To be filed under Bigger Is Not Always Better: Recently we’ve noticed a slew of tiny kitchens that are reinvigorating the concept of the kitchenette—so much so that we’re calling it a trend for fall 2017.
“I find many kitchens too big for the size of the apartment,” says Karin Montgomery Spath, a New Zealand–based designer with a penchant for taking on the smallest of small-space projects.
“These are big space wasters in a kitchenette,” Spath says.
1. Resist the urge to install an island.
Photograph by Matthew Williams.
Spath installed an artful and fully-functional kitchenette in an above-garage apartment, complete with a Corian counter and stainless steel sink. See Small-Space Living: An Airy Studio Apartment in a Garage for more.
2. Build in everyday necessities.
“Just under the countertop, on either one side of the sink or both, have pullout chopping boards,” Spath says. There’s no need to buy and store cutting boards—and they’re always at the ready.
Photograph by Matthew Williams.
When it comes to kitchenettes, practice smart storage: In the same garage apartment, low, built-in storage cupboards conceal tableware and food items (and don’t clutter the kitchen).
3. Enlist multitaskers.
Spath suggests sourcing a combination oven/microwave to serve double duty (and save space).
4. Weed out the pantry.
“Challenge how much food you really need to store. Do you need all of those packets of dried goods?”
Photograph by James Newman.
Peg boards are multifunctional and offer endless storage possibilities.
“Knives and utensils can be stored on the wall,” Spath says.
5. Make use of wall space.
6. Rethink the stovetop.
How often do you really use all four burners on your stove?
Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.
Doing dishes by hand is made easier when you have the right tools.
8. Remember these numbers: 9 by 15.
When it comes to sinks, Spath keeps in mind the ideal ratio: “A small sink 25 centimeters wide by 40 centimeters deep [about 9 by 15 inches] will fit an oversized dish for washing and is all one needs for washing dishes,” Spath says.
Photograph by Matthew Williams for Remodelista.
Be honest about the number of dishes you need: Don’t overbuy.
9. Find the ideal dishes—but be honest about how many you need.
Be judicious with your dishware.
For really small spaces, Spath suggests finding “bowls that double as dinner plates, soup plates, and cereal bowls, and glasses that double as wine, beer, and water glasses..” And don’t be tempted to overbuy in case someday you have a big dinner party: “How many people, at most, are you likely to entertain?” Spath says.
Most refrigerators are the size of a small car—and maybe bigger than your new kitchenette.
10. Scale down the fridge.
Spath demo-ed the larger, U-shaped kitchen in this Auckland studio apartment and installed a scaled-back but dramatic black kitchenette, gold backsplash included.
Photograph by Matthew Williams.
11. Omit one-use appliances.
“Take a good look through all of your kitchen appliances and cull down to get only those that you use on a weekly basis,” Spath says.