When it comes to kitchens, few layouts better accommodate the Art of Entertaining

In the modern age, formal dining at home has simply become impractical. The notion of family or friends preparing meals in a closed kitchen and serving one course at a time with minimal interaction is no longer possible. With guests and children milling about, the open concept kitchen is more popular than ever. Even with limited space, the ‘L’ design, whether by necessity or choice, is ideal. Multi-tasking is easily facilitated since there is no wall to separate the kitchen from the dining or living area. Instead, what is essentially a corner (two perpendicular walls) incorporate all of your kitchen’s needs. The open space between them allows not only for the chef and guests to mingle freely, but welcomes cooks of the ‘would be’ variety as well.

l shape kitchen

Potentially, the layout will always lend itself to creating a spacious environment. In the center of the ‘L’ shape, an island is typically placed to create ample counter space that may be used as a working or social area. In case of the latter, it is necessary to keep the island’s top clear. However, depending on personal preference, it may be built with either a sink or cooktop. Almost always, an island will feature lower cabinets. Combined with the wall’s hardware, storage is abundant. Of course, a variety of cabinetry options are available.

A Lazy Susan cabinet, similar to the ones we sell.

Often, the popular “Lazy Susan” carousel is the perfect corner connecting component, a nice alternative to cabinet doors awkwardly set in a constricting space. Its ability to rotate 360 degrees allows for extensive accommodation of perishables and makes them easily accessible. Pull-out units that retract fully also make maximum use of the corner’s potential.  Other examples of creative corner cabinets can be found here.

Prep areas are easily designated, and the design contributes to organization and efficiency. Since the ‘L’ generally connects to another room, socializing is uninterrupted. Mom may be preparing food while dad washes dishes and the kids lounge on the couch, and ALL may be in sight of each other, involved in the topic of the moment. The structuring provides room to accommodate multiple persons and lends itself to becoming a communal area in which persons may move about with ease. All in all, it’s pretty similar to an open kitchen.

Sure, there are certain disadvantages. There are times during meal prep that you will likely face a wall. But frankly, it’s an issue that few even consider as bothersome. And although the stove, sink and refrigerator are typically not placed next to each other, homeowners find the setup to be of little inconvenience.

In some instances, kitchens’ ‘L’ walls may be of different lengths. In this case it is best to place taller cabinets against the shorter run. They may even include an incorporated refrigerator or oven component. This would allow the sink and stovetop to occupy the longer area, ideally away from the corner. Upper cabinets are best suited for the long run as well. Obviously the greater length allows for more storage within and their close vicinity to the cooktop allows efficient access to related wares. You may want to continue the upper cabinets onto the shorter wall, but for a preferred uncluttered aesthetic a floating shelf thereupon is perfect.
floating kitchen

When the ‘L’ walls are of identical size, it is best to place the taller cabinets on the side of the oven range. By doing so, available work space is maximized around the sink of the opposite wall. Uniformity lends itself to practicality, so placing a refrigerator next to the upper oven housing would be logical. In fact, in the equal-length ‘L’ scenario, it is possible to separate the sink and cooktop, each unto their own run. This is an ideal design choice when specific areas for cooking and cleanup are desired. As it also yields plenty of counter space, this arrangement is often employed.

Adding to value as an ideal entertaining space, seating may be incorporated. It may run across the back of the island, or if none is present, a cozy dining table and chair set will suffice. For the homeowner who enjoys having company, the options are unlimited. Getting the most out of the ‘L’ has never been easier!