What is on each sheet
The three sheets and their unit schedules are below, exactly as the drawings print them.
| Sheet | Overall size | What is drawn on it | Key dimension |
|---|---|---|---|
| U-1 — 9 ft x 8 ft room, minimum workable U | 9 ft x 8 ft | Three runs, 3 ft 6 in aisle | Aisle 3 ft 6 in |
| U-2 — 11 ft x 9 ft room, family kitchen | 11 ft x 9 ft | Three runs, tall bank, 4 ft aisle | Aisle 4 ft |
| U-3 — 12 ft x 11 ft room with a peninsula | 12 ft x 11 ft | U plus a peninsula that closes the fourth side | Peninsula 5 ft |
Schedule — U-1 — 9 ft x 8 ft room, minimum workable U
- Back run, 9 ft — 9 ft × 2 ft
- Left run, 6 ft — 2 ft × 6 ft
- Right run, 6 ft — 2 ft × 6 ft
- Wall units over the back run — 6.8 ft × 1.4 ft
- Sink under the window — 2.8 ft × 1.8 ft
- Refrigerator — 1.9 ft × 2.2 ft
- Hob, 4 burner, chimney over — 1.8 ft × 2.6 ft
- Tall unit, 2 ft 9 in — 1.8 ft × 2.8 ft
Schedule — U-2 — 11 ft x 9 ft room, family kitchen
- Back run, 11 ft — 11 ft × 2 ft
- Left run, 7 ft — 2 ft × 7 ft
- Right run, 7 ft — 2 ft × 7 ft
- Wall units, 8 ft 9 in — 8.8 ft × 1.4 ft
- Sink, double bowl — 3 ft × 1.8 ft
- Refrigerator bay — 1.9 ft × 2.3 ft
- Tall pantry — 1.9 ft × 2.2 ft
- Hob, 4 burner with chimney — 1.8 ft × 2.8 ft
- Oven tower and dry store — 1.8 ft × 3.6 ft
Schedule — U-3 — 12 ft x 11 ft room with a peninsula
- Back run, 12 ft — 12 ft × 2 ft
- Left run, 9 ft — 2 ft × 9 ft
- Right run, 7 ft — 2 ft × 7 ft
- Wall units, 9 ft 9 in — 9.8 ft × 1.4 ft
- Sink, double bowl — 3.2 ft × 1.8 ft
- Refrigerator — 1.9 ft × 2.4 ft
- Hob, 5 burner with chimney — 1.8 ft × 3 ft
- Tall pantry and oven tower — 1.8 ft × 3.5 ft
- Peninsula, 5 ft, with seating on the far face — 5 ft × 2 ft
How to use them
- Measure your aisle first. If the room cannot give 3 ft 6 in between the two runs, plan an L instead.
- Budget two corner mechanisms from the start. A U has two corners and both are dead without them.
- Put the open end of the U towards the door, never towards a wall.
- Do not exceed a 4 ft aisle. Beyond that you are walking between runs rather than turning between them.
Three things a U gets right
- Counter per square foot. A U delivers more usable counter for the room area than any other layout.
- Zoning. Sink on one run, hob on another and storage on the third separates wet, hot and dry cleanly.
- Appliance placement. A U has three runs, which is enough to keep the fridge out of the working zone.
Read kitchen layouts explained and run the kitchen cost calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum room size for a U-kitchen?+
About 9 by 8 ft, or 72 sq ft, which gives a 3 ft 6 in aisle with 2 ft deep runs on three sides. Below that the aisle drops under 3 ft 6 in and the layout becomes uncomfortable for one person and impossible for two.
How do I make the corners usable?+
A three-quarter carousel in a standard corner or a magic corner in a blind one. Expect Rs 6,500 to 16,000 for a carousel and Rs 12,000 to 32,000 for a magic corner. It is a lot of money for a mechanism and it is still cheaper than losing sixteen cubic feet of storage.
Where should the sink go in a U-kitchen?+
On the back run, ideally under a window, with the hob on one of the side runs. That way the cook pivots between the two rather than walking, and the third run carries the fridge and tall storage out of the working zone.
Can a U-kitchen have a peninsula?+
Yes, above about 130 sq ft, where the peninsula closes the fourth side. It gives you an island's counter without an island's clearance requirement. Leave 3 ft 6 in between the peninsula and the nearest run, 4 ft if anyone sits at it.
Is a U-kitchen more expensive?+
Per running foot, no. In total, yes, because a U has more running feet than an L in the same room, plus two corner mechanisms. Expect roughly 25 to 40 per cent more than an L-kitchen in a comparable space, for correspondingly more storage.