I Want a Kitchen Layout Design For Short People!

by Sego Lilly
(Salt Lake City, Utah USA)

One of my favorite subjects is “kitchen design” or lack of it. I do not think the builders, who built or did my kitchen layout design, took into consideration those who actually use it. Sound familiar?

Obviously, those who designed it do not work in the kitchen. Otherwise, I think they would have been more sympathetic to my cause. Someone decided to play a joke and put a base kitchen cabinet under my main kitchen counter tops that you practically have to crawl into to get anything. A totally non-functional and lazy design, unless you are a child looking for a place to hide in a game of “hide and seek”, which is pretty much the purpose of this cabinet.

Also, let’s get real, who usually works in the kitchen that is 6 foot tall or more? Many tall women and some, wonderful men work in the kitchen, but the average size is, I am guessing, more like 5’4” and – let’s face it – the majority are women.

My kitchen wall cabinets are so high it almost makes no sense to use them and the ones above the refrigerator make a great backdrop for a decorative dusty ornamental piece a top the refrigerator. I never use that one at all!

Since ripping out the back part of that "crawl space," under my main kitchen counter tops, which is now visible to all guests, I am able to utilize that space more readily, compliments of the aggravated head chef - me.

I often have dream kitchens in mind when I think about a more functional kitchen layout design. One with cabinets that do not require a stepping stool to reach or a built in double oven that I can actually reach comfortably into without having to throw the bread into and hope it makes it without having to stand on my tip toes to see inside.

One of these days I will do a kitchen remodel and get the kitchen layout design that works for me! I am grateful, though, that my kitchen does have running water, a sturdy floor, a stainless steel sink, and basic major kitchen appliances.

Yet, I dream of a kitchen that is totally functional with no wasted space, a lowered apron sink that does not leave a water design on my clothing as I lean against it, and kitchen wall cabinets that are more reachable. This may not be the kitchen design for the average person but it would work a lot better for a short person like me.