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If you have a tiny kitchen please come and talk to me!

46 replies

SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 10:41

Saw a property yesterday I would like to offer on.

The kitchen is tiny weeny, which doesn't massively bother me, but I'm just trying to think practically in terms of storage etc. I've attached the floorplan for a better feel of it. Any creative suggestions welcome!

If you have a tiny kitchen please come and talk to me!
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DisplayPurposesOnly · 24/03/2024 10:54

How do the people that currently live there do it? What other space is there, eg, utility? Need the full floor plan really but assume you'd have cupboards in the 'kitchen/reception room'.

My parents had a similar sized (but differently shaped) kitchen with an adjacent tiny room/large larder. Fridge, all food and pans went in the larder - loved that larder. Kitchen had drinks, crockery and cutlery. Washing machine was in downstairs loo.

YireosDodeAver · 24/03/2024 10:55

I wouldn't buy a place like that myself. That kind of place is intended for the lifestyle of someone who never really cooks and only needs a kitchen for an occasional post-hangover fryup, getting all evening meals either at restaurants or takeaways.

We bought a house with a narrow galley-kitchen about twice that size and we remodelled the house to make a large kitchen-diner, but there was room for a separate sitting room elsewhere. As you have only posted a smsll section of floorplan I can't see if that would be feasible but I suspect not.

TizerorFizz · 24/03/2024 10:56

That’s a kitchen corner with quite a decent sized lounge. Is the hall leading to a door? Or bedrooms? It might help to see the whole plan. I’d be inclined to make the kitchen extend into the lounge - can the wall at the end of the kitchen be removed to allow free flow and more space? If not, storage in the lounge but this kitchen is indeed tiny!

BaronessBomburst · 24/03/2024 10:59

Is that a hob, with cupboard underneath and access to the corner, or an oven? Do you access the corner via the sink cupboard?

SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 10:59

At the moment it's a lady and her child and she's moving to get more space. I'd be buying alone so just me.

Her fridge freezer currently sits where my excellent drawing of a red splodge is. I'd do the same, and put a slim table and chairs next to it. Knocking out that wall could be an option to give a little more flow and maybe add a few more cabinets so thanks for that idea!

I enjoyed cooking but 9 times out of 10 I'm cooking for just me so don't need the biggest amount of space.

The hall leads to the bathroom and bedroom, don't fancy an oven near my bed 🤣

If you have a tiny kitchen please come and talk to me!
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SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 11:01

BaronessBomburst · 24/03/2024 10:59

Is that a hob, with cupboard underneath and access to the corner, or an oven? Do you access the corner via the sink cupboard?

It's an oven and yes, access via sink cupboard.

I have a small 3m x 2m galley kitchen at the moment so used to small, but obviously this is much smaller. But again, will just be me.

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Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 24/03/2024 11:05

I have had two very small kitchens, and I found them perfectly okay as I wasn’t cooking for large numbers of people!

Best tip is not to have a cooker but a hob ( could you get by with a two ring?) and a combi oven / microwave. You can cook literally anything in them, from a proper roast beef to a jacket potato, even scrambled eggs. They are much more versatile than an air fryer, and quicker too. I have always mounted them underneath the hob or any other bit of worksurface, as long as you allow the space suggested as a surround they function perfectly.

Have a fridge ( not integrated, they are bad for internal space) with an icebox , forgo the freezer unless you can’t live without it. You can get a 45 cm dishwasher if you want a dishwasher, I had one for seven years, it was fine.

You can take the plinth facing off and get shallow baskets which will slide underneath for tins, extra China etc. Wall racks for knives and other tools don’t interfere with the work surface, can go under cupboards.

Iheartmysmart · 24/03/2024 11:05

I stayed in an Airbnb once which was absolutely tiny. The owner had a really nice dresser in the living area which they used for kitchen storage. All the foodstuffs were in glass storage jars and it looked lovely. How about a freestanding larder cupboard against the wall in the lounge? That would give lots of storage without looking like a kitchen unit.

SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 11:06

Iheartmysmart · 24/03/2024 11:05

I stayed in an Airbnb once which was absolutely tiny. The owner had a really nice dresser in the living area which they used for kitchen storage. All the foodstuffs were in glass storage jars and it looked lovely. How about a freestanding larder cupboard against the wall in the lounge? That would give lots of storage without looking like a kitchen unit.

I really like this idea! I think I'll extend the "kitchen" along that back wall and do this.

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SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 11:07

Allthegoodnamesarechosen · 24/03/2024 11:05

I have had two very small kitchens, and I found them perfectly okay as I wasn’t cooking for large numbers of people!

Best tip is not to have a cooker but a hob ( could you get by with a two ring?) and a combi oven / microwave. You can cook literally anything in them, from a proper roast beef to a jacket potato, even scrambled eggs. They are much more versatile than an air fryer, and quicker too. I have always mounted them underneath the hob or any other bit of worksurface, as long as you allow the space suggested as a surround they function perfectly.

Have a fridge ( not integrated, they are bad for internal space) with an icebox , forgo the freezer unless you can’t live without it. You can get a 45 cm dishwasher if you want a dishwasher, I had one for seven years, it was fine.

You can take the plinth facing off and get shallow baskets which will slide underneath for tins, extra China etc. Wall racks for knives and other tools don’t interfere with the work surface, can go under cupboards.

Great idea!

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BaronessBomburst · 24/03/2024 11:08

I personally wouldn't want to keep food or crockery in an under-sink cupboard. I'd look at keeping food in the wall cupboards and have a separate dresser/ highboard in the sitting room area for crockery. You'll still want pans and cookware in the kitchen though. Are there any cutlery drawers?
Where is the washing machine? Does that go in the bathroom or is it next to the sink?
I had a tiny kitchen once too! For one person it is doable.
Is there a draining board? I'd prefer not to have one to maximise worktop space and use a drip rack, which can be stored under the sink.

Ineffable23 · 24/03/2024 11:11

My kitchen is small but that is really tiny.

Mine is about 10ft by 5.5ft. It's a single sided galley but that means I have space for a tall set of shelves and some high shelves on the other side of the kitchen.

I manage by having a large (5ft) sideboard in the dining room which I use for most of my additional storage.

In terms of space in that kitchen you're going to have room for the oven, a washing machine and optionally a dishwasher but if you do that you'll literally only have the under sink cupboard. That's pretty much the same situation as me but the work space will be less accessible for you and I can fit a fridge freezer in my kitchen. I guess ultimately it depends how much stuff you have: I have quite a lot and only just manage.

SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 11:12

BaronessBomburst · 24/03/2024 11:08

I personally wouldn't want to keep food or crockery in an under-sink cupboard. I'd look at keeping food in the wall cupboards and have a separate dresser/ highboard in the sitting room area for crockery. You'll still want pans and cookware in the kitchen though. Are there any cutlery drawers?
Where is the washing machine? Does that go in the bathroom or is it next to the sink?
I had a tiny kitchen once too! For one person it is doable.
Is there a draining board? I'd prefer not to have one to maximise worktop space and use a drip rack, which can be stored under the sink.

There is a washing machine thank god and a cutlery drawer.

Don't want to post a picture as it's not my place to post a picture of some elses house, but there are 5 high cupboards in total so hopefully I can squeeze everything in. Will be doing the dresser thing if not!

Like the idea of getting rid of the draining board. I'm burying my head in the sand about the lack of dishwasher, I gave up precious cupboard space in my current small kitchen for one!

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BaronessBomburst · 24/03/2024 11:15

You can live without a dishwasher for one! 😉 And when you have guests they get to help wash up.

Iheartmysmart · 24/03/2024 11:18

A row of ikea kallax units could look nice as well. This one is from Pinterest:

If you have a tiny kitchen please come and talk to me!
SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 11:22

@Iheartmysmart I love kallax, great idea!

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Caspianberg · 24/03/2024 11:23

Yes a dresser or pantry unit in dining/ living room.

We have a slightly larger kitchen, redid 2 years ago and put no drainer in. It’s perfect. We put 95% in dishwasher, then I just hand wash any pans or wooden items onto a clean tea towel on surface. Dry straight up, and towel gone. Saves a huge amount of workspace, and means it’s never cluttered either

mixedemotionsonmanythings · 24/03/2024 11:39

I have a teeny kitchen (6ft by 6ft) and though I love the house otherwise, I'm now looking to move because I definitely need more kitchen space.

It all depends on your lifestyle really. I enjoy cooking and having people over and I just about manage it but I hadn't considered storage of new things I've since bought like a food mixer and a pasta maker. I have a very large under stairs cupboard where I store things but the teeny kitchen has now become my bug bear.

If you really only ever cook for yourself and otherwise love the place, then personally I'd take a risk (I did and have had 5 very happy years here) but be prepared to mentally outgrow it.

SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 11:40

mixedemotionsonmanythings · 24/03/2024 11:39

I have a teeny kitchen (6ft by 6ft) and though I love the house otherwise, I'm now looking to move because I definitely need more kitchen space.

It all depends on your lifestyle really. I enjoy cooking and having people over and I just about manage it but I hadn't considered storage of new things I've since bought like a food mixer and a pasta maker. I have a very large under stairs cupboard where I store things but the teeny kitchen has now become my bug bear.

If you really only ever cook for yourself and otherwise love the place, then personally I'd take a risk (I did and have had 5 very happy years here) but be prepared to mentally outgrow it.

If my offer gets accepted I'm planning for this to be a 5 year house so that's good to hear!

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Flatleak · 24/03/2024 11:46

I have a tiny kitchen - 4 units by 2, and moved my washing machine elsewhere to fit in a dishwasher. Is that an option?

What's to the left of the picture where those two doors are?

Squidwitch · 24/03/2024 11:58

Whatever size it is, you'll find a way, like you do on caravan holidays. I'd suggest minimalising everything, take all your kitchen stuff out then put back what's essential, it really makes you ditch stuff like rolling pins, flour sieves, endless tupperware, basically things you haven't used in 2 years. Also create an ambient pantry somewhere else, be it a shelf, dresser or even some storage boxes. I wouldn't have a table and chairs unless there is nowhere else to sit at a table, as they just become stuff pile holders. My current kitchen doesn't even have room for a sink, but there is a usable one in a sort of adjacent indoor outbuilding, and I have a combo microwave and two pan standalone hob, and it's fine for three of us

TheDefiant · 24/03/2024 12:11

You can get "lids" for the sink that give you extra work space when needed.

Is there space anywhere else for the washing machine because a dishwasher would make a massive difference to you in a small space. Somewhere to hide daily dirty dishes and then run it once a day. In fact I think you can get dishwasher drawers now. If you had 2 you could store clean items in one and dirty in the other. Swapping about as items moved from clean to dirty.

LadyTiredWinterBottom2 · 24/03/2024 12:18

I have saucepans with removable handles so they stack easily. A Ninja that.does slow/ air fry/ steaming in one too.

Mumteedum · 24/03/2024 12:29

Flatleak · 24/03/2024 11:46

I have a tiny kitchen - 4 units by 2, and moved my washing machine elsewhere to fit in a dishwasher. Is that an option?

What's to the left of the picture where those two doors are?

I would absolutely recommend this if you can. The dishwasher in my tiny kitchen keeps it tidy.

SoRainbowRhythms · 24/03/2024 12:40

Some great ideas, glad I posted. Just hope my offer is accepted now!

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