Extra Small Kitchen Ideas

Thick Ledge

While our 2019 Kitchen of the Year didn't skimp in space, San Francisco designer Jon de la Cruz used plenty of efficient tricks to max out the space. The chunky 11/4-inch-thick Caesarstone counter extends the wall up into the base of the window, making a spot for a soap dispenser (or wine glass).

Dark Cabinetry

At a Manhattan apartment, the present kitchen cabinets were painted Benjamin Moore Aura in Black. "I needed it to look less boring and more such as a smart butler's pantry," designer Lilly Bunn states. The Roman shade is in Sherry's & Holland Belfour linen.

Folding Doors

In Bill Brockschmidt's 640-square-foot flat, the kitchen is found in the entry hall and camouflaged from the living area. "Creating folding doors enabled us to change the entrance to a mini-gallery once we entertain," Brockschmidt states. "We can also shut off the dining room from the kitchen with pocket doors, in order that after guests have arrived, we can open up the kitchen for cooking."

Pot Rack

Bulky pans can take up valuable real estate, so Katie Ridder installed Urban Archaeology's Industrial pot stand in a Greenwich Village duplex. The elegant barstools out of Cherner Chair Company are a 1958 design by Norman Cherner and so are padded in MK Collection's Summer Strié, more interesting ideas.

Singular Shelf

Though his clients asked a bank of available shelving, designer Grant K. Gibson added one ledge for their galley kitchen. "One shelf is simple and lively," he says. "You need to be able to conceal clutter, and this way, it is possible to rotate your collections!"

Stovetop Shelf

To expand a very small kitchen in his San Francisco apartment, designer Scot Meacham Wood added additional shelves. The cabinetry is located in the Interior Semigloss at Scuba Black of Ralph Lauren Paint. The drapes are a Christopher Hyland plaid.