A kitchen benchtop that is too high or too low can be more than a little frustrating - especially the taller and shorter home cooks. So how do you work out how to get your benchtop height just right?
Architect says that the accepted standard height for kitchen benchtops should be 900mm. This is the most ergonomically justified position - what most people will feel is a comfortable working height. Typically, island benches follow this height also.
Accessible kitchen benchtops
Seniors and people in wheelchairs usually prefer lower kitchen benchtops - anywhere between 700mm and 850mm. installing benchtops at a few different heights or including an adjustable-height bench will ensure that everyone is catered for. Pull-out surfaces that are hidden away in kitchen cabinets when not in use are another possible solution.
Taller home cooks may opt for higher kitchen benches, but this is fairly rare. An extra 100-150mm might not sound like much, but it is quite a big variation. They're often a little more expensive also, as they are custom made. For parents, an upside to the extra height is that it makes things harder for curious little fingers to reach.
Minimising the kitchen gaps
Higher benchtops can also result in an unsightly gap between the top of your kitchen’s appliances, such as your dishwasher, and the bench. Another issue with taller benchtops is that the extra height of the cooktop makes lifting and transferring pots more difficult.
Ideally, the bench in which the cooktop is located will be positioned lower (as is the case in a commercial kitchen), but this will affect the aesthetic of the kitchen design and add to cost.
Remember that popular benchtop materials, such as stone and solid surfaces, are often 20mm thick (as opposed to laminate, which is 1-2mm), so factor this in when determining a height.
Breakfast bar stools
Breakfast bars will also benefit from some thought. While a stool can fit under a 900mm benchtop, it's more comfortable if there's an upstand (a raised ledge) at about 1200mm. This fulfils the dual purpose of providing an area at which to sit comfortably, and screening your sink from view.
However, current trends for minimalism and clean-lined uniformity make features such as upstands unpopular from an aesthetic point of view.
Custom made kitchen designs
These days, people are less concerned about the effect of tailored kitchen renovations on their home's resale value. Given architectural trends and changing technologies, your kitchen will last about 15 years, so it must suit your needs.
But it is worth visiting a showroom if you're considering a higher- or lower-than-average kitchen benchtop.
Paradise Kitchen is your online source for Kitchen Benchtops, Granite Benchtops, Laminate Benchtops, Quartz Benchtops, Caesar Stone Benchtops. Call 02 9757 4400 or visit http://www.paradise-kitchens.com.au
Architect says that the accepted standard height for kitchen benchtops should be 900mm. This is the most ergonomically justified position - what most people will feel is a comfortable working height. Typically, island benches follow this height also.
Accessible kitchen benchtops
Seniors and people in wheelchairs usually prefer lower kitchen benchtops - anywhere between 700mm and 850mm. installing benchtops at a few different heights or including an adjustable-height bench will ensure that everyone is catered for. Pull-out surfaces that are hidden away in kitchen cabinets when not in use are another possible solution.
Taller home cooks may opt for higher kitchen benches, but this is fairly rare. An extra 100-150mm might not sound like much, but it is quite a big variation. They're often a little more expensive also, as they are custom made. For parents, an upside to the extra height is that it makes things harder for curious little fingers to reach.
Minimising the kitchen gaps
Higher benchtops can also result in an unsightly gap between the top of your kitchen’s appliances, such as your dishwasher, and the bench. Another issue with taller benchtops is that the extra height of the cooktop makes lifting and transferring pots more difficult.
Ideally, the bench in which the cooktop is located will be positioned lower (as is the case in a commercial kitchen), but this will affect the aesthetic of the kitchen design and add to cost.
Remember that popular benchtop materials, such as stone and solid surfaces, are often 20mm thick (as opposed to laminate, which is 1-2mm), so factor this in when determining a height.
Breakfast bar stools
Breakfast bars will also benefit from some thought. While a stool can fit under a 900mm benchtop, it's more comfortable if there's an upstand (a raised ledge) at about 1200mm. This fulfils the dual purpose of providing an area at which to sit comfortably, and screening your sink from view.
However, current trends for minimalism and clean-lined uniformity make features such as upstands unpopular from an aesthetic point of view.
Custom made kitchen designs
These days, people are less concerned about the effect of tailored kitchen renovations on their home's resale value. Given architectural trends and changing technologies, your kitchen will last about 15 years, so it must suit your needs.
But it is worth visiting a showroom if you're considering a higher- or lower-than-average kitchen benchtop.
Paradise Kitchen is your online source for Kitchen Benchtops, Granite Benchtops, Laminate Benchtops, Quartz Benchtops, Caesar Stone Benchtops. Call 02 9757 4400 or visit http://www.paradise-kitchens.com.au
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