As it only requires two adjacent walls, it is great for a corner space and very efficient for small or medium spaces. An L-shaped kitchen also presents a natural “kitchen triangle” from which a cook can work quickly and efficiently.
In the picture above a large L-shape kitchen features classic design aesthetics and Neo-classic details combined to create an elegant look. It has beige Tuscan tiles for its floors and the backsplash which complements the antiqued off-white cabinets.
The countertop material is brown granite with a tone similar to the backsplash tiles. There is also gold mosaic tiles for the range cooker backsplash area, giving it a little more highlight.
L Shaped Kitchen Layout
The L shaped layout is considered to be the most popular type of kitchen layout. With the inclining trend of open kitchen spaces and the dwindling need for a formal dining room in the home, L shaped kitchens have become a current favorite in the kitchen design scene. This type of kitchen layout offers practicality and perfect balance not only in terms of design but also in efficiency of use.
This type of kitchen layout is characterized by two adjoining walls that are perpendicular to each other. Its shape takes on an “L” form, thus the name L shaped kitchen. It can be small or large, open, closed or semi closed. While there is no limit to the size of an L shaped kitchen, the length of the “legs” of the “L” typically ranges anywhere from 12 to 15 feet long.
The L shaped kitchen also has an efficient workspace that permits appliances or cabinetry to be installed along right angled walls while leaving an open area at the center. This open area can be used to include a kitchen island in the middle.
Compared to other kitchen layouts, the L shaped kitchen uses the “zoned approach” wherein specific areas are separately designated within the space. These setup include areas such as the cooking area, the food preparation or cleaning area , the wet and dry storage and the dining space.
Functional – The L shaped kitchen can be utilized in a variety of ways. Since this layout is flexible in terms of design, it ensures that your kitchen accommodates different areas that can cater to a number of activities such as dining, cooking, food preparation and storage.
It also makes the most out of your kitchen space because it has a provision for the addition of a kitchen island – an extra counter space which is also very useful in terms of food prep and storage.
It is also one of the most popular solutions to transforming your regular kitchen into an upgraded “eat in kitchen”. One leg of the “L” can be used as a casual dining area where you can set up bar stools and entertain guests and gather family members.
With the L shaped layout, ample storage area is also one of the least things you have to worry about. Since it is composed of two adjacent walls, this provides the perfect opportunity to incorporate overhead cabinets and under counter cabinets.
Versatile and flexible design – Functionality and aesthetics come hand in hand in order to achieve a perfectly balanced kitchen design. Flexibility in design is one of the advantages of an L
With its ample space, you can maximize your storage and preparation areas without having to sacrifice visual aesthetics.
One or both walls may have built-in upper and lower cabinets, or it can be left as a simple open countertop. Depending on the size of the room, it can be fit with an island.
Storage units can be concentrated into a single wall or a linear setting. You can also use it to smoothly transition into other areas of your home. An L shaped kitchen can also accommodate permanent design features like a built in range or specialty features like a baking station in the island counter.
Adapts to any type of kitchen configuration – The L shaped kitchen conforms to any area and style of kitchen configuration, whether it may be open, closed or semi closed. Regardless of your kitchen size, the L shaped kitchen offers a smart design that is guaranteed to fit both small or large sized kitchens. For large spaces, an L shaped kitchen is very easy to install
Ensures efficiency of the work triangle – The L shaped kitchen helps maintain the correct spacing between the major areas of the kitchen namely the refrigerator, the sink and the range. Typically, one of the sides contains the cooking and preparation area while the other side contains the cold and dry storage spaces. If you are also a person who loves to cook, then this is the right kitchen layout for you.
Allows multiple users at the same time – One of the main advantages of an L shaped kitchen layout is that it simultaneously allows multiple users within the kitchen without being too overcrowded. With the sufficient space and proper designated areas for cooking and preparation, people can enjoy multiple activities at the same time.
If you are a person who loves to entertain, then this is also the right kitchen layout for your because it allows you to cook meals while happily conversing family. You can mingle with friends as you prepare food while they sit around your casual bar counter or you can enjoy kitchen tasks as a family bonding activity. Consequently, multiple users also allows work to be done faster and easier.
Improves traffic flow in the kitchen – With proper planning and design, an L shaped kitchen can promote an efficient and well organized work and traffic flow in the kitchen. People can move easily in and out of the kitchen comfortably without having to worry about coming in the way of others.
Optimizes small spaces – The L shaped layout adapts well to small spaces. It doubles up the storage space and the preparation area as compared to a galley kitchen which has a single span of counter.
Provides the perfect opportunity to incorporate an island in your kitchen design – Of all the types of kitchen layouts, the L shaped kitchen is the most “island friendly” because it is spacious. This island counter provides more room for cooking, preparation or hanging out.
Flowing floor plan – An L shaped kitchen with many openings creates a smooth transition between the other areas of the home as it integrates pleasantly into open spaces. It can be used to connect spaces to the dining area, the lanai or the backyard.
Contributes visual aesthetics – An l shaped kitchen is naturally attractive – with full cabinetry running along walls and expansive counter spaces, this layout offers the perfect venue to display rich finishes such as natural stone countertops or lush wooden cabinets with exquisite graining patterns and stain color.
Even simple or minimal decor can make this kitchen layout stand out. In return, a beautiful and well planned kitchen will add value to your home. In the event of a resale, you can attract more clients or prospective buyers.
Is there any disadvantage to using an L shaped kitchen layout? In some cases, there are several minor drawbacks to an L shaped kitchen space. One is that since there is more counter space, it requires more effort to maintain.
This type of kitchen layout also requires more finishing material, thus requiring more budget. Though not required, the optional addition of an island is also carries out an extra expense. On the average it is more expensive than galley kitchens.
Lastly, not all homeowners appreciate the spread out layout of the work triangle in an L shaped kitchen. Some might find walking back and forth between the sink, range and refrigerator tiring.
Here’s an example of an l shaped kitchen layout:
The idea behind a kitchen work triangle is to place the three most common work sites at the most efficient distance apart to minimize traffic through the work zone.
These three areas are the cold storage area (refrigerator), the cleaning/ prep area (the sink) and the cooking work site (stove).
Typical L-shaped kitchen designs perfectly encapsulate the kitchen work triangle. The fridge can be place on one end of a leg, the stove on the other, and the sink in the center. The spaces in between can be given over to counter tops and storage space.
This design is great for open plan living as it can easily open up to another room. A great way to have an L-shaped kitchen is to have one leg be a continuous wall while the other is an “open” wall that can incorporate a counter or island that looks out onto the dinning or living room. This allows for a more breathable space that can creates a flow between different areas of the home.
L Shaped Kitchen Layout with Island
In some cases, an L shaped kitchen has an abundant amount of the storage space you need but still lacks some workspace. To address this problem, an ingenious design solution was developed, thus came the island kitchen counter. L shaped kitchen designs with an island are very effective due to their layout. When properly set up everything should be in easy reach, with extra surface area on the island for food preparation or eat-in dining.
If you want to boost the functionality of your L shaped kitchen, then a kitchen island can help you do the trick. In addition to enhancing the visual aesthetics of your home, this design feature can help you maximize every inch of your kitchen space. This space efficient solution is guaranteed to improve the working conditions with your kitchen, providing for an ergonomically sound home.
It is usually found at the center of the kitchen and has an average size of 3 by 6 ½ feet, at a height of 36 to 40 inches or 90 to 110 centimeters. This functional addition offers flexibility in terms of design and use.
The extra workspace provides an area for food preparation, extra storage or informal dining space or it can also be used to cater to specialized tasks like baking, butchering or bartending.
The addition of an island to an L shaped kitchen not only maximizes the space but enhances interaction by directing the work flow to a four way direction.
With the adequate clearance of 40 inches all around, it is easier to move around the kitchen and switch between tasks. Its centralized location allows for easy movement without overcrowding and eliminating the possibility of coming in the way of others.
Another benefit of it is that it contributes visual aesthetic to your home as a well designed kitchen island can serve as a stunning focal point or main attraction to a space. With the wide variety of finishes that it can be furnished with, the addition of an island to your L shaped kitchen creates endless rooms for design possibilities.
From simple tile countertops to extravagant natural stones like marble or granite, an island counter adds a distinctive character to your L shaped kitchen. Also, an L shaped kitchen with an island counter appears more luxurious, classy and makes your house appear bigger.
There are variety of ways to design an L shaped kitchen with an island. Smooth surfaces such as wood, natural stone, tile or stainless steel can be used as food preparation counters or to allow hot foods to cool before serving.
A more advanced design may highlight a secondary sink or other features that are dedicated to specific tasks – a butcher’s block set on top of the island counter easily transforms this into a butchering area.
A kneading surface and a built in oven instantly converts it to a baking station. An under counter wine cellar and a raised bar top makes a perfect place for mixing cocktails and enjoying casual drinks with friends.
A simple natural stone island counter can also be used to enjoy meals and casually dine with family or friends. Appliances such as refrigeration units, wine coolers, a grill or a griddle may also be added to your L shaped kitchen with island counter if you want to enjoy a more advanced cooking experience.
To summarize, L shaped kitchens with an island counter is both functional and decorative, providing an aesthetically pleasing solution to exhausting usable work space for your kitchen.
Small L Shaped Kitchen Designs
The L shaped layout provides a smart solution for houses with limited kitchen space. Adapting well to small spaces such as apartments or condominiums, an effective L shaped kitchen design offers benefits in a number of ways.
One of the primary reasons as to why an L shaped kitchen layout is highly suitable to a small kitchen space is that it maximizes the area by doubling up the storage space and the preparation counter as compared to a galley kitchen which has a single span of counter.
Both of the adjacent walls can be used to mount overhead cabinets which can serve as storage solutions for different kitchen utensils. Shorter legs also mean there is less distance between the zones or the work triangle so it is easier to move around the refrigerator, the sink and the range, thus a more efficient way to use space.
To efficiently work out an L shaped layout for a small kitchen spaces, specialized sinks or storage systems may be used so that neglected or problematic areas such as corners may be utilized as well.
Corner spaces may seem awkward but in reality, they have lots of potential in terms of design. A corner sink, for example, frees up counter space thus allowing the extra area to be used for other tasks. Specialized corner storage units which swing out easily allows you to use up even the back of the unit. Also, instead of built in appliances along the center of the layout, the end of the “legs” of your L shaped kitchen counters may be used to accommodate freestanding refrigerators or built in ovens.
For tight spaces, a small island may also be incorporated into the L shaped kitchen design, however there may be no area for seating. In most cases, it just functions as an added prep workspace with a very simple counter design.
The kitchen cabinets are laminated in a light-beige high-gloss laminate and topped with beige resin countertop. it also features integrated under-cabinet lighting and compact appliances perfect for the size of the space.
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