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Smallest Coolest Kitchen 2007 Entry #13: Julie's Studio Rental

Name: Julie
Location: Boston, MA
Size & Type: Studio is 540 square feet total

Favorite resource: This kitchen is almost 100% IKEA but all made from materials we expect will last.

Inspiration: The last resident had a great relationship with my family. We were hoping to find a new person who we could get along with...

2007_04_26-SCC13-Julie02.jpg

Inspiration, continued: ... Knowing how it feels to rent from someone who doesn't keep their property looking good, we thought that fixing up the kitchen would be a good first step to building that sort of relationship again.

2007_04_26-SCC13-Julie03.jpg

Tip: Some free standing kitchen units from IKEA can hold cooktops. Just cut a hole in the top.

- Julie

Comments (16)

Where is the oven?

posted by mfm on 2007-04-26 13:14:15
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The room looks lovely as a whole, but I can't understand why you would waste all of that wall space with the minimal open shelving you've chosen. The whole apartment is pretty small, so any added storage would be helpful. I would have opted for cabinets to the ceiling, but if you like the open look, you could certainly have installed more usable shelving. Style's nice, but in a kitchen form should really follow function.

posted by alex723 on 2007-04-26 13:32:21
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How is this a kitchen? It's a cute space but I can't see how you can cook here.

posted by daylight3 on 2007-04-26 13:37:28
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I can't give a high vote to what is clearly an advertisement.

posted by quercus on 2007-04-26 13:51:24
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why 3 pix of the same wall? Is there some more storage on the other side of that counter?

posted by labchick on 2007-04-26 13:51:59
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I like the look of the kitchen - spare and open - but would never be able to a) keep it that way or b) cook in it. There doesn't seem to be an oven. :( Overall, though, way to make a space look really nice. I wish my landlord would do something similar. I HATE my ugly cabinets.

posted by tara1979 on 2007-04-26 13:52:33
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Wow, it looks like a great start, but that's just it - it's missing an oven, and more storage space. I like the painted brick wall, that looks awesome - and I love the floors.

From experience: living in a small studio w/that kind of door always creeped me out safety wise - and I had no way to cover all those little windows until I found two huge magnets to 'hang' a sheer up on the back of the door. just saying...

Looks good so far though!

posted by buzzybee on 2007-04-26 14:10:28
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Has a meal ever been prepared here?

posted by Mid-C Frank on 2007-04-26 14:56:22
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I think it looks cozy, though I guess it will be up to the tenant to actually decorate it and use it. Seems like those open shelves might get pretty unsightly once they get loaded up with various pots, pans, etc.

posted by sweetverve on 2007-04-26 16:23:37
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I dig spare, but I also dig functionality. The spareness of this is gorgeous, but it doesn't look like a place to cook up a nice meal for a small group of people or even a couple. It looks like the kitchen of someone with a lot of money who eats out most of the time. Not that there's anything wrong with that - but this lacks in functionality just enough to be weird. Beautiful in a forlorn, blank way. Much potential.

posted by Bx on 2007-04-26 19:43:57
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I am a big big fan of the Ikea Udden kitchen system - however, I noticed something that is very unique in your setup - your cooktop is installed onto one of the Udden countertops. I remember Ikea having something like that before but they discontinued it over 2 years ago. Where did you get that Udden from???

posted by Ducati1978 on 2007-04-26 22:02:52
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I just read this:

"Tip: Some free standing kitchen units from IKEA can hold cooktops. Just cut a hole in the top."

What did you use to cut the stainless steel? You should definitely post this on Ikea Hacker. Now I'm wondering if it can hold a full size cooktop rather than a small one that you have there.

posted by Ducati1978 on 2007-04-26 22:05:59
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The Udden line is a great, affordable product line. I am considering using it when I renovate the rental unit in my house.

Depending on the tenant, I'm not sure a full size oven is absolutely necessary. The toaster ovens available these days can offer much of the functionality of an oven...my parents' toaster oven is big enough to roast a chicken! For a baker, it's probably not enough, but I think for a single person, living in a studio, it might suffice. Just my 2 cents on the "where's the oven" comments.

posted by minipanda on 2007-04-27 09:16:52
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Julie,
I was doing some more research on the Udden line and discovered that the cabinet that goes underneath can hold a 24" oven. So if you ever decide to go with one, you can just install it under the cooktop.

posted by Ducati1978 on 2007-04-27 10:13:31
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I lived in a tiny studio once in Boston with no counter space and I prepared great meals on the table, so that I don't see as a problem. This kitchen is palatial, compared to what I had.

But no oven? I wouldn't rent an apartment without an oven. I thought landlords in Boston had to provide a working stove. Or is the minimal requirement a cooktop? Not crusading or anything, just sincerely wondering.

posted by Charlotte on 2007-04-28 07:12:03
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Do you even use this kitchen?

posted by soul on 2007-04-28 11:30:21
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