The Case of the Kitchenette

I knew when we showed up the kitchen would be difficult. It was obvious, because it was only four feet wide and about 9 feet long. 36 square feet isn’t a lot of space to work with. There is a sink and a narrow four-burner stove, and two cabinets. There is no counter space at all. And three of the walls are poured concrete, making it near impossible to drill into them.*

What is a cooking lady to do with a kitchen like this? Yes, this is the whole thing. This doesn’t show about 2″ to the left.

So I’ve done a number of things to alter and fix this space (the stuff in red).  I planned them all out based on storage needs and traffic patterns (in blue). Explanation of everything below.

1. 4′ rail with S-hooks:  stores 10 pots and pans
2. Wall-mounted shelf for counter space runs the width of the wall and is 8″ deep.  For the spoon rest and ingredients used during cooking.
3. Wall-mounted magnetic knife rack from Ikea.
4. 2 shelves above stove for storage of items used during cooking – made them myself from lumber.
5. Corner shelves above the 8 gallon slimline trashcan.
6. Spice rack – adhesive 30 mil magnet, 3′ x 2′ plus metal canisters – materials purchased wholesale.
7. Pantry – made of a narrow/tall Billy (Ikea) bookshelf with doors – in the next room with the refrigerator.
8. Basket and
9. Folding dish rack hanging on a rail above sink (also Ikea)
10. Shallow, tiny shelf (6″) next to sink counter, extra storage.
11. Shelf in left side of under-sink cabinet for 2 levels of storage – toaster and cleaning supplies, plus door-mounted saran wrap and foil holders and a towel rack.
12. 2 drawers in right side of under-sink cabinet for 2 levels of storage – eating utensils and misc. cooking utensils.
13. Bookshelf storage – there are two bookshelves on one end of the dining room (where the refrigerator and the pantry live) that hold plates, baking implements, pitchers, etc.

So that’s how to deal with a tiny kitchen. I’ll show it to you when it’s all fixed up again, it’s nearly done now, just waiting on the magnet to come in. And still struggling somewhat with that concrete wall situation.

*We discovered to our immense chagrin today that one entire end of our little place has walls of poured concrete. Not concrete blocks, but thick poured concrete. Imagine!  You can’t drill in that without something called a hammer-drill, which we don’t have. I’d been wondering why there were no nail holes etc, and that’s why. The concrete part of the house is an addition to the original garage. I have NO IDEA why someone would want to make a concrete room. Afraid of a war breaking out? In desperate need of 100% sound insulation? Really hates termites?

I don’t know why I’m surprised. The concrete walls are only one of several building anomalies we’ve discovered.