Professionals like celebrity chef Pete Evans will attest to the fact that a kitchen is so much more than beautiful cabinets and a stunning backsplash. Whether you have a small space in the suburbs or a large kitchen in a high-rise, a well-designed kitchen creates minimal clutter and is highly efficient. If you are designing for a commercial kitchen, it is recommended that you consult the Australian Business Licensing and Information Service (ABLIS) to verify what compliance requirements you are expected to meet in terms of standards, permits and approvals.

Integrate the following thoughtful tips and ideas when planning your kitchen renovation for a space that is easy and enjoyable to work in, as well as highly functional. Remember, when it comes to designing your kitchen, form follows function.

Identify Your Kitchen Design Focal Point

Select a focal point in your design and balance that particular area with several other quieter and softer eye-pleasing fixtures. Bright cabinets, sleek kitchen flooring, expansive range hoods, and attractive countertop designs will give you plenty to look at.

Consider your countertops

When planning your renovations, keep in mind that those who tend to cook more frequently may need more counter space, especially between the sink and the stove, than people who only cook occasionally or prepare simple, undemanding What Pete Evans would need for a TV commercial kitchen would be more complex compared to a kitchen that only serves five members of a family. Consider incorporating two different counter heights to make baking less strenuous and accessible to children who might be helping prepare meals.

Eliminate wasted steps

Think about how to reduce unnecessary physical movement in the kitchen. For example, store your breakfast bowls and food near the family breakfast table. Locate major dinnerware and cutlery near the dishwasher to facilitate the unloading process. Keep plastic wrap and containers in a convenient location near your work surface for quick and easy wrapping of leftover food.

Design walkways that are wide and convenient

Ideally, pathways through your kitchen should be a minimum of 36 inches wide. Within the cooking zone, pathways must be at least 48 inches wide for a 2-cook configuration and 42-inches for a 1-cook kitchen configuration. As you plan, adjust your kitchen peninsulas and islands accordingly. Master Builders Association of the ACT have developed a particularly useful design resource, ‘Housing for Life, 2001’ from which you can collect some useful design ideas and tips.

Direct your kitchen traffic

For a kid-friendly kitchen layout, keep the range away from normal traffic areas so your kids don’t accidentally or (or even intentionally!) get caught in the running handles and cause dangerous spills. Also, make your refrigerator easily accessible to everyone who may be using the kitchen and other household members.

Use colors appropriately

If you’re designing a small kitchen, keep in mind that color schemes that are dark will tend to make the small space appear even smaller. Use natural light and soft tones in your kitchen cabinets to give a visual impression of extra space.