How to best use the space in our small kitchen

last year

last modified: last year

I was blown away by the wealth of ideas and suggestions on my recent post about flooring, and several commenters gave helpful thoughts about our kitchen design as well. I read the kitchen design FAQs and here is the requested info:

Who lives here: two parents in late 40s and two teens

Goals: more counter space for baking and if possible a small seating area for 1-2 people

Kitchen workers: sometimes two people baking together, all other times one person cleaning or cooking

Do we cook: nothing fancy but yes, basic meals like pasta, tacos, burgers

How do we see kitchen being used: cooking and cleaning but would love some way for one person to sit down while another works (ie a small peninsula?). We end up with one person working in the kitchen and another leaning against the cabinets so the two can talk. Would like to better accommodate that situation, and also the situation where one person cooks their own meal and eats alone. Could a very small peninsula work with this small space?

Entertain a lot: some, but when we do we have a big backyard we use

We do not expect to make this kitchen a big hang out place. The large adjacent family/dining area serves this purpose.

We don’t want to open the space and we are open to closing the pass through

We are flexible on location of all appliances as well as the sink. We want a range instead of the wall oven. Smaller is fine. We will probably switch to a counter depth fridge. We have and are used to a 24 in dishwasher. We can move plumbing and gas and want to fill in the side door.

On a daily basis we use the toaster oven AND traditional toaster, AND microwave! Fine with microwave drawer. Would like to hide but have access to the toaster and toaster oven if possible. Other small appliances all get stored away and pulled out from time to time.

This kitchen is falling apart and we’re gearing up to replace everything. There really isn’t quite enough counter space. We are planning to close the little side door as we don’t need it. I agree It should be replaced with a window, although the view is unfortunately a dilapidated fence.

Can you see any way to get a small bit of seating? It can be one or two stools that are usually tucked away. I know it will never be a huge seating space given these dimensions. One area to consider using is the blank wall opposite the kitchen. Several neighbors have turned it into a pantry wall. Our archway is unique to our house and might interfere with doing that. We are open to some structural changes and the budget allows for it.

I am technologically challenged but i have sketched the dimensions. Im also attaching plans that were done three years ago that we don’t want to use because you lose too much kitchen and need posts (this is the original back wall of the house). Note that these plans involved eliminating the arch and pulling an island slightly into the current walkway. Other photos show the full layout.

I hope I have provided enough info and would love any suggestions. We’re hiring a designer but the power of many suggestions from different perspectives is so helpful!!

Thank you!!

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Comments (7)

Katie Parker
Original Author
last year
I guess I cannot edit this to get the typo in the title-ugh! Here’s a couple more photos. There’s a living room on your right as you enter the house, then the kitchen, which does have a blank wall on your left available to potentially be used but whatever is done is visible from the front door. You go past the kitchen through the arch to the family/dining area.
tangerinedoor
last year
Houzz has a lot of articles and photos for small kitchens. Many are spectacular. I would pore over those to figure out what will work for you.
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We have a pantry with strong fixed shelves. I didn't want adjustable shelves because I don't think they are as strong, and honestly, I generally set my shelves once and then never ever adjust them. What we did was figure out what we would store in there, and then make the shelf heights fit. For instance, we keep large cereal boxes in there, so we made a shelf that would accommodate those. We made lots of space between the top shelf and the ceiling so we could stack things that are seldom used up there, like big plastic bowls I use for chips etc. when we have outdoor parties in the summer. On the other side, we made a shelf that is more of a table. We keep an extra microwave here. My husband insisted that he wanted a second microwave because there are times when you want to warm something up in one and cook something in another at the same time. I refused to have a second microwave in my kitchen, so we put it in the pantry. We don't use it often, but we do occassionally use it, and it has come in handy at parties, etc. We have a large space under that shelf for bulk items, like giant packs of papers towels from Costco, etc. Over that shelf, we have hooks for hanging barbecue tools, some other tools that are a bit too big for keeping in the kitchen drawers. I also keep small appliances that I don't use often, like my crockpot, etc. on the shelves, paper goods, etc. Things that I don't use all the time, but I want easily accessible when it is time to use them. I have a swinging door into my pantry. It has a handle so I can either push it in, or pull it out, depending on what I am carrying etc. And the hinge has what my KD called a positive stop, so I can push it open, or pull it open, and it will stay open. It is perfect. I also have a window in my pantry, which is a nice feature, I think. I don't always have to turn the light on, I can just dash in and out. I have never taken pictures of the inside of my pantry. I'll have to do that one of these days.
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I definitely appreciate everybody's input and advice, so, thought I'd come back and give you all a little update. There are some issues with changing the layout, specifically moving the range to the interior wall. The venting is going to be problematic, because of location of the garage doors and also some HVAC equipment in the path. Would involve a rather long, inefficient run with multiple turns to avoid these things. HVAC guy basically said, Please don't move it there. Not only that, but the small wall that Karenseb suggested to remove - is part of a larger load-bearing wall. I have a healthy mid-range kitchen budget but these changes could be a real budget buster. Especially as we don't know what other surprises are lurking once demo begins. With that in mind, and my husband's wish to have the range and hood as a focal point centered between the windows, aesthetically nicer than staring at a fridge from the island seating, as well as simpler ventilation, any other suggestions? Should we keep dishwasher to the right as it is now? I plan to move the sink further down the run, ending at the right end of window instead of centered, to increase counter space on right side of range. For the few times a year I would cook a large spread of food for entertaining, I do have a butcher block island on wheels that can be rolled over to serve as surplus counter. Plus the big island directly behind. Other changes - we are leaning towards forgetting the separate oven and going with the aga range (plus my trusty Breville smart oven). I think then we would just make the beverage center section all countertop, space for Breville, and center the bar sink on that run. I asked my kitchen designer to draw up an L shaped window seat, into the alcove, maybe shelves or small upper above. As we can have lots of pantry space, with affordable shelving instead of cabinets, in the current hallway/future walk through pantry.
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PRO
JAN MOYER
last year
last modified: last year
This is what the KD is for. I will hope that is what you have, and not a cabinet sales person. You need to consider any changes in conjunction with your flooring.

You have two "living" spaces. You don't show both on the abandoned plan. Can you access more space? Who knows?

Bottom line? Nobody here is going to help. You need the designer on your site, with a very good contractor. You need a clear idea of your budget.

A thousand suggestions here, will not be helpful, beyond closing a door and creating a u shaped kitchen in the same space.
PRO
User
last year
Hire a kitchen designer. I work with one who does freelance for several companies, and for individuals. She has been an invaluable part of my team, even if we mostly interact via Zoom. She runs a couple of industry groups on FB, and is involved in the NKBA, so I don’t know if she’d even have time to take on more. Asking a busy person to take on more usually is better than asking one who isn’t busy.
cpartist
last year
You need a KD as mentioned. The second plan from 3 years ago is just poor. A KD will in the long run save you time and money.
Katie Parker
Original Author
last year
It’s amazing what you don’t know when you spend almost two decades ignoring the house you live in! :) I have an interior designer and will start looking for a kitchen designer. We start interviewing contractors tomorrow, and I have more questions to ask. Ultimately it’s a blessing that covid delayed this project. We had hired a contractor based on the fact that he did several projects on our street and he did those plans quickly and now I see how it’s not thought through. (This contractor did do the hall bath for us in 2020 and it turned out okay but I didn’t like multiple things about the process)
mjlb
last year
last modified: last year
Katie Parker - I hadn't seen your earlier post on flooring, but now that I have - a few comments:
- closing the wall opening in kitchen would seem to help with tv placement in the family room
- closing in the side door opening is a good idea, but you could consider replacing with a window with a textured glass that would hide the not so attractive view
- you have a vaulted ceiling in the family room, so possibly you could vault the kitchen ceiling as well, and perhaps add skylights for more daylighting.
- the arch into the family room adds architectural interest, and goes well with existing flooring, but it feels like there should be a matching arch in the living room (assuming you keep the existing general layout).
- the house has some real charm, so I'd develop floor plans (furniture layout and kitchen design) all at once to maximize its potential.
- ETA: I don't think you'll have any problem getting everything you want in the kitchen - it's not a big list. Getting rid of wall oven and side door will add maybe 6-ft of counter space.

How to best use the space in our small kitchen

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Katie Parker
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tangerinedoor

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How to best use the space in our small kitchen

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Katie Parker
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