Mills Street — Compact Kitchen Design
The greatest misconception about a small kitchens is that they are always cramped, lack storage and work space. Well, we think that the size of a space has no bearing on its potential, and appreciate the design challenge of a small scale kitchen!
Mills Street - showcases some key design elements worth considering when designing a compact Kitchen.
Compact kitchen design requires flexible thinking – not a shrunk down version of a full-size design.
When it comes to compact – smart design is critical: Small kitchens naturally have a high density feel about them, with a myriad of visually competing components squished together. A simple palette is needed to neutralise this, making the space feel bigger. The Mills Street project palette exemplifies this technique, using Integrated appliances, Cantilever steel handles, a soft grey splash back tile made by Anchor Ceramics, and timber accents.
Choose appliances and hardware that are right for your space. Appliances can make or break a compact kitchen. By choosing tall and narrow appliances shifts the organization vertically to free up horizontal storage space.
Our client invested in a clever cook top with integrated downdraft. The cupboard above a cook top usually stores a range hood, limiting storage options. The downdraft system moves the 'range hood' component below bench top, freeing up overhead space for cook-zone storage, which in turn eleviates bench space. Integrated bi-fold hardware works to improve access and visibility to the contents of this cabinet group.
A narrow 450 wide dishwasher partnered with a single bowl sink gains a wide set of drawers to store cutlery, crockery, and cookware. A well-designed sink cabinet can provide adequate space for a pull out bin, and shelf for cleaning equipment. Utilizing this often clunky cabinet is essential in a small kitchen.
Task lighting is a must. You should never have to fight your shadow particularly when a mandoline slicer is involved. Our integrated LED strips sit flush within the overheads and offer brilliant coverage to the work space.
Skylights, window splash backs, and floor to ceiling windows are a wonderful way to let natural light and open up the space.
The strength of a small space is its ability to create an intimate environment. Use this to your advantage by incorporating ambient evening lighting either via adjustable down lights, pendants or wall lighting.
Project
Mills Street
Kitchen System
K2
by Cantilever
Service
Full Service
Classic System
Whole Home
Location
Melbourne
Images
Martina Gemmola
Styling
Ruth Welsby
Open plan spaces are by their nature multipurpose, so the joinery should be too. Work zones traditionally housed in their own rooms can be merged, improving efficiency of space and placement of utilities.
Our Mills Street project exemplifies this idea, by extending the galley format to incorporate a narrow euro laundry with custom designed stainless steel bench and sink. This not only gives the illusion that the kitchen is grander than it is, but also allows for the addition of a Laundry to the premises without affecting the homes' floor plan.
In this design, the narrow footprint of the island maintains workflow access, whilst the service free bench top provides the extra space needed for food prep and plating, casual dining or even laundry sorting!
The inset Open Mitred Box in blackbutt anchors the simplified form within the space, and provides further display cabinetry for cookbooks or oft-used homewares.