Where to Put Your Sink and Cooktop
These two key kitchen elements will determine your layout. Designers tell how to get their locations right
Should your sink overlook the yard? (And what if it can’t?) Can a cooktop go under a window? And what are the pros and cons for putting either item into an island? These questions and more are answered by our expert panel.
Which questions should you ask yourself to help determine the best positions?
Your Guide to 6 Kitchen Island Styles
- “Is the room open-plan and used for living and entertaining?” says Hannah Raven of Raven Kitchen Design. “If so, then I would always try to keep the sink further away from the social part of the room. This way, any dirty dishes that pile up won’t be in full view of your guests.”
- Are you prepared to shift existing plumbing? “If clients don’t want the extra work of changing where the plumbing is,” Raven says, “then it would be best to position the sink where it was in the previous kitchen.”
- Will there be sufficient space around the stove? “With the new technology of cooktops, with downdraft hoods built in, the possibilities of where you can position your cooktop are far less restricted, but I would always aim to leave enough countertop space either side for pan handles and prep space.”
Your Guide to 6 Kitchen Island Styles
Which are the most popular locations and why?
Kitchen island. “A lot of customers ask to have both the cooktop and sink on the island, so they can, if possible, look out toward their garden or out into the view of the room,” Raven says.
Sink in front of a window. “This is a popular option where possible,” Raven says. “It’s nice to have a view outside while doing the dishes, rather that staring at a wall. Having a window also means there wouldn’t be any wall units above the sink. These can feel too ‘in your face,’ making for an uncomfortable place to work.”
Sink on the back wall and cooktop on the island. “This way creates a cleaning and a cooking zone and is my preferred option,” Raven continues. “It creates a space for cooking and prep and a space for used items and cleaning.”
Dorsch agrees that cooktops can work well on an island. “Or in a unit facing the dining table or other spaces adjacent,” she adds. “This location can create a very social aspect of cooking while entertaining or can enable you to watch the children at the same time.”
Dorsch also advises considering a sink location with easy access to the dining area for table clearing. “It should also be surrounded by surfaces that can withstand water stains and spillage from washing-up,” she adds.
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Kitchen island. “A lot of customers ask to have both the cooktop and sink on the island, so they can, if possible, look out toward their garden or out into the view of the room,” Raven says.
Sink in front of a window. “This is a popular option where possible,” Raven says. “It’s nice to have a view outside while doing the dishes, rather that staring at a wall. Having a window also means there wouldn’t be any wall units above the sink. These can feel too ‘in your face,’ making for an uncomfortable place to work.”
Sink on the back wall and cooktop on the island. “This way creates a cleaning and a cooking zone and is my preferred option,” Raven continues. “It creates a space for cooking and prep and a space for used items and cleaning.”
Dorsch agrees that cooktops can work well on an island. “Or in a unit facing the dining table or other spaces adjacent,” she adds. “This location can create a very social aspect of cooking while entertaining or can enable you to watch the children at the same time.”
Dorsch also advises considering a sink location with easy access to the dining area for table clearing. “It should also be surrounded by surfaces that can withstand water stains and spillage from washing-up,” she adds.
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Where should a sink and stove be in relation to each other?
Both Raven and Dorsch are ready with a rule of thumb measurement to help answer this one. “As long as there’s a minimum of [2 feet] between them, and sufficient space next to each, then having the sink and cooktop near one another is useful,” Dorsch says.
Specifically, Raven highlights, you’ll need space around the stove for pan handles and prep. “If the sink and cooktop were separate to each other,” she adds, “I’d still make sure they’re within a couple of steps of each other — for transferring pans of hot water, for example.”
“When cooking, it’s also handy to have a sink nearby to be able to dispose of utensils no longer needed, as well as putting the pan into the sink once finished,” Dorsch says. Where space allows, she also favors designing in a large and a smaller sink.
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Both Raven and Dorsch are ready with a rule of thumb measurement to help answer this one. “As long as there’s a minimum of [2 feet] between them, and sufficient space next to each, then having the sink and cooktop near one another is useful,” Dorsch says.
Specifically, Raven highlights, you’ll need space around the stove for pan handles and prep. “If the sink and cooktop were separate to each other,” she adds, “I’d still make sure they’re within a couple of steps of each other — for transferring pans of hot water, for example.”
“When cooking, it’s also handy to have a sink nearby to be able to dispose of utensils no longer needed, as well as putting the pan into the sink once finished,” Dorsch says. Where space allows, she also favors designing in a large and a smaller sink.
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What are the considerations for putting a cooktop or a sink into an island?
“Ideally, you’d want a [9- to 10-foot-long] island to be able to put both a sink and a cooktop on it,” Raven says. She adds that the associated units for each must also be taken into account — a dishwasher near the sink, for example, as well as the potential addition of plumbing and electrical supplies.
Ventilation requirements are also key for a cooktop, whether this be a ceiling hood, where you need to consider the direction of the ceiling joists, or a downdraft range hood, where you need to be sure you can place ducting beneath the floor.
“You may also want to consider the depth of the island,” Raven adds, particularly where the cooktop is concerned. “If on your island you have breakfast bar seating, and especially with children, you’d want to make sure there was enough depth between the back of the cooktop and the seating area. Ideally, you’d position breakfast bar seating away from the cooktop.”
“Also consider the heat or grease splashing where small children may be sitting,” Dorsch cautions.
“If you’re putting a sink into the island, you always have to expect it to be used as a bit of a dumping ground for dirty cups and plates,” she adds. “A nice way to incorporate drying space for these items is to consider having drainage grooves cut into the countertop. This way, it’s much more pleasing to the eye than a drainage rack. Having a dishwasher nearby will also help.”
“Ideally, you’d want a [9- to 10-foot-long] island to be able to put both a sink and a cooktop on it,” Raven says. She adds that the associated units for each must also be taken into account — a dishwasher near the sink, for example, as well as the potential addition of plumbing and electrical supplies.
Ventilation requirements are also key for a cooktop, whether this be a ceiling hood, where you need to consider the direction of the ceiling joists, or a downdraft range hood, where you need to be sure you can place ducting beneath the floor.
“You may also want to consider the depth of the island,” Raven adds, particularly where the cooktop is concerned. “If on your island you have breakfast bar seating, and especially with children, you’d want to make sure there was enough depth between the back of the cooktop and the seating area. Ideally, you’d position breakfast bar seating away from the cooktop.”
“Also consider the heat or grease splashing where small children may be sitting,” Dorsch cautions.
“If you’re putting a sink into the island, you always have to expect it to be used as a bit of a dumping ground for dirty cups and plates,” she adds. “A nice way to incorporate drying space for these items is to consider having drainage grooves cut into the countertop. This way, it’s much more pleasing to the eye than a drainage rack. Having a dishwasher nearby will also help.”
Should a sink always have a view of the garden if feasible?
“It’s nice where possible,” Raven says. “We often have designs where there isn’t a window view into a garden but bifold doors, so the sink can’t face the garden.” In this instance, she says she might suggest a mirror backsplash so the garden can be reflected, as seen here.
“Typically, it’s practical to place a sink near a window,” Dorsch says. “The sill allows extra depth and can offer a neat store for small herb pots and some dishwashing liquid. However, we’d consider the view and location of the window in the space and the overall shape of the room.” For example, some windows may overlook a passage rather than the garden.
Dorsch adds that if you do have a beautiful view, while she’d always design the room to make the most of this, the view could lend itself to a relaxing window seat more than a sink.
“It’s nice where possible,” Raven says. “We often have designs where there isn’t a window view into a garden but bifold doors, so the sink can’t face the garden.” In this instance, she says she might suggest a mirror backsplash so the garden can be reflected, as seen here.
“Typically, it’s practical to place a sink near a window,” Dorsch says. “The sill allows extra depth and can offer a neat store for small herb pots and some dishwashing liquid. However, we’d consider the view and location of the window in the space and the overall shape of the room.” For example, some windows may overlook a passage rather than the garden.
Dorsch adds that if you do have a beautiful view, while she’d always design the room to make the most of this, the view could lend itself to a relaxing window seat more than a sink.
Where should you avoid putting a cooktop?
“Don’t position it in front of a window,” Williams says, due to that fact that grease and grime will build up on the window.
Dorsch also cautions to consider potential clashes with nearby doors that might open into the stove area, and says cooktops should either be above a storage base unit or an oven, no other appliances.
“Don’t position it in front of a window,” Williams says, due to that fact that grease and grime will build up on the window.
Dorsch also cautions to consider potential clashes with nearby doors that might open into the stove area, and says cooktops should either be above a storage base unit or an oven, no other appliances.
Where would you avoid putting a sink?
“I wouldn’t position one on the end of a run of units,” Raven says. “I’d always try to have countertop space either side of a sink for clean and dirty dishes.”
Dorsch agrees and says she’d avoid positioning a sink against a wall if there was somewhere else for it to go. “The location of a sink should also not be too far away from the dishwasher, as you want to be able to transfer things across easily.”
“I wouldn’t say I have a golden rule for places not to put a sink,” Williams says. “However, it is one of the messiest areas of the kitchen, so if you’re going to make it a visual feature in the centre of the design — the island for instance — then you’re shining a spotlight on the area where you pile all the dirty plates. That’s not to say you shouldn’t do this, but this practical implication needs to be considered when making the decision.”
“I wouldn’t position one on the end of a run of units,” Raven says. “I’d always try to have countertop space either side of a sink for clean and dirty dishes.”
Dorsch agrees and says she’d avoid positioning a sink against a wall if there was somewhere else for it to go. “The location of a sink should also not be too far away from the dishwasher, as you want to be able to transfer things across easily.”
“I wouldn’t say I have a golden rule for places not to put a sink,” Williams says. “However, it is one of the messiest areas of the kitchen, so if you’re going to make it a visual feature in the centre of the design — the island for instance — then you’re shining a spotlight on the area where you pile all the dirty plates. That’s not to say you shouldn’t do this, but this practical implication needs to be considered when making the decision.”
“The locations of the cooktop and sink form some of the defining considerations for any design, along with storage — including chilled — and prep area,” says Dale Williams of Kettle Co Kitchens. “The positioning of these four items can impact not just on how efficient the kitchen is to use, but also on the whole feel and aesthetic of the room.”
“The kitchen triangle concept stipulates the sink, stove and fridge should be located in a triangle with nothing interrupting the flow from one to another,” says Claudia Dorsch of Claudia Dorsch Interior Design. “This is still a useful idea — circulation and traffic flow in any room is important to bear in mind — but in addition to that, we consider the size, shape, proportion and period style of the property, as well as the client lifestyle and circumstances of using the space. A family of five will have different demands on their kitchen from a single occupant.”
“Our job as designers is to help clients identify how they want to use their kitchen,” Willams says. “For example, if a customer’s priority is to have a space to entertain in, then we will suggest positioning key elements to be forward-facing, so the cook can easily interact with guests.”
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