The Kitchen Triangle FAILED Me

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The kitchen triangle is an old and outdated design concept, yet we still seem to think it's an ultra important rule when designing kitchens. It's not and I'll explain why.
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[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

One HUGE difference between the way I work and the way my great grandmother worked is that she sat down. A LOT. If she was doing any tedious task that was going to take awhile, she sat at her kitchen table. Peeling vegetables was a huge one. I've noticed for decades that I don't do that and it took a long time to figure out why. She was running a homestead. She was out doing chores for a good portion of her day. She was constantly working in her garden, hanging laundry, and running all over the place. She needed every minute that she had to sit down because her poor little feet and legs were getting a constant workout. Taking ten minutes to sit and do a task was the only time she got to sit at all. Because of my computer, I sit a good portion of my day. I sit much more than I stand and when I get an opportunity to stand, it's a relief. When I'm working in the kitchen, sometimes that's the only opportunity I have to stand and walk all day. I don't WANT to sit in my kitchen. "Busy" for me, usually means sitting. My great gram would never understand that, The computer really changed the way we move and that's had a profound impact on how we use our kitchens.

[@MTKDofficial]

Great insight. Things have sure changed. I had to get a standing desk and a walking pad, or else I'd be sitting all day too.

[@vociferonheraldofthewinter2284]

8:20 My husband and I solved this problem immediately OUTSIDE of the kitchen. We have a large, wide hallway there and we put a 'command center' in that hallway. Charging stations, batteries, basic office supplies that we share and are always reaching for, calendar, whiteboard for notes, drop zone for mail, and so much more. Until we gussied up that hallway, we had an area right inside of the kitchen that was a magnet for all the junk. The hallway was designed to collect ALL that stuff. In our case, the hallway links the kitchen to both our offices AND our primary (side) door that leads to the garage. That's where groceries are brought in and passes through the mudroom with the freezers. This is the best layout I've ever had and we need to start adding things like this into basic home design. It makes such a huge difference. My daughter has large dogs and she dreams of putting a dog washing station in that mudroom. Catch it all before it's tracked into the house.

[@lorrilewis2178]

Amen.

[@kc9scott]

The house I grew up in had a little “office” section of countertop around the corner from the main kitchen. Things like the phone, notepad and pens, bookshelf, etc.

[@trinaroe5132]

My command center is in an old baby wardrobe in my foyer. The shredder is behind the door in the old hanging space. I took out the rod and added a shelf and file box there. The drawers hold paper recycling in the bottom two and office supplies and greeting cards/stationery in the top two. It’s located right next to my front door where the mailbox is. Works great for me!

[@lorrilewis2178]

@@trinaroe5132 That sounds wonderful.

[@moocrazytn]

I completely get that! I'm about to add a hall-like extension to my weird 1921 kitchen that will serve as a mudroom, dog care command center, and also house my fridge. Sounds crazy, but that location for the fridge will be very convenient to both sink area and dining room where we eat regularly. It will also greatly simplify the bringing in and storing of groceries.

[@FTG2Eli]

Wondering......................when people wisely pick up the dishwasher utensil basket to put away the clean flatware, we tend to bend over, many times over, to put the dirty ones in the dishwasher instead of keeping out the basket at counter level. Just a thought while watching you.

[@joeyl695]

I do exactly that - i keep it in the sink

[@bettysuffle]

Right?! This video gave me a few ideas as I watched Mark waltz around his kitchen. 😊

[@JackieofAllTrades]

I was once guilty of that but now I keep the basket next to the sink while loading.

[@patyoung9412]

For years I went from top to bottom. Big mistake. Always go from bottom to top in case there is water in a bowl or something. 😊

[@MTKDofficial]

I just realized that I take it out when unloading but keep it in when loading. Weird.

[@gailbenjamin3274]

I wish you could see my kitchen. It’s a new build (10 months) and I designed my kitchen from my own previous experience, watching your videos and a few others on KZbin. You’re speaking to me with most of your ideas. My home is in a seniors community (kind of), I’m a younger retired senior and I designed the kitchen to function for me for the next 20 year. My upper cabinets, 2 of them, sit direct on the counter because I’m so tired of reaching upper shelves. Cups/mugs are kept in a drawer beside plates/bowls. I bake and cook lots and there is not one thing I’d do differently. I love my kitchen. It’s white and it’s my 6th IKEA centric design.

[@MTKDofficial]

Sounds sweet!! I'm glad my content was a part of the journey!

[@vondapommills2195]

Wow… This was yet your best video and maybe top 3 best segment. It was so relatable and educational without being preachy or you knowing everything. You served up a plate of “We are all the same” Great Job.

[@JackieofAllTrades]

I also loved this one Vonda! Very relatable.

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks so much Vonda!

[@whiskybrush3219]

My kitchen was a magnet for clutter. Then I discovered Clutterbug and Cass had a video which I think was designed just for me about mail clutter. I thought I was just lazy. Turns out I was only overwhelmed and was actually always cleaning but only succeeding at moving clutter piles around. My kitchen and dining table have been junk free for months now. I still pretty much hate my kitchen layout, quite passionately at that. But at the end of the day, i gotta admit it looks pretty good.

[@trinaroe5132]

Cass is great! Love her channel too!

[@MTKDofficial]

Looks like I'll have to check out this channel. Sounds great!

[@aimadamson]

Cass is great! That stuff is accumulating there because it either doesn't have a "home" or the "home" it has makes it extra work or too difficult to put away.

[@marylut6077]

Thanks for history of Work Triangle and why it may not work for kitchen of today

[@richardsmith5249]

I'm in the UK. The most usually encountered type of fridge here is a single door style, rather than the double everyone in the US and Canada seems to have. These are pretty much universally designed so that you can swap the door hinge from one side to the other. This means that, when you're getting stuff out of the fridge (or putting it in), you can have the worktop adjacent to the fridge immediately accessible, rather than having a door on each side blocking access. Of course, single-door fridges have less capacity, but aren't we in the middle of an obesity epidemic?

[@christiefenners3222]

I’m 5’1”. My solution is a small metal stool to kick around-even for the lowest shelf sometimes. And now I have a game where the goal is not to bruise my shins. The pain is real. 😂

[@user-if7uj6ls2r]

I’m 4’11” so I understand.

[@MTKDofficial]

You need some soccer shin pads when in the kitchen. lol

[@virginiahoffman2547]

Perhaps, in your kitchen - make that trouble spot by the stove a coffee bar area. Put that electric kettle and your coffee maker in that corner?

[@GardenGirl1994]

You look naturally comfortable in your kitchen. Thanks for sharing your personal space .

[@darlene19668]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻🙌🙌🙌🙌👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏👏 can I say the best video you put out yet actually in the kitchen doing what we do in kit hens and the reality of life. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻applause!!!!!!!that's better than a thumbs up anyday👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks so much Darlene!

[@bettysuffle]

Loved the setting, learned the history of the kitchen triangle, and really enjoyed watching you move around your domain. PS. I finally saw Sam the Cooking Guy's kitchen tour and I love his shallow pantry.

[@lazygardens]

One layout problem/solution is to make sure that refrigerator access doesn't route traffic past the sink or stove. And something that is currently bugging me ... make sure the dishwasher can be opened without blocking access to the cabinet where you store the dishes.

[@trinaroe5132]

I’m only 5’0” and I can reach the top shelf on all my wall cabinets without a stool or expensive pull down unit except for the top shelf over the corner base. There I can’t even reach the second shelf without a stool. I simply adjusted my shelves and added bins so I can pull the bin off the shelf. The ones I have on the top shelf have an open grid pattern that I can stick my fingers through the holes to get a grip to pull it down. I also store my cereal on the top shelf on the skinny side of the package with the bottom of the box toward the back of the cupboard. Upright on its side it’s easy for me to grab too. I don’t have any cupboard over my fridge or stove in my current kitchen.

[@FTG2Eli]

As we are restoring our 1946 house, we are making our kitchen the way we want. Little to no cupboards, the refrigerator is located similar to yours so that you can take out what you need to place directly on the counter across from it. Our range is where yours is as it is also close to the long prepping counter. We keep all of our prepping supplies on top of or below the very large vintage countertop we have.

[@gladyskravitz1905]

Great video! Good solutions for common problems.

[@laralarz6904]

Look up "A Step Saving Kitchen, 1949" its very task orientated in zones.

[@MTKDofficial]

Yeah! Did a video on it. Really cool.

[@valeriehowden471]

I guess the kitchen triangle didn't keep up with how houses are designed and our fascination with small kitchen appliances.

[@darlene19668]

Just have to leave another 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻

[@gund89123]

I like this design actually. Refrigerator to sink to cooking. And cabinets close to dishwasher for easy storage. Better than a triangle.

[@cynthiachristie2013]

Mark, great videos! Nine times out of ten, you refer to kitchens in private homes; would appreciate ideas for apartment kitchens.😊

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks, and that is a great idea.

[@camellia8625]

Can you please consider doing a video on micro kitchens in historic buildings. Ideally ones which have been converted into flats where the room has a very tight floor space, high ceilings and large near floor to ceiling height sash windows which which mean one less useable wall (or having to get creative so as to minimise light blockage, and still being able to open the window).

[@lifesabundantjourney]

Sheet pan and cutting boards are all that i think belong above a fridge in deep narrow sleeves

[@MTKDofficial]

Yeah, that's a popular spot. I prefer the slots to be adjustable though.

[@Kenzie_Hill]

Never heard of Pull Downs before. That would be a great add on in my life. Love this video! ❤

[@lorrilewis2178]

I think you can add them.

[@kc9scott]

Never heard of them either. Had to Google it to find out what they were. From the online pics, they look a bit awkward, and would reduce the usable storage space to less than what the original cabinet had.

[@MTKDofficial]

They come in a variety of sizes. It shouldn't be too hard to find something suitable. I find them a little pricy otherwise I'd have three of them. Thanks so much for watching.

[@GretchenSchaefer]

I bought extra shelves for all my uppers (because of course the lowers are drawers!) and it makes it so much more useful. My old cabinets were 50s steel and fixed shelves so to use the vertical required stacking bowls on plates, etc. Now my uppers look like a layer cake of shelves, I installed them as I loaded stuff back into the kitchen. For instance an extra shelf above the vitamins would increase your storage and efficiency. My top layer is all the stuff I only need randomly (and I have a library kick stool to access those when I need it!)

[@refrigeratortrimkits]

The kitchen triangle just simply doesn't fit all homes or budgets. When having to reroute electricity or plumbing, the costs add up quickly.

[@busybry9813]

I think Your fridge wants to say something lol.. great video I was wondering if our new kitchen was gonna be functional and if our kitchen had proper triangle feel better thanks

[@MTKDofficial]

haha. If it could talk I'm sure it would. Instead it just tells me how cold it is outside every time I walk by.

[@Mish-du6vg]

I’ve just moved into my newly built home. I have a galley style kitchen with the sink, dishwasher, cooker and fridge all along the back wall. The top shelf of the overhead cupboards are to store Christmas items or items rarely used. I wanted my kitchen designed so I could have views out to the pergola and future small garden. My kitchen island is 4.4m long which is 2.9m island with all drawers that lowers to table height for a 1.5m table. Allows me sit at the table if I am doing some lengthy food prep and allows for future accessibility needs.

[@CCC-qx2gz]

kitchen designs are missing a hidden drying rack/space for things you just have to wash by hand, pots/pans or things that are still wet coming out of dishwasher. Ideally it would be above or below the counter without taking up counter space next to dishwasher and sink.

[@lorrilewis2178]

I sure can't access the upper cabinets except for the first shelf. So, I'd nix the uppers if I was designing a kitchen. I think you should move your coffee maker to the left of the sink . . . and put the mugs in the cabinet above. Keeps the coffee drinkers away from the cook.

[@MTKDofficial]

You are absolutely right lol. Why didn't I think of that. 🤦🏻‍♂️

[@lorrilewis2178]

@@MTKDofficial Lots of people don't think of it. 👨‍🍳

[@JackieofAllTrades]

I have the U-shape! I hate it!😩😭😩 But it’s what I have and I don’t have money to blow out a wall, which would be ideal, so I’ve had to embrace it! 5:25 Also I have this junk spot next to my fridge upstairs! 8:11 I sort it and clean it up and suddenly within a week it looks messy again!

[@MTKDofficial]

Jackie!! It doesn't cost anything to blow out a wall, only dealing with the aftermath. lol.

[@davidcollins2617]

Work triangle is outdated because of the dishwasher? I thought the idea was to have no obstructions between areas used in food preparation. What on Earth are you cooking in the dishwasher? Also, if storage is more important than the outdated work triangle, then couldn’t you get more cabinets in by moving the refrigerator out to the garage? I think the work triangle is still a valid concept.

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks Dave

[@marciafirst2271]

I think the work triangle can work for many situations, but not all. For example, my whole family cooks together, so it doesn’t work in our small kitchen, because the oven, refrigerator, and dishwasher doors keep getting in the way of people moving around the small space (we wash up our dishes as we cook, so the dishwasher does interfere with meal prep). For this reason, we moved the refrigerator away from the sink and stove for better functionality. It works much better for us. I think that’s the point of the video-stick with the work triangle if it functions well-but don’t, if it doesn’t.

[@raymondchow8722]

Dishwasher is an example for new kitchen appliances. What if you have 2 refrigerators. What if you want Air Fryer, Steam Oven, and pressure cooker. How do you work those into kitchen design? Do you consider built-ins or do you reserve counter areas for those appliances?

[@---ey6hj]

That’s amazing! 3 teenagers and the only trash is a little thing under the sink?!? The wife probably has you change that thing every half hour or so much that she puts a little sign out so she doesn’t lose her voice from saying it so often

[@vondapommills2195]

We raised 5 children with the same size. Because it forces you to take out the trash sometimes 2 times a day.

[@dahut3614]

What are you talking about?! Taking out the trash is women's work.

[@---ey6hj]

Welll my wife gave birth to 3 kids, the least I can do is take the trash out and put he toilet seat down

[@MTKDofficial]

I'm smart enough to not let it get to the sign stage. Plus we have a recycle bin in the island. So, more like every 45 minutes.

[@raymondchow8722]

Multiple appliances are big considerations. Fore example, multiple refrigerators. Air fryer, steam oven, pressure cooker and/or other cooking devices(sous vide, deep fryer etc). People even put in 2 sinks and 2 dishwashers. The "Triangle" seemed so meaningless in this context.

[@MTKDofficial]

Kitchens have sure evolved!

[@thomascochran1181]

How much space is too much space between the back wall counter top and the island counter top. My wife and I are remodeling a kitchen that has U shape and we’re opening it up and doing a parallel design. Plan is for a long wall of cabinetry and a long parallel island. The current U shape kitchen has 108 inches of space between opposing counter tops. Obviously want to narrow that, but I see a general recommendation of 42-48 inches but that requires a lot plumbing relocation. Considering having about 60 or up to 74 inches of space between the 2 countertops. Its an open concept design with the living room and it’s a large space with cathedral ceilings. (With it being such an open space we definitely have our work cut out to add some character in this open space.)

[@MTKDofficial]

I had a 58” distance in my previous home. It was great. I’d probably keep it closer to the 60” but overall this will work fine.

[@agresticumbra]

Pulldowns! I've been wanting these since I first heard about them some years ago. I knew I'd want those in any remodel: pullouts and pulldowns. I'm a little over 5'4", and I feel for all previous cooks in this kitchen. The design sucks; the house layout sucks, but it's a product of its time, so just gotta make it work smarter in spite of that. And don't get me started on junk drawers.

[@MTKDofficial]

I think if they made the pulldowns a little more affordable, more people would incorporate them into their kitchens. I really want one!

[@jimmiemurvin1871]

Even still today, the shorter of a couple is the one doing more work in the kitchen. Yet mostly they can't reach past the first shelf of the upper cabinets, making that space unusable for them without stools or other people to fetch things for them. Solutions for this problem?

[@MTKDofficial]

This is where appropriately priced pulldown wall inserts would be useful. They are so pricey that most average homeowners pass on them.

[@cindylundberg125]

Being just a tad bit over 5’ step stools are away of life😊

[@Jarris2]

Why do you have particleboard cabinets instead of hardwood or plywood? I thought designers had the top shelf shelving ;-)

[@MTKDofficial]

$$

[@irenehoimes7186]

What's a pull down unit?

[@MTKDofficial]

Oh, yeah I should have described what those were. My apologies. It's an accessory that you install in an upper cabinet that pulls out and down. Bringing all the contents closer to the user. Google it to see an example.

[@irenehoimes7186]

@@MTKDofficial ahhh very interesting... can it be retrofitted or is it something you design from new? Am in Australia 🇦🇺 and only 5'2" so am keen to understand 😌😎👍

[@jeremyhelquist]

Am I the only one who cringed at the paper towel usage? One to dry the colander; one to dry his hands; one to clean the corner space all within 10 minutes. And all of which could have been a reusable dish towel/cleaning/hand towel

[@MTKDofficial]

Sorry I triggered you. lol