How to Make the Most of Your L-Shaped Kitchen

Where both runs are roughly equal in length, we would typically locate any tall cabinets on the same run as the cooktop. This frees up working space around the sink area on the adjacent wall.

For example, for 10- or 12-foot walls, we would site tall fridge housing on the far end of one wall, possibly with oven housing next to it. The height would then drop to countertop level, with a cooktop centered over generous drawer space (or an oven if this is not within the tall housing). There would be countertop space on either side of this, and upper cabinets would continue above the length of this run.

On the adjacent leg, the sink area would typically house a pullout trash container underneath the counter on the left, and a dishwasher to the right, beneath the sink’s draining grooves (if you are right-handed). Of course, these arrangements can vary according to personal taste, and also because there’s often a window on one of the walls.