Nikki's San Francisco Kitchen with Character Small Cool Kitchens 2010 - Rent Division

Who cooks here? Nik and John
Location: San Francisco, CA
Owned or rented? Rented
Kitchen size: 60 square feet

What challenge have you overcome in your kitchen? We added counter space by adding a stainless steel shelving unit for our microwave and toaster oven which also cleverly hides the gas line to the oven. We also put in some shelving units for plates and pots. We accessorized to add some color in the kitchen like our yellow pegboard for our knives, a bright red tea kettle as well as our vintage La Gardo Tackett coffee pot.

Give Nikki a THUMBS UP if you think this kitchen belongs in the finals!
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What's the story of your kitchen?
The kitchen was a typical San Francisco kitchen, small but it had some character. It was very plain with generic off-white walls, cabinets and white appliances. There wasn't much counter space and storage space except for a few cabinets so we had to be creative by adding these as soon as we moved in.

What is your favorite meal to cook here?
Definitely breakfast for dinner. Eggs, pancakes, coffeecakes, etc. I also love to bake. I make cakes and cookies that I almost always end up bringing to work. John loves my oatmeal chocolate chip cookies.

Go to Small Kitchens contest page and see all entries so far

Comments (17)

I love this kitchen - it is so chic, clean, elegant and simple. And it seems like something I could do myself. Is that a water kettle on the stovetop? What kind is it? I love the splashes of red.

I love this kitchen! It's cool and calm, but you know you can find everything you need in it!
I'm curious to see the rest of the house, is that a triple Nelson lamp? Very intriguing...

What a great space to work in and what lovely radishes to work with. I love the eating space with what must be a great view.
Nice job.

John & Nik, I love your kitchen! It is so simply put together, the colorful accessories throughout on top of white backdrop are very elegant & something that any renter could easily do to make an apartment their own. A skylight in the kitchen also adds such great lighting. A very unique space!

Thanks for all the comments and the thumbs up everyone!
Sousani: the water kettle is from Staub.
benayse: Yes, that's a vintage George Nelson bubble lamp :)
Thanks for the love Joand and echat35!

I love this kitchen! All is in the open, but very well organized. I love the top shelf, it's space saving and showcases your pots.

Where did you get that awesome wine rack?

Hi jmypike - the wine rack is a vintage Paul McCobb designed from the 50's. Thanks for the thumbs up!

Great job with the use of space. Though small makes you want to hang out and just chat while someone cooks.

Thanks thesmilequeen and Lizliterarius!

Our landlord is really strict as to what stuff we can do with our space and his main thing was no painting, no changing the floors, no messing with the appliances so we were limited with what we can do. He was ok with us putting some shelving though which was great as we really needed more storage space. I think accessorizing with color was the key to making the kitchen more alive rather than blah!

Cute kitchen guys! Very nice, neat and comtemporary. Very good use of space considering the restrictions you have from your landlord. Well done!

Nice kitchen layout!! I like what you did with the microwave. I have no microwave and this idea just may work for my kitchen space too.

Very cute kitchen. We do owe you a visit to your humble abode one of these days.

where did you get the shelving? how did you know it would hold the weight of those heavy plates?

*91styale : I think the shelves are from IKEA. I know they sell ones that look like that.

I love this kitchen and wish you had won. It is a "real life" kitchen. With much (renter) added style. I love the Staub teapot. I think that will be the next addition to my Staub collection because yours looks so great! And the yellow knife wall is a great idea. Maybe I'll copy that idea. . . Thanks!