Insider Tips for Small Kitchen Design
It’s a common problem. Rifling through the multitude of interior magazines, kitchen articles always align themselves with the most spectacular photographs of grand kitchen displays in unbelievably spacious environments. Of course they do. Small kitchens just don’t carry the same impact or allow the subject matter to be encapsulated as a whole in the photograph.
The problem is that the majority of home-owners are living with more, shall we say, ‘compact’ kitchens as this is the age of developing as small a space as possible for the most pounds per square foot. So builders are always going to try to squeeze in as much as they can into the smallest space. This is the world we live in. However, small can be very beautiful as well as practical if designed and dressed correctly. It can also give you far more concentration on your favourite ideas and aesthetics without having to cover vast areas with them.
Firstly, how do you feel about natural light? Do you walk into a dark room and feel instantly uneasy if there isn’t lots of light or do you quite like the moodiness of low lighting? If you have tendencies towards the latter, skip the next paragraph completely (actually, don’t – there are a few things that would still apply).
More light = more space. So, the more light you bounce around a small room the better. Lighter tones do this naturally, so aim for much paler shades of your favourite colours or stick to the simple white or creams. Although they are a little more high maintenance, high gloss doors are great for small spaces as the reflections add depth to the doors and reflect the light you have. Going for integrated appliances allows you to add more of these reflective doors and create more reflection whilst creating a seamless effect and giving it a larger appearance. Bring your splashbacks above your work surface into play – consider using mirror – it blows the space apart and mirror is not expensive. Far less, say, than colour-backed glass or stone. High-gloss floor tiles are a plus as well. Of course, you don’t have to use all of these in one small space otherwise it may feel like you hovering in mid-air. Using two of these principles alongside a contrasting surface like some wood doors, natural floor tiles or matt laminate will create a good balance and be more interesting on the eye.
Dark rooms doesn’t mean that they have to be the preserve of a reclusive goth. Quite a few kitchens lounge in the basement of a property with little to no natural light. Even then, there are those who prefer darker tones when there is a lot of natural light. The key is that black surfaces such as nero granite or wenge cabinetry create a far more intimate space. Darker woods such as Macassar Ebony & American Black Walnut work wonders in small kitchens. Get these aesthetics correct and the room becomes cosseting rather than claustrophobic. However, keep the tones in check. Too much black (especially matt black) will make you attractive to your local undertaker, unless that is your thing (black also shows up marks more than any other surface!). One more thing – good artificial lighting is key. Using hidden uplighting on top of the units adds more ambience instead of just having the recessed spotlights on full beam.
When it comes to storage, write down everything you have to store away. It could come down to the very last cupboard. If you have to get all your appliances into this room including the washing machine and tumble dryer then it is time to look into every available space-saving storage arrangement out there. There is almost a solution for everything from pull-out ironing boards to plate stackers for the drawers. The best ones are pull-out shelves which use up all the dead space in the otherwise dusty corner base cabinets. Try and keep an eye on everything being ‘open’. By this I mean maintaining that gap between the base and wall runs without interruption, for example in a galley kitchen. Stick the tall units at one end or corner first and plan the rest leading on from there. That way the room will give the best impression of space without interruption.”
About the Author
Award winning Design republic specialise in bespoke kitchen and bathroom design. We offer a one-stop-shop solution for every aspect required to give you the designer kitchen or bathroom of your dreams. We offer the full range of specification and design services including architectural layouts, cabinetry, fittings, lighting, tiling and furnishings. Although based in Newmarket UK, our services extend to projects of all sizes over the country and abroad.
McPherson MG-4.5 Stripped Macassar Ebony & Rosewood “GUITAR REVIEW” =)
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Baerreis Heron Pair Hair Sticks – Macassar Ebony Wood – Six Inch Functional Length $36.00 Shown in natural unstained Macassar Ebony Wood, our herons are inspired by the many stories of herons in mythology – whether messengers from the ancient Gods of Greece or the Celtic tribes. Herons are often found preening in high places – the heron in folklore is always special – the Aztecs viewed the heron as an incarnation of the Sun God – Always associated with death and rebirth, the herons of … |
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Baerreis – Shortie Hair Fork Pin Stick – Macassar Ebony – Plain and Simple Style – 4OA – USA Crafted $25.00 Great for Summertime or Back to School! Whether you are going to the prom, a business meeting or an afternoon in the park, you will love putting your hair in a casual up do with this beautiful hair accessory, hand crafted and carved in the beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains by the designer craftsman. It is shown here in Beautiful Macassar Ebony Wood, which is favored by woodworkers and jewel… |
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Hair Stick Macassar Ebony – Simple Round – 5 inch $34.00 You will love putting your hair in a casual up do with this beautiful hair stick, hand crafted and carved in the beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains by the designer/craftsman. Shown here in Macassar Ebony (sometimes referred to as “kamagong”), an exotic wood from the forests of Madagascar. Macassar is favored by woodworkers and jewelers for its gorgeous grain and color, featuring deep black … |
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Macassar Ebony & Maple Standard Chess Board – 2.25 Squares Our Macassar and Maple Standard Chess Board balances the need of a functional and attractive chess board with cost and quality to create our most affordably priced wood chess board. The black and brown striped grain pattern of the Macassar ebony is an excellent choice for contrasting with ebony or black chess pieces. This is an inlaid chess board with ebony and maple veneer with a maple delimiter … |
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Ebony Chess Box – 4 1/4 $59.95 This beautiful macassar ebony chess box is perfect for storing your ebony and boxwood chess pieces and we have macassar ebony chess boards to match this box perfectly. The box is lined with a soft black material to protect the pieces and includes a removable center divider so that you can separate the colors if you choose. Holds up to 4 1/4″ chess sets with 4 queens. The best chess box available f… |
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Buck Ranger Skinner Hunting Knife $47.24 Classic Hunting Series – 113 Ranger SkinnerBlade: 3 1/8″ Drop point 420HC steelLength: 7 1/4″ OverallWeight: 5.2ozHandle: Macassar Ebony Dymondwood brass bolsterSheath: Genuine LeatherFeatures: Lanyard hole… |
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BUCK 110 Folding Hunter 1/500 Yellowhorse Pocket Knife Knives $153.94 Beautiful BUCK 110 YELLOWHORSE Macassar Ebony Diamond Wood Folding Hunter Hand Crafted in U.S.A. B110 DYH Native Steel 1 of Only 500 Made Individual Serial Number Native Steel Blade Hand Crafted by Navajo Artist David Yellowhorse New and never been used or sharpened, this gorgeous knife, is 4 3/4 inches long (folded/fixed) and comes with a Lifetime Warranty! This is a Classic Lockback Fold… |
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BUCK 110 Folding Hunter Army 1/100 Pocket Knife Knives $82.45 Beautiful BUCK 110 Macassar Ebony Diamond Wood Folding Hunter Made in U.S.A. BK110 Wood Army 1 of Only 100 Made Individual Serial Number New and never been used or sharpened, this gorgeous knife, is 4 3/8 inches long (folded/fixed) and comes with a Lifetime Warranty! This is a Classic Lockback Folding Knife with a 420HC Stainless Steel Clip Point Blade with United States Army and Logo et… |
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Pair Hair Sticks – Exotic Macassar Ebony Wood – Hand Carved Whether you are going to the prom, a business meeting or an afternoon in the park, you will love putting your hair in a casual up do with this beautiful hair accessory, hand crafted and carved in the beautiful Southern Appalachian Mountains by the designer/craftsman. Shown here in Macassar Ebony Wood, a gorgeous naturally dark colored wood from the forests of Indonesia. Macassar Ebony wood is favo… |
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Buck Knife Ranger Skinner Fixed-blade Hunting Knife $50.5 The Buck Knife Ranger Skinner is a stylish and performance roriened combination of Buck’s famous Rander and the classic Buck Vanguard. The fixed-blade hunting knife features a versitile skinning blade and ergonomic Macassar Ebony Dymondwood handle. |
