Kitchen set

What is a modular kitchen and how does it differ from a kitchen set?

Content

Features and differences
Advantages and disadvantages
Varieties
Which one to choose?
Examples

Increasingly today, when arranging a kitchen, the buyer’s choice is in favor of a modular headset. What does this mean, how does it differ from ordinary kitchen, what are the advantages and disadvantages of this furniture? This material will tell about this.

Features and differences

A traditional kitchen set is nothing more than a set of furniture from wall and floor cabinets, while the latter, as a rule, are united by a single work surface. In fact, all the lower cabinets are fixed with one countertop. This furniture does not provide for embedding additional blocks or varying the arrangement. The headset is installed in accordance with its design.

This is a clear arrangement of drawers, specific places for washing, the desktop, embedding the stove and oven. Or it’s completely built-in furniture, which is made to order for specific measurements of the room. A modular kitchen is nothing more than a set of freestanding cabinets and tables. It is distinguished not only by the self-sufficiency of each element, but also the following features:

the choice of the number of modules at the request of the buyer;
selection of colors depending on the color scheme of the interior;
fitting the headset to the space allotted for it;
the creation of furniture of various types (ordinary, island, with a peninsula).

Modules are made in the same style and different colors. They may vary in size and height. Due to the wealth of choice, the buyer has the opportunity to create from them a kitchen of his own design. Blocks are typical units, with their help you can create a unique model of the kitchen. A modular kitchen can be made from any number of blocks.Such furniture can be bought as a ready-made set, or you can purchase the required number of modules yourself, taking into account your own kitchen.

In addition to boxes of identical size, you can choose modules with a height equal to the height of the lower and upper drawers + the distance between them. They make excellent headset modules, outwardly they look like tall cabinets, display cabinets.

Advantages and disadvantages

Modular kitchens have many advantages:

their cost is less than built-in and traditional counterparts, which significantly expands the circle of customers and allows you to update kitchen furniture from time to time;
they expand the possibilities in the choice of color solutions, so that you can effortlessly choose the option taking into account the color scheme of your kitchen;
differ in design variability, and therefore they can be selected for the interior in any style, from minimalism to a lounge or baroque;
allow you to choose the right number of modules, so they fit perfectly into the interior of the room of any size and shape;
using modular kitchens, you can visually change the perception of space, they can be elements of the zoning of the kitchen, introducing an unobtrusive organization into it.
the layout of the modules is allowed at the request of the buyer, which allows you to install them taking into account the communications, existing niches and shelves;
with modular kitchens there are more opportunities for the successful placement of the refrigerator, regardless of the area of the room;
they are made using modern technologies from different materials, including chipboard and MDF, due to this it is possible to reduce the cost.

Among other advantages, it is possible to note the possibility of installation in different rooms: apartments, private houses, gazebos and even change houses. A wide range of models allows you to equip even summer houses with this furniture. At the same time, the material of the facades allows their design with a self-adhesive film. This allows not only to update the set, but also to bring novelty and fresh look to the kitchen interior.

However, along with the pros, modular kitchens have several disadvantages:

the height of the modules is standard, because of which it is impossible to create a kitchen with a two-level table, which can be used both as a worker and as a bar;
despite the high functionality, when playing with communications, some modules can carry an exclusively decorative load;
the bottom drawers do not have a monolithic countertop, water and food residues can get into the gap between the tables during cooking;
if the floor is uneven, to create an even surface for all tables, you will have to tinker with each module installation, since it can tumble back, forward or sideways;
some models were not originally designed for continuous operation, they last only 5-7 years, after which you have to take a new headset;
updating individual blocks that have lost the aesthetics of their appearance is problematic, they will differ in color and accessories, as slightly different shades are observed in different batches.

Varieties

Brand-name modular kitchens may vary in appearance. Based on this, they are typical linear, angular and p-shaped. In the manner of execution, they can be single and double row. In the first case, these are models without hanging cabinets, in the second - kitchen sets consisting of hanging drawers and floor cabinets. You can understand how the linear, angular and p-type options differ in installation.

Linear modifications are nothing more than a set of modules installed in a row or a single line. In fact, this is a headset installed along one of the walls. They can be compact or large, but in such models all elements are exclusively straight.

Angular type analogs are distinguished by the presence of angular modules, which, by their purpose, are the connecting links of direct modules. In this case, not only the lower, but also the upper modules are angular.The rest of this type of headset is the installation of modules on 2 walls: more often than not one of them closes the headset completely, the other partially.

An exception is when such furniture is taken to organize the kitchen space in apartments or private houses with an open plan. Usually in such cases, the corner does not take up much space and looks great because it is surrounded by a bar or a compact dining table. Corner elements can be rectilinear or smooth curved.

U-shaped furniture is characterized by the presence of two upper and two lower corner elements of the headset. For the rest, it is called such because it is installed along the three sides of the kitchen. This type of installation is suitable if the area of the kitchen is large, and its shape tends to be rectangular.

Such furniture is not taken in a small-sized kitchen, because it essentially hides the space, leaving no room for free movement of households and their guests.

Which one to choose?

When the question of choice arises, the buyer often does not think about important nuances. Of course, the decisive criteria for the purchase are the available space and area of the kitchen itself. However, in addition to this, it is important to consider other aspects. For example, you need to build on the shape of the room itself. If it is small, it is better to equip it with a linear installation option. When there is enough space to place the modules on two walls, you can purchase a corner option.

At the same time, the remaining space in the corner opposite can be used for a lunch group. Depending on the shape of the room, it is necessary Do not forget about the rule of the working triangle.

It is important that the distance between the stove, refrigerator and sink is the same. This will greatly facilitate the work in the kitchen, contribute to creating a comfortable environment.

Even for a small kitchenette, you need to take furniture in such a way so that a distance of at least 0.9-1 m is maintained between the modules and the dining group.

Based on the assortment available in the store, you can choose different types of modular kitchens. For example, this may be an option. light top + dark bottom. The advantage of this type of furniture is the visual effect of increasing the height of the walls, which is especially good for rooms with a low ceiling. The upper drawers can have facades not only made of chipboard, but also glass (glossy or matte, with or without a pattern).

In addition to these colors on sale, you can find options dark top + light bottom, bright + white, light contrast, as well as modules of the same color. Their facades can be plain or decorated with a simple pattern. Modules can also be assembled according to the principle of color arrangement. For example, from boxes of contrasting colors to the main color of the modules, you can create an interesting design.

Choosing your option is necessary taking into account the lighting of the kitchen itself. Light shades ennoble the space, make the interior aesthetically attractive, do not create sharp borders of the room. Bright colors are appropriate where the kitchen itself is spacious and well-lit. Light furniture is better combined with a kitchen apron of different styles and colors.

For example, white is completely compatible with all the colors of the palette. Dark will draw all attention to itself, therefore it is better to take options with different top and bottom colors. For practical reasons, it is better that light cabinets are located at the top.