You spend more time in your kitchen than you think. Not just cooking, but leaning into the lower cabinets for that baking dish you use twice a year, twisting to grab a mug from the far corner of the upper shelf, and bending at an awkward angle to pull the heavy cast iron skillet from the base cabinet. Each micro movement takes its toll. Kitchen ergonomics is not a luxury for people with sprawling layouts. It is a survival skill for anyone who has to cook dinner after a long workday. Your body is telling you something when your lower back aches after chopping vegetables or your shoulder stiffens after reaching for the olive oil. Listen to it.

The real problem is that most apartment kitchens were designed by people who never cooked a full meal. Look at standard counter depths. They are usually 60 centimeters. But then you add the sink or a stove, and suddenly you are leaning forward to avoid hitting your head on the upper cabinets every time you wash a pan.