Ergonomics in Today's Kitchen

Height should be taken into account.

From Julien Home Refinements -- Interior Design, 8/18/2005

urgu’nâmiks n (from Greek: ergon - work and nomoi - natural laws): study of designing objects to be better adapted to the shape of the human body so that people interact with equipment in a healthy, comfortable, and efficient manner. Designed for ease of use. Term that relates to furniture design and function for the human form.

Ergonomics in Today's Kitchen: The planning for efficiency and ease of use remains more important than ever. Even in the kitchen, ergonomics is now a new ingredient in the overall design. Convenient positioning of the main kitchen activities includes proper depth of the kitchen sink and correct height countertops.

Depth of the Kitchen Sink

When dishwashing, the sink should be approximately at the level of one’s navel, in such a way that plates can be held with column straight and elbows forming a 90º angle. Whereas taller people (5'- 5" and above) would feel comfortable working with a 10" deep sink, smaller persons (5'- 0") could be at greater ease with 8" deep sinks. Deeper bowl depth will better enable the cleaning of bulky equipment (pots, pans and trays) in the sink while reducing the amount of water splash. It will also keep out of sight dirty dishes.

Tall Kitchen Counters

36" Kitchen counters have been standard since the 1940s, but we may have had it all wrong. According to "The Countertop Uprising," an article published in the Wall Street Journal (March 18th 2005), more and more homeowners are remodelling and installing higher kitchen counters. This prevents the need to hunch over when handling food, especially for people of above average height.

* Average American height: 5’9" for male and 5’4" for female

42" counters (about the height of a bar) may become the next trend. The taller counters allow for more drawer and cabinet space. Larger kitchens with soaring ceilings will look better with higher countertops.

* Depending upon the material, the thickness of a standard countertop will range between 1 and 2". When installing undermount sinks, keep in mind the thickness of the countertop as this will add to your sink's depth.

Courtesy of Julien Home Refinements

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