Kitchen Tips
Mass-produced kitchen cupboards and equipment are designed for the 'average'-sized person. If you are very much taller or shorter than most people, then it would be best to have a kitchen especially built for your height. Most mass-produced items are standard all over the world (though some American-made and industrial appliances are larger). All base units are designed to be 900 mm (35 in) high, though this height can be raised or lowered slightly by altering the height of the plinth on which they sit. Most units and appliances are made to a depth of 600 mm (23.6 in). The worktop height should be varied according to your needs to avoid backache.
Some people like a high work surface of, say 1 m (3 ft 3 in), for chopping and carving and a lower one of 760 mm (30 in) in height for rolling out pastry. A low-level work surface is best for a hob as it is easier to see what's cooking on the back burner and to reach out to stir it. (Remember, however, that the lower the hob, the easier it will be for children to reach it.) From the aesthetic point of view, you could probably get away with using different work heights in a large kitchen, but it's probably better to stick to one level in a small one, to give a more coherent look.
A minimum of 500 mm (19.5 in) is usually the standard depth of work surfaces, where shelves or cupboards are to be fixed above them. If there is enough space, it is more useful to have deeper work surfaces. The fronts of appliances can then be flush with the units and there will still be plenty of room at the back of them for plumbing and ventilation. Often the space behind a hob is a useful place for allowing hot pans to cool down, and otherwise wasted space hidden behind the sink can store dishwashing accessories, such as detergent. Taps are best fixed to the wall, if possible as this avoids a pool of water collecting at the base and prevents the buildup of lime scale.
The deeper the worktop, the harder it will be to reach tall cupboards above it. When fixing wall-hung cupboards, remember for your own convenience, that they should be high enough to allow you to keep some items (for example, a mixer or coffee maker), on the work surface underneath them and also, so high that an open door will not swing back and knock you in the eye.
Remember that it often pays to buy a small number of good quality items and to save up for the rest, rather than to get a complete set of tacky cupboards whose doors will drop, drawers stick and veneer peel away, so look for good structural design, well-fitted joints, braced corners and sturdy hinges; a hard surface finish which will stand a certain amount of scratching, heat and acids, and strong handles and catches.
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