Guest Picks: Small Kitchen Necessities
20 ways to organize and maximize every square inch of a tiny cooking space
With her down-to-earth approach to food, and a dash or two of snark, Liza enjoys eating, reading, cooking, dining and writing on a daily basis. By day, she's an insurance professional, by night she gracefully (or not sometimes) barrels through life keeping up with her blog (a)Musing Foodie, other freelance writing jobs, non-profit work, Twitter and Facebook, her kids, her husband, and whatever else happens to fill her plate. Read her blog here: http://www.aMusingFoodie.com
With her down-to-earth approach to food, and a dash or two of snark, Liza... More »
Despite my wish for an expansive, professional-grade kitchen one day, I make due (very well, thank you very much) in my small cooking space. I'm always looking for ways to maximize the area without feeling cluttered, and these are some of my current favorites — along with a few wishlist items.
— Liza from (a)Musing Foodie
— Liza from (a)Musing Foodie
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| Who doesn't have a wasted nook in between cabinets? I love this idea for hanging kitchen utensils. |
The best use of my counter space is stacking vertical. I love my stackable cookie cooling racks. They're great to set hot pans on, too.
Fit twice the amount of pans in one small space. Perfect.
by Williams-Sonoma
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If I had a small island, this would be above it — talk about a space saver when you have limited cabinets.
I first saw this on Chef Giada De Laurentiis' kitchen counter, and I have coveted it ever since. It's a little pricey, but it would tuck perfectly into a counter's corner.
It seems silly, but a little under-cabinet lighting goes a long way in a small kitchen. I love mine!
by Crate&Barrel
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My magnetic knife holder is awesome. I also use it to hang things like measuring spoons, so it makes for a quick grab while cooking.
by Williams-Sonoma
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Williams-Sonoma Pantry Dinnerware is perfect: simple, clean, easy to dress up, just right for a casual lunch. When you have a small space you need just one set of good dishes, and these fit the bill without breaking the bank.
by Crate&Barrel
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A slim trashcan can slip neatly alongside a counter or refrigerator. This one even lets you separate trash and recycling — one can, two jobs.
by Pier 1 Imports
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I've had a shelf like this for 10 years. It's followed me from my first small kitchen to my current small kitchen. It's perfect for a few favorite cookbooks, as well as storing baking dishes and mixing bowls.
With limited drawer space and the need to have your pot holders within arm's reach, this is the perfect inexpensive and simple solution.
Annoyed by all the clutter under your sink? Not enough room? Yes. This is a fab solution. Maximize the height to maximize the space.
Make any small space feel bigger with a mirror. It can really brighten things up in the kitchen, ideally when near a window to help reflect the light.
My future plans include replacing the living room/dining room carpet that flows into the kitchen with hardwood floors — a trick for making a small kitchen appear bigger!
Not everyone's budget has room for this, but if yours does, it could be a good investment. As Alton Brown would say, no one-trick ponies! This does the work of four different ovens, including a microwave and a convection oven. And it's built in, saving counter space. Beautiful.
It gets hot in a small kitchen, so being able to keep the air moving is key. I like to crank the ceiling fan and open a window in the spring or summer if the oven is going strong.
by Pier 1 Imports
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It's an island. It's a kitchen table. It's a buffet. Versatility at its finest is so very important in a small kitchen.
by Cabinet Parts
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Keep the spices and oils corralled so that you have free space on your shelves for bigger things. A little order goes a long way.
This drying rack is great for a sink without a window above it, but you can also buy Grundtal hooks to hang other things from the rail: ladles, oven mitts, tongs — the options are endless. Thank you, Ikea.
Paper towel holders that sit on the counter not only take up space, but also are quite unstable and tip easily. A sturdy wall-mounted holder is awesome, especially when you only have one hand to pull a towel off.
Next: Bright and Modern Kitchen in 90 Square Feet
Next: Bright and Modern Kitchen in 90 Square Feet
Comments
cdalygo Lifesavers
18 months ago · Like
grammachris Re: Over the cabinet single hook. These look better than their function. They tend to pull up and off when you try to remove a towel, pot holder, etc.
18 months ago · Like
Liza Hawkins @grammachris - Good point! I've found a little rubber stickers like this can help with that slippage: http://amzn.to/ykcB9K 
18 months ago · Like
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2
portpiro I adore that ceiling fan! Never seen this before and bet they're not available in Australia......sigh.
17 months ago · Like
kellyannew I'd love to know where you got that fan. I love it! Great ideas.
12 months ago · Like
· 3
3
dianerocca Love that fan, too. Where did you find it?
11 months ago · Like
nancy21 I think I saw it in Lowe's.
9 months ago · Like
· 1
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lorimcbon2012 Love the spices on door!! I have a lazy Susan that takes up a whole corner space. This is a great space saver and will be on my to do for my new kitchen. Seems very I expensive as well. Brilliant.
7 months ago · Like
Ideabook published on Jan. 7, 2012.
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