The Foundation of a Great Kitchen Starts with Layout

After years of designing kitchens and living in one, I’ve learned that layout is the difference between a kitchen that looks good and one that truly works.

Where My Approach to Kitchen Design Began

My first job out of college was at Kitchen Distributors in Fayetteville, Arkansas. Before that, I completed my design internship during my junior year at the University of Arkansas in Edinburgh, Scotland, at a small kitchen design firm. Those early experiences sparked my interest in kitchen and bathroom design and gave me the opportunity to learn from the best.

That foundation shaped how I still think about kitchens today.

At Mark Phillips Construction, where we design and build custom homes throughout Northwest Arkansas, kitchen layout is one of the most important conversations we have with our clients early in the process.

Kitchens truly are the heart of the home. Over the holidays, we hosted a gathering at our house, and almost the entire evening was spent standing around the kitchen island visiting, snacking, and catching up. It was one of those moments that reminds you how important this space really is. Thankfully, we had remodeled our kitchen about a year and a half earlier, so the layout was ready for exactly that kind of use.

That experience reinforces something I’ve believed for a long time: getting the layout right is the foundation of a great kitchen.

Kitchen Layout Is the Foundation of a Great Kitchen

Before you think about finishes, tile, or cabinet style, you have to think about how the kitchen works. A beautiful kitchen can quickly become frustrating if the layout isn’t functional.

One of the first principles I learned early in my career was the classic work triangle, the relationship between the refrigerator, sink, and stove. While homes and kitchens have grown larger over the years and those original distance guidelines don’t always translate perfectly, the concept still matters. If you cook in your kitchen, these elements need to be close enough to each other to function well together.

Even in large kitchens, spreading things too far apart can make everyday tasks inefficient. Good layout planning finds the balance between openness, flow, and usability.

Open Concept Kitchens: When They Work and When They Don’t

Open concept kitchens can be incredibly functional and are a great fit for many families. They allow for connection, visibility, and easy entertaining. But if the space isn’t large enough, an open concept kitchen can start to feel too close visually and acoustically.

Noise is something that often gets overlooked. Dishwashers running, appliances humming, pans clanging. If the kitchen and living room are too tightly connected, it can be difficult for someone to relax or watch television while another person is cooking or cleaning.

Some ways we keep an open concept while still creating visual separation between the kitchen and living spaces include:

• Ceiling changes between spaces

• Changes in ceiling materials, such as paneling or wood details

• Cased openings that define areas without closing them off

• Generous walkways between the island and seating areas

  
  

These subtle architectural and material shifts help define zones while keeping the home feeling open and connected.

A Layout That Works for New Construction and Remodels

One layout I consistently find successful, both in remodels and in new construction, is an L-shaped kitchen with an island. It’s flexible, functional, and works well for many different families.

Whether the sink belongs on the island or along the perimeter depends entirely on how the kitchen is used. There’s no one size fits all answer. When possible, I like breaking up corners with a pantry entrance or hallway. This helps avoid the dreaded dead corner that often requires costly cabinetry pullouts to make functional.

Good layout planning also considers clearances such as aisle widths, door swings, and appliance openings. These are details that often make or break how a kitchen feels once it’s actually lived in.

Appliance Planning Comes Early

Kitchen layout often starts with appliance planning. Early questions like:

• Do you want a 48 inch range or double ovens

• Where will the microwave live

• Will you choose built in refrigeration

  
  

Built in refrigeration has become more accessible as more brands adopt that streamlined, integrated look. It instantly elevates a kitchen and is incredibly functional, but it also affects cabinet layout, wall space, and overall flow. These decisions need to happen early, not after cabinetry is already drawn.

Designing for Real Life, Not Just Trends

One thing I always caution against is chasing kitchen design trends without thinking through how they’ll actually work.

I was recently in a remodeled kitchen that had very few upper cabinets for a more minimalist look. It photographed beautifully, but there wasn’t a large pantry or working kitchen nearby. I couldn’t help but wonder where everyday items like dishes were supposed to live.

Yes, we can get creative. Dishes might live in deep drawers in the island, for example. But that only works if there’s enough additional storage elsewhere. Every design choice has to make sense within the context of the space.

Just because something looks good in a Pinterest photo doesn’t mean it’s practical. Designing purely to make a statement rarely leads to a kitchen that functions well long term.

Planning a Kitchen Around How You Live

Another area I’m really loving right now is creating intentional spaces for everyday countertop appliances such as the toaster, coffee maker, blender, or air fryer. These items are used daily, but most people don’t want them permanently on display.

If space allows, designing concealed appliance areas either within the kitchen or in a working pantry just off the kitchen can make a big difference. That said, placement should always be practical. Appliances should live near the ingredients they rely on. If you make toast every morning and your butter lives in the refrigerator, it makes sense for the toaster to be nearby.

The best kitchens are designed around real routines, not idealized ones.

A Builder’s Perspective

Having worked on cabinetry, countertops, and now from a builder’s perspective, I’ve learned that everyone involved in kitchen design tends to prioritize their own piece of the puzzle.

From a builder’s standpoint, everything matters and it all has to work together. Layout, appliances, cabinetry, and finishes should be considered as one cohesive system.

This post is the first in a kitchen design series where I’ll continue breaking things down, appliances, countertops, backsplashes, and how to think about trends without letting them drive decisions. Kitchens are layered, and each choice builds on the one before it. Starting with layout sets everything else up for success.