Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Apr 14, 2012 6:33 pm Hi there - Just wondering what everyone's thoughts are on the optimum distance between kitchen benches and islands? We have 1320mm but I am wanting to cut this down to give more room on the stool side which then flows into the living. We are at frame stage and when I was in the kitchen today I felt like it was massive whereas the lounge area was cramped. I have heard some people say 1200mm is ideal. Is 1100mm too narrow? Here are our kitchen plans: Thanks! SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 3Apr 14, 2012 8:22 pm kyton, surely 1300 would be perfect? in the middle..between your huge one and the tiny one sunshine wants? Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 4Apr 14, 2012 8:26 pm kiwi kyton, surely 1300 would be perfect? in the middle..between your huge one and the tiny one sunshine wants? uh-oh... kiwi has found me here too. You are stalking me, right?! thanks kyton. kiwi has been persuading me (on my thread) NOT to decrease the space. DH is on her side. But I am keen to drop to 1200mm... that seems to be acceptable (to everyone except kiwi). Another poster had 1670 between the bench and island which seems like quite a distance... SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 5Apr 14, 2012 9:39 pm 1670 would be massive! I would suggest getting some masking tape and taping your cabinetry and island onto the floor then walk around and see how it feels (even better if you have some boxes to make it 3D). Some things are worth waiting for. Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 6Apr 14, 2012 10:13 pm Ours is 1180 and I think it's fine. We have all drawers except cupboards at the sink. DH and DD30 are trained to give way to me if I'm cooking - hot pans, sharp knives. I think you could go to 1100 and if the other side is a passageway, I would. Our doors are 400 so there's still 780 to walk thru. We are not huge people - a bit tubby. Like kyton said, get some boxes out and try them as the stools on the other side and walking past. Move a table close to a wall and try it out different widths. Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 7Apr 14, 2012 10:35 pm T-answered in your other thread! Reiterated here- DO NOT go any closer than 1200mm...especially with young children as you have! Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 8Apr 14, 2012 10:43 pm Hi SunshineT! I found a web article about kitchen guidelines - not sure how recent or reputable it is - just another opinion I suppose: http://renomart.com.au/the-39-essential-guidelines-of-kitchen-design/ The guidelines that may be of interest to you: 6. A minimum of 1000mm (39″) of floor space between countertops is recommended (1200mm or 47″ is preferred). 900mm (36″) would be the minimum distance between a run of cabinets and a kitchen island in a one cook kitchen. 7. If there are two cooks in the kitchen a minimum of 1200mm (47″) is required for one person to edge past the other by turning and passing with bodies parallel. 8. For two people to pass with ease, a 1500mm (59″) between countertops is required. Good luck making a decision! Building ??? with ??? Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 9Apr 15, 2012 6:16 am planfan Like kyton said, get some boxes out and try them as the stools on the other side and walking past. Move a table close to a wall and try it out different widths. What a brilliant idea. Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 11Apr 15, 2012 1:54 pm A bit of visual assistance. Must agree with Dee, 1200 the very minimum. Lounge to island = 980. Island = 1000. Island to bench = 1370 Regards, Grumbles Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 13Apr 15, 2012 3:47 pm We have a little over 1200 in a galley style kitchen and find that distance works well. The larger the distance the further you have to travel. Planning is key, like not putting the oven opposite the dishwasher etc Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 14Apr 15, 2012 4:37 pm wow - that is all really excellent advice. My DH is 6'4" (and likes to cook) which is why he wants the distance. Whereas I am the one wanting to push out the lounge a bit. buildingbee that link it great, and sounds like renomart comes recommended. Consistent views are minimum 1200mm (even though I was pushing 1100 - nooooo I hear you say!). So I have decided not to go less than 1200mm. Even with 1200mm, the box practice idea is a fantastic one and I will do this in our actual kitchen space. Thanks again guys - extremely useful! SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 15Apr 15, 2012 8:05 pm I just read the kitchen design tips on renomart's website (link from buildingbee above). That is an excellent site. I wish we had read that while we were designing out kitchen. The kitchen is not built yet, so I might go back and do a cross check... I think we good on most things, except for the fridge and cooktop being in the same line... SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 16Apr 15, 2012 8:11 pm I love our new kitchen-also essentially a "square" U shape-the work triangle on three sides with the nearly 3m long bench making up the 4th side-works perfectly! I would only ever have a galley style again in a situation like yours T-where it's not in danger of being a thoroughfare! Our last one became the "throughroad" from the living room to the alfresco area...didn't think it through very well! Deemaree Kyndylan Capers: viewtopic.php?f=36&t=46852 My blog: http://www.sufficientlysufficient.blogspot.com/ Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 17Apr 15, 2012 10:20 pm agree with 1200mm to be the absolute minimum between benches. We currently have that in our plan and I'm pushing for the island bench to be moved out slightly so that the between bench distance is 1350mm. In previous house (rental), the distance between the back bench and the island bench was 2500mm. I kid you not. Absolutely ridiculous. I don't know what the owner was thinking when he planned that. 2010, June : Land bought (1700sqm, battleaxe block). That's it so far! We're in the design phase .... Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 18Apr 16, 2012 11:29 pm It depends how you like to work. 1200mm is ideal for a two cook kitchen. Pushing the island further away can be a bit irritating for some people (for the extra steps involved). Looking at your plan of the kitchen it seems that the island placement suits the scale of the kitchen quite well. Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 19Apr 17, 2012 8:48 am Deemaree I would only ever have a galley style again in a situation like yours T-where it's not in danger of being a thoroughfare! Charge a toll....yea who comes through here must cook or clean Re: Optimum distance btwn island and bench? 20Apr 17, 2012 3:13 pm sceen7 I think you could be onto something there! renomart - thanks for your comments! I thought your website was excellent. I didn't actually realise you were on the forum too. btw, DH agreed to me pulling the island back from 1320mm to 1200mm. SunshineT's Build: viewtopic.php?f=31&t=34585 Designs start: 4/12/09 DA: 5/7/11 Demo: 22/12/11 Slab: 24/2/12 Keys: 31/8/12 Found the answer. The recommended distance is .... 1 5969 DIY, Home Maintenance & Repair Are you going to have the frame exposed or are you cladding it with something. Usually if you are making an exposed frame you would use solid legs around 100x100 or… 3 6585 Hi - thanks for your reply. Yes I think 'Ill go for whitish with very speckly bits rather than pure white something like this. PS was actually 2008 I built the… 2 11696 |