Five kitchen layouts that work in Kolkata flats
L-shaped, parallel, U-shaped, island and the breakfast-counter compromise — which layout suits which floor plan, and the clearances that make each one usable.
In short
- Keep at least 1,050mm of clear floor between opposing runs in a parallel kitchen.
- The L-shape is the most efficient plan for a standard Kolkata 2 BHK.
- An island needs 12 ft of clear width before it stops being an obstacle.
Kitchen layout is decided by the room, not by taste. Before choosing a look, measure the clear floor area, note where the window and the drain sit, and work out which of these five plans your room can actually accommodate.
1. L-shaped
Two adjacent runs. The most efficient plan for a standard 2 BHK kitchen, because it keeps the sink, hob and fridge in a tight triangle and leaves one wall free for tall units. If your kitchen is between 7×8 and 9×10 ft, this is almost always the answer.
2. Parallel (galley)
Two facing runs, cooking on one side and prep and wash on the other. Ideal for the long narrow kitchens common in older Kolkata buildings.
3. U-shaped
Three usable walls, maximum counter and storage. Excellent where you have it, but the two internal corners need proper corner solutions — a magic corner or carousel — or you lose that volume entirely.
4. Island
For open-plan homes only. An island needs 12 ft or more of clear width before the walkways around it stay usable; below that it stops being a work surface and becomes something to edge past.
5. Breakfast counter
In compact flats, a counter overhang off the kitchen edge frequently replaces the dining table altogether — 300mm of overhang and a 600mm stool clearance seats two comfortably and frees the floor the table would have taken.
Numbers worth holding onto
- Counter height: set it to the person who actually cooks, usually 850–900mm.
- Wall cabinet clearance: 450–500mm above the counter, or you cannot use the surface.
- Work triangle: sink, hob and fridge legs adding up to between 4m and 7m.
- Chimney height: 650–750mm above the hob, per the manufacturer's specification.
Written by
Canvas & Brick Interiors
We design, manufacture and install interiors in Kolkata from our own workshop in Rajarhat — a family timber business since 1974. Everything here is what we tell clients across the table.
