Small-Kitchen Design Tips

Tour 14 space-challenged kitchens and get ideas for your own.

By: Kelley Walters

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Photo By: Bart Michiels

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Photo By: Jean-Marc Giboux

Photo By: Chris Amaral

Maximize Your Space

Designer Jarret Yoshida made every square foot count — and look stylish — in this small Manhattan kitchen where every area performs multiple functions.

Instead of Adding a Mirror....

The minimalist cabinets and cooktop create a mirror-like effect, streamlining the design and pulling light into the room. Design by Rachael Franceschina

10 Inches of Counter Space

Pastry chef, Mark Wynsma, lives in a city apartment with just 10 inches of kitchen counter space. He stashes his cooking tools in his freezer, under the bed, in clothes closets and in a living room trunk. "The kitchen island is the real savior in making my space functional," says Wynsma. "The key to making a big piece work in a small space is having the bottom of the island open and the marble top white." Photography by Liana Walker

Moveable Seating

These benches roll out of the way to make room for food prep at the island. Get more tips for turning your small kitchen into an eat-in kitchen. Photography by Bart Michiels

A Beautiful Focal Point

In this New York City apartment kitchen, glass-tile mosaic creates a beautiful focal point.

See-Through Chairs

Lucite barstools provide seating without blocking the view.

Smart Use of Color

Bright orange cabinets and decor move the eye around the room, a trick to make the space appear bigger. Design by Kitchen Cousins

More Prep, Please

Limited counter space is always an issue in small kitchens. By using butcher block on the countertops, you can max out your prep area. Photography by Charlotte Jenks Lewis

Miniature Appliances

A downsized stove and range hood keep this apartment kitchen from being cramped. More simple design tips for tiny kitchens

Old + New

Modern European cabinetry marries with century-old pine floors in this remodel by the Kitchen Cousins.

Cook's Island

This Amsterdam apartment's kitchen — oven, prep and stove — is completely contained in the island.

Chalkboard Fridge

Chalkboards on the refrigerator provide a place for busy families to track messages, grocery lists and appointments.

Clever Storage

Designer Brian Patrick Flynn found new ways to add storage to this busy family kitchen.

From Outdated to Sophisticated

In one of our favorite kitchen remodels of the year, this 10 x 8 cooking space gets a complete overhaul.

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