A kitchen is an enclosed space in which the edible food materials are processed into unique

dishes which are preferred by the customers. It is the hub of food production activity in any
institutional food service establishment. The planning of space and allotment of equipments play
crucial role in the efficient work output. As kitchen is the heart of a food service establishment
the planning has to be done meticulously to avoid unnecessary work outs and energy
expenditure.

The first thing to do is to create a kitchen design. That is because kitchen design is a bit tricky.
As much as possible, you want to strike a balance between aesthetics and functionality. While
you want your kitchen to look visually enticing to boost the appetite, you also want to make sure
that it’s conducive for cooking and food preparation.

When planning for the kitchen Lighting, here are some of the key factors to consider:

1. Is the fixture the right size?

If you’re replacing an existing fixture, it's simple enough to purchase one that’s the same size.
Track lighting typically requires taller ceilings to provide clearance. If the ceiling is low,
recessed lighting may be a better option. Keep the room size in mind. You down want a large
chandelier overwhelming a cozy entryway.

2. Cost
The price of light fixtures can vary considerably. Don’t fall in love with a fixture that blows your
budget. You may be able to find a very similar design for a lower price at your local big box
store.

3. Function
How is the fixture going to be used? A reading light should be adjustable so the light can be
focused for use by one or two people. If the fixture is intended to light up a large room you will
want to ensure it throws light evenly and with enough intensity.

4. Light Bulb Size

Read the description to ensure the fixture will provide the amount of light you need. If it only
works with a limited range of smaller bulbs, you may want to look for a fixture that's more
flexible.

5. Light Bulb Style

There are several choices and many styles available, including LED, CFL and halogen. We
recommend going with LED bulbs. LEDs pay for themselves over time with lower energy use,
brighter light and longer life.

6. Style
This mostly comes down to personal taste and the environment the fixture will be installed in.
While matching the home décor makes a lot of sense, the pairing of alternative styles can give a
space more flair.

7. Maintenance
Keep in mind that some light fixture are more work to clean. Will the fixture need to be
disassembled to change the bulbs and keep it clean? If the fixture is very high up, it might make
sense to go with long-lasting LED bulbs and a design that makes changing bulbs and cleaning
the fixture easier from a ladder.

What To Consider When Choosing Your Kitchen Ventilation

Nobody likes having cooking smells lingering in their kitchen long after the last plate has been
washed up. That’s why cooking extraction is an almost essential feature for most modern
kitchens – but choosing your ventilation isn’t always an easy task. It’s not a one-size fits all
solution; there are lots of factors to consider, and your choice of ventilation should suit both your
kitchen and your own personal style. At Kitchen Design Centre, we like to make things as simple
and as straightforward for our customers as possible – so we’ve put together the ‘ultimate guide’
in choosing your kitchen extractor.

Setting Your Budget

We’ll start with the big one! Before you do anything else, you’re obviously going to decide how
much you have to spend, as it’ll govern every other decision. Extractors have a wide degree of
variation in price, and can vary from as little as £50 right up to several thousands of pounds, so
it’s a good plan to know right off the bat how much you intend to spend.

Choosing Your Extraction Method

The second of your most key considerations, the extraction method not only dictates how effective your
extractor will be, but also how it physically fits into your kitchen. You’ve basically got two options:
ducted out or recirculation extractors.

The Power Of Your Kitchen Extractor

As you can imagine, the more powerful your fan is, the more effective it will be. But on the other hand,
you don’t want to get a kitchen extractor that’s too powerful for your kitchen, as you may quickly start
to see an impact on your energy bills. It can be a tricky balancing act.

Factors To Consider When Choosing Your Kitchen Wall And Floors

1. Consider The Ease Of Cleaning And Maintenance

All kitchen floor options require cleaning and maintenance to keep them looking clean and new. You also
need to consider the time you have to mop or scrub a dirty floor.

Well, kitchen floors often attract grime, and the last thing you want is to spend a lot of time scrubbing
stains on the floor. If you have children and pets, you should look for kitchen floor options that are not
prone to staining.
Thus, choose a flooring option that you can quickly mop. For instance, a stain-resistant flooring type will
be easy to clean. You can consider concrete flooring, a low-maintenance flooring option that is also
durable.

However, the choice of kitchen flooring will also depend on your lifestyle and needs.

2. Budget

If you are remodeling your kitchen, you will also consider other things like lighting fixtures, countertops,
and cabinetry, among others.

So, makes sure your flooring plan fits in your budget plan. You can consider a kitchen floor you can
afford, and don't settle for expensive flooring options. You can ask at least three flooring companies to
provide you with an estimate.

For affordable flooring, you can consider alternative materials such as luxury vinyl. It comes in different
colors and styles, making it a perfect alternative to wood flooring.

Though cost is essential to consider when upgrading flooring, you should not choose the cheapest
options. You may end up requiring a new flooring sooner.

3. Your Sense of Style

You need to consider kitchen floor choices that will complement your overall lifestyle. Thus, before
choosing kitchen flooring, determine the design, feel, the color scheme you would want.

Choose colors that match your walls, countertops, and cabinets. You can also consider other aspects like
textures and patterns you want.

If you want kitchen floor color to be the focal point, you can consider thick black and white checkered
tile. Consider soft beige, grey, or off-white if you desire a neutral backdrop.

Whatever the color and style you choose, make sure you won't get sick of it in a few months or years
down the road.

4. Durability

Well, the cost of installing new floors can be relatively high. This is why you must choose an option that
will last long.

Additionally, your kitchen is prone to heat, spills, moisture, grit; thus, you need to consider flooring that
can withstand such destructive elements.

If your kitchen is often under heavy traffic and potential water stains, you can consider prefinished
wood flooring. If you expect your kitchen to litter with many pots and pans, you can consider ceramic
tile that can resist scratches and dents.

You can also consider the safety of your family members by installing nonslip floors. Whatever the
option you go for, make sure that the flooring is ideal for your kitchen.

5. Comfort

You probably spend hours in the kitchen; thus, you need to ensure that you have comfortable flooring.
However, the softest material, like carpet, is not suitable for kitchen flooring. It is too vulnerable to
stains and moisture.

The suitable kitchen flooring material should combine both comfort and cleanliness elements. So, when
a liquid spill on the floor, you should be able to clean it with a single wipe.

Some of the comfortable kitchen floorings can include; cork, luxury vinyl flooring, sheet linoleum
flooring, tile flooring, and rubber flooring.

6. Water Resistance

Kitchen flooring needs to be water-resistant since the risk of water splashing on the floor is always
present. Thus, regular wood flooring won't be a good choice from the kitchen floor. However, floor
types like porcelain or ceramic will be great at resisting water.

However, your choice of kitchen flooring should depend on the amount of water you think will be
around.

7. Materials

You need to determine the materials that you need for your kitchen.

Every person has their own taste regarding the type of material for kitchen flooring. The choice of your
kitchen flooring can also be determined by other individual needs.

For instance, you may need flooring with nonslip features like a cork if you have children. Also, if your
kitchen is usually under heavy traffic, you may consider installing very hard flooring; tile and stone tiles
are appropriate for that case.

Additionally, when choosing a kitchen flooring material, you need to consider its durability. In that case,
you can consider ceramic tile, which is usually a material that can resist denting and scratches.
factors to consider for provision of Drainage in the kitchen
planning
 The efficiency of the drainage system determines the hygiene and sanitation of the kitchen
environment to a large extent.
 Poor drainage further leads to contamination of food with dire consequences.
 Problems can arise in drainage areas when fat gets collected in the drains and the flow through
them is restricted.
 All kitchens should therefore be fitted with grease traps on all drainage inlets to prevent
backflow or blockage.
 Taking care of this aspect of drainage during the layout planning, can prevent unnecessary
expenses in clearing blocked drains during the course of operation of the catering establishment.
 Drains should be t least 10-15 cm in diameter.
 Electricity and gas points to be provided in a kitchen must coincide with the number of
equipment in the kitchen and future plans for use.
 Provision for the installation of instant water heaters connected with the normal plumbing is
quite effective.
 Overhead water pipes should be avoided as they collect dirt and cause water of condensation
to drop on the work areas.
 All pipes should preferably be concealed.

 Where storage tanks are necessary, they should be covered and easy to clean periodically.

Conclusion
Planning an area in a food service establishment is a challenging task. As it requires several
factors and principles for consideration, a thorough knowledge with adequate experience is
recommended. This module highlighted the different types of kitchen available and their
applications, important criteria to be kept in mind while planning kitchen lay out and some
effective techniques to cut down the duplicate tasks that could happen in production cycle
activity.

As far as the kitchen design is concerned, you want it to be visually appealing and highly
functional at the same time. For this reason, consider the five crucial factors outlined above—
layout, storage, lighting, flooring, and ventilation. All these can enhance the kitchen’s overall
look and make every part practically useful.