Tips for making work zones in your kitchen

In the past, work triangles dominated contemporary and vintage kitchen design layouts. This meant the sink, fridge and cooktop range were only 4 to 9 feet apart. This kitchen scheme hasn’t been abandoned completely, but with the the influx of open-plan spaces it’s becoming clear that there are better ways to work efficiently, such as creating work zones. With this layout, there are separate areas for work to be completed, allowing multiple people to use the space as once, which makes sense as the room is becoming a hub for gatherings.

Why create work zones?
These days homeowners have tons of appliances, like microwaves, extra sinks, standalone cooktops, dishwashers and wall ovens. It can be difficult to fit all of those components within 9 feet of one another. Instead, spread things out with work zones. Here’s how to do it:

Zone 1: Chopping
Pick up a large wooden cutting board that you store on your countertop. Place it away from your stove or oven. The ideal spot is near the fridge or pantry. This will serve as your preparation area, so use the board to chop your fruits, vegetables and meats. Be smart with your nearby storage space. Use the drawers to hold your knives and other preparation tools. You also can house extra cutting boards in the base cabinets.

Zone 2: Sauteing
Make sure you have lots of free space around your cooktop. This way there won’t be any obstructions to hinder the cooking process. Store your spices in the wall cabinets so they are within arm’s reach. Also place a tall vase near the cooktop range to store your large utensils, like spoons and spatulas.

Zone 3: Stewing
If you have an extra cooking range on your center island then it can be the perfect place to make stews. Install a pot filler faucet and sink right next to the range so you can add water to the pot easily. Consider installing a hood over your island so it can reduce the amount of steam in your kitchen. Or you can take advantage of the space by installing an overhead racks to store your pots and pans.

Zone 4: Baking
Standalone wall ovens allow homeowners to have an additional space to bake dinner and desserts. Double ovens are very popular and increase the versatility of the kitchen. As you did with your other cooking spaces, house everything you need to bake nearby, like cookie sheets and parchment paper.

Zone 5: Cocktail prep
Bar areas are a fun luxury amenity to have in your kitchen space. All you need is a bit of counter space to dedicate to a bar sink and faucet. Then you can store everything you need in the adjacent cabinets like juice mixers, cocktail-making books and glassware.

Zone 6: Serving
People will no doubt make their way to the kitchen when you are entertaining, so think of how you will display your food. Place your serving platters on your kitchen island and have your cocktail-making tools displayed on this surface as well. Use your perimeter counters to hold extra food.