You probably know all about the kitchen triangle by now. But what about the secret numbers divined by higher powers — namely kitchen designers.
Here are 10 of them. (Lightning won’t strike you if you don’t follow them.)
1. If you have a small kitchen (10′ x 15′ or less), you shall have no less than 144″ of base frontage — that is, the total width of all your base cabinets. If your kitchen is bigger, make that 186″.
2. Wall cabinets shall be at least 12″ deep and 30″ high, and you will provide at least 60″ of frontage within 6 feet of the sink.
3. Base cabinets shall be at least 21″ deep.
4. Countertops shall have a frontage of 132″ for small kitchens, 198″ for bigger ones. These countertops must be at least 16″ deep.
5. Leave at least 24″ of countertop on one side of the main sink, 18″ on the other.
6. You shall have at least 36″ of continuous countertop close to a sink for preparing food.
7. 15″ to 18″ of clearance shall be left between countertop and wall cabinets.
8. The range shall have at least 9″ of counter space on one side and 15″ on the other — in an open-ended kitchen. In an enclosed kitchen, at least 3″ clearance to a flame-retardant wall and 15″ on the other side.
9. On the latch side of the fridge, you shall leave at least 15″ of counter space; this space on either side if you have or covet a side-by-side model. Or allow at least 15″ of countertop no more than 48″ across from the fridge.
10. You shall include at least five specialty storage units, such as drawers with vertical dividers, silverware drawers, slide-out shelves and swing-out pantries.