I don't technically live in a studio. But you'd never know that by looking at the size of my kitchen. I have literally two feet of usable counter space, one foot on each side of the sink. Yet somehow, my boyfriend and I have made it work.
We've regularly thrown parties for 15+ people (during which our guests marvel at our synchronized preparation), and cook or bake at home on a fairly consistent basis. Like all other forms of small living, the trick is to make the most of what you have and to eliminate all that you don't really need. For me, it's also about keeping the color palette tight (since most everything we have is out and will be seen) and reigning in the impulse to buy appliances that I can do without. (I would love to have Kitchen-Aid stand mixer, but can't afford the space to store it.)
The owners of these studio kitchens from our House Tours understand the effort it takes to live large in a small space. Some have older kitchens with architectural quirks, and some have done their best to add quirk to an otherwise bland space. (One even had to go so far as to carve out a kitchen where there previously wasn't one!) But each has designed their kitchen with style, ingenuity and care.
First Row:
• Shelby's Sophisticated Studio Loft
• Haleigh's Charming Parisian Kitchen
• Rodellee's Tiny Vintage Studio
• Ann's East Village Aerie
• Nina's Styled Studio
Second Row:
• Ryan's Georgetown Vintage Americana
• Alexandra's Petite First Place
• Amy's Dashing Details
• Jose's Super Small & Stylish 275 Square Foot Apartment
• Ailin's Serene TriBeCa Abode
(Images: as linked above)











White Enamel Flatwa...
Ya think a full size cooker, or a twin sink constitutes small. When IKEA tells you they can't work with your space - then we are talking small!
These are all so lovely, and not a stainless steel appliance between them.
The first kitchen I had was 4 ft by 6 ft. The tiny stove and fridge, and the deep fired clay sink and a wooden Victorian drainboard left only a space of about 2ft x3 ft in which to cook. The only counterspace was a board measuring 2 ft by 9 inches that folded down against the wall. Fortunately, I was tiny because I had only had 15 inches to stand in when the 'counter' was up.
We had dinner parties. I baked a lot (tho' I had to roll pastry on the dining table in another room.) Although I wouldn't willingly return to that kitchen, it made me understand how efficient small kitchen can be. I've never had, nor wanted, a huge kitchen.
Also, now I want a Smeg fridge.
These don't all look small - some look downright spacious!
Small is one thing. Small and having a toilet 3 feet away from your kitchen? Ugh!
The giraffe print is from Sharon Montrose. You can see her work at 20x200 and on her own site shop.
We have several Sharon montrose prints in our children's art room. Her photographs are so fun.
These are all fantastic. I'm totally digging the chalkboard backsplash in the third photo. I wonder how it would handle the odd splatter from the stove.
My little kitchen layout is comparable with the layout of the second photo minus the wall on the left where the table is. I've got a huge kitchen island that is badly positioned and is scheduled for replacement with a small table and two chairs. I just wish I had the natural light of this one in the photo.
Those kitchens are not small. A kitchen with a single metal cabinet, not a single drawer and barely room for a dish drainer is small.
a toilet practically in the kitchen!? yuck!
@muahree haters gunna hate lol. I love this place, I can weave dreams in this place and make them into reality.