Gaining Storage In The Small Kitchen
Think Your Kitchen Is Too Small For Great Storage?
Over the years, our firm has worked on too many kitchen projects to count. We’ve had the pleasure to help our clients create their dream kitchens in new construction, large remodeling projects, moderate kitchen updates, and the kitchens near and dear to our hearts….the small kitchen.
The size of a kitchen is such a personal choice. Our kitchen has 5 cabinets, yes you read this correctly. Laurel’s kitchen has 100% more storage than ours with a whopping 9 cabinets. If you know her, you are not surprised. One of the many things we have in common, is that we see spaces differently from others. There is yet to be a space we have not been able to make function at its best. We are also extremely motivated when designing kitchens with space challenges!
Turn Around And Find New Storage
Take a look at the position of these wall cabinets. To turn simple wall cabinets the opposite way, and have them come to the counter, is a favorite way to add some design-savvy space. We have used this design so many times, especially in bathrooms where we can gain mega storage and have room for a sink and mirror all in a few feet of real estate. Do you see the door casement to the left in the photo above?
Look Up For More Kitchen Storage
Be still my heart! Can you believe how wonderful this design is using standard depth wall cabinets to frame the doorway to the family room?! Talk about good-looking storage. Look again, in a space that is probably no greater than 7′ wide, we have all the daily dishes and entertaining service housed so beautifully. Did you catch the silverware in the wall containers? Too cool.
Using Unexpected Space For Storage
Ok, if I told you to start with this was an eat-in kitchen, you’d never have believed me. In a kitchen that is this narrow? Looks like some pretty special moments are made at this drop leaf table with more charming, decorative wall storage above. But hands down is an innovative way to use a second doorway in this tiny space. Laurel has created a built-in refrigerator under a staircase in one of her homes, but this one intrigues me even more. Wonder what ingenious storage is on the other side of this door?
The Best Way To Gain Storage In A Small Space
Plan the Work and Work the Plan
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In addition to having fantastic storage ideas worked into the planning of this small kitchen, we also see a well-thought-out decor. The right color palette is essential in a small space. What we see on Instagram and Pinterest may not work for the space we call our own. Would you have automatically thought to use these cool blue walls and trim and black cabinets? Maybe, maybe not. And probably a simple, yet absolutely perfect, classic checkerboard floor would have never crossed your mind with all the faux wood plank and patterned cement tiles flooding the market right now.
Subtle point is that using the right design team can open your eyes to new ideas that are customized to your home and budget. Yes, you will pay some design fees, but what you will gain is worth so much more than the price. What you might save…well it can be substantial. Did you see the post a few weeks ago, How One Family Saved $70K Using A Design Team For Their Kitchen Renovation?
Hi, I love the wall cabinets facing the opposite way – I’ve never seen that done before! Lxx
Designer’s have so many tricks!
Talk about using your noggin’ to make these areas work so well!! It’s like going into the IKEA store, and seeing how they transform a 500 foot place…
XOXO
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
Years ago(like 20!)a client was dismayed we suggested Ikea products. She thought they were cheap. However, now she is the first to send me a note when something new pops up at Ikea and always reminds repeats what I told her…price has very little to do with good design!
I love this design. I never would have thought to use the cabinets in this way. An excellent way for more storage. I have a question for you, have you ever hear of a “dirty kitchen” sort of like a smaller kitchen/butlers pantry attached to the bigger kitchen with a cooktop, etc for the messy work?
Yes, we design this type of kitchen often. It is used a lot in more contemporary designs now but originated in colonial times as an extension of a true “summer” kitchen that was outside to keep the heat from cooking out of the house. Then when kitchens moved indoors, only the “help” would use them. Modern day we plan on them for many reasons, breakfast areas, to go pantry’s, auxiliary areas with appliances and yes to keep the “mess” elsewhere. Our recent post where we helped a young family keep their “secondary” section of the kitchen in an older home saved them lots of $ and the space functions so much better than a single, open kitchen.
How enlightening. Thanks for sharing! 👀🍃
We love small spaces!