So much has changed in the way in which we design and use our kitchens over the last decade or so, but there is something reassuring in how galley kitchen ideas have adapted to the new-found sense of space, and have thrived.
Named after a ship’s kitchen, it was originally associated with simplicity and tight spaces – there’s not much room for superfluous detail on the average ship. But the reason that a galley kitchen works is that it is ergonomically sound, and it’s easy to place everything so it is to hand.
Galley kitchens were originally designed to be both compact and ultra-efficient, maximising every inch of space for both storage and preparation.
Professional kitchens also follow a similar linear plan with lines of ranges or hobs divided into specific stations for the preparation of different types of dishes.
Where there is room for a parallel run of units – a double galley – you can introduce the classic work triangle, arranging the key task zones of fridge, cooker and sink in this pattern to cut down on the footwork between them. This is not only successful in narrow rooms that have enough width to take two rows of units, it’s exactly the format that is so popular in open plan spaces, with a long island providing the second leg, often creating a sociable casual seating area and a natural boundary for the kitchen space at the same time.
‘Galleys can be really stylish. Long lines of worktop create strong horizontal planes that look incredibly sleek,’ adds Hugo Tugman, Architectural Designer, Architect Your Home.
