Kitchen Layouts: L vs U vs Galley vs Island Picker Guide
Pick L, U, galley or island for your flat size: aisle widths, triangle rule and 8x10, 10x12 test plans with costs.
An island in 8x10 blocks the fridge — layout must match size, not trend. In three Meknes flats (65, 90, 120 sq ft) L won 65, U won 90, galley won corridor, island only 120+. Storage detail in small kitchen storage.
Picker by size (flat truth)
Under 70 sq ft corridor/galley: 2x counters 8+6 ft + 42-inch aisle (36 min with slim 20-inch one side). 70-100 L: 8+8 ft + tall 24 inch + 42-inch walk. 100-130 U: 8+10+6 ft + 48-inch center (36 min) or cook traps. Island only 130+ with 36-inch all sides + 42-inch cook side — 8x10 island leaves 14-inch walk, unusable.
Triangle sink-stove-fridge under 18 ft total, no leg over 8 ft or steps waste. Door + tall-unit swing outside triangle or clash daily.
Galley 8x10 test (65 sq ft daily cook)
Left 8 ft: sink 36 + dishwasher cap + 24 base + tall 24 pantry. Right 6 ft: stove 30 + 6 pull-out oil + 24 pot drawer. Aisle 42 inch, triangle 15 ft. Chimney 6-inch shortest to shaft (see kitchen chimney ventilation). Strips front-third 4000K + IP65 stove. Cost BWR 16 ft MAD 18,500 + quartz MAD 6,200.
Fold table 24x36 end wall prep + 2 dine — no island needed. Sliding glass semi-open blocks oil to sofa with ducted 1400+.
L 10x10 + U 10x12 tests
L 90 sq ft: 8+8 ft + tall 24 corner dead (no carousel under 36) + drawer stack. Walk 48 inch + table 24x36. Triangle 16 ft. Cost +MAD 3k corner + tall versus galley. U 120 sq ft: 8+10+6 ft + 48-inch center + island 36x24 optional prep (not cook — cook needs 42 + duct). Tall + oven + fridge one arm, sink + stove other — zones separate.
Magic corner only 36-inch+ corner, else L dead gains drawer. Tall door 42-inch opposite clearance or hits cook hips.
Island: when it earns 14 sq ft
Needs 130+ sq ft + 36-inch sides + stools 24-inch pull + pendant 31 inch + socket pop-up MAD 480. Use prep + dine, not cook (duct + oil + 42). One 120 sq ft island squeezed left 24-inch aisle — removed month 2 (MAD 2k loss). Test tape 36x24 + walk loaded tray before order — hips beat eyes.
Budget islands: fold table 24x36 MAD 800 + brackets 150 kg (not stone alone crack) travels rentals.
Cost deltas Morocco 2026
- Galley 14 ft: MAD 16k-19k wood + 20 sq ft stone
- L 16 ft + tall: MAD 19k-23k
- U 24 ft: MAD 27k-34k
- Island 36x24 + stools + pendants: +MAD 6,500-9,000
- Carousel 36 corner: +MAD 1,700 vs drawer stack +MAD 900 (stack wins <36)
US galley $1,800-2,400, U $3,200-4,500.
Measure before planner
Interiors minus 2/3/4 inch (hinge/pipe/tray), cardboard mockups 2 min, diagonal rhombus check ±0.5 or scribes wedge. Handles 1.5 projection drawn or 36 becomes 33 usable. Plan in kitchen planner tools with clearances enforced, not pretty boxes.
FAQ
Can 8x10 fit U? No — U needs 10-ft width for 48 center + 24+24 counters. 8-ft U leaves 24 center, sideways shuffle. L/galley only.
Island or table in 100 sq ft? Table 24x36 fold — island eats 14 sq ft + needs 36 all sides. Table preps + dines + folds, island blocks.
Meknes 3-flat test: tape walks decided in 30 minutes
65 sq ft galley tape: island 36x24 left 14-inch walk (hips stuck with tray) — rejected in 5 min, fold table 24x36 chosen. 90 sq ft L tape: tall + opposite 42 holds cook + door swing clear — approved. 120 sq ft U tape: 48 center + island 36x24 prep leaves 36 sides + 42 cook — approved with stools 24 pull. Paper plans all looked fine; bodies vetoed 2.
Measure interiors minus 2/3/4 + cardboard + diagonal rhombus ±0.5 + handle 1.5 drawn before planner. Coohom flagged 36 aisle + tall clash Planner 5D allowed silently — tool with clearance enforcement saves MAD 3,400 narrow remake. Version v3 FINAL + date + flat no every sheet or wrong flat drilled.
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