Tea station brainstorm

8 years ago

The one thing that we don't currently have in the plans for our new-build kitchen is a tea station. We're big tea drinkers, and I'd prefer not to just have the tea paraphernalia sitting out on the counter, but hadn't come up with a good solution. (You all - correctly - advised against my last brainstorm here).

I had another idea today. What about a tea station built into the wall between the refrigerator and pantry? If it were set back it would take up a bit of space in the pantry, but I think that's likely a worthwhile tradeoff. I was thinking a small counter with the upper walls tiled (to protect from steam), a couple of open shallow shelves, and then drawers below. There will be a water line in the wall behind the refrigerator, so we could even add a water tap to the side wall pretty easily for filling the tea pot. I've attached a couple of inspiration images.

Thoughts? Is this maybe a workable solution?

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Pinebaron

8 years ago

Being from the UK, our household too drinks a lot of tea hence we designated the right and only corner in the L-Shaped kitchen as the 'Coffee Bar', yeah we could have called it the 'Tea Bar' but it seemed easier for the builder/subs to understand. The corner is perfect since we've traditionally stored coffee, tea bags, cookies and other hot beverage paraphernalia in corner cabinets. The corner has a right angle corner base, counter and upper cabinets. The corner has a 15" square sink diagonally placed (we tried however failed to acquire a triangle sink) with a H/C Water Dispenser Faucet and Instant Hot Water Tank and Filteration System; no more kettles (except for a backup). I also wanted to install a smart coffee machine to the right however DW disapproved; in time perhaps.

The pic below is soon after kitchen counters were installed.

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Comments (9)

Kristin S
Original Author
8 years ago
Yes, I've given up searching tea station on houzz/pinterest and just looked for coffee station inspiration. There aren't enough of us tea lovers.

We actually have no corner cabinets/counters in our kitchen. Our current plan is to just have it on the counter next to the sink, but that seems like the path to clutter taking over, hence my continued search for a better option. We're not willing to give up our kettle, since we drink a mix of different teas that do better at different temperatures. And we have a milk frother too, since tea lattes are especially delicious. So the clutter grows...
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homechef59
8 years ago
My problem is I like boiled water. I have a hot water dispenser and I don't really like the tea it produces. I've gone back to the kettle on the stove. It produces the best hot water.
rantontoo
8 years ago
What is the length of that short wall? It seems fairly narrow considering the 2x4 framing that will have to be there for the walls. Is the full depth cab area not a possibility?
Kristin S
Original Author
8 years ago
I believe the useable space on the short wall is 2'2", so probably realistically 2'. This is excluding the space needed for the framing of the wall behind the refrigerator, as that's not useable. Pantry interior wall is 6'10", less 2'6" opening to pantry, so 4'4", currently split evenly on both sides of the pantry opening.

We don't have final cabinet drawings, but based on the initial plan, the only space available and easily accessible in the full-height cabinets is to the left of the ovens, and that's about a 1'4" cabinet. So less space there. To the right of the ovens will be less-accessed storage space, since it's harder to reach due to cabinet locations.
Buehl
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
How much space is there? If you build an alcove, you will need to account for the thickness of the walls creating the alcove. Figure 4.5", at least, for the wall plus another 3" or 4" b/w the wall and pantry door casing (room for door frame and joining of walls).
Kristin S
Original Author
8 years ago
I was thinking the niche would be about 18-20", which should allow plenty of space for the walls/door casing, while also allowing sufficient, if not generous, space for everything that needs to sit on the counter there. It would probably be a question for the framers/cabinet maker what the exact dimension would end up being. It's also possible the pantry opening could be drywall, rather than cased (given that it's entirely hidden), which could give another inch or so. It's definitely small space no matter what, though, but also the best option I've come up with so far.
Kristin S
Original Author
8 years ago
Actually, I just realized that the opening will almost certainly be drywall, not cased, as there is likely just 2'2" on the full-height cabinet side, which means 24" of cabinet, 2" drywall visible to the door.
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Anglophilia
8 years ago
I'm a tea drinker, as were both my husbands. My "tea bar" is an electric kettle near the sink, with the cabinet above holding my glass cups and my tea. It's all I really need, and is quite simple. The electric kettle is always plugged in and the hose from the sink reaches it quite nicely to fill it with fresh water. Yes, tea DOES need boiling water, not an "instant" hot water tap. I also have a tea pot on the counter that can be used if I'm making more than "tea for one". You could put a tray with what you need anywhere on a counter. "Low tech" is just fine as tea is a simple drink.