The kitchen itself is a large room, but one half of the room is meant for a table and chairs. There are large windows on all the walls. Consequently there isn’t a lot of wall space. The cupboards are at the other end of the room. There aren’t many of them and there is very little counter space.
Tip#1: Create additional storage space with stand alone furniture. I’ve done this with 3 large pieces of furniture. Not long after we moved in, we bought a storage bench that sits just inside our door. It provides additional seating, as well as storage for those things that I need to have on hand but don’t use very often.
This kitchen cupboard came with us when we moved here from our rental cottage. There was even less space in that kitchen, but there was a bit of available wall space between the cupboards and the refrigerator. We found this cupboard which has proved invaluable in both kitchens. It holds a lot of china, including my entire set of good dishes. There is no space for them in the kitchen cupboards. Behind the doors are dog brushes and combs, cleaners, swiffers, dusters, window cleaner, lint brushes…if you don’t have enough cupboard space, find a piece that has cupboards built in.
And the third piece is the kitchen island. I’ve written about it in past posts. I was desperately in need of more storage space and more counter space. I purposely looked for an old sideboard that would fit in our space. Once I found it, a little paint transformed it into a kitchen island.
This is a life saver for us. Not only does it provide additional counter space but look at those cupboards and drawers! I store pots and pans in the cupboards, as well as my Kitchen-Aid mixer and blender. The top drawer holds linens and dish towels, the bottom holds all sorts of baking pans. I didn’t have room for these before the kitchen island came into being.
Under the island? Big containers of dog food. They would look very unattractive if they were out in the open. Since they are stored under the island, that isn’t a problem.
Tip #2: Look at pieces of furniture in a fresh way. Think about how you can repurpose them for your small kitchen. I cannot tell you how vital this old sideboard turned kitchen island has become to our daily kitchen life. I use it all the time. Don uses it all the time. If we had to rely on counter space, we’d be in trouble. If you look at the photo above, you’ll see the large black microwave that came with this house. I’m too cheap to get rid of a perfectly good microwave (though I look forward to the day I can get a smaller one) and it takes up a lot of counter space. The island gives that space back to me, and more.
Tip #3: You can have a pantry in a small kitchen. And it doesn’t have to be a walk-in pantry. I can’t take credit for ours. It was here when we moved in. But, oh my gosh, it holds so much! It’s about 3 ft wide, only 12 inches deep, but when you open it:
Not only are there the shelves you see here, the inside of each door has shelves as well. They aren’t deep but they hold a lot. (I’m trying to talk Brenda into building something like this in her kitchen.) I’m showing you this because it doesn’t take up a lot of space. Perhaps you can find a bit of available wall space or a corner where you could build something like this.
Tip #4: Sometimes the strangest thing can be repurposed for storage. Not long after we moved in here, we went to a small local auction. Because we love old signs and graphics, we bid on this old chain display piece – simply because we liked the fonts and the colors. We had no idea what we were going to do with it. The next day, I had a moment of inspiration, cut some dowels and came up with this:
Our paper towel holder. It may not be for everyone, but we love it. It’s a great conversation piece that looks like a piece of folk art and it keeps plenty of paper towels on hand. I like the idea that this piece which used to live in a hardware store now lives and functions very nicely in our kitchen.
Tip #5: Pottery, baskets and boxes make for great storage in a small kitchen. I use my pottery to hold all sorts of things.
This pitcher holds my collection of bakelite-handled flatware.
This old wooden box holds bottles of distilled water for the dogs.
Back to this photo: there’s a piece of McCoy pottery on the window sill that I use to hold utensils, even paint brushes; there’s an old jar that holds dog biscuits, I store a large Fiesta serving piece on top of the microwave, that vintage red canister holds cookie cutters, and a large white crock holds utensils that we use constantly when cooking.
Use vases to hold utensils, wooden boxes to hold plates or placemats, baskets to hold spices or napkins – the possibilities are endless.
Storage problems can be solved. How I wish I had a photo of our kitchen in the rental we lived in before we moved to the cottage. It was teeny-tiny. Both my current kitchen and Brenda’s look huge compared to that space. I had an old butcher block that I used for a kitchen island. It was about 2 feet by 2 feet. (We just sold it recently through Craigs List. I feel sort of sad.) I managed to fit in the kitchen cupboard. I hung pots and pans from a metal rack hung on the wall. Somehow we managed to make it work and make it work efficiently.
You can, too.
Thanks so much for stopping by. Be sure to visit Brenda for her tips.
Next week: Christmas decorating in a small house. We’re going to have a linky party, as well! So get ready to share your decorating ideas for a small space with us. The links will be at the bottom of my post. Next Tuesday, December 13th!
Your kitchen is wonderful and so homey! I would much rather have your kitchen than one of those expansive modern kitchens. I’m an avid cook but prefer the warmth of a country kitchen over high tech any day. Love your standalone pieces and the paper towel dispenser is genius! I want one! Thanks for sharing your kitchen.
Great ideas Claudia. My house does not have enough storage space either! I’m starting to throw things away-starting with anything I don’t use for Christmas decorating this year-old garland, old wreaths, etc. Love your kitchen island-very pretty storage! Your home has a wonderful personality-friendly and inviting.
-Lynn
Love, love, love your ideas! Especially that paper towel rack, which somehow, I’ve managed to miss thus far. Or else my memory can’t conjure it up. I would actually drive all the way to NY if I thought there was a chance that kitchen island (which is undeniably fabulous) would fit underneath my shirt to be scooted out to my Pathfinder… Kidding, I’m kidding!
Brenda
Claudia, if I had your kitchen, I would be in Paradise. I have a galley kitchen. I just measured it. The measurements are 8 1/2″ wide but a portion of that space is occupied by the stove, fridge, and counter. So, I only have three and a half feet of room to move from the kitchen island to the sink. (LOL)! Funny, eh! The kitchen island measures 28 1/2 inches by 20″ and I don’t know what I would do had I not purchased it. Anyways, enough about me.
Your small kitchen which to me is huge is a dream. I love your pantry. It’s to die for. Your kitchen cupboard with all your china in it is not only utilitarian but pretty to look at. And, that chain display turned into a paper towel holder is not only helpful but also ingenious. I can’t get over it. You are so creative. Your home looks like such a happy and Home Sweet Home sort of place. Have a nice day in your beautiful cottage!
LOVE your kitchen island!
I am shabby girl myself so I love vintage and white!
You have some great options for storage..I love the bench idea and where oh where did you get the sweet cushions??
The paper towel holder is genious!
You and Brenda are so inspiring and make me look at things I already have in a different light.
I have been busy re*nesting aroung here!
Blessings~
You both have some great ideas today. I for one, love, love, love that towel rack. And B’s open cabinets are just too cute and clever.
Hi! Just bouncing over from Cozy Little House. LOVE your idea of the painted sideboard for extra space! That cabinet with the storage in the shelves AND doors is awesome! LOVE it! I live in 400 sq ft (a 5th wheel) and I am really enjoying the small space ideas you guys are coming up with! Keep em coming! I am going to look back at your previous posts! Thanks!
Claudia, You really do have great ideas. I love your buffet/island- I want one just like it- and I know sooner or later I’ll find it. And your paper towel holder- what a wonderful repurpose. The rack on its own is folk art, but to see you actually using it is great.
I have a blue pitcher (but with a cream top) full of bakelite flatware just like yours- I love to look at all the colors- but I’ve never used a piece of it..
Your kitchen is charming! I love the painted sideboard repurposed as a kitchen island – clever and pretty!
Danielle
Very nice post and I’m still loving that kitchen island you did!
Not only is your kitchen functional it is BEAUTIFUL! Love these ideas. Thanks for sharing!
Lovely, and ideas that can be adapted/used/copied too.
-Joy
I know I’ve said it before, but I love your kitchen Claudia. Great tips too. I have two kitchen cupboards like your pretty white one. One is now in my room, and the other at the end of our upstairs hallway for my books and overflow kitchen stuff. My DIL also has one in her living room (no room in our tiny kitchen) and since we don’t have a designated pantry, we share her white cupboard as our pantry. Those little cupboards are not only beautiful but very functional. One of mine I found free by the road, the other my hubby bought for me at a Goodwill for thirty dollars.
I just came over from Cozy Little House. I think you two are just wonderful. We are thinking of scaling down and I need all the help I can get. I am going to follow along for more inspiration
;-)
Claudia~
I really enjoyed today’s post on DTSH~~ like you, I have a kitchen that is HALF DINING SPACE. I don’t have a formal dining area at all. Right now, I’m looking for plans and ideas to use in my kitchen. Mainly PANTRY IDEAS. Our spaces are so similar.
I also have one wall of cabinets that are built in (the bottom ones are such a wreck and need replacing)…but I’ve used other ‘furniture’ in the kitchen to make do. I’m loving my kitchen more and more with every little project…and it is functional. But by no means finished. I’m always looking for some way to make it better.
I was encouraged by this #4 entry in the series.
Your kitchen is beautiful.
Thanks for posting the lovely pictures.
Pat
Your home is so charming, Claudia! I love the beautiful sideboard and I am inspired by your bench cushions! I have been thinking of getting a long single cushion, but I love the look of three different ones! Thanks for sharing!
Love your kitchen space, it is cute as ever. I am your newest follower and can’t wait to look around your place some more. I found you through Brenda. I have an Aunt Claudia and you are only the second person I have ever heard with that name. Charming blog!!! I will be by often.
I love your small kitchen and the island is to die for. One reason your kitchen appears larger than it is…no clutter. It looks fantastic.