The corridor width decides everything
| Clear corridor | What happens |
|---|---|
| Under 900 mm | Two opposing drawers cannot open; one person only |
| 900–1,050 mm | Workable for one cook; tight when a drawer is out |
| 1,050–1,200 mm | The sweet spot — one cook comfortable, two can pass |
| 1,200–1,500 mm | Two cooks comfortable; walking distance rises |
| Over 1,500 mm | Efficiency lost; the layout becomes two separate runs |
Splitting the functions between the runs
The standard split is wet on one side and dry on the other: sink, dishwasher and prep on one run; hob, chimney and serving on the other. That keeps water away from the flame, gives a clean turn from washing to chopping to cooking, and puts the two busiest points — sink and hob — within a single pivot of each other. Putting sink and hob on the same run is the common mistake; it forces you to walk the length of the kitchen for every task.
Why it suits Mumbai flats
- Builder kitchens are usually long and narrow with a window at one end — the exact geometry a galley wants.
- No corner units, so no blind corners and no ₹18,000–34,000 magic corner mechanism.
- Both runs can carry full-depth base units and wall units, giving maximum storage in minimum area.
- A parallel kitchen of 8 ft × 9 ft delivers roughly 16 running feet of counter — more than an L-shaped kitchen in the same footprint.
Costs and the one thing to check
At ₹2,200–3,400 per running foot of cabinetry, a two-run kitchen of 16 running feet lands around ₹3.5–5.4 lakh with counters and hardware. Before committing, check that the corridor has no door swinging into it and that the kitchen is not a through route to a utility or a balcony — a galley with traffic passing through it is the least pleasant kitchen there is. See kitchen layouts explained and kitchen costs in Mumbai.
Frequently asked questions
What is the ideal width for a parallel kitchen?+
1,050–1,200 mm between finished cabinet faces. Below 900 mm, two opposing drawers collide. Above 1,500 mm the layout loses the efficiency that made it worth choosing.
Should the sink and hob be on the same side?+
No. Put the sink and prep on one run and the hob on the other. That keeps water away from the flame and makes the busiest movement a pivot rather than a walk.
Is a parallel kitchen better than an L-shaped one?+
In a long narrow room, yes — more counter and storage, and no blind corner. In a squarer room with an open side, an L-shape connects better to the living space. The room's proportion decides, not preference.
Can a parallel kitchen have a dining counter?+
Only if the corridor is over 1.5 m or one run ends at an opening where a short peninsula can turn out. In a true galley the corridor is circulation, and a stool in it blocks the kitchen.