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Kitchen guide

Kitchen interior design AI checked against planning clearances

Kitchen interior design AI for real photos. Test layout and style ideas against NKBA work-triangle and clearance guidelines before ordering cabinets.

Run the product path

Test a kitchen-specific direction below

Upload the full kitchen wall, choose Interior mode, and note which wall holds the sink, range, or island so the prompt begins from your actual layout, not just the style.

One device can create one 1K public kitchen preview without signing in after actively agreeing to share the original and result. Private kitchen redesigns and refinements use one credit each.

How to test a kitchen redesign here

01

Photograph the full kitchen

Capture the whole run of cabinets, the sink wall, and any island from a corner so the tool and you can both judge scale and clearance, not just color.

02

Pick Interior mode and a kitchen-friendly style

Farmhouse and mid-century both have dedicated kitchen sample directions on this site if you want a tested starting point instead of a blank style choice.

03

State what must not move

Plumbing, gas lines, and structural walls are expensive to relocate. Tell the tool which wall holds the sink and range before generating a layout idea.

04

Check the result against the clearance numbers below

A visually striking island is not useful if it violates the walkway or work-triangle guidance in the next section. Screen every direction against real numbers before costing it out.

The work triangle, in real numbers

NKBA planning guidance describes the work triangle between the sink, cooking surface, and refrigerator. It recommends legs of 4 to 9 feet, no more than 26 feet in total, no island or peninsula blocking a leg by more than 12 inches, and no major traffic route crossing the triangle. These are professional planning recommendations rather than a legal pass/fail test. An AI-generated layout that ignores them is still only a visual idea.

Aisle, walkway, and doorway clearance

The same guidelines call for at least 36 inches of walkway width throughout the kitchen, 42 inches of clear work aisle for a single cook, and 48 inches where two people cook at once. A kitchen doorway should clear at least 32 inches. Use these numbers to sanity-check any AI layout that narrows an aisle to fit more cabinetry or a bigger island, especially around a peninsula or a run of tall pantry cabinets.

Landing area next to the sink and refrigerator

Guidance commonly calls for continuous countertop next to the sink, often cited as roughly 24 inches on one side and 18 inches on the other, plus at least 15 inches of landing space beside or above an undercounter refrigerator. These are the details a style-only render tends to skip and the ones a contractor checks first.

Where AI kitchen concepting stops and code takes over

AI can suggest cabinet color, counter material, backsplash, lighting, and a layout hypothesis. It cannot confirm electrical circuit counts, gas line routing, ventilation requirements, load-bearing wall removal, or local permit rules. Confirm every structural or utility change against current code and your local permit office before ordering cabinets or hiring a contractor.

Cosmetic refresh vs. cabinet reface vs. full renovation

The comparison below shows how a same-footprint refresh, a reface-and-counter update, and a full gut renovation differ in scope and typical timeline, and where AI concepting is actually useful versus where a licensed kitchen designer needs to be involved from day one.

Quick answers

Can the AI check whether my kitchen island fits?

No. It can show what an island might look like, but only the clearance numbers above, such as 36-inch walkways and 42 to 48-inch aisles, tell you whether it actually fits. Measure the room and compare before ordering anything.

Does this replace a kitchen designer?

No. It is a way to generate and compare visual directions cheaply before that conversation happens. A kitchen designer or contractor is still required to confirm plumbing, electrical, structural, and code details.

What room type should I choose for a kitchen redesign?

Pick Interior mode and describe the room as a kitchen in your note. Farmhouse and mid-century kitchen samples on this site are already tuned for this room type if you want a starting style.

Is 26 feet a hard legal limit for the work triangle?

No. It is an NKBA planning guideline, not a building code requirement by itself. Local code, including the 2024 IRC provisions NKBA aligns with, still governs egress, electrical, and structural rules separately.

What if I want to move the sink, range, or refrigerator?

That is a plumbing, gas, and often electrical change, not a style change. Get a licensed contractor's confirmation before treating any AI layout that relocates these as a real plan, no matter how convincing the render looks.

Can I try it without paying first?

Yes. One device can create one 1K watermarked preview without signing in after you actively agree that both the original room photo and result may appear in Recent. Private work uses one-time credit packs.

Is this a final design plan?

No. Treat the output as a visual direction for comparison. Confirm measurements, safety, building rules, and purchases with a designer, contractor, supplier, or local professional.

Compare the options

Cosmetic refresh vs. cabinet reface vs. full renovation

AI concepting is most useful in the first two rows, where cabinets, counters, and finishes change but the plumbing and structure do not. The third row still benefits from a visual direction, but the layout itself needs a licensed professional, not a render, before anyone picks up a hammer.

Approach What changes Typical cost signal Typical timeline signal Where AI concepting helps
Cosmetic refresh Cabinet color, hardware, backsplash, lighting fixtures Lowest material cost band Days Testing color and hardware before buying paint or fixtures
Cabinet reface + new counters Cabinet doors and fronts, countertop material, sink Mid material cost band, no wall moves 1 to 3 weeks typical Comparing counter and door-style combinations before ordering
Full gut renovation Layout, plumbing, electrical, structural walls Highest cost band Multiple weeks to months Early mood-boarding only; a licensed pro must verify the layout

Cost and timeline are general signals, not quotes, and vary by market, kitchen size, and material choice. None of the three rows substitute for a licensed contractor's confirmation once plumbing, gas, or structural walls are on the table.

Clearance figures on this page come from the NKBA Kitchen Planning Guidelines. NKBA has since published a fifth edition updated alongside the 2024 IRC; always confirm the current edition and local requirements with a qualified professional.