In my last house, while renovating, I designed my kitchen for my own needs. My favorite thing: installing a stainless steel single bowl laundry tub in place of the usual kitchen sink. It was huge. So big that there was not a cooking pot too large that could not be washed easily in it. It was also the perfect size to bathe a small dog (which I did). And like you, I made sure the upper cabinets were installed 4 inches higher than normal. That made room for taller items on the base cabinets. I still miss all those features.
If you have a small kitchen it should be plotted to make it convenient to use. I designed a large kitchen for our home and have an island that is 8 * 6. Black granite on all the surfaces has turned out to be fabulous for all the work I do in this kitchen. I also have a Butler's pantry and yes, speed racks. My kitchen is big and functional enough that you could literally run a restaurant out of it 😂😂😂 I'm all for big kitchens 🎉❤
I am currently scouting for property and looking to build a small house (1000 sf). Thank you! Love magnetic strip. I got one from IKEA for $15 and it holds all of my knives in my RV. Never had anything fall off! I cook, every single day, in a very very small RV kitchen. I miss my dishwasher. I miss having more prep counter space. I am a fan of metal pegboards and hanging things. I agree about being able to see everything. Love the pull-out drawers. Gotta have a window over the kitchen sink. Agree about single big kitchen sink. I can't stand garbage disposals in the sink! Sink grinders. So disgusting. Impossible to clean. 2 steps from the sewer, yuck. I am retired but owned a residential housecleaning business. I have owned three houses. No. I will not ever have another sink "garbage disposal." I garden so for me any food waste goes out for compost. Just get a good sink strainer and practice good kitchen habits. FYI I consider my kitchen sink to be a contaminated area. Anything that touches the sink goes to compost / trash unless it is something being strained through a clean strainer into a clean bowl.
Agree. My grandmother had the tiniest kitchen and incredible food came out of it. And my kitchen is tiny and I’ve called it my workshop. I also don’t like people in my space when I am cooking and my kitchen only fits one cook. No matter which way I turn, my item to use is there. I do wish I had countertops that could handle hot items, however. Good point.
I like having a metal grated shelf above the stove to hold hot plates and cookware temporarily. Also, a rack shelf above the sink to let dishes and cookware drain into the sink.
Great kitchen but what about stains on the marble? Also, fridge should open towards the center of the room, not the wall. Much easier to load and unload when there is easy counter access.
I totally agree with your preference for small kitchens. I like my current galley kitchen, but I think my 11x13 U-shaped kitchen was the best. No wasted steps, but there was enough room for two people to prep if needed. There was a table-height peninsula at one end where people could hang out without being underfoot. The absolute worst, like you said, is a U-shaped one with a big island in the middle. Constantly walking in circles to get to cabinets, stove, fridge or sink on the opposite side of the big room. And no dark granite. You cannot see the lines on your measuring cups, or anything else for that matter. Also too shiny. My 2cents.
This is a selfish kitchen. It's for a cook who doesn't like people. No wonder I was always put off by Chris Kimball. A great kitchen should be a social place, one of the most desirable locations in the house to meet, eat, and talk. The kitchen should also be a place to encourage assistance. The best design is one that offers ample room for the cook, and all those lovely friends and family who have a sincere desire to help and learn.
Same! I have a small kitchen. No pantry. It is the bane of my existence and has been for 22 years. My kitchen is where my daughters would learn to cook. And there's like no room in my kitchen for anybody to help me get dinner on the table in a timely manner. Also I noticed the placement of that dishwasher meant that you could not have the dishwasher door open and take out the dishes and put them straight in the cupboards because you can't reach past the open door. Which means you have to take everything out of the dishwasher and set it on the counter first, and then put it all away.
Laughed when I heard you say you don't like people watching you cook!
what?
Change the handles on your fridge to the other side. Easy peasy to do. They are made to have handles on either side! Make life easier.
Right??? Why the heck wouldn't he change that opening to the correct side??
That's another show ... (Ask This Old House)
That would annoy me to no end.
He prob doesn’t want the doors banging into the wall and wants to be able to fully extend the doors open 🤷🏼♀️
In my last house, while renovating, I designed my kitchen for my own needs. My favorite thing: installing a stainless steel single bowl laundry tub in place of the usual kitchen sink. It was huge. So big that there was not a cooking pot too large that could not be washed easily in it. It was also the perfect size to bathe a small dog (which I did). And like you, I made sure the upper cabinets were installed 4 inches higher than normal. That made room for taller items on the base cabinets. I still miss all those features.
yup! single basin sinks are just right for small dogs
If you have a small kitchen it should be plotted to make it convenient to use. I designed a large kitchen for our home and have an island that is 8 * 6.
Black granite on all the surfaces has turned out to be fabulous for all the work I do in this kitchen.
I also have a Butler's pantry and yes, speed racks.
My kitchen is big and functional enough that you could literally run a restaurant out of it 😂😂😂
I'm all for big kitchens 🎉❤
I have no idea what speed racks are. Please explain. Thank you!
I am currently scouting for property and looking to build a small house (1000 sf). Thank you!
Love magnetic strip. I got one from IKEA for $15 and it holds all of my knives in my RV. Never had anything fall off!
I cook, every single day, in a very very small RV kitchen. I miss my dishwasher. I miss having more prep counter space. I am a fan of metal pegboards and hanging things. I agree about being able to see everything.
Love the pull-out drawers. Gotta have a window over the kitchen sink. Agree about single big kitchen sink. I can't stand garbage disposals in the sink! Sink grinders. So disgusting. Impossible to clean. 2 steps from the sewer, yuck. I am retired but owned a residential housecleaning business. I have owned three houses. No. I will not ever have another sink "garbage disposal."
I garden so for me any food waste goes out for compost. Just get a good sink strainer and practice good kitchen habits. FYI I consider my kitchen sink to be a contaminated area. Anything that touches the sink goes to compost / trash unless it is something being strained through a clean strainer into a clean bowl.
Agree. My grandmother had the tiniest kitchen and incredible food came out of it. And my kitchen is tiny and I’ve called it my workshop. I also don’t like people in my space when I am cooking and my kitchen only fits one cook. No matter which way I turn, my item to use is there. I do wish I had countertops that could handle hot items, however. Good point.
I like having a metal grated shelf above the stove to hold hot plates and cookware temporarily. Also, a rack shelf above the sink to let dishes and cookware drain into the sink.
Going to use this to help me work with my small apartment kitchen
Great kitchen but what about stains on the marble? Also, fridge should open towards the center of the room, not the wall. Much easier to load and unload when there is easy counter access.
I totally agree with your preference for small kitchens. I like my current galley kitchen, but I think my 11x13 U-shaped kitchen was the best. No wasted steps, but there was enough room for two people to prep if needed. There was a table-height peninsula at one end where people could hang out without being underfoot.
The absolute worst, like you said, is a U-shaped one with a big island in the middle. Constantly walking in circles to get to cabinets, stove, fridge or sink on the opposite side of the big room. And no dark granite. You cannot see the lines on your measuring cups, or anything else for that matter. Also too shiny. My 2cents.
For weekday cooking, I use four pots & pans 90% of the time. I keep them on stove top.
I love that his gallette came out, well, not made for TV perfect.
What dish rack do you have?
I want to know what apron he has!
ummm you create things in the bedroom too
Your kitchen can’t be too big
This is a selfish kitchen. It's for a cook who doesn't like people. No wonder I was always put off by Chris Kimball. A great kitchen should be a social place, one of the most desirable locations in the house to meet, eat, and talk. The kitchen should also be a place to encourage assistance. The best design is one that offers ample room for the cook, and all those lovely friends and family who have a sincere desire to help and learn.
Same! I have a small kitchen. No pantry. It is the bane of my existence and has been for 22 years. My kitchen is where my daughters would learn to cook. And there's like no room in my kitchen for anybody to help me get dinner on the table in a timely manner.
Also I noticed the placement of that dishwasher meant that you could not have the dishwasher door open and take out the dishes and put them straight in the cupboards because you can't reach past the open door. Which means you have to take everything out of the dishwasher and set it on the counter first, and then put it all away.