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Design Capabilities

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Design Capabilities

Designing a kitchen is one of the most exciting parts of the job. But drawing kitchen floor plans and compiling estimates can put you behind schedule in a hurry. Carter Lumber's computerized kitchen design software can bring your dream kitchen to life in the planning phase and save valuable time. Set up an appointment or just stop in to meet with a Carter Lumber associate. You can choose from various colors, materials and brands to custom design the kitchen floor plans of your dreams. When you've decided on the kitchen floor plan that suits you, you can have a color printout and a full estimate of product costs instantly.

Layout

Kitchens floor plans may vary greatly in size, but there are a few basic shapes and one basic rule to consider in the designing of a kitchen. Basic shapes include:

L-shaped Most common plan Requires less space Flexible Works well when kitchen adjoins a casual space
U-shaped Utilizes three walls Traffic will move across the open end Works well if kitchen opens to a gathering space
Corridor Works best if kitchen connects two rooms Works well in small spaces Utilizes two walls
Straight line (galley) Works best if kitchen connects two rooms Keeps space open
Your kitchen’s main work area connects the refrigerator, food prep area and cooking area, otherwise known as the work triangle. To create efficiency by reducing travel time between these key areas, you should keep the triangle as compact as possible. As a rule of thumb, each of the three legs of the triangle should be between 4 and 9 feet long with the combined sides of the triangle no more than 25 feet.

Floor Plan

The next step in the design process is to create a kitchen floor plan of the walls in your new or existing kitchen. Make sure you measure and note where all plumbing, electrical outlets, existing appliances, windows and doors are located. It is very important that all your measurements are accurate when you begin this process. To assist you, Carter Lumber also offers FREE in-home measuring to ensure correct measurements. Once this step is completed, you are ready to begin adding cabinets to the kitchen floor plan.

Cabinets

Your kitchen cabinets and doors have the greatest impact on the overall look of a kitchen. To help in your planning, keep the following in mind:

Begin by placing the sink cabinet and appliances in accordance with plumbing and electrical connections.
Then begin placing the rest of the cabinets around the room.
Keep in mind that your kitchen is three-dimensional. Try to keep a mental image of each item as it is placed so that it will work with the other components of your kitchen. For example, doors and appliances must open freely.
Base cabinets are usually 24" deep and 34-1/2" high with widths that vary in 3" increments from 9" to 48".
Wall cabinets have a standard depth of 12" with height and width depending on purpose; typical heights are 24" and 30".

It’s also important to consider the style of your home as well as your storage needs when selecting cabinet styles, colors and doors. Today, cabinets and doors are made of various types of wood from oak to cherry and even laminate materials. Each material has a particular look which can be further enhanced with stain, paint and techniques such as distressing and color washing. Your kitchen’s theme – contemporary, country, traditional, etc. – will help define your style preferences. The accessories you choose will also factor into the style you select from knobs and pulls to appliances and fixtures.