studio apartment kitchen renovation
I’m in the process of plotting and planning my near future kitchen renovation. Would love to get some ideas from the BT community.
The apartment is about 300 sq.ft., the ceilings are 10-1/2 ft., hardwood floors. I plan to have the cabinets fabricated via Metropolitan Lumber.
I ordered this sink today, along with this faucet, and this soap dispenser, to be installed in a soapstone countertop.
I’m going to keep the stove (20″) for the time being, but will purchase a new refrigerator (19″ wide by 34-1/2″ high).
My budget is about $15K, and I’ll be doing most, if not all, the work myself. I have access to tools/workspace at my house on LI (it’s rented, but the garage is mine).
I want to put a second tier of cabinets, up to the ceiling, but I don’t want to overwhelm the small room.
here are the dimensions, and the doors are set in stone (literally) and can’t be moved. Otherwise, everything else is negotiable. I included a large KB file of the dimensions scan in case any kind soul wants to print it out and try a few sketches.
Much thanks for any and all suggestions/comments.
Marine Engineer
Replies
I've been working on a similar challenge for my place. In my case, I'm starting with a 'galley' kitchen about 8' long, with a pocket in the wall at the end for the fridge. Here are the ideas I'm working with:
The biggest need is for counter space. I have removed part of the wall that formed the 'back' of the kitchen. This opens up the kitchen, similar to yours, and I am building a peninsula where you have that lightweight wood table. This is where the microwave sits; the space under the counter is filled with a rolling tool cabinet (works fine for kitchen tools too!) and the wastebasket.
Along the galley wall, I am improving the efficiency of the layout.
Old: counter > stove > Sink > water heater with counter top pan.
New: Water heater under counter > sink > counter > stove.
As for cabinets: I am using the "SmartWall" system. In essence, this is a series of shelf standards that can support wire mesh, shelves, and cabinets. You can mix & match, and re-arrange at will. For the most part, I will have open shelves.
The first 'tier' of shelves are those at face level, or lower. These are small, specialty hooks and racks. For example, hooks to hang pots, a soap shelf by the faucet, etc. There are some storage shelves in the upper part of this area, but they are rather narrow, at 6".
The second tier is at about eyebrow level, with the shelves 12" deep. This level has two "special" sections to it. Over the sink, the shelf is replaced by an open plate rack; the idea is to let dished drip-dry into the sink below, and store there. Then, over the stove, the shelf is interrupted by the exhaust hood.
The next level, with about 10" of free space between it and the second level, is also 12" deep. The area over the exhaust hood has several shelves stacked more closely together.
The last shelf is 16" deep, and is about 7 ft off the floor. There are no shelves higher than this, even though there is space.
Here are the reasons for this unorthodox approach:
First of all, my experience has shown that much space is not used in traditional cabinets. Cabinets deeper than 12" tend to waste most of the rear space. Shelves higher than you can easily reach don't get uses, and "lose" things in the back of them.
Second ... I looked at what it was that I wished to store. 12" deep suite most appliances well, and also fits the plastic containers that I use to store the flour, sugar, etc. Indeed, I pack most of my 'dry' food into these containers, as they do a good job of keeping food fresh and bug free. The shelves by the stove are spaced for canned goods and "Helper" type mixes.
The top shelf is deeper, because it is intended for the storage of less-used appliances, larger appliances, etc.
I used open wire shelves, as they do make a very real difference in the lighting of the counter.
The cabinets under the counter are, right now, incomplete. I suspect that I will settle on an open counter, with roll-out bins, rather than the usual cabinets. Again, this is determined by what is stored there .... mainly baking pans and soaps. Having the cutlery stored behind you, in that tool cabinet under the microwave, has actually worked out rather well.
The wall area between the counter and the first shelves has shown a real need for easy cleaning. I plan to cover most of it with FRP (or even Formica), with the stove area covered in metal.
You are correct, though ... a proper full size sink is a real necessity.
I like the idea of the drip shelf over the sink; I saw this feature in kitchens in Finland and Sweden, it seemed to be pretty much standard there. I like open shelves, it encourages organization. I want something nicer than the white vinyl covered shelves, though.Marine Engineerfair winds and following seas
That is not a kitchen it is a ....well, compared to being on shipboard, it is probably a luxurious spot to enjoy fine culinary arts!
;)
I Have heard about those city apartments.
Can you try to move the sink left a bit to have some landing space between the range and the sink? Or move the range over to where the wood peninsula top is and increase the work space at the sink area?
I stayed in a friends small apt in Beacon Hill in Boston several times and was kind of shocked at the narrow rooms and high ceilings...I think I would be looking for a way to find or design wall storage that can be pulled down for access and folded back up in on articulated arms for the way high upper cabinets.
Welcome to the
Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
where ...
Excellence is its own reward!
I could move the sink about 10" to the left, which would give 12" b/w the sink and the stove.The peninsula leg comes off and the surface folds down out of the way; I like that feature and would like to maintain that flexibility (I've had guest over, sleeping on inflatable mattresses on the floor ... cramped but better than NYC hotel prices ... and removing the peninsula was key to making that happen). Also, there's no electricity by the peninsula, and that would be a big job to get it there (more than my budget allows.)I'm not opening any walls, or changing electrical configurations, so I don't need to get it inspected, nor do I fall afoul of my co-ops rules.The upper tier of cabinets, I'm looking to store stuff like winter clothes, bulk purchases (paper towels and toilet paper), maybe archived tax papers and the sort, the kind of thing where it wouldn't be a big hassle to have to pull out a step ladder when I want access.But I'm thinking maybe to make the cabinet over the counter a short one, like the existing one over the stove, and put an open shelf where I could store the flour/rice/sugar jars and open up a bit more counter space.Marine Engineerfair winds and following seas
no vent hood?
yeah, no vent hood. There's not one now, and if I were to put one in, it would have to be one of those that recirculate to the room, as I cannot install any ducting.Marine Engineerfair winds and following seas
I would still installl a microwave hood. Except that you would have to change those two wall cabinets over the sink and stove, say, 12" tall? . You can spin the fan around so it blow-dry's your hair.
Here are some double tiered that I built for my loft downtown.
The counter is 3' AFF, and the cabinets start 2' above that (I don't like the standard 18" clearance most kitchens have) Each cube is 2' square, so the top height is 9' AFF, my ceilings are 13' so they still look dwarfed. I also made them deeper than the usual 12" to get extra large plates in them.
We keep stuff we rarely us in the uppers. Made them out of birch ply for a couple of hundred bucks about a dozen years ago. They were always meant as temporary, but I've gotten used to them and never gotten around to replace them.
What brand are you getting from Metropolitan Lumber, I've heard horror stories about cabinets from them, so careful. A relative just renovated her kitchen in a Brooklyn Brownstone with cabinets from a company called Kennebunke. Beautiful douglas fir cabinets, though her budget was probably 10 times yours.
Are you sure they weren't Kennebec Cabinets? That's a high-end shop here in Maine, but they do stuff all over. They built the cabinets for Norm Abram's own house.
Yes, that's the company. My SIL raved about them, said their customer service / support was fantastic.
You beat me to it. They are good. Have you used them?
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Nope, but my uncle plays golf with Dave, the guy who started the company. When I was starting out he tried to help me get a job there. We've also had several clients go there when shopping for kitchens. They come back with beautiful, hand-drawn perspective views of their new kitchen, and a realization that our prices aren't all that high after all.
Have you used them?
No, but I have seen some cabs that came from them. Good enough impression to make it stick in my mind.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
I don't have a brand picked out, and I'm not locked in to Met. Lumber, they were recommended to me, and I went down and talked with the guy last January, but I didn't have enough time to get the cabinets built before I went out to sea ... and now I've rethought what I want to do.Tempered frosted glass on the lower cabinets?Marine Engineer
fair winds and following seas
Actually textured acrylic - bought it on Canal St. 2 panels that slide past each other. There was going to be a light in there so when illuminated the counter would float.BTW, I'm not knocking the Met, just check out the quality of what you get before you pay for it. There are also all those kitchen places on MacDonald Ave in Brooklyn.Or there is Bulthaup: http://www.newyork.bulthaup.com/bulthaup/partners/usa/newyork/home.nsf/contentview/3C8E7BD51841E2D1C12570F80060BD8B
Is that a washer and dryer in your kitchen?
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"Everything is under control. I'M gonna go make some pies now." Dinosaur 07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4
I missed that at first.
WTF?Remodeling Contractor just on the other side of the Glass City
I didn't.
Figured it was a freezer disguised to look like a washer/dryer combo. That way, when he puts his socks in the freezer to cool them off, people won't think he is strange.
Welcome to the Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime. where ... Excellence is its own reward!
Yes, don't you remember, we had to wash your clothes after the pub crawl.
I was soo freaked out by the keyboard on your computer that the rest is a blur. I have to tell Jeff tht I think your keyboard is gay.
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"Everything is under control. I'M gonna go make some pies now." Dinosaur 07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4
LOL. I've got to get you the Russian term for that (it roughly translates as blue-boy)
I don't need to know stuff like that. LOL
.
"Everything is under control. I'M gonna go make some pies now." Dinosaur 07
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JPONTneuaF4
here's a sketch of a potential layout.
View Image
Open shelving on the bottom of the top tier of cabinets.
Open shelving above the counter top.
Marine Engineerfair winds and following seas
Here's the "maid's kitchen" we built first in our house, when it was just DW and I and the first dog. It's pretty tiny, but served us well for 4-5 years. DW made some wonderful food in there! The shelf above the fridge is for a microwaveView Image
Counter area is 4 square feet - SG window over the cabinets lets light into an interior bathroom off the library.View Image
Other side, with the dining table (2 layers of 3/4 ply on file cabinet slide) mostly pulled out. Cabinet above the table is a wardrobe for the attached bedroom immediately to the right-View Image
Table closed -View Image
Forrest - bi-kitchenal
Edited 8/13/2007 12:25 pm by McDesign
that pull out shelf/counter is a nice detail. I was looking for a spot to incorporate something like that, but so far anything practical has eluded me. I also thought about adding a shelf for a microwave, but I've learned to live without one, and it's not a necessity.But your kitchen looks great, thanks for the pics.Marine Engineerfair winds and following seas
Lawsy, life without a microwave. I'd be a hurt'in puppy.
not having a microwave kinda sucks, leads to doing more dishes than you'd like, but I've adapted. Use a bamboo steamer for a lot of things. No space, whadaya gonna do?Jonathanfair winds and following seas
IMHO, there's always room for a combo hood/microwave.
In fact, I'm not sure I'd even put in a recirculating hood....they seem like a waste of time & energy to me.
Anyway, great looking space. Congrats.
I'm jealous of the pig farmer.....
I looked for a combo unit, but couldn't find anything in the 24" width that I needed. I put the hood in mainly for the light, and for the protection to the bottom of the cabinet above the stove. I almost never actually turn on the hood.fair winds and following seas
I like it, good use of space. Manhattan rents can be measured in square inches. And the open shelf breaks up the mass. What material are you thinking of.
not quite sure. I'm thinking maybe for the color, an off white, like if you wet a rag with white paint and rubbed it into the wood, so that it was like a stain, you still saw the wood grain, but you also saw a lot of white. I think that would contrast well with the black soapstone countertop. Also, the peninsula is part of a cabinet/loft bed console, and it's made out of beach, so I would either need to match it perfectly (not likely) or get something significantly different.What would you suggest?Marine Engineerfair winds and following seas
I don't have a lot of personal experience applying exotic wood finishes, but what you describe sounds like how a translucent or opaque stain might look on siding. I know there is a proper term for it, but I have seen nice finishes like that, as long as they don't have that fake distressed look, like a lot of Pottery Barn or Crate and Barrel stuff.
I know it as "whitewashed". I've done it with watered down white latex paint. Just play with it on some wood samples...buic
Buic
I've done it with white oil primer(I can thin that down and control it easier) and got some pretty good results as well.
Whitewash or pickled wood is what I'd always heard it called.
Doug
I've pretty much settled on this design:
View Image
with this detail of one of the upper cabinets:
View Image
making similar detail sketch for the lower and base cabinets, is this enough to give to the cabinet maker?
the top tier of cabinets are 36"x36" with an 8" open shelf at the bottom, 14" deep. The lower tier is 36"x30" with a 12" opening, 2 shelves at 6" each, with a centered vertical divider, while the cabinet over the stove will be 24"x18". These two cabinets will be 12" deep.
The base cabinet will be 36"x34.5"x24" deep. The base, lower and upper tiers will stack visually.
Marine Engineerfair winds and following seas
Well, it's been awhile. I had a cabinetmaker in Maine fab the cabinets, it was cheaper with the delivery than having them made local in NYC. I had Andy Clifford help me install. This was last fall. Got the cabinets in, and two days later got on a plane and left for sea.fair winds and following seas
Had BT's own Frankie Smyles help me with the countertop, which is a soapstone with an undermount sink. We put it in place Thursday night, and I finally got the drain plumbed this afternoon.
fair winds and following seas
I'm going to put a recirculating range hood in, as well as get a new fridge and stove, all stainless. What remains is the backsplash. Thinking some tile, but not sure color, pattern, mosaic, etc.also did some new shelves last fall. Here's a before and after.
fair winds and following seas
good to see you posting again, Jonathan - nice looking project - I didn't realize you had that high of ceilings - "there's enough for everyone"
Ceilings are 10'6". Cabinets look good in NYC, but would look weird in the suburbs. It's all about maximizing the storage, especially in my apartment. I like how the open shelves break up the plane of the cabinets, they're not so monolithic.How's the orchards look this year?fair winds and following seas
the orchards are looking good - we are putting the 'full court press' on them everyday - I'm about exhausted - finished pruning peaches this morning - what a job...fussy-fussy - my arms hurt - about 350 apple trees to go - tore into the 'worst' ones this afternoon - takes two rounds, rough and finish - walked thru the next area at twilight tonight - about 50 more tough ones and then the rest are not so bad - spent some time saturday and sunday around the house - tuning up flower beds, removed some out of control junipers from the west side of the house - pruned a bunch of plants that needed it - rake, etc - there are 3 larger trees (10-20") I want to remove - right after I finish the orchard - hard to believe that when we moved here 32 years ago, there were 3 trees - what a hot spot this little hillock was - now we are surrounded and shaded and I'm removing specimans - to the south there is an oak that my wife once ran over with the lawnmower - 40' tall, probably 18" DBA - well - more than you wanted to know, probably - how about you? - working the farmer's market? - gonna be around for a while? - "there's enough for everyone"
yeah, I'm working two days each week, seems to be both at Union Square [he's doing markets at 97th/Columbus & Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn], Friday and Saturday, selling a lot of pork. My pig farmer is selling 6 pigs retail and 6 pigs to restaurants each week, which keeps both of us busy.Right now I'm out on Long Island, painting the kitchen that I'm renovating out there. That's coming along nicely. Gotta decide whether to rent or sell.Anyhow, back to the paint.fair winds and following seas
Welcome home!
Nice lil' kitchen.[email protected]
Finally finished the kitchen, at least I think it's done.
View Image
Here's the rest of the pics
Jonathanfair winds and following seas
ship shape snug harbor!!!
People got along just fine before microwaves. I think you just adjust to it.
How do you get up to those high cabinets?Rebuilding my home in Cypress, CAAlso a CRX fanatic!
I don't feel it's healthy to keep your faults bottled up inside me.
I've got a ladder in the closet. I don't use them for kitchen stuff, but for storage (bulk items like paper towels, files, winter clothes, etc.) The whole apartment is less than 300 sq.ft. so there's not much room for anything. If you look at the picture in the first post, you see how much wasted space there was above the old cabinets.fair winds and following seas
nice work
i'm looking for a small stove.
where did you get yours?
got my stove online, here.
http://www.ajmadison.com/delivery was fast, no complaints.fair winds and following seas
Very nice!Ann"The elders were wise. They knew that man's heart, away from nature, becomes hard; they knew that lack of respect for growing, living things, soon led to lack of respect for humans, too." Chief Luther Standing Bear, Lakota Sioux
I did a similar kitchen a few years back for my mother after my dad passed away, and can say that putting in high wall cabinets helps a lot for those less used items. the top of wall cabinets ends up being a dust gathering space unless you have a lot of display type stuff. You can get extra tall wall cabinets, or just put another row of short ones above standard height ones. I would at least go with 42" uppers, and you would still have space to the ceiling.