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Arbor Valley Custom Cabinetry
21 Questions

Space Planning

ADA Turning Radius

ADA Accessibility Circles

What is the wheelchair turning radius in a kitchen? +
For an accessible (barrier-free) kitchen in Alberta, a clear floor space of at least 60" (1500mm) in diameter is required to allow a wheelchair to make a full 180-degree turn.

A 60-inch unobstructed circular floor space required for wheelchair maneuverability in accessible kitchen designs.

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Baking Counter Height

Task-Specific Ergonomics

Why are some counters lower than 36 inches? +
Dedicated baking zones are often dropped to 30" or 32". This allows the baker to use their body weight more effectively when kneading dough or rolling pastry.

A specialized 30" to 32" countertop height designed for ergonomic kneading and rolling of dough.

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Blind Corner Access

Reach-In Depth Constraints

How do you plan for deep corners? +
If using a "Blind Corner" cabinet, the door must be at least 15" wide to allow for the installation of pull-out hardware like a LeMans or Magic Corner unit.

The internal and external clearance required to operate swing-out or pull-out hardware in 45" to 48" blind bases.

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Corner Clearance Zones

Door & Drawer Articulation

Why won't my corner drawers open fully? +
To prevent hardware "collision," a minimum of 3" of filler or "dead space" is required in corners. This ensures drawer handles on one run do not strike the drawer faces on the perpendicular run.

The 2" to 3" "filler" space required in corners to prevent hardware from colliding with adjacent drawer fronts.

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Countertop Landing Areas

Surface Drop-Zone Planning

How much counter space is needed next to the sink and stove? +
The National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) recommends at least 15" of landing area on one side of a sink and 12" on the other. For ranges, 12" on one side and 15" on the other is the minimum for safety when handling hot cookware.

Dedicated 15" to 24" countertop zones adjacent to sinks, ranges, and ovens for temporary staging of items.

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Dishwasher Placement

Plumbing & Loading Proximity

Which side of the sink should the dishwasher go on? +
The dishwasher should be within 36" of the sink. For right-handed users, the right side is standard; however, the most critical factor is ensuring the open door does not block the path to the trash pull-out or primary dish storage.

Locating the unit within 36" of the primary sink to minimize plumbing runs and floor dripping during loading.

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Elbow Room Requirements

Lateral Occupancy Widths

How much width does each person need at an island? +
Allow 24" of width per person for counter-height seating. For bar-height seating, 30" is preferred to provide a more comfortable, social dining experience.

Allocating a minimum of 24" of horizontal width per person to ensure comfortable dining without elbow interference.

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Functional Zone Design

Ergonomic Planning

What is 'Kitchen Zone Design'? +
A modern alternative to the "Triangle," grouping the kitchen into five zones: Consumables (fridge/pantry), Non-consumables (dishes), Cleaning (sink), Preparation (island), and Cooking (range).

Grouping cabinetry by function (Prep, Cook, Clean, Conserve) to optimize workflow and accessibility.

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Hood Width Planning

Capture Area Requirements

Does the hood need to be wider than the range? +
In high-end design, the hood should be 6" wider than the range (3" overlap on each side). This creates a larger "capture area" for steam and grease, especially for island-mounted ranges where cross-drafts are common.

Ensuring the exhaust hood is 6" wider than the cooking surface (3" per side) to maximize steam and grease capture.

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Island Seating Overhang

Countertop Cantilever Depth

How much countertop overhang do I need for seating? +
A standard 12-inch overhang is minimum for knee space at a 36-inch high counter. For bar-height seating (42 inches), a 10-inch overhang is usually sufficient.

A mandatory 12" (standard) to 15" (ideal) cantilevered countertop space required for ergonomic knee clearance at bar heights.

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Island to Wall Clearance

Fixed Obstruction Spacing

How much room is needed behind island seating? +
If there is a walkway behind seated guests, 44" to 48" is required. If there is no traffic behind the seats (e.g., against a wall), 32" to 36" is the minimum for someone to edge past.

A 36" minimum (42" preferred) gap between an island and a perimeter wall to allow for comfortable passage.

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Kitchen Aisle Clearance

Passage & Workflow Standards

How much space should be between the island and the range? +
For a functional 'work aisle,' 42 inches is the industry standard. If two people cook together, 48 inches is preferred to allow doors to open and people to pass comfortably.

A critical 42" to 48" path required between opposing cabinet faces to allow for two-person traffic and appliance door swings.

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Microwave Placement

Ergonomic Height Safety

Where is the best place for a microwave in custom kitchens? +
Current trends move away from over-the-range units toward "Microwave Drawers" in base cabinets or integrated "eye-level" niches in tall pantry units, keeping the cooking zone clear for high-CFM ventilation.

Strategic positioning of microwave units—either in-island, eye-level, or drawer-mount—to ensure safe hot-item handling.

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Pantry Shelf Depth

Inventory Visibility Limits

How deep should pantry shelves be? +
For reach-in pantries, 12" to 14" is ideal to prevent items from getting lost in the back. For walk-in pantries, 16" to 18" can be used for bulk items, but u-shaped 12" shelving provides the best visibility.

Limiting shelf depth to 12"–16" for reach-in pantries to prevent items from being lost in the "dark" back rows.

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Prep Sink Positioning

Secondary Culinary Workflow

Where should a secondary prep sink be placed? +
The prep sink should be located outside the main work triangle, typically on the island or a peripheral "coffee station" run, to allow a second cook to work without crossing paths with the primary chef.

Locating a secondary sink outside the primary work triangle to create a dedicated station for food washing and chopping.

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Refrigerator Landing Zone

Side-Entry Surface Access

Where should I put my groceries when unloading the fridge? +
A landing area of at least 15" should be provided on the handle side of the refrigerator or within 48" of the front of the unit (such as an island directly opposite).

A 15" countertop area located on the handle side or within 48" of the fridge for loading and unloading groceries.

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Traffic Path Width

Major Circulation Geometry

How wide should the main walkways be in a kitchen? +
Main traffic paths (non-work aisles) should be at least 36" wide. If the path is a primary entry point into the home or leads to a mudroom, 42" to 44" is recommended to accommodate multiple people or groceries.

The planning of primary walkways (minimum 36") to ensure flow through the kitchen without interrupting the cooking zone.

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Trash Pullout Location

Waste Management Proximity

Where is the most efficient place for the trash? +
The trash pull-out should be located in the "Cleaning Zone," ideally directly to the left or right of the sink, and accessible from the primary "Prep Zone" (the island).

Positioning waste bins within the "Prep Zone" (near the sink and compost) to minimize travel while cleaning up.

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Upper Cabinet Height

Vertical Elevation Standards

How high should wall cabinets be mounted? +
Standard mounting height is 18" above the countertop (54" from the floor). For taller homeowners or those with large countertop appliances (e.g., professional mixers), 20" to 22" of clearance is often specified.

The industry-standard 18" gap between the countertop and the bottom of wall cabinets for appliance clearance.

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Vertical Reach Zones

Ergonomic Storage Access

What is the 'Comfort Zone' for storage? +
Items used daily should be stored between 15" and 48" from the floor. Items used rarely (seasonal platters) go in the "high reach" zone (above 72") or "low reach" zone (below 15").

The categorization of storage into "Active" (knee to eye level) and "Dead" (above 72") zones based on accessibility.

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Work Triangle Efficiency

Path-of-Travel Optimization

What is the maximum distance for a work triangle? +
The sum of the three legs of the work triangle (Sink to Fridge to Stove) should not exceed 26 feet. No single leg should be less than 4 feet or more than 9 feet to maintain ergonomic efficiency.

The technical distance between the sink, range, and fridge, ideally totaling between 12' and 26' for maximum workflow.

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