One of the most common small kitchen complaints is lack of counter space. One quick, easy, and generally inexpensive option is to add counter space with a free-standing addition. Check out some examples from past kitchen tours:
Freestanding pieces like this can break up the monotony of a single countertop material and provide extra space with added versatility. They can also act as a stop-gap until a more permanent (and expensive) solution is planned, saved for, and installed.
FIRST ROW:
• 1 A tall, farmhouse-style table provides extra drawers and countertop space in Ashley's Bright and Efficient Kitchen
• 2 The butcher block island in Scott and Ray's Colorful 10-Year Renovation provides an alternative to working on the kitchen's built-in tile counter surfaces.
• 3 The free-standing wooden cabinet in Tamar's Labor of Love Renovation is at just the right height for a few of her countertop appliances.
• 4 Another workhorse buther block island from Harry and Taylor of Brooklyn Kitchen
• 5 Always-important stove-adjacent countertop space is provided by a small cart in Eric Gower's Breakaway Kitchen with Annex
SECOND ROW:
• 6 A high glass-topped table acts as breakfast bar and island in Stephen's Kitchen Improv
• 7 A wheeled stainless island breaks up the wide-open space in the middle of Chris and Heather's Serene and Hippie Kitchen
• 8 One more view of Ashley's Bright and Efficient Kitchen, this time looking at the small wooden cart on wheels. It sits next to her range to provide countertop space and extra drawered storage.
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These are really nice examples - however, for those like me whose lack of countertop space is a result of a lack of, well... SPACE, I'd love to see another post on examples that don't need square footage in the kitchen. Say, fold down tables or pull out/pull down shelves that might help? I'd love an island or a freestanding butcherblock, but there's just no room for it.
I've been contemplating an old-style ironing board-type pull down shelf for additional counter space when I need it. Thoughts? Ideas?
I have the same problem, keltrue. Would love to see some creative examples for those who's kitchens afford no extra floor space!
I'm having the same problem as the above two commenters... i have nowhere to PUT my free-standing counter addition!
i agree. when i had a tiny kitchen, i used a folding dish rack and put it away when it was empty. paper towels attached to a holder under the cabinet and my microwave stayed on a cart outside the kitchen (in my entry/dining area) where I also stored extra trays and fruit bowl on top and table linens below. it was all about editing. items that stretch over the sink might also be good (like cutting boards). i had to be meticulous about putting things away and it really did work well for me. i still love that tiny kitchen.
In our tiny dollhouse of an apartment, the narrow little kitchen (which clearly used to be a coat closet or an extra-small butler's pantry or something else cramped and tucked away) barely affords space for a dishrack and our utensil holders, with about a square foot left over for food prep and serving. I improvise counter space by:
- doing prep and mise en place atop a big wooden cutting board, which allows me to transfer the entire operation at a moment's notice to the top of the stove (if cool), to the table in the front room, or anywhere else in the apartment. In a pinch, I can even balance the big cutting board on the dishrack or tuck it into the (cool) oven.
- placing a small cutting board across a pulled-out drawer, which allows me to put small items there or to put a plate there for serving.
- putting a cutting board or large cookie sheet over one of our two sinks, which makes instant counter space.
In an old apartment, I used the fold-out ironing board as counter space: pull it out, throw a tablecloth or tea towel over it, and use it for serving, for a buffet, or as a staging area for prep work. It was a great addition to that tiny kitchen.
I have the same island from the first (and last) photo. With limited tile counter space in my apartment I needed more baking room and the wooden top is perfect. And the drawers hide all of my cookie cutters and other baking things. Most random K-Mart Martha Stewart purchase ever!
Only problem is that with the island there you can't access the cupboards it's parked in front of.
This kitchen with the worktable blocking access to the lower cabinets bothers me as much now as it did the first time it was posted.