Name & Profession: CKRY, architects
Location: Brooklyn Heights
Size: 400 square foot 1-bedroom in an 1870's co-op — owned
When we moved into our apartment four years ago, the kitchen was at the top of our list of things to tackle. Its dated appliances (c. 1980) were too big for the space and the kitchen was enclosed behind cumbersome doors. The intent of this monstrosity, we guessed, was to hide the kitchen since it was located in the main living space. But the enclosure wasn't fooling anyone — it was anything but discreet:
Enter Mini Kitchen Tour
We've since moved out of the apartment, but that tiny kitchen reno is still a fond memory. My husband and I tackled the old kitchen the first chance we got after moving in (i.e. day one). We already had a new and simple design planned, but getting the old kitchen out was the first obstacle. We gave away the old appliances on Craigslist. We tore the old kitchen enclosure out (it didn't go without a fight), pulled all the nails from the wood, and gave the materials to the building manager, who was eager to stockpile it in the basement for future projects. And we tore up the floor, which was a 2" raised platform of thick-set clay tile over the beautiful original oak parquet floor.
Our solution was to replace the old eyesore with something no-nonsense and unapologetic. Instead of hiding it behind an anything-but-demure enclosure, we attempted to make the new kitchen openly and quietly functional in the corner of the main living space. The layout wasn't ideal and we would obviously prefer a separate kitchen but space didn't allow for it. The next best thing, we determined, was to make this mini kitchen as functional and benign as possible (on a strict budget) within the apartment's main living space.
APARTMENT THERAPY SURVEY:
My/Our style: Good traditional bones with sensible modern tweaks
Inspiration: Peter Zumthor, Renzo Piano, farmhouse modern style
Favorite Element: the old building
Biggest Challenge: Storage. We created additional kitchen storage by carving a pantry out of an adjacent coat closet. It provided more than enough space for food storage, the microwave, and additional serving dishes.
What Friends Say: "We can't believe you cook so much in this tiny kitchen."
Biggest Embarrassment: kitchen in the living room
Proudest DIY: designing and building the backsplash out of off-the-shelf hardware store parts
Biggest Indulgence: the undercounter fridge
Best advice: hire a good plumber!
RESOURCES OF NOTE:
Stainless counter and integrated sink: custom by Monroe Kitchens in Rochester (585.235.3310)
Faucet: Moen, reused from old kitchen
Tiles: 3x6 honed Carrara marble from Bella Tile
Backsplash lighting: Super-Sleek T5 from Brodwax
Cabinets: AlanCraft
Undercounter refrigerator: 30" Marvel refrigerator/freezer (its 8 cubic feet of storage was plenty for us since we lived near lots of markets)
Range: Summit 20" professional gas range from Compact Appliance
Shelving: IKEA's GRUNDTAL
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Comments (15)
wow nice job, I love the simplicity.
I have a tiny kitchen too. Did you make the wooden board to put over the stove top, or did you buy it? What you all did looks fantastic!
Great, great job! I love seeing proper kitchens for small spaces. Good work.
meh, it's just kind of blah to me, there's nothing that grabs me, and everything just mushes together, and at first I thought it was the before (sorry). Also, in such a small space, would it not have made sense to continue the cupboards all across the top vs. open shelving. I do like the integrated sink and counter top.
This strikes me more as the token NYC kitchen for people who eat out or at least take out most of the time: a half fridge, one small wall cabinet, and an empty pantry. For those of us who really like to cook, this kitchen reno is lacking in practicality and usability. And I say that having lived a decade in a similarly sized apartment, with a similarly sized kitchen.
Love it. In 400 sq. ft. upper cabinets would have noticeably shrunk the room. Curious to know what the budget was considering how little compromise seems to have been made within the limitations of the space.
Nice job!
Very inspiring, I think you guys did an amazing job with such a tiny space. I love that the kitchen is minimalistic without being plain...great choice, considering the rest of the living area. Love, love, LOVE the backlit backsplash!
Love it. Looks so tidy and self-contained. The sink unit with countertop is so clever.
Looks good! I just wonder why the sink wasn't moved to the right side so the counter space is more functional.
Love the look, though I know it would never work with my sloppiness – or my appetite for cooking elaborate, messy meals.
Amazing use of space. I'm seriously impressed.
Great job on a challenging brief. Why go overboard when the place is a temporary waystop? I think you showed commendable restraint and excellent judgement.
Love the photo showing both the pantry and kitchen, with fluorescent pink pointers: 0326_kitchen07a.jpg.
And I for one do believe that you cooked plenty there. That dining table is in just the right place for a multi-tasking chopping/dining/reading the New York Times on table. Overall, your kitchen space is about the same size if not larger than my kitchen, where I regularly whip up turkey dinner for 12.
Looks great..and no clutter!
Fabulous! That's my favorite type of shelving that was used in the pantry! I recommend it all the time. Nice to know it works so well in a pantry too!