The Kitchen Triangle

The Bermuda Triangle... that I heard of, but not about the Kitchen Triangle. However it exists and it seems to make sense. It is actually helpful when remodeling a kitchen to optimize your cooking productivity and other kitchen work processes. So I think: what do you do in the kitchen when you bring in your grocery shopping, when you start to cook, when you bring back in the dirty dishes, when you have guests etc...

The (U.S.) National Kitchen and Bath Association has specified these guidelines for your "work triangle":

* The sum of the work triangle's three sides should not exceed 26 feet (792.5 cm), and each leg should measure between 4 feet (122 cm) minimum and 9 feet (274.3 cm) maximum.
* The work triangle should not cut through an island or peninsula by more than 12 inches (30.5 cm).
* If the kitchen has only one sink, it should be placed between or across from the cooking surface, preparation area, or refrigerator.
* No major traffic patterns should cross through the triangle.

The source is Charles and Hudson and more kitchen design guidelines can be found here. (inch/feet - cm converter)

After studying the guidelines I think we have to move the fridge a bit further up, otherwise the island is interrupting the work triangle... right?


Here, another opinion by The Kitchen Designer.
More kitchen design at:
HGTV Kitchen Design
Better Homes & Garden

Picture sources: 1) Charles and Hudson, 2) draft for our kitchen by Boloni, China

No News

We are still waiting for the permission by the commune to start the renovation work. As I understood we are not delayed.

The tiles (the amazing blue ones) for the balcony and terrace are already delivered and need to be stored.

The question about how to restorate the facade seems to be cleared (at least in between the family). I want to conserve the antique 'patina'.

Here an example of how I prefer to do it (left part) and how I do not want to do it (right part) - click on photo to enlarge:

(picture above shows a house in Pizzo Marina)

Creative Tuesday

Yesterday, Tuesday, I was creative. I kept drawing and drawing the house, just tiny sketches - with all details, with less details and with lesser details and really reduced. You don't want to see all the sheets I did with tiny houses, so just one here:


I was thinking about what comes in my mind first when I think of the house. Or what was the first impression when we saw the house for the first time? What was the strongest argument to buy it?

I like strolling down the alley that ends at the piazza with the church and our house. I like its main facade at the piazza. And of course, I love the sea view. And I realized, I really like the tiny balconies. To be more precise, I love these iron balustrades.


While doing my drawings, I remembered a post by Di from Designers' Block about personalized dinnerware, however could not find it anymore. Thanks to Di, who emailed me the link of Rabbit Toes, I can add this picture to my 'logo file' for inspiration. I like the idea of using the door with the house number.



Hotel Chinaware from Paris Boutique Hotel is inspiring as well for those who plan personalized dishes. You do not need to be noble to have an emblem or invent one - or just replace it with your front door ;-)








Maryam in Marrakesh has found a great logo for her almost ready guesthouse - a silhouette peacock. Now it is my turn to be creative. Beside my top blue picture that represents for me the essential beauty of the place - the sky and sea melting together in front of my iron balustrade balcony with an Calbrian fig cactus - these are my other actual favorites:


What's your favorite? Any ideas? Please leave your comment!

New Drawings

An email from our young and talented Italian architect was forwarded to me. He had sent along two new drawings he had made from the house. One shows the view of the front facade with the main entrance and one shows the view of the house by the see.

First I thought, there is something wrong about the second drawing. But then I realized, I had never seen the back of the house in that way. - Remember? We are located on a rock. You only would see the house in that perspective if you would 'fly' by. Usually you are about 50 meters below and in that perspective the house looks different,... shorter, shrinked, somehow.

What about using the main facade as a 'logo'. I was thinking of designing a 'logo' for dishes we would use in the palazzo. Maybe also to be embroidered on bathrobes, maybe napkins, maybe pillow cases etc.

Should the 'logo' resemble more the new drawing (above) with all the nice details or resemble more the 'reduced' drawing below?


Let me know what you think and I will post a draft soon.

Programma Esecuzione Lavori

The 'execution program for the work to do' was elaborated by Angelo, my FIL. Thank you so much for that very detailed excel sheet (tiny writing in four pages)! Excellent work! According to that plan the house should be ready end of next year and we could invite our first guests in spring 2009! Hopefully!

Well, to be honest, I hope we could use part of the house next summer. We just need a big bed and one bathroom.

Here is a screen shot from the beginning of Angelo's 'execution program':


And that's how it looks in total:


But we have not started yet. As you might see, the work should start in November. A whole year after we have signed the contract... That's how it goes when you do not live on site. Anyway, so far we cannot start because we still wait for the approval of the application for renovation. Angelo said, it does not matter to wait as he wants to be on site to supervise the work. And at the moment he is a buys 'retired' consultant working in England. He plans to be in Pizzo from January on.