to the manufacturer’s specifications, some guidelines are to follow.
A cooking vent should be wider than the cooking surface by 6″; 3″ on either side and the vent must be ducted to the outdoors. There are two styles of vent that are generally available for an island stove, although specifications will vary by manufacturer.
A kitchen island hood is available and is the most effective form of venting from a kitchen island. The hood comes down directly from the ceiling and should be centered over the stove, extending outward on each side and behind the stove by 3″.
If ducting and venting the kitchen island through the ceiling is not available, some stoves and cooktops are available with a vent inside the kitchen island until needed. At this time, the movable duct can rise out of the island extend upward behind the cooktop and vent as required. However, this form of venting should only be used as a last resort, as these types of vents may not provide adequate ventilation for all cooking.
Nearly any form of stove or cooktop is available to be installed on a kitchen island. In some cases, just the cooktop may be installed, with the oven placed inside cabinets nearby. Before making this decision, the homeowner’s cooking habits and kitchen use should be considered.
Consider using a kitchen island stove or cooktop to maximize the working triangle of the kitchen design and get the most use of the kitchen today.