Cooking Together: Kitchens for Two Cooks

The classic work triangle assumes a single cook. With two people the paths cross at the sink and the hob, which is exactly where hot pans and sharp knives are. The answer is zones rather than one optimised loop.

You rarely need a second hob. What you need is a second prep area with its own worktop run and, ideally, access to water. A prep sink in the island solves most two-cook conflicts on its own.

A 900mm gap works for one person and fails for two. Where two cooks are a daily reality we plan 1200mm minimum between opposing runs, and more where a dishwasher or oven door opens into the route.

Duplicating the everyday items, knives, boards, oils and bins, so each zone has its own, removes more friction than any layout change. It is the cheapest two-cook upgrade there is.