Replies

1. 
   Piffin | Feb 08, 2005 07:54am | #1

   There are minikitcherns made and marketed as a unit, but for full built in and as temporary kitchens to substitue while otjher work is ongoing in a house. Small appliances and fixtrues all designed to share spaces. I forget the topic I googled under to locate such, but there are a lot of them out there. Could save a major headache.

    

    

   Welcome to the
   Taunton University of Knowledge FHB Campus at Breaktime.
    where ...
   Excellence is its own reward!

2. 
   tuffy | Feb 08, 2005 10:44am | #2

   What's it to be used for? Primary dwelling? What sort? How many occupants?

   Might supplement with a counter/butcherblock on wheels. Sort of a roll-away island--can be indispensible.

   Can that wall heater be scootched over a bit?

   Where does the door on that wall lead? If it's an etrance, having a fridge there could be a PITA. If it leads to a bedroom, a fridge right there might be noisy.

1. 
   Gumshoe | Feb 08, 2005 11:45am | #3

   3 occupants - they want to convert this back part of the house to a studio-type apartment (it has a small bedroom and bathroom). So I guess at that point the door by the fridge will be the entrance (I'll have to double-check that, they're replacing the sl. glass door with French doors, so maybe they'll be the entrance?). Don't really want to move the wall heater if I can help it. Their tentative plan is to close off this back part, and rent the (larger) front part of the house out, while they live in the back (mom dad and small child). Then eventually when they can afford it they'll move up front, and rent this back part out to a single tenant.

3. 
   UncleDunc | Feb 08, 2005 12:59pm | #4

   I can't see your picture. Did you upload it to Prospero or link it from somewhere else.

1. 
   hlechat | Feb 08, 2005 05:26pm | #6

   Huck,

   it's looking to me like your kitchen is going to be a one-wall deal, approx. 15 x6 -- did i get that right?

    how high is the ceiling? planning on running cabinets up to the ceiling, I bet, to get the extra storage.

   in a small space like that, lighting is even more important. think lots of undercabinet for task, and lots of uplighting for general lighting. good lighting will take a miserable kitchen and make it cozy.

   for the fridge - you all could contemplate a under-counter (dorm style) fridge. personally, i'd hate it, but many folks who design tiny kitchens use them. http://caraudiovideosystems.com/core.html

   a narrow fridge might be a better choice:

   http://www.equatoronline.com/apartmetref.asp

   http://www.equatoronline.com/refrigerators.asp

   http://www.us-appliance.com/usappliance/noname83.html 

   http://ths.gardenweb.com/forums/load/appl/msg0114155026387.html (a disussion on narrow fridges)

   http://www.compactappliance.com/xq/JSP.jump/itemType.CATEGORY/itemID.32/qx/Apartment_Refrigerators.htm (Ha! an entire web site of compact appliances!!!  )

   are you looking for floorplan ideas? appliance ideas?

   make the lower cupboard with legs-- you know, where you can see underneath them. this gives a great illusion of lightness (and you don't give up any storage). they'll go far in making this space seem lighter. even the more traditional/country style cabinets have carved out/cut out "feet" at the botton to accomplish this.

   make the sink and undermount, and if possible, with an integral drain board carved into it (that would make it stone or corian, which may be out of budget).  mitght think about a corner sink, too, instead of using all that valuable real estate by putting one right smack in the center of things. maybe :-)

   do they want a dishwaser in there?

   try to make all appliances as quiet as possible, too, in that small space -- espeically the exhaust fan over the stove! :-)

   the window -- can you install a mini-greenhouse? they type that bumps out? even if they never so much as put a wilting african violet there, it will miraculously make the whole area more spacious. it is well worth the extra dinero.

   is the area by the sliding glass doors gonna be a table for dining? or is that where the sofa goes?

   my best idea?:

   add on to the entrance -- a mud room / pantry. in a small space, they're gonna need a place to hang coats and put umbrellas, and you can add in some storage for canned goods, large appliances (cuisinarts, crockpots). they'll think you're a genius!! (a kitchen doesn't in fact, really need a lot of working space. but it does need tons of storage!)

   also, go for pocket doors anywhere you can. they make some lovely ones now -- not just the icky stodgy ones we're used to seeing.

   all my ideas for now!

    

   Megan

   who is dreaming of the day when she can re-model her farmhouse kitchen!

    

1. 
   jimblodgett | Feb 08, 2005 06:06pm | #7

   Kathy and I visited our son in Austria last spring, Huck, and we were constantly amazed at how space conscious people are over there.  If you aren't familiar with their design concepts you might try to find a source...maybe some European websites? 

   I'm not talking about the style of the cabinets; I'm talking about the way they maximize space.  Virtually every furniture store has a couple kitchens in it's store windows that permanant apartment dwellers can purchase to install in their "home".  It was a revelation to us.  Very cool to think about.  

1. 
   tuffy | Feb 08, 2005 06:41pm | #10

   An Australian magazine called Houses--available at Barnes & Noble here. Excellent rag, and yes, lots of very compact, efficient dwellings within.

1. 
   Gumshoe | Feb 08, 2005 10:47pm | #11

   Will check into that - I'm a real Barnes & Noble fan, hopefully they carry it here in Bakersfield!

2. 
   hlechat | Feb 09, 2005 06:48am | #12

   I agree that those magazines and books from other places have great ideas, but i found they'll also break your heart, as almost everything is not available here!!!! sigh.i fooled aroundd a lot of fun doing so. i have posted these ideas as .pdf files. if you do not have the software to see these files with, go ahead and download here (it is free!!!!)
   http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.htmli've neever tired posting .pdf files here before, so, if for some reason it doesn't work, send me an email!i like the second file best, where i took out the wall between the washer and dryer and incorporated them into the kitchen (as an all-in-one combo unit). this layout give many advantages, the least of which is not two distinct spaces in the living area. living in a studio for one person, or even two is doable. but with three???well, hope you get a laugh out of how i spent my time today. i WAS gonna make banana bread, but had too much fun with this!!latermegan

3. 
   UncleDunc | Feb 09, 2005 07:05am | #13

   >> ... almost everything is not available here!Anything in the world is available here if you're willing to pay for it. Drugs, weapons, sex slaves, rosewood, ivory, whatever you want. Miniature kitchen appliances are trivial.

4. 
   jimblodgett | Feb 09, 2005 08:27am | #15

   "...sex slaves..."?  Really? 

5. 
   UncleDunc | Feb 09, 2005 08:37am | #16

   >> "...sex slaves..."? Really?How bad do you want to know? ;)

6. 
   IMERC | Feb 09, 2005 08:48am | #18

   this sounds better than a hat...

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

7. 
   hlechat | Feb 09, 2005 07:03pm | #19

   forget sex slaves -- i want a Bosch refridgerator!!!!!!!!!!!!!!  let's get our priorities straight here......  LOL

   Huck -- don't you worry none about no designer's fees. i enjoyed doing it! i am a designer wanna be, and have been studying these things for years. i got my jollies doin' it for ya, and will be even jollier if any of it ever comes to fruition -- let me know, ok? if it does, i can start a portfolio!! (big big grin!)

   keep in touch, if you'd like -- i'll be more than happy to add my two cents on anything (just ask my husband :-) )

   Megan

    

8. 
   IMERC | Feb 09, 2005 08:46am | #17

   I'm just down the street from ya...

   I need to visit more often...

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!!   What a Ride!

9. 
   Gumshoe | Feb 09, 2005 08:16am | #14

   Wow, that is really impressive! I have no idea how you did that, but it sure makes a nice presentation. I wish I could send you a designer's fee! Anyway, there's a lot to absorb. I also like the second one better, especially the sink location on that peninsula. I'm hoping that I can get them to accept something along those lines. I'm going to study those drawings, there's a lot of thought in them, and I've found that stuff that appears simple or obvious takes a lot focus to get to that point. Thanks again.

2. 
   Gumshoe | Feb 08, 2005 06:32pm | #9

   yes, mainly floor plan ideas. I thought of a tiny L over by the wall heater, for a cooktop. I'll draw it and upload it if I get a chance later. Thanks for all your good suggestions!

3. 
   WillGeorge | Feb 09, 2005 08:25pm | #20

   15 x6 --   I did that .. Made a wall to close off my kitchen.. Hopes my boys wife will move out!... LOL

    

2. 
   Gumshoe | Feb 08, 2005 06:27pm | #8

   uploaded to prospero - I'll try to get a better qual. pic up later, gotta run to work right now

4. 
   SamT | Feb 08, 2005 04:49pm | #5

   RV supply store.

   SamT