Make the Most of Your Small Kitchen
It’s currently winter here in New York, which means we’re spending a bit more time indoors. From our morning coffee to cozy evenings in front of the fireplace, we find ourselves going in and out of the kitchen a lot.
Having lived in apartments for most of our adult lives, we love the efficiency of a simple, modern kitchen. Carefully planned storage paired with a palette of beautiful finishes makes every day that much more enjoyable.
Whether your petite culinary space is your only option or you’re pondering a prep kitchen in your larger home, we have an abundance of ideas to share with you on the subject.
Small Kitchen Ideas
Technically a “small” kitchen is 70 square feet or less. We see a small kitchen as a kitchen where one person can comfortably cook and prep, but two people would have to maneuver around each other. Given our familiarity with functioning in similarly tight spaces — we are New Yorkers, after all — we know exactly how to make them a pleasure to be in.
As with any space in the home, our kitchen interior design projects begin with the layout and floor plan. This is particularly important in smaller spaces because there are only a few ways to lay out a space; the goal here is to set ourselves up for success. An ideal layout will accommodate our client’s needs while keeping their kitchen design feeling fresh, bright and open. This is a difficult balance, but one that we are adept at achieving.
Appliance selection for a compact kitchen needs to be done with care as there are only a handful of great appliance options that come in a small scale. Leibherr makes a great 24” counter depth, panel-ready refrigerator that our clients love. Counter depth is important because it means the appliance won’t protrude into the space. This kind of detail may go unnoticed when handled proactively, but it would drive many people crazy if they were constantly bumping into their refrigerator or maneuvering around it after install. When you engage our firm to design your kitchen, the only thing you’ll be wondering is, why did I wait so long to remodel this kitchen?
Next, we work out the use of space and storage allocation (more on that in just a bit), followed by lighting and design. Here is where we can have some by incorporating a fantastic floor tile, ceiling light fixture or even art, if there is wall space available. Plaster-look and concrete encaustic floor tiles offer a handcrafted feel as well as an array of color and patterns.
Another opportunity to add visual interest and achieve a high-end look in a small kitchen is with the backsplash. Keeping the countertop the same as the backsplash offers a cleaner look and can even create the illusion of more space.
When it comes to color, we are happy to embrace it. We want clients to know that even dark colors can work well in a small kitchen. The most important thing to be aware of is how colors are mixed; we are always very intentional with our selections so that we avoid the spaces looking cluttered or over-decorated.
Maximizing Your Kitchen’s Storage
When coming up with kitchen renovation ideas, we love to present innovative solutions. At trade shows, markets and kitchen showroom visits, we are always on the lookout for the latest and greatest design details. Our team can create a full set of drawings in-house or we can provide direction and design intent to one of our selected kitchen and cabinetry showrooms.
In a small space, basic cabinets simply won’t do. You need to be intentional about every square inch so everything fits comfortably and with purpose. We are constantly asking ourselves, how can we be more efficient with storage?
We use every part of the kitchen including toe kick areas, extra spaces at corners, maxing out cabinet heights, you name it. We compile a list of must-have small kitchen appliances — including blenders, coffee machines, baking stations, etc. — and allocate a space for each one. We do the same thing with trash and recycling. This way our clients have everything they need, easily accessible and the space doesn’t look or feel cluttered.
Space for Seating
If we have space for eating areas we typically make the most use of the square footage by sourcing custom banquettes and smaller dining tables. If we need to incorporate seating but don’t have space to spare, we’ve also designed eating areas by continuing the countertop and adding bar seating.
We always favor modern furniture lines, especially the soft seating. Most clients are comfortable with these tried and true shapes. They understand them and they fit into almost everyone’s style.
A kitchen remodel is the perfect opportunity to make the most of your small space. Working with a design firm who is intimately familiar with the trials and tribulations of small kitchen living adds a layer of convenience that actually enhances the overall style rather than taking away from it. If you’re over dealing with an inefficient kitchen design, we would love to create a beautiful, functional solution for you.
