There is something about James' totally tiny, totally simple kitchen that we find very refreshing. When James renovated his small San Francisco flat, he had to redo the kitchen entirely, but he only had a 5 1/2' x 11' space to work with. Inspired by sailboat galleys, where everything is tucked away neatly and no space is wasted, he created a small yet refreshing kitchen space that works perfectly for him.

James made certain tradeoffs in his 5 1/2' x 11'. He has an extra-slim stove, and a cocktail fridge instead of a full-sized refrigerator. But this has its advantages. He says that his "biggest embarrassment" with his apartment is a "lack of condiments," but this isn't such a bad thing, in the end.

That's because I have a cocktail fridge; a full-size fridge would not fit in my kitchen. Truth be told, I've found that anyone living alone with a real fridge is a wasteful fool. It's an unnecessary energy drain. Small fridges save space for other cool stuff, save loads of electricity, and best of all, force you to eat fresh. They don't hold too much ketchup, but you'll soon find out ketchup is gross anyway.

We would love to open up those cupboards and see how they're all arranged and fitted to that space! This is a tiny yet beautiful city kitchen; what a great place to cook.

• See the full tour: James' Bernal Heights Re-Make/Re-Model at Apartment Therapy

Related: Tiniest Kitchen Ever? Jack's Micro Home

(Images: Philip Maisel)