Kitchens are normally laid out with their counters, cabinets, appliances and fixtures in a few shapes; the designs are typically U shapes, L shapes and galleys. Less popular, but no less functional, are single-wall kitchens, in which the three elements of the semisacred work triangle — refrigerator, sink, stove — are aligned on one wall.
The efficacy of single-wall kitchens occurs through the spacing and place of these three elements, the sizing and articulation of their countertops, and the usage (if any) of a nearby kitchen table or island. These examples illustrate these efficiencies, but also how the single-wall kitchen is related to the rest of the home, particularly the adjacent living and dining spaces.
Fotograf Lisbet Spörndly
The idea to write about single-wall kitchens came to me when writing about the Dialogue House in Arizona. In that minimalist house, the usage of a single-wall kitchen followed by the place of storage along with other service areas in the perimeter, so as to free the center to get an expansive view of downtown Phoenix.
This kitchen Sweden functions according to some similar logic; it’s pushed along a wall to maintain the dining area spacious and never block the big windows. This kitchen is more generously sized than most we’ll see, however, it comes with an arrangement that we’ll see repeatedly: refrigerator on the far right or left, followed by the sink, and then the stove. The simplicity and clean lines of their walls and cabinets tiles make the kitchen work very well covering one wall of the space.
Dyna Contracting
Frequently a single-wall kitchen can be utilized for the efficacy of distance within the whole home, rather than only for the efficacy of the kitchen. This houseboat is a good example of a house where the footprint of the kitchen required to be lessened. Like the preceding case, it’s a handsome design that fits well on one side of their living space.
Also, this layout illustrates one change since the days of the center of the 20th century, once the work triangle has been developed: The oven and stove are not just one appliance. Here a double oven sits next to the refrigerator at appropriate, while the stove is located between the refrigerator and the sink on the far left.
Space Kit
Here’s a very carefully designed single-wall kitchen, in the cabinets and integration of appliances to the framing of their work surfaces and spacious shelves. The kitchen is part of a gut renovation in Manhattan’s West Village, a locale pressed for space.
The intentional design of the kitchen in this Portland, Oregon, condo could be seen in the balance of the refrigerator on the right together with all the cabinets on the left, along with the way the tile and shelves work together with the hood over the stove. As this and the preceding examples show, it’s important to get an attractive layout when one wall of a spacious living space is characterized by the whole kitchen.
These kitchens also exemplify another change in the middle of last century: The kitchen now is a social hub within the home, be it to get daily activities or entertaining. Single-wall kitchens offer you the openness that goes along with this socializing, yet without consuming as much room as island or galley kitchens.
Sandrin Leung Architecture
The distance constraints in this Vancouver home’s living/dining area are apparent. The single-wall kitchen is a clear choice, provided the width of the room. As in the previous case, tall cabinets bookend the kitchen, with the refrigerator on the left, then the stove and then the sink. This kitchen occupies the order of the stove and sink out of earlier cases, but it’s less important now that people’s activities progress from the kitchen in the refrigerator (getting out the meat, legumes and veggies ) to the sink (cleaning them) and to the stove (cooking them); more significant today is having a zone or place to function in. Single-wall kitchens may have less room for this than other shapes, so every piece of surface is significant and should be utilized to its utmost capacity.
Jessica Helgerson Interior Design
This 540-square-foot home in Portland, Oregon, is served by a kitchen that suits into one conclusion under the gable. A hutch takes over for the lack of top cabinets, however, the reclaimed timber is well worth highlighting; its usage on the stove hood is particularly wonderful.
mango design co
Help can also come in the form of a island work surface, space permitting. This kitchen goes from the refrigerator (from frame only to the right) to the sink in the front of the window, then to the stove on the leftside. The integrated design of the upper and lower windows, lower cabinets and upper shelves, and paint color is quite attractive.
Case Design/Remodeling, Inc..
So when can it be good to have a single-wall kitchen? This restricted room is a great example of when it’s ideal. A galley kitchen could make the floor area too little and eat into the window opening.
Rad Design Inc
Urban lofts are great areas for single-wall kitchens. This miniature kitchen is tucked partially below a stair, by which some secondary storage comes in handy.
LUX Design
Here is another loft area, one with room for a determined eating island. This island provides an extra work place, even as the three chief elements are located along one wall.
mango design co
City condos will also be good areas for single-wall kitchens, since many new high-rises have large expanses of glass. If a kitchen is near the exterior, rather than put back toward the hallway and core of the building, this layout allows for more light coming into the flat.
Design Matters
This last example is just another condo apartment with a small kitchen along one wall. I like how even in this restricted area, the top cabinets provide the kitchen a rhythm that works together with the stove and sink.
More:
Single-Wall Galley Kitchens Grab the’I’
10 Reasons to Bring Back the Humble Kitchen Table