Are You Still Using the Kitchen Work Triangle—and Should You Be?

Welcome back to Home Design Chat with Nancy—the podcast where we talk about smart, functional, and beautiful design for your home.

Today is January 12th. Last week, my guest was Kirk Bianchi, a landscape design expert. He’ll be joining me again in a few weeks to answer your backyard design questions, so feel free to send those in.

Today’s topic is one that continues to spark debate in the design world: the kitchen work triangle. Some designers are quick to say that the work triangle is outdated and no longer relevant for 2026 and beyond. This conversation has been ongoing for years, and it’s one I’ve been part of for a long time as kitchens—and the way we use them—have evolved.

Before talking about what may replace the work triangle, I want to step back and talk about where it came from. Most people I speak with have heard of the kitchen work triangle, but few know when, why, and how it originated. That curiosity sent me down a bit of a research rabbit hole.

In this episode, you’ll learn when and where the kitchen work triangle began, whose idea it was, and why it became such a foundational concept in kitchen design—as well as how it’s being reinterpreted today.

During the podcast, I mentioned that I would share a link about Lillian Gilbreth, whose work had a profound influence on modern kitchen design.   I was truly impressed by her accomplishments and her life, which is why I spent some time discussing her contributions. 

I also revisit zone-based kitchen layouts. I’ve talked about kitchen zones in previous episodes, but these concepts are worth repeating, especially as they continue to shape how we design kitchens today.

I hope you enjoyed today’s podcast. If you did, please subscribe on your preferred listening platform so you never miss an episode.

I currently have availability in February for kitchen and bathroom design projects. You can email me anytime at Nancy@NancyHugo.com—I’d love to hear from you.

And finally, visit DesignersCircleHQ.com, a website I started 18 years ago. It covers everything related to design and features updated podcasts, design trends, design news, and more. The site is updated every other week. 

Thanks for listening, and I’ll see you next time on Home Design Chat with Nancy.

If you want to learn more about me, go to NancyHugo.com 

This podcast is sponsored by ⁠⁠Monogram.com