I recently had a meeting with apartment dwellers in a Brunswick apartment building on Wilson Avenue. It was a three bedroom, two bathroom apartment with a large balcony. It even had a laundry room rather than a laundry cupboard. But there was limited kitchen counter space. Here are the ideas I shared on how to create kitchen counter space in your apartment
Rethink your appliances and their location
Most of us have a few standard appliances that take up valuable real estate on your counter top. Typically, appliances such a kettle, toaster, maybe a blender, coffee machine or whatever you have. Personally, I have a juicer in the summer and slow cooker in the winter. Everyone is different.
My key tip on dealing with appliances, to create more counter top space in your apartment kitchen, is to avoid duplication. What this means is that you already have a stove. Which takes up counter space, so why not put a kettle on the stove.
With your toaster, you already have a grill in the oven. So do you really need a toaster when you already have an appliance that performs this function.
If you are an appliance geek, then consider reconfiguring existing cabinetry to create an appliance counter. I’ve done this in some of my studio project work with client kitchen renovations.
Vertical fixes for your kitchen
In a previous post I wrote about vertical fixes to create the feeling of space in your apartment. You can apply vertical fixes in your kitchen zone also. Consider a magnetic knife board affixed to a splashback or a side panel. Instead of a bulky knife block on your counter top.
This is true also for your paper towel holder. There are options that can be affixed to a vertical surface which can free up some crucial counter space in your apartment kitchen.
Relocate your microwave
The biggest ‘standard’ appliance that takes up the most counter space is your microwave. Firstly reconsider the size of your microwave and aim for the smallest. Secondly, do you really need a microwave. Everything in your apartment is based on actually functionality, including your appliances.
If you’ve decided you really need a microwave then consider reconfiguring some cabinetry below the kitchen counter. This requires a look at all your kitchen stuff to create space for it. Double ups and things you don’t use could easily be removed.
Drop leaf counter
Not all kitchens will have an opportunity to create a drop leaf counter top but definitely worth a think. If not a drop leaf counter top, maybe a pull out counter top for food preparation.
Your kitchen counter top is mostly a food preparation zone, rather than an appliance storage space. But in our modern lives as we try to do things quickly we have embraced appliances.
We have appliances we don’t use such a rice cooker. It takes ten minutes to cook rice on a stove. A waffle maker. We prefer to head out on the weekend for brunch or a take away croissant. So really think about the value of each appliance and maybe you can free up some counter space in your apartment by letting go of the non essential, and the appliances with duplicate functionality.
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