Designing a Kitchen Using Available Space

by Alden Smith

Many young couples when first starting out cannot afford to knock out walls or do a new build to renovate a kitchen badly in need of refurbishing. Budget constraints can often hamper the simplest projects. Whatever the circumstances, there are times when you must make do with what is available.

Not every kitchen renovation is as simple as knocking out walls or adding a new room to the house. People are often restrained by the size of their property, or live in a building where a full renovation is not possible. They may live in a downtown apartment, or be constrained by the infrastructure of the building they live in. When this happens, people are often at a loss as to what to do about a dingy, outdated kitchen. The focus of this article will be on renovating a kitchen and using the available space.

Types Of Kitchens

There are as many different types of kitchens as there are homes. Buy a home built by an older couple and you will often see a tiny, efficient kitchen. People with large families often have a larger kitchen. Today, with the advent of the woman who works outside the home, a balance needs to be made between efficiency and convenience. Whatever the circumstance, if you inherit this kitchen, and are not happy with it, then a change needs to be made.

The Different Sizes

You may live in a home with a mini, midsize or full kitchen. Each of these can be designed to help you build a kitchen you can be happy with. Let's look at each.

1. The mini kitchen is perfect for a couple without
   children or a career person. You can do a lot with a
   kitchen this size. On the market today are many highly
   efficient and compact appliances that fit the needs
   of this population. These also have the advantage of
   being very energy efficient.
2. If you cannot open the kitchen up by moving a wall or
   replacing a closet, consider adding a skylight to give
   the visual effect of more space. You can enlarge
   existing windows or even break through an interior
   wall to expand.
3. A mid-sized kitchen offers convenience and a gathering
   place for the family. Many homes have these. To make
   the best use of space, try opening up the kitchen to an
   adjoining room. You should make long countertops that
   are not broken up by appliances. Place these at the
   ends. Consider a cooking island to increase countertop
   space and food prep area. Keep colors and patterns light
   to maximize visual space. If the kitchen opens into an
   adjoining room, try to match the décor to give the effect
   of greater area.
4. Today, a trend in newer homes is towards a larger
   kitchen, where family can gather and a couple shares
   cooking duties. These kitchens are often used for
   entertaining, where several couples can join in and
   create meals. The good thing about kitchens of this
   size is that two sinks or ranges can be installed
   along with an island for either food prep or stove
   top cooking. A snack bar or breakfast nook fits in
   well here. There is also the opportunity for more
   design and decorating features in a kitchen of this size.

What To Consider

A project of this magnitude is almost always constrained by budget. You can really spruce up a kitchen with refinishing older cabinetry and adding new flooring. Cork floors are very nice in a kitchen, and the key word for them is durability. There are cork floors in use today that were installed in 1890.

Terracotta and porcelain tiles work well in a kitchen, and taking a little extra effort in choosing color and pattern can quickly change how the kitchen looks. Designers will lay out these floors with a natural lead in to other rooms, and the size of the kitchen will seem to be increased.

The use of appropriate colors in decorating can also go a long way in making a kitchen seem larger than it really is. Using open shelving and displaying colorful plates or teapots brings space into a room. The utilization of carefully planned cabinetry helps a lot here. Try installing rollouts that the cupboard door is attached to for space saving ideas. Install things such as microwaves, spice racks and can openers under the cabinets to increase counter space.

Don't despair if you have a small kitchen and feel you need more room. On the market today are kitchen plans, such as Scavolini that combines both efficiency and space saving dimensions to any kitchen. Use your creativity and imagination to get the kind of kitchen you wish, regardless of its size.

Alden Smith is an award winning author and regular contributor to DoItYourself.com. He writes on a variety of subjects, and excels in research.

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