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Best of the Week: 24 Brilliant Small and Narrow Kitchens

Don't let a compact kitchen defeat you – here are 24 space-starved cooking spaces that combine looks and functionality

Georgia Madden
Georgia MaddenOctober 24, 2019
Senior writer, Houzz Australia
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A small or narrow kitchen can present a few design challenges, but they’re not impossible to overcome. With some creative thinking and careful planning, even a culinary space the size of a postage stamp can be crafted to look great and perform efficiently. We’ve gathered together 24 examples from the Houzz archives to inspire your thinking.

And remember, you can get more details of a project and see more of a professional’s work by clicking on a photo.
STUDIO OSCAR LEA.
1. Location: Sydney, NSW
Designer: Studio Oscar Lea
Features: Blonde timber, penny-round tiles and warm metallic touches.
Marta Castellano
2. Location: Barcelona, Spain
Designer: Marta Castellano
Features: Character-packed joinery and a herringbone timber floor add a sense of movement to this space.
Sophie Tomaras
3. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Features: Pale timber and artfully designed joinery.

Thinking of redoing your kitchen? Find a local kitchen designer on Houzz and talk through your vision
Camilla Molders Design
4. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Designer: Camilla Molders Design
Features: Cornflower blue, decorative floor tiles and lashings of light.
Texas Construction Company
5. Location: Austin, USA
Designer: Texas Construction Company
Features: Suspended open shelving and Shaker-style cabinetry.
Urban Angles
6. Location: Melbourne, Victoria
Features: Pared-back lines, handle-free joinery and floor-to-ceiling storage.
Dyer Studio Inc.
7. Location: Portland, USA
Designer: Dyer Studio
Features: Freestanding kitchen units and white-washed floors and ceiling maximise the sense of space.
Dynamic Architectural Windows & Doors
8. Location: New York, USA
Designer: CWB Architects
Features: Flat-faced cabinetry, a cosy, patterned rug and a killer view.
Andrea Mosca Architecte DESA (hmonp)
9. Location: Paris, France
Designer: Andrea Mosca Architecte DESA
Features: Mixing horizontal and vertical lines is a genius way to make a narrow kitchen feel wider.
Connors & Co.
10. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Connors & Co
Features: Space-enhancing white and fuss-free detailing.
ESTUDI A L'ÀTIC. Benvinguts al Slow Design!
11. Location: Barcelona, Spain
Designer: Estudi a l’Atic
Features: Terracotta tiles add warmth to a rich grey and stainless-steel scheme.
ANNEWAND interior
12. Location: Berlin, Germany
Designer: Annewand Interior
Features: Gloriously – and unashamedly – mismatched.
Wolf Design Studio
13. Location: Los Angeles, USA
Designer: Wolf Design Studio
Features: Simple joinery and a neutral colour palette.
Condovate Interiors Inc.
14. Location: Toronto, Canada
Designer: Condovate Interiors
Features: Dramatic dark timber joinery, a minimalist grey benchtop and bold artwork.
15. Location: Boston, USA
Designer: LDa Architecture & Interiors
Features: A wall of bright, floral wallpaper draws the eye through the narrow space and adds a touch of fun.
株式会社TENHACHI一級建築士事務所
16. Location: Tokyo, Japan
Designer: Tenhachi
Features: Running the kitchen right under the stairs in this tiny home is a clever way to maximise space – it even frees up enough room for a dining area.
Framestudio
17. Location: San Francisco, USA
Designer: Framestudio
Features: A chic charcoal-and-timber palette and space-savvy touches, such as recessed door handles, minimise visual clutter.
Madame Prune
18. Location: Paris, France
Designer: Madame Prune
Features: The high-gloss finish on these streamlined cabinets bounces light around and makes the space appear larger than it actually is.
TaylorSmith Sustainable Construction
19. Location: Portland, USA
Designer: TaylorSmith Sustainable Construction
Features: Rustic ply cabinetry, open shelving and white appliances.
Campos Studio
20. Location: Vancouver, Canada
Designer: Campos Studio
Features: A generous skylight cleverly positioned above this narrow kitchen fills it with light and enhances the sense of airiness.
Caterina Raddi Architetto
21. Location: Rome, Italy
Designer: Caterina Raddi Architetto
Features: The bold, patterned floor tiles pick up on the sage green in the cabinetry for a sense of cohesion.
Claire Stevens Interior Design
22. Location: Brisbane, Queensland
Designer: Claire Stevens Interior Design
Features: Shaker cabinetry, touches of mint and a charming, traditional feel.
ATELIER FB
23. Location: Paris, France
Designer: Atelier FB
Features: Quirky touches – such as cabinetry panelling arranged in different directions and contrasting floor and wall tiles – tie in beautifully with the apartment’s chic, off-beat vibe.
24. Location: Sydney, NSW
Features: Marble flowing from benchtop to splashback, black cabinetry and a dramatic patterned-timber floor.


Your turn
Which of these narrow cooking spaces impresses you the most? Tell us in the Comments below, like this story, save the images, and join the conversation.

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Missed our last Best of the Week? Catch up here with Best of the Week: 21 Tiled Accents Beyond Bathrooms & Kitchens
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Comments (10)
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  • Pauline Freeburn
    last month

    Really lovely designs from minimalist to full mismatched clutter. Nice collection, but what is it with North Americans and rugs on kitchen floors?

  • Ingrid J K
    last month

    if they are 'small' then my kitchen is miniscule!

  • Catulla Hope
    last month

    I like the modest inviting look of most of these kitchens, and the use of colour. I think my favourite is 21.

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