I thought it would be fun to share our initial plans for the kitchen in the barn. With one ten-foot wall of space, we needed to make every inch count. Here’s a reminder of the wall in its current state.
I’m the primary cook in the family, so here is what I want out of the space:
- A full size fridge and freezer. We already purchased a narrower fridge for the space from a friend. I wasn’t willing to get anything smaller, since we eat at home a lot.
- A deep sink. We decided to forego a dishwasher in favor of more cabinet space, so I would like a good-size sink for dishes.
- Lots of drawers. I find drawers to be more useful than cabinets in most instances. So, I erred on the side of more drawers for this one. They can hold utensils, baking stuff, some food and more.
- Counter space for drying dishes, prep and small appliances. I need enough space to dry dishes, prep dinner and hold a small appliance (especially my mixer, breadmaker and crock pot). I am willing to keep most of the appliances in storage downstairs if there isn’t space, but when I want to use them, I need a spot.
- One cabinet for pons/pans and bakeware. This will actually be a huge downsize for us, but I think we can make it work with one small cabinet.
- Overhead open storage. I love having open shelves in our current kitchen for plates. I also think it will make the small space look larger. So, my goal is to keep all our dishes and glasses on open shelves. I’m also planning to add bins and baskets for other stuff that isn’t as pretty.
- Microwave. I use it everyday, but there isn’t space for a huge over-range version. So, I’m settling for a small version on the open shelves.
- Electric stove. I wanted an electric stove in this space, but am looking at getting a narrow 20 inch version.
And here’s the basic floorplan.
I use the IKEA Kitchen Planner to lay it out because I’m familiar with it. But we plan to use stock cabinets from Lowe’s. I’ll paint them grey, so this is sort of the look we’ll end up with.
I wasn’t able to add the upper shelves to this design – but I’m thinking two barn wood shelves along the entire length.
Image via Lesley Graham
This would give me plenty of room for a small microwave, our dishes and glasses, and bins for less pretty things.
With all this said, there are some things that won’t be coming with us to the barn kitchen. I’ll be storing away almost all of our entertaining items, large serving dishes, most “gadgets” and small appliances.
Could you live with this small kitchen?
What would your kitchen design must-haves be?
I love catching up on all of this! Your blog is blocked from me at work (WAHHHH), so I’m loving all this progress!! 🙂
Wow! The barn is really coming along! I love the kitchen plan– love the two shelves idea. Not gonna lie, when I saw the no dishwasher thing I was all “Oh my, I couldn’t do that.” But reading that Ryan does most of the dishes, I’m totally fine with your decision.
Right? It makes it easier to make sacrifices when you aren’t personally going to be impacted.
Oh God bless you for skipping out on the dishwasher. Honestly I wash my dishes anyway, so I don’t know why I think it’s a big deal. Okay truth is I HATE to dry dishes. It’s like folding laundry bad for me. I think I could live in a small kitchen. I love the inspiration you have. It’s going to be great!!
Ironically, Ryan does almost all the dishes. So it’s not as hard for me to give it up. 😉
My two cents: I think you can definitely make it without a dishwasher for a year! Plus it saves the hassle of hooking up plumbing etc.
the way I do dishes, I have dirty stuff pile up on one side of the sink, then it gets washed and dries on towels on the other side of the sink, so I would miss having counters on both sides.
That’s all! Good luck with all this planning!
This is a very good insight. I did worry about the counter space on both sides of the sink and may regret it. But I also wanted a span of counter that was long enough for prep and such. So it was the lesser of two evils. But I do appreciate your thoughts!
I saw this on house hunters international, and see someone else referenced it, hopefully attached link works. A dish drainer cupboard above sink.
http://dornob.com/dish-draining-closet-space-saver-every-home-should-have/
This is AWESOME> Thanks for sharing, I’m totally going to share this with Ryan.
The kitchen will be adorable, even if it is small. My best friend had a barn apartment one year and there wasn’t even room for a stove. She had a hot plate and a toaster oven.
I think I could go without an oven before I could go without a microwave.
When I lived in Italy we had a small kitchen, one the things that made it so usable was the built in dish rack. There was a normal cabinet above the sink with two levels, but the bottoms were perforated metal instead of solid wood. Glasses & pans on top, plates and bowls in slots on the bottom level. Once the dishes were washed you just put them away and they drained into the sink. This might help you save space and it certainly saves time since you don’t have to put the dishes away once they are dried.
This is such an amazing idea and something I’ve never seen before. Thanks so much for opening up my eyes.
That looks like a great plan! Love that it will be useful, but pretty too. 🙂
I can so picture your kitchen and its going to be amazing and even better since it will be painted grey!! Love that your maximizing all your space in your soon to be new home 🙂
Is it normal for me to be this excited about someone else’s kitchen? Cannot wait to see how it comes together – and I love that you’re doing gray. I was at an engagement party this weekend and the hosts had painted their cabinets gray, and it looked awesome.
I’m really excited about the grey, too. I think it will be something different. =)
My first ever rental had a really tiny kitchen. It took some getting use to and then it never fazed me. It’s going to be a cute little kitchen.
I love the look of the two shelves! Looks like a really smart design. I always think I “need” a ton of stuff until we go on vacation without all our stuff and I realize how little we actually need. can’t wait to see it come to fruition!
You are a brave woman! But honestly I think it will be great. Less is more. Simplified!
Easier said than done. I’ve been trying to purge in the basement and have barely scratched the surface.
It’s going to be such a cute little kitchen. I think if you can find a place for everything it will function wonderfully. I am a huge fan of living small.
I think it’s definitely going to be a good lesson in “needs” for me. I’m pretty spoiled. I think I need to be taken down a few pegs (and lots of kitchen gadgets).
No dishwasher?! I couldn’t do it, you are a braver woman than I. Though I wouldn’t be able to live with hardly any cabinets either..hmm. You are definitely a braver woman than I to do this entire barn living! Can’t wait to see it all come together for you.
Yeah, it’s a short term situation, which makes it more livable. We’ll definitely have a dishwasher when we build. 😉
I have a VERY small kitchen and we have an 18″ dishwasher that works really well for us. I’d highly recommend it if you can make it work!
I would love to be able to scan all my pictures from before I got a digital camera.
I agree with Cassie. That will be so cute. Love your inspiration!
Kim it’s going to be beautiful, your careful planning and attention to details really have made the best use of this space. You’re so mindful and you should be so proud of your smaller footprint. I can’t wait to see it all go in and come together.
Thanks, Jaime! Every inch will (hopefully) count.
Oops that was supposed to be counter space
Hey,
If you are ok with an electric stove are you thinking glass top? I have one for the first time and find that (as long as I’m careful) it becomes extra counter s
I would LOVE to have a glass top stove if I can find a small one. Haven’t found one yet, though. We had one in our last house and I really liked it. If I have to go with a normal electric stove. I’ve seen cutting boards that are fashioned to fit over the grates, which would work, too.
I don’t know if my husband and I could survive in a kitchen that small!! You’re my hero 🙂 I can’t wait to see this plan come to life!! 🙂
Oh boy, you are going to be quite the domestic goddess pretty soon! Learning to live without all the ‘extras’ will be challenging. I think I could handle it but the adjustment would definitely be shocking! … your post is inspiring me to go home and purge some of my kitchen “stuff” (especially since I cleared my counters last week in order to repair our backsplash caulking and I’m loving the cleanliness of the kitchen without the counter junk… the current state of my dining room table is another story!)
I know what you mean. As I think about what I’ll be downsizing for a year or so, I wonder if it’s necessary to keep it at all. It’s sort of a philosophical thing for me.
Kim — maybe flip your stove and sink so you will have countertop on both sides of the sink. That is always helpful.
And if you can find an island on wheels … that has helped me tremendously when I have lived in homes with no counter space. I had one kitchen with 8″ of counter.
Really!! Why bother????
That’s a great suggestion, Miss Eff. I was a little worried about elbow room. My only fear is having a stove next to a fridge – would they cause an energy drain with the hot and cold?
Also – I love the idea of an island. I think this would be super handy.
Kim — the new appliances are insulated very well and there is no energy drain. (Well — not according to the industry) It is not ideal ….. but I have had my stove and fridge like that for 18 years with no problem.
I think your kitchen is very cute, but you will regret not having the dishwasher. They make one that is smaller like an apartment size. My mother had one and it held surprisingly a lot of dishes.
Thanks for the comment. I think I can live without it for a year, but it will definitely be an adjustment. I looked at the small ones, but I wasn’t willing to give up cupboard space. I’ll call this a dishwashing experiment. 😉
That is a great layout. I love the open shelves in your current kitchen and the fiestaware will add a nice pop of color. I don’t know if I could survive in a small kitchen for long but for a temporary stop that looks perfect.
Thanks, anne! I think knowing it’s short term makes it a little easier to meet in the middle on some things.
love the open shelves! it’s going to look great; a tiny but carefully planned kitchen is probably as good as a bigger one that doesn’t use space well 🙂
Thanks, Gretchen! I agree!
i’m sure it will take some adjusting but you will do great! looks like you already have a good idea too. I’m excited to see it come together.
Love this plan Kim. I was wondering if it would make sense to move the sink cabinet in between the two drawer sections so you have a little more elbow room around the sink?
I can’t wait to see this come together. I love the idea of open shelving. So fabulous!! I could definitely get by in this kitchen for quite a while 🙂
Good ideas, Katja. I actually played with it both ways but was afraid that 18 inches wasn’t really enough counter space for me to prep, put out dishes and/or have small appliances next to the sink. I don’t LOVE the idea of the sink right next to the fridge, but I really wanted a longer span of counter.
I would NEVER give up my dishwasher after not having one for the past 3 years. Washing dishes sucks & they pile up so quickly. But I love the rest of the plans! This barn always gets me way too excited.
Yeah, I know what you mean! I’m sort of nutso about dishes – it’s one thing I always do right away. So, I think it’s soemthing I can deal with in the short term. But, we’ll see if I’m eating my words. =)
I have to say I agree with Melanie. I would never give up a dishwasher. I’ve lived without one for several years. I would at least try to make room for a dishwasher drawer if I could.
Our kitchen is painfully small with barely any counter space. It’s been a big adjustment (esp. since our last apartment had tons of cabinets and counters) but it’s definitely doable. Can’t wait to see this all set up!
I’m happy to hear you are making it work. Giving me hope.
I love this, Kim! I think the small kitchen will be cute because you’ll be making it and I can attest since my kitchen is almost smaller than the one you’ll be creating: it IS possible. 🙂 Happy Monday!
Thanks for the encouragement!
It’s so widdle and cute. I’m excited to see this baby in person. In July. When it’s hopefully warm.
Ha. We couldn’t get there now anyhow, the drifts and ice don’t agree with my car. Let’s make a date for springtime.
Whoa whoa whoa. Why Lowes vs. IKEA? Haha, just have to ask, but this looks great!
FOr something short term like this, we’re using the inexpensive unfinished cabinets. We don’t need many of them and the cost is so low. (Much lower than IKEA.) =)
We’ll probably still use IKEA when we build. And I’d love them in the apartment, but it’s something that isn’t forever, so it’s not worth the cost.
how cute will that be? i love the plan! what a great little space it will be!
We’ve had some titchy kitchens, and one thing that makes it SO MUCH easier is having a large board that can go over the sink or range to make some extra counter space (when they aren’t in use, of course!). Our new kitchen isn’t abundant with counter space, but has room for a table and that helps with things like rolling stuff out!
This is such an awesome idea! I saw something on AT that created a cover for the stove from a cutting board. I must do it.