Small kitchen design tips
February 17, 2009
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Tara Dalla-Nora
SPECIAL TO YOURHOME.CA
The kitchen is probably one of the most challenging rooms to design. The aesthetics and the function of the space are equally important, more so than any other room in the home.
For those of us living close to Toronto, city homes are usually smaller spaces, making them even more difficult to design.
My favourite kitchen project was perhaps the smallest space that I had worked with, but my open-minded clients and the design challenge made the project fun and interesting.
Here are some things to remember when designing for a smaller kitchen:
— Work backwards. Decide what type of storage you will need, for example for dishes, wine rack, compost bin, etc. Create the storage to fit your specific needs.
— All space is usable space. It is often a good idea to build taller upper cabinets when you’re working with a small space. Building upwards can give you more storage space without cutting into your square footage.
— The kitchen is usually the main area to congregate with family and friends when entertaining. If there is no space for a kitchen table, a breakfast bar or kitchen island is the perfect place to tuck stools for when you need extra seating.
— Materials and colours are very important decisions in a small space, for example in the backsplash, flooring and countertop. This is what will make your kitchen unique, regardless of size.
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The kitchen before the redesign.
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— Kitchen cabinets, especially if they are extended to the ceiling, will look more light and spacious if you choose a lighter colour.
— Use opaque materials, such as frosted glass inserts in your cupboard doors and/or open shelving, to help make the kitchen feel lighter and the space appear larger.
— Make sure you have enough circulation space in your kitchen so you can comfortably manoeuvre. Opening cupboard doors, dishwasher doors, etc., would require a three-feet minimum, but four to five feet would be even better if you can spare the room.
Consider that there is often more than one person in the kitchen at a time, so figure out if there is enough room for two people to pass each other and work comfortably in the kitchen together.
— Counter space is sometimes overlooked. Designate spots on your plan where you anticipate you will be preparing food and placing your microwave, coffee maker, etc. Counter space can be quickly eaten up by large appliances, sometimes leaving us with no room to perform our kitchen duties.
Hopefully these tips will help you to design a kitchen that is both functional and appealing to look at. Detailed planning is worth the extra time and effort when it results in a space that you are happy with.
Tara Dalla-Nora has a B.A. in interior design and is the owner and principal designer of Inner Luxe in Toronto’s Bloor West Village.
For more kitchen inspiration, check out Colin and Justin's room makeovers, including a Swedish-style kitchen and a glam kitchen update.