Today’s kitchens should have a balance of comfort and efficiency; however, due to apartment size restrictions, creating a functional yet beautiful kitchen design is challenging.
In an apartment, an “L Shaped Kitchen” works well. An “L shaped” design utilizes corner spaces and creates a seamless flow of movement between cooking, washing, and preparing food.
Benefits of L-Shaped Kitchens in Apartments
Here are some of the primary benefits of L shaped kitchens in apartments:
- Maximizing corner spaces
- Creating the optimal working triangle for a chef on a daily basis
- Adding either breakfast / home office counters or dining ledges
- Achieving design flow in smaller apartments
L-Shaped Kitchen Layout Planning Intelligence for Apartment Kitchens
When designing an L shaped kitchen, thoughtful planning is necessary to maximize efficiency. By separating the sink and hob onto two separate side walls, workflow is optimized. Corner cabinetry can use sophisticated hardware that allows for maximum storage in corners.
When planning an L shaped kitchen layout, some methods are:
- Use of tall wall cabinets
- Incorporating carousel or pull-out cabinets in the corner cabinets
- Placing preparation zones near prep zones
- Creating room for a normal-size refrigerator
Choosing the Right Cabinetry and Finishes
Cabinetry should have straight lines to continue the contemporary feeling of a kitchen. Using lighter material for overhead cabinets creates the illusion of height, while the darker material for the base cabinets gives a heavy appearance. Matte or textured cabinetry finishes eliminate glare and fingerprints; therefore, they are more user-friendly than gloss finishes.
Using the same finish on all cabinetry provides visual connection and continuity with other areas of the apartment.
Storage Solutions to Improve Kitchen Efficiency
Storage is the most important factor in how well a kitchen functions within an apartment. An L shaped kitchen provides both vertical and horizontal options, giving a greater sense of space without feeling claustrophobic.
Some common types of storage in apartments include:
- Tall pantry units
- Deep drawers for large pots and pans
- Tall cabinets
- Pull-out cabinets for corner cabinets
Using concealed storage keeps the kitchen organized and provides a clean, attractive appearance.
Utilizing Multiple Sources of Light to Improve Utility and Restaurant Quality
Adding multiple layers of light to an apartment kitchen increases its usability, function, and beauty. The ambient light creates warmth and hospitality, while the task lighting provides visibility on the work tops. Properly positioning task lighting creates an illusion of a larger, more open space than what is actually there.
Connecting the Kitchen Space Visually to Adjacent Areas
Similar finishes used on cabinetry and minimal hardware will make kitchen spaces visually connect with other adjacent areas such as dining rooms and living rooms.
Royale Touche offers several collections of high-end laminate finishes to help achieve this homogeneous look throughout the apartment; laminate finishes are durable and will provide a refined texture, resulting in a visually appealing finish.
Summary
The L shape design of modern apartment kitchens is the best combination of style and function. The efficient use of intelligent planning, creative storage, and high-quality exterior finishes will help enhance the way people live in their apartments, ultimately improving their overall home design.
