RECIPE FOR A KITCHEN RENO
Designing the perfect cooking space takes more than pretty finishes and top-quality appliances. It’s all about the math and a long grocery list of standard measurements.
To create a dream kitchen, you need to measure up. Do the math with our guide
to kitchen standards.
Sure, if we all had deep pockets and could customize every room in our house, we probably would. But the reality is when it comes to renovating the kitchen and bathroom or decorating the bedroom, living or dining room, many of us can only afford to buy standard-size cabinets, tables, chairs and ready-made draperies.
In this new feature, By the Numbers, we take a room-by-room look at some of the standard measurements found in a space. Today, we start with the busiest room in the house: the kitchen.
When designing a kitchen, there are many details to consider, warns Lauren Connolly, kitchen designer at Astro Design Centre on Woodward Avenue.
Cabinetry, appliances, flooring, lighting, backsplash: “There are so many parts that make up a kitchen,” says Connolly, adding the most important element for most homeowners is budget. “People must to be willing to compromise in order to stick to a budget.”
Though costs vary widely based on the size of your room and choice of finishes, there are many standard measures you need to know when planning your dream cuisine.
1 Standard upper cabinet depth:
12 inches
2 Standard base cabinet depth:
24 1/2 inches
3 Standard counter height:
36 inches
4 Standard counter depth:
25 1/2 inches
5 Standard distance between bottom of cabinet and countertop:
18 inches
TIP: Connolly recommends measuring the height of the tallest appliance you want to leave on the counter. Installing integrated under-cabinet lighting may be needed to give you the extra space, she says.
6 Minimum distance between two working areas:
39 inches
TIP: Connolly recommends 42 inches for maximum comfort. Anything less and “two people can’t get by,” she says.
7 Standard oven size:
30 inches
8 Standard-size dishwasher:
24 inches
9 Standard fridge depth:
36 inches
10 Minimum counter space on either side of the stove:
18 inches
TIP: A standard dinner plate is 12 inches in diameter so having the extra space is ideal.
11 Height of a bar stool (from seat to floor):
30 inches
12 Minimum island overhang:
inches with no support (brackets or bracing); 15 to 18 inches with supports
13 Proper height to hang fixture over island: Depends on the height of the people using the space.
TIP: “Make sure you have a clear view when standing at the island.”