Small Kitchen Design : Interior Strategies for Petite Spaces

Small kitchens have a terrible reputation for being cramped and undesirable. By improving your kitchen’s layout, you can maximize its performance and visual appeal. You can further enhance the function of your small kitchen by making smart design decisions when selecting appliances, surface materials, and architectural details.

Combining your appliances will optimize the total function of your kitchen when working with limited space. Take into consideration the Work Triangle of the refrigerator, sink, and stove. Make sure there are no obstructions, such as an island, and separate the household traffic from intersecting the triangle. Use your backsplash as storage with a stainless rod to hang kitchen utensils. Use appliances such as over range microwaves with built-in ventilation to save space. Reducing the number of required devices help your kitchen look less cramped.

Surface features along with architectural details add character and depth to your small space. When using the color white, whether it be on cabinetry or walls, it will reflect light giving the illusion of a larger area. Incorporating earth tones or low contrast color schemes on cabinets, backsplashes and flooring gives a textured look for added depth. Large windows can provide more natural light, which can allow your room to feel more spacious. A tip when choosing textures is always keeping in mind their aesthetic purpose. Consider using reflective materials as in stainless steel to expand the space visually.

Small kitchens can rise above their reputation of being cramped and cluttered when considering a few key elements. Optimizing the functionality to maximize your space will improve the layout as well as give it a starting point from which to work. Choosing the correct appliances to incorporate in the Work Triangle for your kitchen will help the layout take shape. Small kitchens can be impeccably designed making you almost forget the desire for a larger kitchen.

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Working out of her Los Angeles based studio, Barnard works on interior design projects big and small, from sprawling corporate headquarters to cozy beachfront cottages. With a contemporary approach that employs traditional vocabulary, she defines her range of style as “innovative yet time-honored.” Sarah is intrigued by clients who have unusual requests and lives for a challenge and has yet to meet a client she doesn't like. Sarah loves designing for anyone with pets! She adores people who are avid collectors of anything they fancy.

Sarah is often retained by clients who have never worked with an interior designer because they thought designers weren’t for them (until now). She is known for delivering, on time, all the time. Sarah is incredibly down to earth, and people love her for her frankness. Sarah and her staff will go above and beyond for a client: build a custom sunroom for the kitties, organize and alphabetize boxes in the garage, take the kids out shopping for their bathroom tiles…etc.

Sarah Barnard Design undertakes residential interior design projects, commercial spaces and, even single rooms. She can assist you with space planning, color counseling, kitchen and bath remodeling, historic preservation, and all aspects of green design and healthy living: organic, non-toxic, sustainable and fair trade materials, energy and resource conservation, air and water purification, natural furnishings and fabrics and much more!

Story by: Claudia Casas              Interiors by: Sarah Barnard

Sarah Barnard designs healthy, happy, personalized spaces that are deeply connected to nature and art.

To learn more about Sarah Barnard Design, please visit www.SarahBarnard.com.

References:

Small Kitchens by Jeffrey Holloway in Residential Design & Build Volume 77, Issue 5, 2012

ASID Design Research Database: http://www.asid.org/content/research-resources