Here are some of the key factors to consider in Kitchen Design in your custom home.....
A clear walkway at least 32" wide at all entrances.
No entry or appliance door may interfere with work center appliances and or counter space.
Work aisles must be at least 42" wide and passageways must be at least 36" wide for a one cook kitchen.
In kitchens 150 square feet or less, at least 144" of wall cabinet frontage, with cabinets at least 12" deep and a minimum of 30" high must be installed over countertops. In kitchens over 150 square feet 186" of wall cabinets must be included. Diagonal cabinets count as 24". Difficult to reach cabinets do not count unless specialized storage devices to improve accessibility are installed.
At least 60" of wall cabinet frontage with cabinets that are at least 12" deep and a minimum of 30" high must be included within 72" of the primary sink centerline.
In kitchens 150 square feet or less, at least 156" of base cabinet frontage with cabinets at least 21" deep must be part of the plan. In kitchens greater than 150 square feet 192" of base cabinets must be included. Pie cut lazy susan cabinets count as 30". The first 24" of a blind corner box do not count.
Drawer frontage or roll out shelf frontage must be 120" in kitchens less than 150 square feet and 165" in larger kitchens,
At least five storage items to improve access must be included, such as but not limited to adjustable shelves, interior vertical dividers, pull out drawers, swing out pantries or drawer roll out space.
At least one functional corner storage unit must be included. Does not apply to kitchens without corner units.
Between 15" and 18" of clearance must exist between the countertop and the bottom of wall cabinets.
No two primary work centers (sink, fridge, cook top, prep center) can be separated by a full height full depth tall tower such as as oven cabinet, pantry or refrigerator.
There must be at least 24" of counter space to one side of the sink and 18" on the other side. Do not count corner space. The 18" and 24" counter space sections may be a continuous surface or the total of two angled countertop sections. If a second sing is part of the plan at least 3" of counter space must be on one side and 18" on the other.
At least 3" of counter space must be allowed from the edge of the sink to the inside corner of the countertop if more than 21" of counter space is available on the return. Or at least 18" of counter space from the edge of the sink to the inside corner of the countertop if the return counter space is blocked by a full height full depth cabinet or any appliance that is deeper than the counter.
At least two waste receptacles must be included in the plan, one for garbage and one for recyclables or other recycling facilities should be planned.
The dishwasher must be positioned within 36" of one sink. Sufficient space (21" standing room) must be allowed between the dishwasher and adjacent counters, other appliances and cabinets.
At least 36" of continuous countertop is required for the preparation center and must be located close to a water source.
The plan should allow at least 15" of counter space on the latch side of a refrigerator. Or at least 15" of space that is no more than 48" across from the refrigerator.
For an open ended kitchen configuration, at least 9" of counter space is required on one side of the cook top and 15" on the other. For an enclosed configuration, at least 3" of clearance space must be planned at an end wall protected by flame retardant surfacing material and 15" must be allowed on the other side of the appliance.
The cooking surface cannot be placed below an operable window unless the window is 3" or more behind the appliance and/ or more than 24" above it.
There must be at least 15" of landing space next to or above the oven if the appliance door opens into a primary family traffic pattern. a 15" landing space that is no more than 48" across form the oven is acceptable if the appliance does not open into a traffic area.
At least 15" of landing space must be planned above, below or adjacent to the microwave.
The shelf on which the microwave is placed is to be between counter and eye level (36" to 54" off the floor)
All cooking surface appliances are required to have a ventilation system with a fan rated at 150 CFM minimum.
At least 24" of clearance is needed between the cooking surface and a protected surface above it and at least 30" for an unprotected surface.
The work triangle should total less than 26". The triangle is defined as the shortest walking distance between the refrigerator, primary cooking surface and primary food preparation sink. It is measured from the center front of each appliance. The work triangle may not intersect an island or peninsula cabinet by more than 12". No single leg of the triangle should be shorter than 4" or longer than 9".
NO major household traffic patterns should cross through the work triangle connecting the three primary centers.
A minimum of 12"x 24" counter/table space should be planned for each seated diner.
At least 36" of walkway space from a counter/table to any wall or obstacle behind it is required if the area is to be used to pass behind a seated diner. Or at least 24 inches of space from counter /table to any wall or obstacle behind it is needed if the area will not be used as a walk space.
At least 10 percent of the total square footage of the separate kitchen or of a total living space that includes a kitchen should be appropriated for window/skylights.
Ground fault circuit interrupters must be specified on all receptacles that are within 6 inches of a water source in the kitchen. A fire extinguisher should be located near tile cook top. Smoke alarms should be included near the kitchen.
CABINETS
Base cabinet depth: 24"
Floor to countertop: 36"
Countertop to bottom of range vent: 24"
Countertop to bottom of unprotected wood wall cabinets: 30"
Minimum of 40 square feet of cabinet shelf space per household member.