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Home Improvement Articles
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Making
The Most of Kitchen Space
December 28, 2011
In New York City, the kitchen is oftentimes
the epicenter of the home. It’s not only where
meals are prepared – it is often where meals
are served. Furthermore, old or peculiar construction
often leaves New York City dwellers with small
and oddly shaped kitchen spaces. So, when
in the position to do a kitchen
remodel, many homeowners make the decision
to give their kitchen space a makeover that
makes the most use of available space and
often even makes the space appear much bigger
than it actually is.
In a small kitchen space, the most important
factor is layout. When possible, opening up
the space and creating doorways that allow
for easy traffic in and out of the kitchen
space will maximize the use of the area. Too
many doors into a kitchen can actually cause
confusion and crowdedness, and it can limit
the amount of workspace in the kitchen itself.
Light and reflective tiles,
flooring,
and cabinetry
will make for a brighter space that feels
bigger. Further, cabinetry holds the potential
to add a lot to the space by way of appearance
even in its design. Many small kitchens are
square and offer only right angles. Utilizing
rounded shelving to punctuate cabinetry will
soften the harsh angles created by the cabinets
and will give the room a less rigid appearance.
Further, open shelving can give the kitchen
an open look and also create easy access to
certain items such as glasses or dishes.
A custom lazy susan placed within the kitchen
is a great way to save space and increase
function. Because the lazy susan rotates,
it’s perfect for items you need easy access
to such as bowls, pots, pans, and other small
appliances.
Outlets are of importance, especially in modern
kitchens. To maximize the use of a kitchen
space, install outlets within existing structures
such as at the end of a countertop
or butcher block. This makes it easy to plug
in kitchen appliances such as blenders, toasters,
or slow cookers.
An L-Shaped breakfast nook or snack counter
that allows for side access to the kitchen
is one way to maximize workspace and open
the kitchen up to the rest of the home. This
is especially useful in New York City apartments
where the kitchen and living space are shared
as it creates a barrier between the two areas
without making either space feel smaller.
If a small pantry or broom closet exists within
the kitchen space, consider re-imagining it
to be either an open pantry or a small area
for plugging in appliances. Opening up a space
and furnishing it with tiles to match the
rest of the kitchen will make a functional
nook within the kitchen that can incorporate
further countertop workspace, cabinetry or
shelves for storage, and outlets for appliances
used within the kitchen space.
With careful care to every bit of the kitchen
space, a remodel has the potential to change
a small area into one that feels larger and
more functional. |
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