apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Ikea is great at tiny kitchens! I finished mine in january - it's 9 cabinets total and it's totally *cute* and fuctional. plus it was under $1000. What size appliances are you thinking?

I am wondering why replace the range and sink? They both look fine to me if they still function. Think about painting the walls/ceiling, adding a backsplash (it would be good feng shui to make it a mirror -- at least behind the range) and changing the wall cabinets to others or even open shelves (depending on your storage needs). Upgrading the lighting will also make a big difference.

You probably want to stay conscious of the budget - so I'm thinking a butcher block countertop; Ikea carries that and a whole lot of other stuff that would be cost and size appropriate for a rental. Some inexpensive paint would make a world of difference too - that white and gray mix is very cold looking.

Hmm...I wonder, can one glue vinyl flooring "tiles" to the wall? I live in a rental and have decided to paint my kitchen, but instead of putting up tiles behind the kitchen sink, would vinyl flooring work? That might be a cost-effective solution to drab walls.

Steve-O, they make cutable vinyl/plastic backsplashes that will look just as terrible as putting paste floor tiles up on the wall. I have both in my kitchen. Well, maybe not as terrible--it would be to scale for one thing, and probably easier to get nice colors. You might want to look into that. Supposedly the tin/copper panel pieces are easy to put up too.

Aviva -- good luck with your kitchen rennovation. I second the idea of doing an Ikea kitchen with Traemand. They can help you with the space planning and help make the Ikea process a bit less bewildering, though it will always be very intense.

An Ikea tip I learned this time last year when I was re-doing my kitchen: Ikea is very crowded and at it's most difficult to shop just after the new catalog comes out. My Ikea catalog came in the mail last week, so this might not be the greatest time for an Ikea adventure. If you can swing it, go during the week.

While Traemand can help with space planning and Ikea parts, you should look other places for color and design inspiration. You can click my name to read a post I recently did that explained how Julia Child's kitchen colors inspired my kitchen re-do.

Also, the NY Times does an annual round up of budget apartment kitchen fixes. They are full of ideas, vendor names and budget suggestions.

Steve-O,
A local architect used vinyl tiles as a wall covering in a building here and it looked like crap. I think part of the problem was that they get the same finish (and wax) as the floor. I would avoid it.

Steve, Old fashioned eiling tin makes a great backsplash. So does beadboard. Both are inexpensive, easy to cut to size, and can be painted any color.

we did a great kitchen from lowe's – they subcontract out the actual construction but they take responsibility for the whole project. that said, i don't know if i'd recommend them because their contractor never shut up! (he could've finished in half the time if he showed up at 9, kept off his cellphone, and didn't leave at 3:30!)

home depot expo (where we got our bathroom materials) offers a similiar service.

I agree with the others - IKEA is a great resource for what you need and you could definitely find products that would fit a kitchen of your size. Try their Kitchen Planner tool.
http://www.ikea.com/ms/en_US/complete_kitchen_guide/planner_tool/download/index.html

I agree with everyone - Ikea is a great place for small kitchens and the prices are worth it. If you want to stay in style of a pre-war building there are lots of choices and lots of great places to look starting with all the classice b&w movies. Pre-war, kitchens were viewed as utiliarian, they were distinctly separate spaces from living. Doesn't mean they weren't attractive - but cleanliness and order were important. If you want to stay in style with the building here are some thoughts ...
Something like the Ikea Adel cabinets with a butcher block or stainless countertop would be close. I'd stay with a painted cabinet look over wood for an apartment of this period. My last place had an original stainless sink/drainboard that was gorgeous.
For a traditional hardware look -- check out Restoration Hardware's Classic Hardware line, Hoosier Pulls and Utility Pulls - then go find the same somewhere else (i.e. hardware store) for less. I would use the satin nickel finish .. but the antique brass would work too if you prefer the gold tone metals.
If the range works keep it unless you need something smaller to get more cabinets. Sink is hopefully fine but you may want to hunt on craigs list for a deal on a good faucet.
Hope this helps!! Good Luck

Thanks so much for all you comments, suggestions and tips. They are very helpful. It sounds like I should revisit Ikea and start thinking about lighting and painting. The appliances all still work, and the new ones will need to be approximately the same size because there's so little room, but I'd like to get the kitchen redone because it looks shabby. If I fail again this time, I'm going to wait until Maxwell's life settles down and then ask for his help.
Aviva

Before you call a contractor, you need a Style Tray. The contractor/designer can't tell you what you like. Go spend some time with magazines that cover kitchen design. Get the print brochures from cabinet companies, too.

Also, work on a list of what bothers you about the current kitchen. In a rental, I'd think twice about doing much beyond paint and maybe new flooring. Are you committed enough to staying long-term that the costs of a full kitchen rehab are sensible in relation to your rent and your alternatives? I wouldn't budget less than $7,000 for a full kitchen rehab in an old building in NYC, and I'm a cheapskate, with a husband who can be bullied into DIY work.

If you're determined to replace cabinets, IKEA's prices are a bargain, and the styles are chic. Don't buy handles from the cabinet-maker; you can always get a better deal on handles buying them yourself.

there are people all over the city who would kill for that stove. if you do gut it, you could easily sell it on ebay, or at the very least make a very nice gift to a restorationist via the craigslist 'free' section.

I wish I can remember which issue it was but Domino magazine had a feature on two kitchens done entirely with Ikea but with clever upgrades/touches that made it look custom. That might be a good place to start, even to see how others have used Ikea creatively.

Good luck!

Aviva, so sorry to have highjacked your thread! Thanks for the suggestions all! I really appreciate it! I also thought about just doing some textured painting on the walls in the sink area so I'll give it some more thought. Anyway, I'll be sending in my very own picture and question thread very soon! :)

My wife and I are in the process of renovating our
tiny Manhattan apartment. Bet our kitchen is smaller than your kitchen!

"The Kitchen Couple" exclusively design and install Ikea Kitchens in the New York area. Their intimate knowledge of Ikea cabinetry enable them to come up with creative uses of small spaces.
http://www.thekitchencouple.com/

Summit, Avanti and Premier all make affordable
24" stoves. Try http://www.ajmadison.com

Good luck!

In case IKEA doesn't work out, like an earlier poster I also used Lowe's for my kitchen renovation. They were absolutely awesome. Cheaper than individual contractors I had contacted, extremely responsive and helpful, and their subcontractor finished the job in half the time they alotted (which was already a fraction of the time others had estimated).

the advantage of an ikea kitchen is the awesome hinges and drawers etc you get for so cheap.

but paint can sure do a LOT if your cabinets are in good shape and if you like the layout already.

Also, I just got an email from Build It Green.

They have a great deal on basic white (recycled) kitchen cabinets right now:
http://www.bignyc.org/

A word of caution: If you plan to use recycled cabinets, you need excellent measurements and a contractor who is on board for that approach (or very good DIY skills). There's a bit more of a logic puzzle to it than to having new cabinets installed.

I'd totally do it, for the right cabinets, but it's not a no-brainer.

just a word on vinyl tiles as a backsplash. Please don't do it. We had them in our last apartment (because the landlord was cheap), and they had serious problems staying up. The heat and moisture generated in a kitchen is too much for the glue on those self-stick tiles. That, and vinyl looks like total crap on the walls.

The big thing you need to ask yourself is what do you want to accomplish with the reno - e.g., a cosmetic update, more storage space, better appliances, etc.

For example, when I redid my own (admittedly somewhat larger) 50's formica kitchen I wanted to get a new look that was easier for me to keep clean (white is not my friend in a kitchen!), add a built-in dishwasher and replace cranky appliances and increase storage space. My floor was in bad condition, my cabinets didn't suit my needs and I needed some plumbing and electric done so I ended up spending around $20K on a gut reno and new appliances.

Once you've figured out what your goals are you can prioritize. For example, if the cabinets are sufficient but the appliances are bad you might be able to just swap out the appliances, repaint the cabinets and replace the hardware, which could easily be done under $5K. If cabinets and floors are all bad you're looking at more of a gut reno.

In this case I think that would be excessive however, especially considering you're in a rental - do you really want to be inconvenienced for a couple months? Just judging from what I see here, I would recommend you keep the lower cabinets, but replace the top cabinets with IKEA cabinetry with frosted glass doors, to provide a more contemporary open feeling. If your current cabinets do not go all the way to the ceiling, get the tallest cabinets that you can fit into the space and have them go all the way up - it will make your ceilings seem higher and provide more storage.

Assuming you probably want even more storage in a kitchen this size, I would also recommend that you add some storage rails under the cabinets for hanging utensils and so forth - Ikea offers systems that include gadgets for your prominently displayed paper towels and even a small dish drainer (although it doesn't hold much). This would also make a backsplash irrelevant, I would advise you just to paint that area a pretty color first.

You should also see if you can add any shelving to your other wall, which isn't shown here. Given the narrow width I think you would need to put them pretty high up on the wall, this is a good area to store pretty china you don't mind displaying and don't use all the time. If there's room between the windows a wallmounted flip-down table could provide more food prep area plus a place to breakfast.

In terms of your appliances I would update to the much-maligned stainless for at least your stove, it usually seems higher-end and will blend well with your gray counter. I would keep the fridge white to blend in with the rest of your cabinets.

And while I can't see your floor, in a kitchen this small with what seems to be a pretty standard rectangular area you should be able to just cover it with a rug. I used Chilewich mats for this in my old apartment, FLOR tiles in a fun vibrant color could be another approach although perhaps not a good solution if you tend to spill.

The changes I suggested should be very doable on a $5K budget or less, and the only thing that really requires any kind of real help is the top cabinetry. Hope this helps!

Again, thanks everyone, for taking the time and for your good suggestions. I am definitely going to revisit Ikea and see if I can make more sense of it this time. eeeck, you describe perfectly what is on the opposite wall --- shelves up to the top and colorful china displayed. How did you know?

I actually would like to add my question onto this post. I live in a rental apartment with these same cabinets and they worry me. They always get hot and stickylike when I'm cooking anything on the stove. Is there any painted cover I can add that will make them more kitchen appropriate?

Also, the bottom of them are magnetic. Does anyone have ideas for magnetic hooks or something I can put under them to save space? It is a very small space so I would love to make the best use of every part.

I think the reason I thought of it is that one of my friends has the almost the exact same layout kitchen (his is a little bigger and has a fullsize fridge at the exposed wall). And that's exactly what he has, a high shelf with china on it! All great minds think alike ;-).

He lives in the Smith Street area of Brooklyn as does another friend of mine also with virtually the same layout as yours (he also has a half-height fridge but his counter area seems a bit longer). Maybe you are all neighbors!

i can suggest the 'step-by-step' if you liked to try diy one more time:
- know your style/ know what you like: contemporary, minimalism, artsy, etc.
- know your budget
- sort through magazines or websites: pick kitchen pics that you like. ask yourself why you like it? which element that you like? or i love that cabinet door, table...
- measure your kitchen
- compile little packet of your kitchen info (plan, layout, measurements, photos, select magazine pics, budget breakdown, other details)
- go to home furnishing stores (i agree with ikea, etc), show the associate the packet and measurements and they should be able to show you something. if you couldn't find anything at ikea, try other places (go to their website first to get an idea on what they carry in store)
- start with bigger furniture/ appliances: (re)paint the color of your kitchen (i myself love white for kitchen), change the upper cabinet doors to dramatically change the spatial nuance, maybe buy new stainless steel fridge or stove (if you like and want those), or maybe wine corner if you're an ultimate wine person (feel free to pick a kithchen piece that defines who you are)
- accessorize your kitchen after you're done with the big pieces: maybe plants, glass collection, cooking utensils, screen monitor/radio for your kitchen, whatever you like
- have fun and don't be afraid to start! after all, that's your kitchen.

good luck!! :)

The cabinets in this picture prompted me to write this group with a sidebar question; I've inherited a kitchen with this type of metal cabinet, but the doors haven't been cleaned -- at all -- in years. They look like the ones in this picture, but covered with the smudges seen here.

Can anyone suggest a cleaner I can buy to just make them presentable/hygienic-looking?

Thank you all. BTW, I have a friend who re-did her kitchen in IKEA, with a contractor. Not only did it look terrific, but it's still in good shape years later.

Marilyn-
You might consider the Mr. Clean sponges. I've had great luck with them cleaning up old grease and grime. They might help your cabinets look a little more sanitary.

Good luck!

Aviva, I just wanted to add to all of the IKEA props with a suggestion that you look specifically at their freestanding UDDEN line. It works perfectly in a small kitchen, reasonably priced, excellent quality, and you can set everything up yourself in a day or two (though you might need a plumber to help with the sink hookup). I recently put a couple of the units in the tiny kitchen in my Victorian rowhouse, and it's working out great.

Here are a couple of pictures:
http://www.doorsixteen.com/ikeafans/annakitchen5.jpg
http://www.doorsixteen.com/ikeafans/annakitchen6.jpg

This is my first post, after lurking for a while. I love this site!
Terrific thread, and good luck, Aviva. I agree that replacing the upper cabinets would help a lot, and maybe the countertop. This need not cost a lot at IKEA, though you'll need to find an honest installer -- maybe your super or a handyman in the neighborhood?
Re IKEA kitchens: I installed one nearly 20 years ago in my co-op (the previous kitchen was like a horror-movie version of yours). At the time, the closest IKEA store was outside Philadelphia, and I had to borrow a pickup to haul all the cartons to NYC.
I designed the kitchen myself, and put the cabinets together before the contractor installed them. The cabinets themselves are still solid as a rock, but the doors and drawers have started to look ratty. (Cheap veneers!) but I certainly got my money's worth from them.
Now I am looking at replacing the whole kitchen again and wondering what route to take. Going back to IKEA is an option, but I no longer have the time to do all the design, ordering, pickup, etc. Since I also want to renovate my bathroom and reorganize the closets and office area, I'm wondering if I should hire an architect, try to find a designer with kitchen expertise or just track down a contractor who can wave a wand and make everything perfect, at a reasonable price, of course.
I don't want to hijack this thread, but if anybody has thoughts on how to proceed with a renovation in NYC, I'd love your suggestions! I'm willing to spend what it takes to get an attractive, well-designed space, but I'm not willing to drop $30,000 on custom cabinets and $10,000 on a fancy stove. That just seems insane....

You are renting this place. While you want to spend something to make the place more pleasant for yourself, please think twice before spending your hard-earned bucks to line your landlord's pocket. Any new major appliances, flooring, cabinetry or lighting you pay for will be his someday.

Think instead about working with the basics you received, and turning their debits into assets for yourself. Yes, the white and gray look we see in your photo is blah. But what if you went to Home Depot and got yourself two different shades (dark and bright) of the Ralph Louren silvery metallic paints (latex, I assure you) and used them to create a cool new texture on the window wall, all the metal cabinet doors and the ceiling? What if you added venetian blinds in a brush stainless finish to the window? Cool track lighting? How about using mirror tiles above the counter and behind the stove? If you're worried about the adhesive melting and costing you seven years of bad luck (times however many mirrored tiles came crashing down!), how about using the two-toney silver paint effect back there and putting upsome chrome and glass shelves for oft-used spices? Maybe a retro silvery and neon wall clock would be useful as well as fun. Get a white ceramic jar for utensils you use for cooking and keep it near the range, top pull its black and white enamel finish into the decorating scheme. Settle on an accent color and get some mugs, napkins, or decorative items in that color to leave out. You could do all this for under $500 over a weekend. And it would be smash. Use the money you save for high-quality food and nice wines, which you can store in the chrome rack on top of the fridge. Or not. My two cents.

Dear Aviva,
The person to call is Esther Hyneman. She's unbelievably reasonable; she herself is an amazing carpenter (though she doesn't do the work anymore, she once built a house literally with her hands); she works a lot with architects but she also is just terrific at coming up with cheap, wonderful solutions.
She's listed, on E 10th St I think
Joyce

Looks like I'm thinking a little differntly than everyone else on this thread but...
Keep the metal cabinets. They are about as hygenic as they come, ever see wood in a resturant? Get them repainted a color you like.
Look at the SEPTEMBER ISSUE OF BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS. Think outside the box. Its green its clean and it could give you a whole new look.
Just my 2 cents.
David

Traemand are good - but I have found them to very very, VERY slow in responses...I regret giving them my money.