Browse Forums Kitchen Corner 1 Oct 20, 2018 2:29 pm Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ So this is the elevation of my proposed kitchen. It features a window splashback, with typical wall cabinets above, and a benchtop with base cabinets below. They have initially drawn the window as 700mm high, which would mean that the wall cabinets start at around 1600mm above the ground, which seems to be above my wife's eye level. I have suggested that they reduce the height of the window and wall cabinets (whilst keeping the rangehood at the required level). They have suggested to reduce it to 514mm (apparently it's a standard size for them.) What do people think is the right height for the window, being I guess a compromise for letting enough light in, and having wall cabinets that are a usable height. If I reduce it to 514mm, then the total kitchen height would only be 2134mm in height, would that be too low*? Should I then look to increase the height of the wall cabinets? *the total height from floor to ceiling is 2.7m, and my wife is 160cm tall. My build with Inspired/ Como Homes: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=93656 Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 2Oct 20, 2018 6:20 pm ben888 What do people think is the right height for the window, being I guess a compromise for letting enough light in, and having wall cabinets that are a usable height. If I reduce it to 514mm, then the total kitchen height would only be 2134mm in height, would that be too low*? Should I then look to increase the height of the wall cabinets? The most important height is that of the rangehood above the cooktop. If you don’t get that right then it won’t work properly to vent the steam and oil when cooking. Everything else should flow from that. Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 3Oct 20, 2018 11:20 pm arcadelt The most important height is that of the rangehood above the cooktop. If you don’t get that right then it won’t work properly to vent the steam and oil when cooking. Everything else should flow from that. The height of the rangehood is pretty much governed by the Australian Standards AS/NZS 5601.1 which in this case would be approximately 700mm from the benchtop. I don't quite get what you mean by "everything else should flow from that". If you mean everything else should be level with the rangehood at 700mm from the benchtop too, then the shelves of the wall cabinets start at above her eye level, and she is constantly trying to pull things off shelves that she can't quite see, which I think is a bit of a hazard. My build with Inspired/ Como Homes: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=93656 Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 4Oct 21, 2018 6:32 am ben888 The height of the rangehood is pretty much governed by the Australian Standards AS/NZS 5601.1 which in this case would be approximately 700mm from the benchtop. I don't quite get what you mean by "everything else should flow from that". If you mean everything else should be level with the rangehood at 700mm from the benchtop too, then the shelves of the wall cabinets start at above her eye level, and she is constantly trying to pull things off shelves that she can't quite see, which I think is a bit of a hazard. Well, the standard actually says: Quote: DOMESTIC GAS COOKING APPLIANCES (a) Requirement 1 Overhead clearances~"(Measurement A) Range hood and exhaust fans shall be installed in accordance with the manufacturer's relevant instructions. However, in no case shall the clearance between the highest part of the hob of the gas cooking appliance and a range hood be less than 600 mm or, for an overhead exhaust fan, 750 mm. Any other downward facing combustible surface less than 600 mm above the highest part of the hob shall be protected for the full width and depth of the cooking surface area in accordance with Clause 6.10.1.2. However, in no case shall this clearance to any surface be less than 450 mm. When I said everything else should flow from that, I meant that you need to fix the height of the rangehood above the cooktop and then design everything else around that. From the standard, you could lower the cabinetry to as low as 450mm, but the underside would need to be protected. Of course, that would flow on to the size of the window splashback. Also, if you extend the panel at that level across the range hood, access to the controls might be a problem. I appreciate the problem for those of shorter stature, but I guess it’s a trade off between one safety risk and another. In our case, we have cabinetry that is 700mm above the cooktop (which is induction, not gas) and the cabinets go up 900mm from there. Unless a giant, no one could access the top shelves without an aid, and in that case, benchtop would be too low. I see a couple of solutions you could employ, including lowering the benchtop height, making the overhead cabinets to the minimum height and protecting them in some way, having a step ladder close by, etc. for the record, we have extremely high ceilings, so we have a step ladder handy. Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 5Oct 22, 2018 1:23 am Thanks for your further explanation arcadelt. Yes, I guess you've outlined our dilemma. One of the options is to lower the wall cabinetry to 514mm as per the builder's recommendation (450mm is probably too low) and then increase the size of the wall cabinets to 900mm from there. Or keep it at 700mm, like yours. Although I get the feeling you're taller than my wife. Or lowering the benchtop, but I think that would be a bad idea. You'd probably only get a few cms lower before the appliances start to not fit underneath. Or try for something in between, like a 600mm gap, which I think is a good compromise, although for whatever reason the builder doesn't seem to want to offer. Maybe we should go to a few display homes to see these sizes and heights in person. My build with Inspired/ Como Homes: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=93656 Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 6Oct 22, 2018 4:00 pm I'm 156cm tall, our overheads and integrated rangehood are at 158cm (would have been 160 before flooring), gap between bench and overheads is 69cm and I don't find this an issue. Most everyday stuff like plates and cutlery is stored below in drawers, glasses I can reach up to fine. I will occasionally grab a step when I need to get something down, but most of the time that is what tall husbands are for . I would personally keep the bigger window and keep the rangehood in line with the cupboards. Your wife, like me, will enjoy looking straight out the window instead of at cupboards. Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 7Oct 22, 2018 7:40 pm Your window size is dictated by the external brick coursing. A 516 high window is 6 course, 602 is 7 and 688 is 8 course. Typically windows fit brick coursing. Depending on what sort of cooktop and rangehood you have will then tell you what height window will work for you. It looks best to run the OH cupboard line straight across so as Arcadelt mentioned work out your minimum Rangehood height above cooktop then use the closest window height Accessible Carpentry & Cabinets accessiblecarpentry@gmail.com accessiblecarpentry.com.au https://www.facebook.com/pages/Accessible-Carpentry-Cabinets/583314911709039 Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 8Oct 23, 2018 12:03 am Thanks for your further thoughts. I agree the best aesthetically is to run the cupboards and rangehood in a straight line. But at 160cm high, it would be too high for my wife (we didn't realize this until we actually started to use a kitchen with the wall cabinets at this height) and we always store the plates and the cups and glasses in the overhead cabinets. Thanks also for the explanation of window size to brick course. I'm not sure why the builder is not recommending the 602mm (7 brick) window, because I think that would be the best compromise for us. My build with Inspired/ Como Homes: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=93656 Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 9Oct 23, 2018 5:46 am ben888 Thanks also for the explanation of window size to brick course. I'm not sure why the builder is not recommending the 602mm (7 brick) window, because I think that would be the best compromise for us. Is your house cladding exposed brick? Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 10Oct 23, 2018 7:55 pm arcadelt Is your house cladding exposed brick? Good point. No actually, the outside of the kitchen is rendered Hebel. So I guess even less reason not to agree to a 600mm high window. Surely it can't be that hard for the window manufacturer to make. My build with Inspired/ Como Homes: https://forum.homeone.com.au/viewtopic.php?f=31&t=93656 Re: Height of kitchen/ splashback/ wall cabinets 11Oct 23, 2018 9:12 pm ben888 Good point. No actually, the outside of the kitchen is rendered Hebel. So I guess even less reason not to agree to a 600mm high window. Surely it can't be that hard for the window manufacturer to make. A windows manufacturer can make a window any size, within certain upper and lower limits, neither of which applies in your situation. You can really use anything you want the main consideration would be how it looks once painted/finished - or the look you want. Cabinetmakers use MDF because its cheap… 2 9900 Thanks mate. Yeah good points! Leaning towards Option 3 to get a bit extra space in the cabinets but not going too crazy high (and expensive). Would require a mini… 13 39275 ok thanks - yes was wondering if that should have been listed as Option Three! 2 7711 |