How to Create a Kitchen Where You Want to Cook: 5 Essential Conditions

When planning and outfitting a kitchen, it's important to keep in mind the functions it should perform, ergonomic principles, ensure convenience of use and cleaning, equip the cabinet with household appliances that are not only stylish but also simplify the cooking process. What to pay attention to first, we explain in this article.

Convenient Work Zone

Many have heard about the proper "work triangle," but not everyone measures distances between functional zones on the kitchen. If you're among those who prefer to plan "by eye," keep in mind: near each "work point," there should be free surface. For example, part of the free countertop near the refrigerator to lay out ingredients, enough space for drying dishes next to the sink, space around the cooktop and oven to place a hot dish on a stand rather than carry it across the entire kitchen.

Also, all four zones — storage, washing, cleaning, and food preparation — should be arranged so you don't have to run from one end of the kitchen to another for a suddenly needed spoon to stir soup or a lid to lift a hot dish.

"Smart" Household Appliances for Cooking

Even if you know how to cook and enjoy it, a reliable helper won't be out of place. Modern manufacturers teach appliances to not only control temperature but also cooking time, preventing food from burning.

Back in the day, one had to constantly monitor food in the oven. Today’s housewives can relax completely. For example, in a German brand Miele oven model Generation 7000, there is the TasteControl function — it’s impossible to overcook a dish with it. After the cooking cycle finishes, the oven door opens slightly, and the cooling fan blows hot air out. In just five minutes, the temperature in the working chamber drops by about 100°C, and the appliance door closes again.

Another pleasant feature: you can monitor the dish while in another room. The oven with the FoodView function has a built-in camera protected from heating.

It transmits high-resolution images to the Miele@Mobile app on a tablet or smartphone. If the dish is not sufficiently browned, you can adjust the cooking time or temperature in the app.

Comfortable Countertop Height

Even the most beautiful kitchen can be irritating if it's uncomfortable to cook on it. This might happen if you didn't pay attention to the height of cabinets and work surfaces — from which depends whether you'll be working with a straight back or slouched.

The optimal height of the work zone is 15 cm from the bent elbow. This means that for a woman who is 165 cm tall, a traditional factory variant — 85/90 cm — would suit. For a man who is 190 cm tall, working on a countertop that is one meter high will be more comfortable.

Design: Irina Stepanets. Household Appliances: Miele

Good Ventilation

Kitchen hoods are chosen unfairly based on residual principles. Yet they ensure freshness and cleanliness of the air you breathe while cooking. Based on operation mechanism, there are exhaust hoods with air discharge and circulation hoods. The former draw air from the kitchen and expel it into the home's general ventilation system. The latter clean dirty air and return it to the room. Some models can work in both modes, but for circulation mode, a good carbon filter is essential.

If kitchen fronts form a unified composition, you'll likely need to mask the hood — here, "integration" comes in handy. An integrated hood can be hidden inside a kitchen cabinet, and only a narrow panel with buttons is visible.

Excellent alternative — a countertop-integrated hood. Such a model allows freeing up space on the kitchen. One press of a button — and the countertop-integrated hood rises, turns on, and starts extracting kitchen vapors and odors. When the hood is no longer needed, it simply disappears into the countertop.

Stylish Design

A beautiful cabinet can be a great incentive to spend more time in the kitchen and cook delicious dishes for family. Minimalist fronts without edges and handles look very stylish, require no complex care, and will remain relevant for many years to come.

Complete the cabinet with handle-free integrated appliances: for example, some Miele dishwasher models G7000 have the Knock2open function — just tap gently on the door to open it. The Master Cool 2.0 refrigerator series opens with just a touch thanks to the Push2open function. Appliances from the ArtLine series open using sensor control Touch2open.

Design: Quadro Room Studio

What Other Things Are Useful on the Kitchen?

The sorting waste drawer system is very convenient to use. It consists of several containers: for food waste, plastic, glass, and paper. Such disposal not only looks more attractive than a regular trash can but also solves the problem of unpleasant odors.

The Miele DGM 7000 steam cooker is a device combining the functions of a steamer and microwave oven. It helps solve the problem of insufficient space on the kitchen. The steamer combines both functions in "Fast Cooking" mode. For example, boiled potatoes in this mode cook twice as fast.

Are afraid that food residue on dishes clogs the drain? A compact shredder installed right under the sink will help. The device consumes little energy, and it solves the clogged drain problem once and for all.

The M 7000 microwave oven simplifies the process of preparing dishes thanks to automatic programs. You just need to select a program and enter the weight of the ingredients. The device automatically adjusts power and cooking time. In addition, the EasyControl sensor system allows quick and intuitive setup of the microwave operation and makes cleaning easier.

One of the key advantages of switching from hand washing dishes is time savings. A dishwasher helps find those extra minutes in a day that can be spent with family.

Another convenient home device is a tap from which you can pour drinking water at different temperatures: icy, room temperature, boiling, and even carbonated. Some sets with filters include a CO2 cylinder and cooling system. Instant boiling is provided by an integrated storage water heater.