The kitchen work triangle
The oldest rule in kitchen design survives because it works: sink, stove, refrigerator form a triangle, and the triangle decides how the kitchen feels to cook in.
The numbers
Each leg should be roughly 1.2–2.3 meters, with the total perimeter between 4 and 8 meters. Too small and the kitchen feels cramped; too large and every meal is a marathon. Nothing — no island, no trash bin — should block the paths between the three points.
Frequently asked questions
Does it still matter with islands?
Yes, adapt it: the island can host the sink, and then the triangle re-forms around it. The rule is not the geometry, it is the unobstructed flow between the three stations.