apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Looks like a warehouse. I don't like the plastic bins.

im gonna get the ole stern look from AT but...

i can't..can't can't put my mind around this concept.
it looks like a kitchen in a third world factory.

maybe if the bins were all one color?
color on the walls?
creative shelves?

its lacking something.

I agree with you, bellanollie. It's lacking warmth! Makes me chilly just looking at this pic.
There is a general dinginess that really helps along the third world factory feel. The floor is grim.

I swear just looking at this I can smell that distinctive whiff of hotel kitchen, and, wait, yes, also hear the echoey clanking and clinking and shouting chefs.... no, this is really not good.

My opinion is in line with everyone else's.

The plastic reminds me of student milk-crate furnishings.

To put on some positive...I might see this as a second basment kitchen installation. And it might work for me IF the elements were primarily salvage/found.

I am the opposite. I love this idea. I do agree that it needs some more color in the room. Maybe if the tiles were different colors or the wall was a crazy hue, then it would work for me better

maybe if you put up salvage/found art..
on the wall..

i just need something to visually pull me in instead of visually giving me the boot.

It's bringing back memories of being a waitress. I'd prefer to have a homey kitchen... instead of one that made me feel like I was on the clock.

This leaves me cold.

I love the concept, but boyohboy do I feel like swapping out those plastic crates for wood fruit crates! (Like so.)

I'm all for recycling when it comes to design, but I agree with the above comments. I find this space cold, uninspiring, and kind of depressing.

A few things I'd do to spice it up:

1. Paint!

2. Add some interesting upper-level cabinets or shelving. Ikea?

3. New floors. Nothing that would break the bank - but some nice tile, laminate or even vinyl would be great.

4. This is a little detail, but a big one for me - A new faucet. (The one in the pic looks like the 20-year-old bargain-basement faucet that was in my first bargain-basement apartment.

5. Somehow visually unifying all the lower bins. Painting them all the same color maybe?

I do like the clear shelving below the sink. It looks clean and airy. (But the frame could use a little help).

Kudos for keeping recycling in mind when designing your space!

ohhhhhhhhhh wood crates...score!

This photo makes me feel so sad. Do they need a charitable donation? Someone call Worldvision!

Anna at D16 - Thanks for the link! That was great. I could see myself utilizing these ideas in my boys' room!

Very similar to the soup kitchen I volunteered in over the holidays.

Velcom to de prison's kitchen. Your grool will be ready shortly.

Hi!

I just stumbled over this thread. I am the guy who created this kitchen together with my romana suitner.

I guess a lot of the critics around here may build on the rather poor photos shown here. On the other hand you have to keep in mind that we build this kitchen without any money. Two students with a kid... what should I say;)
Regarding the lack of colour and agility I would like to remind you all that if you take a closer look, you want notice any articles of daily use. The reason is that I took this photo right after we finished it.
We understand architecture as the BASIS for agility and liveliness. On a daily grind, we had lots of fruits, vegetables, random stuff and sometimes even flowers standing around. This alone added enough color and deviation.
And one more thing that might explain our concept a bit. The kitchen had only one rather small window, that faced towards the staircase, that had another small window facing into a small corona, facing north. So we had basically no natural light. Starting to clutter the walls, would have meant to decrease the amount of reflected natural light. And this was no option!
Our attitude is closly linked to the words of famous austrian architect Roland Rainer, who says:"Architecture is about attaining the biggest effect/ impact, throught the least effort".
All materials used are eighter found on the streets of vienna or purchased for little money at the hardware store.
Have a nice day.