apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

It is kind of hard to tell how much space and headroom you are actually working with but it looks like you may be able to pull off some banquette style of seating along that area in your 1st photo. You can easily build something like that inexpensively and upholster the seating area for little cash as well. A Google images or Flickr search should provide lots of inspiration for a jumping off point.

That little nook w/the white table could probably become a cute and convenient area for storage with a nice little cabinet and some accessories.

Everything looks a little bit like a diner, so I'm thinking go with it. Line the tiles on the window walls with something soft (foam on top of luan or even foam core with a fabric covering it) and get a couple small benches to fit in front and give them cushions with the same fabric. It'll make a booth of sorts and then you can keep the current table (though a round or oval table would be nice too), push it more into the corner, and give the chairs some matching cushions too. Play up the awkward coziness of the space! Here's a link to a fancier version of the idea (second photo down) http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/ny/inspiration/using-art-as-a-starting-point-for-colorblogging-house-beautiful-071405

The niche that currently has the small white table I would fill with shelves as best as possible. Or would the fridge fit in there - even if there was excess space behind it? This space I would just try to fill up somehow as it seems too cramped to want to sit in there.

And maybe a nostalgic sign would ramp up the whole thing. This one is expensive, but sort of what I'm thinking of. http://www.sundancecatalog.com/PRODUCT/Sundance Favorites/Home Decor/44346.html

If you are allowed to paint, that would be good too.

It looks like lighting could be an issue.
Maybe replace your ceiling fixture (just the glass part) with something a little nicer like:
http://www.lightinguniverse.com/FlushMount/Frank-Flush-Mount_799304.html

In the nook with the white table - get a cute glowy table lamp or two. If you don't use the table - find some cute thrift store dresser for that nook.

Also you have a lot of hard surfaces in there. Think more fabric. A large (low pile) rug would be good. Tablecloth (for any table surface) and cloth napkins would go along way, too. (go to an "global imports" pier one type store) Coordinating chair cushions? A vase for both your main table and the nook table always filled with fresh flowers (or a nice dried arrangement).

Marimekko or Ikea (vastly cheaper!) graphic print fabric could be hung in panels on the sloped wall that the range sits along. That would accomodate the slant and still allow you to add color and cover the patchy walls. I like the idea of a cabinet in the nook, but will one of you need that area for a desk? You could put a bulletin or chalk board up behind the table you have there now. And again, some fabric on the slanted wall. I love the idea of a round table and think Ikea (again) makes a Saarinen knock-off--the white tulip table (http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40063632.) I noticed Cost-Plus has some chairs that are trending a bit modern, but still have natural textures. Those might look good with a very modern white table. (Not on their website--seen at the store, looked something like this: http://hivemodern.com/products/?view=sub_product&sid=482&cid=2&cid2=104).

A round table would help a lot. I would also look for a piece of wood storage furniture that would fit on the end wall behind the table, and then style that a bit--maybe some colorful serving pieces and some art on the wall above it.

If you need storage space you could hang curtains in front of the alcove that currently holds the other table (a good place for the mops and brooms). Cut one curtain at an angle and staple it to the ceiling. That one is stationary. Use a rod for the other side to give you access.

If you need office space buy 3 bookcases. One that fits the lower part of the back wall of the alcove. One that stands on top of it and takes up as much of the upper wall as you can. One that stands at the opening to the alcove on the short wall, and comes about half way across the opening, that also serves as a room divider. If it has an ugly back staple on fabric or a bamboo shade, or....Put the table that is in there, now the desk, against the short wall. Get attractive office storage containers and organize your stuff on the bookshelves.

It can work.

I think a round table would be best - center it more in the space rather than close to the window. I think having a generous traffic space around the table without having to duck under the sloped ceiling makes a big difference. I would keep that small white desk in that nook, but perhaps have it so when you are sitting at it you face the sloping ceiling. Lastly, warm up the space with fabric curtains at the window, cushions, an area rug, etc.

I thin you should turn the wooden table around so that one short end is inside the window nook, flush against the wall. If you need the sitting space, you can put the leaf in (assuming it has one), or you can squeeze a low bookcase between the table and wall to have it come out more ( extra storage).

Those white panels look like the opening to a storage space, so I assume you want to preserve access to them?

The next easy things to do are to move the mop and brrom someplace less visible, and move the trashcan around the corner of that wall divider thing, so that's it's less visible when you are sitting and eating.

Is that column just a column, or is it an enclosing wall? I can't tell from the photos, but if I new the layout, I could suggest something for the far end, by the smaller window. (Where is the frig?)

The main impression I got from this space is that it looks very unlived it...like no one loves it enough to decorate it in any way. Some cheap options: a few houseplants by the big window, some art, a few textiles would go a long way.

If you want to add a shelf along the windowsill, you might try mounting it with upside-down brackets, so that you would be drilling just into the wooden window trim, and not into the tile.

(BTW, do you like the tile? Or hate it?)

And I second (or...fifth) the idea of putting a cute storage unit where the white table is now. It could hold your dishes, since you don;t have upper cabinets.

Also, maybe try mounting an Ikea Kludd noticeboard over the stove to protect the wall from steam and heat:

http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/10114874

As someone who relishes a good decorating challenge, someone blessed with a stubborn, never-say-die attitude when it comes to beautifying on a budget; I can state beyond a doubt that nothing can be done to save this odd kitchen.

Apply the money & effort for other rooms in the apartment, instead.

Thanks so much for all the comments so far-- this is so great! The column is an enclosing wall, and goes all the way to the end of the far wall. The fridge is in yet another nook at the end of the row of stove/sink & cupboards though I'm now interested to measure if it could fit in the large sloped nook. The white cupboards are storage but we could put a table over them since we don't access them much. The tile is a bit of a drag but there are some other plain walls I could decorate as some people have mentioned.

- emma

I think the space needs color and/or a focal point. Also, all those angular surfaces and tile are kind of... cold. I'm thinking that color and fabric will give you the most bang for your buck:

1) Paint walls or table or chairs (I would do chairs in a teal to match the tile trim).
2) Kitchen herbs
3) Curtains
4) Lightweight artwork hung with tacky sticky gummy stuff or adhesive hooks
5) Desk lighting. Even a paper lantern would work.

I would add the following:

A big basket for broom and cleaning supplies. Keeps them in one place but doesn't let them touch other storage items. Try Cost Plus World Market or Pier One.

A long runner in front of the stove/work surface would be visually warming. Get jute or a natural fiber that's tough.

The wall above the kitchen workspace could do with some visual interest. You don't need to cover all the breadth between counter and the end of sloping wall; just break up the monotony.

Move the trash can around the corner, into the long area, and use the freed up space for a tall standing shelf for anything you like, or a plant or floor lamp for softer light.

Good luck.

I like the suggestion about the diner theme, and putting a banquette in the window niche, and upholster the chair seats to match it. I can see 14" deep steel or powdercoat silvery restaurant-type shelving on the tall wall of the awkward niche, maybe with the white table (if it's narrow enough) placed across from it for additional prep space, with the trashcan beside or underneath. How about a blackboard to carry through the diner theme? And some turquoise/mint green decorative items shouldn't be too hard to find.

I would also suggest painting the white cabinet the same color as the tile to try to make it disappear.

There was a smallest coolest entry that was similarly shaped -- the homeowners painted the cut-out area in black and the rest of the walls in white and used white furniture. It was simple but sophisticated.

I don't remember the title of the entry, but maybe some other ATer does.

I agree with playing up the teal- But i think a reading nook/banquet would be cool. Instead of moving the table into that area build a platform about seat height inside if that space, make a simple large pad for the top- throw in some pillows and its a private lounge/reading nook, then you can pull the table up to it and use it as bench style seating when you need extra room. I also think that bold fabrics would be the best for the space. Using any neutral is just going to make the space look even more sterile than it does now!

Emma, if the fridge is at the end near the sink, that's probably where you want to leave it, as it's very convenient for food prep.

As for colors, I think definitely include red as an accent color. I love red teal color combo, and it will really warm up the space.

Condolences on all that tile. Wow, makes things much more challenging.

I agree with both making the angular nook into storage and using some teal in your decor. You could either stack small thrift store (or maybe Ikea) shelves that fit the space, and paint them a unifying color, or simply hang a curtain and fit any furniture that works (stacked crates, even) behind it. Either cover the whole nook or only the back half of it...

(Command hooks by 3-M should support a curtain cut on a diagonal without hurting the tile. I'd hem the fabric, gather the fabric for fullness straight across (parallel with the hem) temporarily, then pin and sew on a strip of fabric on a diagonal the length of the opening, cut the gathered fabric along the strip, and attach loops to hook onto the evenly spaced hooks. Pull out the gathering thread. ) (Or, easier yet, gather the fabric and staple gun to a strip of wood and velcro it along that edge of the wall.)

If you stack shelves, I'd paint them teal or any bright clear color that you like -- nothing too grayed or brownish with the color of your tiles.

Maybe you could find a storage bench to use as a banquette with a table, to position under the angled wall. (If you are sitting, the angle might not seem so confining.)

If you curtain the nook, you could use the same fabric for curtains or valances on the windows to carry the color around the room.

What would be ideal would be fabric that has the teal, beige and white of the tiles in it -- then add another (maybe citrus) accent color. That would make the tiles seem to make more sense. (Actually, since aqua and brown/beige were a popular combination recently, I'll bet you can find fabric in discount stores... Home Goods comes to mind. )

I'd keep furniture in small scale and not too fussy in detail, maybe painted white.

Good luck!

Well, to start, you need to get some nice curtains to give the place a homier feel. I'd also suggest a wall sconce or two, or even a small pendant light. Lighting can do wonders in even the smallest of spaces.