Kitchen Remodel Design: A Guide to Layouts, Planning & Visual Elements

A thoughtfully designed kitchen transforms not just how your space looks, but how you live in it every day. The perfect design requires a balance of functionality, aesthetics, and practical considerations like plumbing and electrical needs.

At Lamont Bros., our expert design team frequently completes kitchen remodels in Portland that are both beautiful and functional—from simple refreshes to complete custom transformations. This guide walks you through our professional approach to kitchen design, helping you understand the key elements that make a kitchen both visually stunning and a joy to use.

Kitchen Layout Design: The Foundation of Functionality

Your kitchen’s layout determines how efficiently you’ll move through the space while cooking and entertaining. Before selecting cabinets or countertops, you need to nail down the fundamental arrangement of your kitchen.

The Work Triangle vs. Kitchen Zones: Which Approach is Right for You?

The Classic Work Triangle

For nearly a century, the work triangle dominated kitchen design thinking. This model creates an efficient triangle between your three most-used features:

• Refrigerator (food storage)
• Sink (cleaning)
• Range/cooktop (cooking)

Design tip: For optimal efficiency, the sum of all three legs of your work triangle should be between 12 and 26 feet, with no leg shorter than 4 feet or longer than 9 feet.

While elegant in its simplicity, this approach was designed for smaller kitchens with a single cook—not today’s larger, multi-cook spaces that often serve as entertainment and gathering hubs.

The Modern Kitchen Zones Approach

Contemporary kitchen design often divides the space into five functional zones:

1. Consumables Zone – Refrigerator and pantry storage
2. Non-consumables Zone – Dishes, glassware, and serving pieces storage
3. Preparation Zone – Counter space and utensils for food prep
4. Cooking Zone – Range, oven, microwave, and cookware storage
5. Cleaning Zone – Sink, dishwasher, and cleaning supplies

Design tip: When planning zones, consider the natural workflow of cooking—from gathering ingredients to cleaning up—and arrange zones to minimize unnecessary steps.

Finding Your Focal Point

What’s the first thing you want people to notice when they enter your kitchen? Creating a visual focal point helps anchor your design and creates a more cohesive space.

Common focal points include:

• A statement range hood
• A distinctive backsplash feature wall
• A dramatic island with waterfall countertops
• A stunning view framed by a window

Design tip: Once you’ve identified your focal point, design outward from there, ensuring other elements complement rather than compete with it.

Strategic Appliance Placement

Where you position your appliances dramatically impacts both workflow and visual appeal. Here’s our professional guidance for the most important placements:

Refrigerator Positioning

The refrigerator presents a unique challenge—it needs to be accessible both to the cook and to family members who might want to grab a snack without disrupting the cooking process.

Optimal placement:

• Near the kitchen entrance but not blocking traffic flow
• Adjacent to counter space for setting down groceries
• Within reasonable distance of both prep and cooking zones

Sink Location Options

As the most-used element in most kitchens, sink placement deserves special attention:

Window sink advantages:

• Natural light while working
• Pleasant views during dish duty
• Traditional arrangement that works in most kitchen layouts

Island sink advantages:

• Face guests while working
• More open feeling
• Great for entertainment-focused kitchens

Design tip: For larger kitchens, consider a main sink for cleaning and a smaller prep sink near the cooking area.

Range and Cooking Area

Your range location often becomes the visual anchor of your kitchen design:

Optimal placement:

• Against the wall that naturally draws attention when entering the room
• With sufficient counter space on both sides (minimum 18″ each side)
• Away from high-traffic pathways to prevent accidents
• With proper ventilation options (decorative hood or microhood combination)

Beyond the Basics: Design Elements That Elevate Your Kitchen

Once you’ve established your layout fundamentals, these design decisions will define the character and functionality of your space:

Intelligent Storage Solutions

Modern cabinet systems offer specialized storage options that maximize space and improve organization:

• Pull-out shelving – Brings items at the back of deep cabinets within easy reach
• Dedicated dividers – For bakeware, cutting boards, and trays
• Specialized inserts – Like mixer lifts that make heavy appliances accessible without lifting
• Corner solutions – Such as lazy susans or lemans systems that make corner cabinets fully usable

Design tip: Consider how and when you use items when planning storage. Items used together should be stored together, and frequently used items should be in the most accessible locations.

Island Considerations

Islands create additional work surfaces and storage while defining the space. When designing your island, consider:

• Clearance – Allow at least 42″ between the island and perimeter cabinets
• Purpose – Will it be primarily for prep, dining, or entertaining?
• Scale – An oversized island can dominate a space, while one that’s too small may feel insignificant
• Seating – If including seating, allow 24″ width per person and proper knee clearance

Material Selection: Beyond Aesthetics

Your choice of materials impacts both looks and livability:

Countertop Options

• Quartz – Engineered stone offering exceptional durability and low maintenance
• Granite – Natural stone with unique patterns and excellent heat resistance
• Dekton – Ultra-compact surface with superior heat and scratch resistance
• Solid Surface – Versatile, mid-range option with seamless appearance

Cabinet Construction

• Framed vs. Frameless – Affecting both appearance and interior space
• Wood species – Impacting durability, grain pattern, and staining potential
• Finish options – Painted, stained, or mixed finishes for visual interest

Flooring Considerations

• Coordination with cabinets – Contrast or match depending on the overall design
• Durability for high-traffic areas – Considering scratch and water resistance
• Comfort for long cooking sessions – Some materials are easier on the legs and back

Creating Visual Interest

The most memorable kitchens combine functionality with distinctive visual elements:

Lighting Layers

A well-designed kitchen incorporates multiple lighting types:

• Ambient lighting – Overall illumination for the space
• Task lighting – Focused illumination for work areas
• Accent lighting – Highlighting design features or adding atmosphere
• Under-cabinet lighting – Eliminating shadows on work surfaces
• In-cabinet lighting – Showcasing displayed items or improving visibility

Backsplash Strategies

Your backsplash can be a subtle complement or a bold statement:

• Full-height application – Creating drama and visual interest
• Accent areas – Using decorative tile to highlight focal points
• Material contrasts – Playing with different textures and finishes

Bringing Your Kitchen Design to Life

Designing a kitchen remodel can feel overwhelming, but breaking it down into these key components makes the process manageable. Remember that the best kitchen designs balance beauty with function, creating spaces that work for your specific needs and lifestyle.

Our design team at Lamont Bros. specializes in guiding Portland homeowners through this process, ensuring your kitchen remodel design achieves both your practical requirements and aesthetic vision.

Ready to explore kitchen design options for your Portland home? Schedule a consultation with our design team for more information about the remodeling process.