Triangle rules
NKBA guidance (still globally accepted): leg lengths 1.2–2.7m each, perimeter 4.0–8.0m. Tight triangle (<4m) feels cramped, no room for two cooks. Loose triangle (>8m) wastes steps. No cabinet, island or pathway should bisect a leg. Sink typically positioned with view (window over sink remains the dominant London preference). Fridge accessible to both cook and casual user — placed near edge of kitchen so anyone can grab without interrupting cooking. Hob requires ventilation routing — affects placement.
When the triangle still applies
Single-cook households, kitchens under 12m², L-shape layouts, galley layouts: triangle is appropriate planning tool. Sink-hob leg should be shortest (most frequent transitions); hob-fridge leg can be longest (rarer transitions). Avoid crossing primary walkways. In London side-return extensions where kitchen runs along one wall plus a peninsula, triangle naturally forms — sink on rear wall under window, hob on side wall, fridge near doorway. Builderr's standard side-return layout achieves 5.4–6.2m perimeter with 1.8–2.2m legs.
Zones model for larger kitchens
Kitchens over 12m², multi-cook households, island layouts: zones model fits better. Five zones: (1) Storage — pantry, larder, fridge cluster. (2) Cleaning — sink, dishwasher, bin. (3) Preparation — clear worktop, prep sink, knife block. (4) Cooking — hob, oven, microwave. (5) Social — island seating, breakfast bar. Each zone self-contained: cleaning has its bin and dishwasher; cooking has its utensils drawer and oils. Reduces traffic between two cooks; doesn't matter if zones aren't a 'triangle'. Particularly relevant for island kitchens where the island hosts prep and social, leaving wall runs for cleaning, cooking, storage.
