We’ve had the privilege to design some amazing kitchens in some amazing homes. The initial site visit is always exciting because our bespoke kitchen designer can start to get an idea of the space they’ll have to work with. From traditional farmhouse to a laid back Scandinavian in Bristol, our talented team can bring your dream kitchen to life.
Larger spaces can provide scope to create wide sweeping designs, or use the extra space to create an extra WOW factor. This doesn’t mean that a smaller space will make our designer lose heart – quite the opposite in fact.
When given a smaller space for a kitchen, it becomes an exciting design challenge to design something that the client will love, is fantastic to cook in, and works as a social space.
It’s also fair to say that a smaller kitchen can even bring some advantages. If well designed, a small kitchen will be more efficient. It can also be more intimate and have that little extra charm.
Success lies in the layout
Most kitchens conform to one of five basic layouts. Each has advantages and disadvantages, but if used right they can all be applied to a smaller space. In a more compact kitchen, an island is unlikely to figure. That doesn’t mean you can’t find ways to have plenty of workspace, a breakfast bar, or other design feature that you crave.
The ‘L’ shaped kitchen
This is a great way of creating the classic “work triangle” of storage, preparation, and cooking. It’ll be open to the rest of the room making the space feel that little larger and it’s easier to interact with guests.
The ‘U’ shaped kitchen
By surrounding the cook on all three sides you maximise the workspace. It’s important to make good use of the two corners and so some clever design to conceal things like microwaves and cooking essentials can keep the space trim and orderly.
The ‘G’ shaped kitchen
By adding a peninsula or partial fourth wall you can leverage all the space available in a small area. If the room is really small then the door can form the gap between the two sides. Avoiding a cramped feeling is important in this design.
The single wall kitchen
A single run of worktop with appliances is ideal for where space really is at a premium. The “work triangle” becomes a single line. Finding ways to get enough storage is key for this design to work well.
The galley kitchen
Named after the notoriously small space available to ships, this is a much-maligned design. It consists of two runs directly facing each other with a corridor in between. It’s actually one of the preferred pro chef designs because getting from A to B means just turning around!
How our Bespoke kitchen designers make clever use of space
Finding smart ways to help keep smaller spaces looking great, while being functional, is a big part of the design process in a tighter kitchen. While it will always depend on the exact space available, and the wider client requirements, some of the clever ways to help are :
Colour and tone
Design ideas like darker cabinets and lighter shelves can make the space feel a little bigger than it really is. Alternatively, you can keep the look ultra-sleek and matte to enhance the area you’ve got to work with. Creating a splash with a bright colur accent is something that works really well with a Scandinavian kitchen design.
Less is more
By keeping the walls pretty bare and concealing items like microwaves. You can stop the kitchen feeling cluttered in this way. This does mean you need to maximise storage space in corners and cupboards, but this is usually no problem.
Make the floor carry the load
Going with a very bold floor design can often make space live up to its full potential. This technique can work well if paired with a minimal design like the classic Scandinavian kitchen.
Papilio bespoke kitchen designers can turn our design talents to any space to bring you a kitchen that transcends your expectations. From a pied-à-terre in the centre of Bristol to a country home in the Cotswolds, we’ll find a way to make your kitchen the design of your dreams. Get in touch if you’d like to arrange a consultation with our design team.
