ZONED OUT! HOW KITCHEN DESIGN HAS MOVED ON FROM THE CLASSIC KITCHEN TRIANGLE.

Over the years as kitchen design has evolved and lifestyles have changed, the concept of the kitchen triangle that originated in the 40s, has become a thing of the past. Nowadays, many of us live or want to live in an open-plan home where the absence of walls allows us to break free from “the box” and create more organic free-flowing spaces within our home.

Although the kitchen triangle or 3-zone layout still works for smaller kitchens, today’s open-plan designs offer the freedom to expand the kitchen’s footprint and connect seamlessly into other primary living spaces. A spacious kitchen offers homeowners the luxury of having more appliances, storage, work surfaces and an inclusive area for dining and entertaining.

The rules of a three-zone kitchen were simple and efficient: There should be no more than a few steps between the refrigerator, oven and sink, and no physical interruptions between those three points of the kitchen triangle. Today our kitchens are expected to do more than just cook. We create multiple zones defined by function and how our families want to live in the space.

• Cooking zone Cooktop and ovens
• Cleaning zone Sink, trash and dishwasher
• Consumables zone Food storage – cabinets, pantry and refrigeration.
• Non-consumables zone Cooking and dining essentials - pots, pans and dinnerware.
• Preparation zone Aim for at least 4 feet of open, uninterrupted counter space in at least one area, and a minimum of 15 inches of space on either side of the sink.
• Dining and Entertaining zone – Islands, beverage stations and dining tables.

Check out these inviting designer kitchens that define the concept of multi-zone spaces that include the kitchen, dining and living rooms.

This stunning open-plan kitchen provides space for multiple zones where people can comfortably carry out different tasks at one time within the space. Statement features like the copper rangehood over Thermador’s dual-fuel gas range and the fully-tiled backsplash define the cooking and prep sink zones. A pantry, suspended glass shelves and upper cabinets offer unique storage spaces throughout the room and the grand sit-down central island creates a cleaning zone with sink and dishwasher opposite the wall with integrated refrigerator columns.

Always of the moment when it comes to kitchen design, Thermador offers a wide range of luxury appliances designed for every style of kitchen and level of home cook. This custom Thermador kitchen is designed to elevate the family’s cooking and entertaining experience. Here, you can see how easy it is to build a cohesive multi-zone kitchen with Thermador’s Masterpiece and Professional Collections.

This gorgeous open-plan multi-zone kitchen designed by Meridith Baer seamlessly connects the multi-zone kitchen with the living and dining rooms using colour, finishes, textures and lighting. The kitchen’s long sit-down island services the perimeter cooking, cleaning and prep zones as well as the storage zone that includes the pantry, refrigerator columns and wine refrigerator at the end of the island.

Design: Meridith Baer Home
Photo: Christopher Amitrano

Check out our Thermador blog to see how to configure your Thermador appliance in a multi-purpose kitchen.