If you are starting to rethink your floorplan for a renovation, begin with a simple but critical question:

Where should the kitchen be located?

And more importantly:

Would changing the location of the kitchen improve the entire floorplan?

THE KITCHEN AS THE HEART OF THE HOME

The kitchen is one of the most used and most important spaces in a home. It is where the day begins, meals are prepared, and where people naturally gather.

Because of this intensity of use, the kitchen has a unique role: wherever it is placed, it will shape how the surrounding spaces are used.

But this hasn’t always been the case.

Historically, kitchens were located away from the main house. Often in the backyard due to smoke, heat and the presence of service staff. As technology improved and domestic life evolved, kitchens moved indoors. By the 1950’s, open-plan living brought the kitchen in direct connection with the living and dining spaces, making it part of everyday life.

Today, there is a subtle shift again. In many homes, the kitchen is still connected to living spaces but often in a slightly more defined and offset position. Kitchens generate noise, activity and visual clutter, so a degree of separation, while maintaining connection, can create a better balance.

LOCATION AND LAYOUT BEFORE THE FINISHES

When designing a kitchen, many people focus on finishes and appliances. However, the decision that has a greater impact comes much earlier:

Is the kitchen in the right place and the correct size? Does it work well with the spaces surrounding it?

The location of the kitchen affects how the spaces connect and flow and how easily daily routines unfold.

For families, this becomes even more important. Being able to see the living areas or the garden from the kitchen can significantly improve how the home functions day to day.

A well-located kitchen should also benefit from good natural light, ventilation and a connection to outdoor spaces where possible. If your kitchen adjoins a backyard or external area for example, that area is a lot more likely to be used regularly.

But how does that look in a real context?

Below we look at a couple of kitchens we designed and how their location determined the flow of the floor plan.

THE KITCHEN AROUND A COURTYARD

At the AZ House, the kitchen is located at the centre of the home, connected but not fully opened to the main living areas. That layout creates a defined zone for the kitchen and some separation between living and the everyday use of the kitchen.

The two living rooms and kitchen are arranged around the North-facing courtyard. This configuration allows natural light to enter the home while maintaining strong visual connection between spaces.

The result is a kitchen that feels bright, connected to the landscape and central to the experience of the home.

THE KITCHEN CONNECTED TO THE BACKYARD

In the IC house, we moved the existing kitchen towards the backyard for a better connection to the outdoors.

The original position of the kitchen didn’t allow for its integration with the outdoor and the client felt the backyard was rarely used.

By relocating the kitchen to the rear of the property, the house opened directly to the garden. A new BBQ area was placed adjacent to the kitchen and large openings created a seamless indoor – outdoor experience.

This single move transformed not only the kitchen but the way the entire house and backyard are used.

THE KITCHEN IN A VICTORIAN TERRACE – working with existing constraints

At the AC terrace in Lewisham, the kitchen remained in its original location. However, strategic changes around it allowed for significant improvements.

The kitchen was opened to a North-facing side deck that had previously been underused. The relocation of the laundry also played an important role in improving the connection to the covered alfresco.

As a result, the kitchen became brighter, more connected and better aligned with the everyday life of the family.

The space now incorporates a nice and informal dining table within the kitchen, replacing the need for a separate formal dining room [unused by the family]

Key Questions to Ask

When deciding where to place your kitchen in your floor plan, consider:

• Does it receive good natural light?
• Can the kitchen have operable windows for natural ventilation
• Is the kitchen connected to nice views of the garden and open spaces
• Could It become a link between the house and the outdoor areas?

A DECISION THAT SHAPES EVERYTHING ELSE

Once the kitchen location is decided and the floor plan flow is locked in, you can start thinking of each kitchen element such as storage, lighting, appliances, finishes, etc.

Locating the kitchen is a key decision, so it is worth taking the time to understand where the best place is and how it will benefit the floorplan.

So don’t rush it.  Ask yourself: Does the current location feel right?

And if you are unsure of the answer, we are here to help. This is a decision you don’t want to regret later!