apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

i wouldn't change much...it's super cute...maybe just a little organizing.

I don't have a link but there was a post on some blog about a famous chef in Paris who had a smaller kitchen than this- and it was cute and cozy like this one. Advice: reorganize maybe but since it's a rental appreciate the cottage feel for the time you are in it. It is so cute, and not cold and austere like many kitchens that are shown.

I don't think this kitchen is really that bad - it just needs decluttering and some thought in how it functions.

I think I'd stack the washer/dryer at the far end and put the existing butcherblock counter in the far right corner as a laundry/folding area - and in the space between the stove and fridge I'd place a cabinet that has drawers and doors (IKEA VINGA? You can always trim down the overhanging countertop to fit the space...)

I'd also clear out the cluttery hanging rack, yellow shelf and mug-rack and replace them all with some simple 12" deep shelves, enclosed cabinets, or a combination of the two.

It also appears that there's some space between the stove and the wall to it's right? Can you nudge the stove down to allow for more counter space - or put a narrow cabinet in that slot with a little counter? I believe IKEA has a little 9" wide cabinet with little wooden drawers and shelves...

My god, what I would do to trade my tiny new york apartment kitchen for yours. I have literally no counter space (the only available counter is taken up bu dish rack) so am forced to do my chopping on my kitchen table. Yours is so charming with neat vintage details.

All you need is to organize and declutter. Add a vase of flowers.

I think just clearing the counters of 90% of that stuff would do wonders for this space.

If this kitchen can work for a cookbook author...
David Lebovitz

I agree with the previous poster: organize and declutter.

It would also help if we knew what you don't like about your kitchen, functionally speaking.

Some random things...

1. If possible, switch the way the fridge/freezer opens and closes. Right now, when you open it, it appears as though it would block your access to the rest of the kitchen. If it opened the other way, you could be prepping something and could just reach in and grab an ingredient.

2. Get as much clutter off of flat surfaces as possible. For example, instead of having a utensil caddy on the stove, maybe have a rod and hook system above the stove and below the yellow shelf. Ikea has several systems like this.

3. I would *not* move the pot rack over the stove for a few reasons: (1) pain the butt to move something like that, (2) pans can get dirty from steam/splatter/etc., and (3) you need to be careful of bumping your noggin' when cooking. Yes, you run the risk of a cast iron head-butt with it over the prep area, too, but for some reason it seems more dangerous over the stove.

4. Consider taking one or more of the doors off of the upper cabinets. I think that open shelving would look nice, provide easier access to frequently used items, and open things up a bit.

5. Get a new attachment for your sink faucet. Look for a small swivel nozzle that can switch from stream to spray with a little tug. They are maybe $5 at Lowe's or HD.

And keep in mind some of the really good things about the space...

1. You have a decent amount of cabinet and storage space.

2. You have a decent amount of counter/prep space in useful areas next to the sink/stove.

3. You have a washer/dryer! Most folks in LA would kill for that.

I'd flip the fridge doors to open into the kitchen, not away from it. That would probably increase the efficiency a great deal.

What don't you like? Other than the backwards fridge door and the annoying little shelf over the stove, it seems to have plenty of space and convenient work areas--and I would kill for that vintage stove.

I am also wondering what the problem is. I'd like that kitchen myself--so sunny; neat stove; nice cabinets (though few).
My priority would be somehow making the laundry area less apparent, and then like others said, organize: maybe move the pot rack above stove.
Could you switch the fridge and butcherblock table?--that would give you the triangle work area.

"I would *not* move the pot rack over the stove for a few reasons: (1) pain the butt to move something like that, (2) pans can get dirty from steam/splatter/etc., and (3) you need to be careful of bumping your noggin' when cooking. Yes, you run the risk of a cast iron head-butt with it over the prep area, too, but for some reason it seems more dangerous over the stove."
posted by burpchick

I totally agree!! i thought it was a horrible idea... completely unpractical. your pots and pans that you don't use and wash often would get so greasy/steam from the oil coming up from the cooking. i have never seen anyone hang anything above a stove apart from a ventilator! and the base of that turns brown from the oil/food splashes if you don't wipe it often.

Hey, Spedie! I just had to comment on your kitchen, inasmuch as I commented yesterday on your living room under the name AustinSarah1. Frankly, there's a lot about this kitchen I love: the black and white tiles, the aqua backsplash, and the vintage stove. I prefer the old fashioned cabinets to anything that your landlord is likely to spring for. It looks like what this kitchen suffers from is someone else's ad hoc ideas about kitchen design.

Here's what I would think about.

1. The knobs on the cabinets probably catch on your clothing, and they're not all that great. See if you can find something reasonably priced to replace them.

2. Take out all the shelving and hanging gear in the area from the refrigerator to the stove, and also take out that little cup-hanging rack on the wall next to the stove. Both the yellow shelving and the cup-hanging rack are really awful. Replace the small stainless steel shelf, the hanging gear, the yellow shelving, and the cup-hanging rack with two or three rows of simple wooden shelves running in unbroken lines from the refrigerator to the wall next to the stove.

3. Pull the butcher block up, install a simple unfinished cabinet beneath it that has room for your trash can. Sand and reinstall the butcher block, and make sure it is level. As an alternative, you could install a curtain under the butcher block to hide the trash. But I would sand and level that butcher block in any event.

4. Paint the old cabinets, the new shelving, and the new cabinet the same shade of white. You can put a matching new pull on the new cabinet, and no one will think about it being a different vintage.

5. Edit your pan collection so it will fit in the cabinets underneath the tiled countertop. If those cabinets are filled to the maximum, edit the stuff that's already there. If you put in the shelves I suggest in 2, you can put the small and light pots you use frequently on the shelves closer to the stove. The same would be true of microwave and oven dishes you use frequently, particularly if they're pretty. By the way, where's your microwave? It could also go on the new shelving. If you want to keep the utensils on the enameled area close to the stove, that's okay, but I would edit them as well and consider replacing them with an inexpensive set that's colorful. Don't store spices and foodstuff over the stove. If you really need all the canisters and other stuff that's on your tiled countertop, move them up to the new shelving. Keep your counters clear to be able to cook.

6. You should have only one dishtowel in use, and it should always be clean to the naked eye. The rest of the dishtowels would look nice folded in a stack and kept on your new open shelves.

7. You very badly need a new dish rack. There are plenty out there that are cheap and nice.

8. I would consider installing simple flat curtains to camouflage the laundry area if there are enough inches to do so. The stainless steel shelf looks functional, so I'd leave it up. Is there another window back behind the washer? From the photo, there seems to be another light source. If so, the curtains could be sheer enough to let some light through, but would still mask some of the chaos. The laundry area is always going to suffer from visual disorganization from the rest of the kitchen, and it's a lot to ask that both the laundry and the kitchen look perpetually neat.

Spedie, I wish your kitchen was my kitchen! I had an old kitchen in New York, and though it was sizable by New York terms, it didn't have niceties like a tile countertop! My kitchen here in Austin has awful fake rough wood doors on the cabinets. You have a lot to work with!

Good luck.

I think this kitchen is cute - don't change it!

By the way - I have my pots hanging over my stove and have no problem with steam, oil, or splatters. It's very convenient and works for me. I have mine hanging from the metal Ikea shelf you have your canisters on, so it doesn't stick out very far over the stove. I keep my 2 really big pots I don't use as often in a cabinet.

This is an adorable kitchen! Vintage cabinets, sink, tile, stove. Wonderful.

Now for the problems. This kitchen is unorganized, and euphemistically speaking, a bit less than tidy. Since vague advice to declutter can be difficult to implement, here are a few specific things you should do first:

1) Remove all magnets, stickers, and other items from the fridge.

2) There are at least 5 towels in this compact space... you only need 1 towel out. Put the others away.

3) Put your laundry away. Find another place for the laundry basket. And the shoebox-like thing.

4) Eliminate the storage crate on top of your fridge. Or at least sort and organize. Then replace the clear bin with something that will hide the contents. Keep it subtle and attractive; you don't want it to call attention to itself. This is best for items you don't access daily.

5) Clean off your counter tops! You have waaaaay too much stuff out. Myriad bowls and containers. Many empty. Do you really need to keep your garlic roaster out all the time? Of course not. Be ruthless.

Decide on the VERY FEW things that you do need to keep out. If it is your honey, for example, make sure it is stored in a manner that is functional AND attractive to you. I think the plastic bear is fine, but wipe off the bottom and lose the bowl.

6) Make better use of the shelving above your stove. It is half empty, except for a teapot and some empty jars (why are you keeping empty jars?). This is a good place to keep the things you use all the time. Like your pepper grinder.

7) Get rid of the iron cup holder on the wall next to your stove. If at all possible, put the cups inside a cabinet. If you must hang the cups, hang them from the yellow shelf over the stove. And if you do hang the cups... keep them subtle and matching. Your kitchen is too small to be overwhelmed by lots of decorative details. (Keep it simple and let that fabulous vintage green tile shine. We can't even see it now!)

8) Pick up the plastic cutting board on your wood work table. That should not be a permanent fixture. Stack all your cutting boards and keep them in one place. Lean them against your fridge since that seems to be near your prep area.

9) Replace your current dish drainer with something more practical and attractive. I highly recommend expandable over-the-sink models that don't take counter space. I had an old sink exactly like yours and yes, you can get one that will work with it. Wash your dishes as you use them. Then put them away. In a large kitchen, you'd never notice 5 dirty dishes. In a small kitchen, 5 dirty dishes in the sink looks like the aftermath of a New Year's Eve party.

Once you've taken care of these, you'll be in a better position to evaluate and plan other changes to the way you USE the space.

Lastly, in response to burpchick's comment:

Don't go with open shelving. Be honest with yourself... you do not have the discipline needed for open shelving. You are not neat. You need to keep your cabinet doors firmly in place. That's not intended as criticism. Just be realistic about your limits.

I have my pots over my stove too, and no problem with grime. And this is coming from a person who hates open shelves for the same reason.
I guess it is because I don't fry or cook meat much and I keep a small assortment of pots that are used often.

Seriously......you really can't cook a decent meal in that kitchen?

Really?

I built a small galley kitchen in my basement while I was remodeling my upstairs kitchen, I have one 36" 2-big drawer/2-little drawer cabinet, a 30" sink base and an 18" 3-drawer cabinet plus two 18" wide pantry cabinets. Two burner hotplate toaster oven, no stove. I did move the fridge downstairs.

6 weeks after I gutted my kitchen down to the studs, I was hospitalized with a pulmonary embolism and 2 DVTs and I have lived my entire culinary life out of my basement kitchen for the last 18 months. And suffered no food-related hardships either.

Cut down on the pots and pans - how many of those saute pans do you need??? Pretend that you are going to gut the kitchen and box the stuff up. Then...

And yes, I have asked myself many times why I am budgeting 20K for the kitchen remodel when I can clearly live in a 2K IKEA kitchen. Yes, I should move, but not in this real estate market. (also, yes, my health has recovered, I am just rediscovering the DIY lazy...)

What a great bunch of comments. I want to see an 'after' photo. Personally I'd paint the lower cabinets dark gray, now that I think about it.. to give my eye a horizontal line to follow in the kitchen- to ground the whole thing. What fun!

Just straighten up- organize... yeah, it seems like an easy thing to do. Your landlord has offered to fix what's wrong with it! Who is going to turn that down and just put things in the cabinet? Not you. It's not like you're going to tear it down and go for broke, but a lot of little frustrations get in the way of a good time in the kitchen, so let's make it work.

I like that cute yellow shelf. It's weirdly too high. I don't think it's a photography trick, everything looks too high. I'm tall and wouldn't want to try to reach anything across the stove, especially if it's way high up like that. No wonder it looks empty. Move it or take it down altogether. Paint it if that strikes you to do so.

The refrigerator doors - it shouldn't be too hard to switch them to open toward the kitchen instead of away. Redundant, but it will definitely help. The refrigerator also appears to be partially or completely blocking built-ins. Unfortunate. I don't know where else to put the fridge, short of getting the refrigerator drawers. A shorter thing than the butcher block and move it closer to the stove and sink.

I don't mind so many pots and pans if you use them a lot and need variety of different kinds, but that rack situation is not ideal. I don't know if it's yours or the landlord's but maybe paint it and arrange the pans according to size so it looks neater. Reconsider if you don't actually use that many, what you are hoarding them for. The thing with the canisters on it is a little weak. It looks sort of useful, so maybe there is somewhere else to put it. Needs more substantial shelves and just more shelves. Or if your cabinets are practically empty, no they don't need more shelves. I don't recommend putting a closed cabinet there, you'll feel walled in.

Opposite side: functional problem is that the cabinets hang over all your counter space. It looks like you're in the middle of something when you took the picture, so I wouldn't tell you to clean it up unless you're done. Mount some lighting under cabinet. Keep nothing on that counter unless you are doing something. Keep nothing on any of the counters, you don't have enough room to look at a pretty thing*.

Put your toaster and coffeepot on the stove side, but if that's actually a breadbasket and not a toaster, move it above the fridge or one of the shelves you're going to put above the butcherblock. The water jug... ... eh.. no idea. Well, Brita, Pur, I'm sure you've heard of them.

*Ideally when you are done with your mini-reno, you want it to look nice, just not all over your counters. Your canisters are cute. Put them in a row or a stack. Arrange your shelves neatly. Add a small tchotchke or two there. You only want to look at one towel at a time. Hang it neatly, let it be bright and neat. I don't know what your color preferences are - it looks like everything you had aside from towels is white, and if not white, "plain." If that is your preference, go forth and streamline proudly. If you like a color, accessories are all on you. Just to add some color here and there on things you can't easily stash, like your utensil container, etc., not to leave things like a big mixing bowl (for fruit? you don't have room to display large amounts of fruit waiting to be eaten) out. Anyway, the point is - counters need to be empty except when in use, so that you feel you have plenty of room to use them, and then you will use them a lot and it will be pleasant.

Assets: Window over the sink. Another place to put decoration. Herb plants or stained glass suncatcher things, curtains, anything cute can go on the windowsill that you like to look at. Great stove. Wow! New looking refrigerator. Plenty (should be) of cabinet space.

In-unit laundry. I'm jealous. What a good problem to have. I am trying to think of a way to block that from view without being too cumbersome. A curtain would work, but if I were operating in this house, it would be in my way, draping and looking all sloppy, and I'd take it down. Something like a pocket door, some kind of screen that glides from the wall to the left, glides out when you're not doing laundry. It shouldn't hit the middle of the refrigerator if you move the fridge closer to the stove like I suggested earlier. A laundry room can look ok, but it really shouldn't have to be spectacular. A person shouldn't have to look at the machines when they aren't doing laundry, or have it on view when visitors are over. It should be as forgivable as it is useful. I mean, you can't disguise it short of integrating it. No matter what kind of playground spa bistro laundry room you can imagine, I think it still needs a door or somethin'.

Anyway, hope that'll help a little, along with everyone else's. Good luck!

To all the posters saying just to declutter, it's harder than it sounds. I have an equally tiny kitchen and guess what? No counter space usually also means no storage space.

Having said that, here are some little things I would do. Try putting the water-dispenser thingy and other items you don't need constantly into the laundry area. Really make it a utility room, and then as other people have said, close it off with a curtain or screen. I'm guessing you don't have room by the laundry to move the fridge, but that's always a good idea in my opinion.

Depending on the condition of the fridge, you could also see if the landlord would spring for a cabinet-depth one that would be less imposing in that small space.

My house came with a butcher block that has a knife holder attached to the side of it. I wonder if you could just get an attachment like that for yours? Instead of having to spare counter space for a knife block, the knives tuck in along the side of the block right next to the stove. It is one of the most brilliant things in my kitchen, and only costs me about 2 inches of space next to the stove.

Lots of great suggestions here. I agree that a galley kitchen is the most efficient design for a kitchen, and you have a pretty nice one. If you can't fit everything in those cabinets, go through and edit...if you don't have a use for it in a 6-month period, get rid of it.

I'd make the butcher block the prep area - all knives on a wall strip there and cutting boards (3 max) can stay there. Leave the pots be, and there's nothing at all wrong with that pothanger. mixing bowls below

You could get the paper towels on the wall or under a cabinet, get the water on top of the fridge or in it, and make better use of the space on top of the fridge. Wine storage?

I'd do my best to disguise the laundry. Maybe get an ikea counter for the top of the w/d and run fun curtains under them so you can't see them when they're not in use. If you have to have your detergent out, maybe decant it into a better looking container? Sounds like a lot of trouble, though, so it would probably be better to put in cabinets to hide it all.

Finally...get a plant in that window! A living thing in every room makes a huge diff, and right by the sink means never having an excuse not to water!

Deb

I think this kitchen has great bones. I think a few minor things could help:

1. switch the yellow shelves out for shelving that is lover and more functional-- maybe some basic white open shelving? Ikea is always good for that. I also like the Ikea hanging rails that you already have going.

2. perhaps you can get your landlord to spring for some better lighting so you don't need the clip lamps?

3. get rid of the mug rack.

4. I love my wall mounted magnetic knife rack

5. I think the cabinets look nice, but if you want to spiff them up a fresh coat of paint in a birght color on the inside and some new knobs (gotta love anthropologie for good hardware--and nice dishtowels and potholders).

6. get an in-sink dish drainer.

7. you could put a high shelf over the doorway for storage of little used things-- perhaps whatever is in the box on the fridge?

8. I'm not saying that the kitchen looks dirty-- but I always feel better if I spend an afternoon scrubbing down all the countertops, washing out the cupboards, washing the fronts of the cabinets, scrubbing the floor and finding a home for everything. It give you a good opportunity to assess what you've got and pare down (it is a good time of the year to unload non-perishibles at a food pantry).

All that said, I think you have a lovely space to work with. I wish the previous owners of my place had left the original cabinets instead of going with Home Depot laminated particle board.

ditto everyone.

i'd use a folding wooden dish rack. it would suit your kitchen and tuck away when not in use. i've found them at pier one in the past.

i had a kitchen w/ half the space and was able to make nice meals. yes, it was a challenge but also a pleasure.

french home kitchens are often not much bigger than yours. it's all about having a few quality pieces. One word: edit.

don't put any money into major changes unless you have a written agreement with your landlord.

I like it, it is really cute. I think everyone here is correct - it is the clutter that is throwing things off.

The inexpensive fix that will give more room is
Get an lg 24inch wide refrigerator that is tall. The freezer is on the bottom with 3 see thru drawers. It holds a ton of stuff. The fridge is frost free. Get white. It is the cheapest.

Install a Hot point gas range 20 inches.
If you have all white appliances and cabinets, you can always paint the wall any color you like. Paint color is easy to change.

For the floor get 12 by 12 inch vinyl self stick tiles.
Get a solid black tile and a solid white.
You can do checkerboard design or turn the tile at a 45 degree angle and get a diamond shape. You will need extra tiles for the cutting to get the shape.

This is Spedie1. Thanks for all of your helpful comments! Alas, this kitchen is no more. We're at the tail end of the reno and the kitchen looks VERY different. My landlord didn't discuss the design details with me ahead of time, so it's been an adventure to come home every night and see what's been done. I'll post pictures when complete, but just a 2-word warning: "knotty pine".

Just to address the questions about the kitchen's functionality, the lack of it wasn't so much due to size or the galley configuration, but had more to do with its overall condition. I'm not sure, but the countertops and sink might have been original to the 1930's house. In any case, the small hex tile wasn't well-maintained, the grout was completely missing in some areas, and generally just looked grimy - and I'm squeamish. Which is why those glass cutting board things were all over the place - they gave me little clean spots to put food on. The cabinets were also a challenge because after we painted them (a 3-weekend process), I guess we didn't let them cure properly so they were all gummy, making it hard to open the doors and drawers.

I still need to ask my landlord if he can fix the 2 burners on the gas stove that don't work. Does anyone know how to DIY this? Maybe it just needs to be cleaned?

Oh, and the clutter. Yeah, my other half likes to call me a clutter-monkey, but this pretty much shows that I gave up. Pictures really show the truth!

That's kinda sad. Seems like a little tlc could have fixed it--instead of open heart surgery.
But about your question, the landlord should absolutely be responsible for repairing burners! He/she is obviously fast, as the reno began in the course of this question getting posted.

Post-remodel pic: http://www.flickr.com/photos/76601879@N00/3954541725/in/pool-460301@N24

Although the charm of the original was lost, I now love cooking in this kitchen, and will miss it when we move (we've found a bigger place that we love, and are now looking to find replacement tenants to take over our lease).

This is the smallest kitchen I've cooked in, but by paring down and organizing, I'm more efficient and clean-up is quick and easy. Thanks to your suggestions, I got rid of the pot rack over the butcher block table - it was really too much for the space, and I've found that I don't need it.

It was a bit of a shocker to see the finished project. The owner was inspired by our Ikea butcher block table and decided to do all of the cabinets in knotty pine with stainless steel door pulls. I've gotten used to it over the past year and am thrilled have drawers that easily glide open.