Up Against It: 8 Advantages of a Single-Wall Kitchen
Streamlined, small and definitely stylish, you can't go past the new single-wall kitchens for their sleek design and smart functionality
Forget the U-shape, L-shape, galley and island kitchens – the new single-wall designs cover the basics in a singular stylish unit. Having all the major kitchen components along one wall brings many advantages. The compact layout can save oodles of space, reduce manufacturing costs and create a more efficient work zone in which to cook. The style has also often been seen as a cheap and easy way to install a kitchen, although the options available were sometimes a little dull. The latest designs, however, are nothing short of chic, reflecting the resurgence in this layout’s popularity with designers. In fact, the single-wall kitchen is now often a first choice for those looking for a stylish alternative to the traditional and, usually larger, fully functioning kitchen. Read on to see why the smart set are choosing single style.
2. Is perfect for small stations
The one-wall kitchen is ideal for smaller homes and apartments, although it can also be useful as a secondary kitchen in a larger home, granny flat or studio. It may feel like a compromise at first, but its smaller size puts plumbing and appliances in a compact space, placing everything you need within arm’s reach.
More small kitchens
The one-wall kitchen is ideal for smaller homes and apartments, although it can also be useful as a secondary kitchen in a larger home, granny flat or studio. It may feel like a compromise at first, but its smaller size puts plumbing and appliances in a compact space, placing everything you need within arm’s reach.
More small kitchens
3. Integrates seamlessly
As we continue to dine out, take-out or order in our meals, kitchen duties that we would once do ourselves, including cooking, eliminate the necessity for a fully functional kitchen. This can be especially so for those people living in inner-city areas, which are usually surrounded by good restaurants and eateries. A single-wall kitchen unit can provide the basic services for someone who uses it infrequently, without compromising living space. By camouflaging a kitchen and painting it the same colour as the walls, its bulk will be less obvious. The focus of the room is directed elsewhere and, in the kitchen pictured here, to a gorgeous transparent dining setting. Add a kitchen cart or mobile bench that can be wheeled out for work duty when cooking for a crowd.
As we continue to dine out, take-out or order in our meals, kitchen duties that we would once do ourselves, including cooking, eliminate the necessity for a fully functional kitchen. This can be especially so for those people living in inner-city areas, which are usually surrounded by good restaurants and eateries. A single-wall kitchen unit can provide the basic services for someone who uses it infrequently, without compromising living space. By camouflaging a kitchen and painting it the same colour as the walls, its bulk will be less obvious. The focus of the room is directed elsewhere and, in the kitchen pictured here, to a gorgeous transparent dining setting. Add a kitchen cart or mobile bench that can be wheeled out for work duty when cooking for a crowd.
4. Fits narrow spaces
The one-wall kitchen is ideally suited to long narrow spaces in which only one or two people work. It can stretch out the full length of the designated area but to be efficiently used, the work zones should still be laid along the line in a particular formation – that is, making sure the sink is placed between the fridge at one end and cooktop at the other.
Kitchen work zones
The one-wall kitchen is ideally suited to long narrow spaces in which only one or two people work. It can stretch out the full length of the designated area but to be efficiently used, the work zones should still be laid along the line in a particular formation – that is, making sure the sink is placed between the fridge at one end and cooktop at the other.
Kitchen work zones
5. Is sleek and chic
One-wall kitchens are well suited to contemporary warehouse apartments or loft living, particularly when the cabinetry is crafted in the latest materials. In combination with white walls and light coloured timber, use a bright colour like this acid yellow polyurethane unit for industrial-style settings as it can bring a sunny look to what can occasionally be a style that is a tad sombre or hard-edged.
Choosing cabinets for the kitchen
One-wall kitchens are well suited to contemporary warehouse apartments or loft living, particularly when the cabinetry is crafted in the latest materials. In combination with white walls and light coloured timber, use a bright colour like this acid yellow polyurethane unit for industrial-style settings as it can bring a sunny look to what can occasionally be a style that is a tad sombre or hard-edged.
Choosing cabinets for the kitchen
6. Is cheap to install
With only one bank of cabinets and a solitary benchtop to install, the single-wall kitchen is significantly cheaper than the more popular galley or kitchen-island layouts. Choosing a flatpack DIY kitchen from one of the big furniture or hardware stores can also greatly reduce costs, is relatively easy for the home renovator to install and looks rather cool in a ‘less-is-more’ kind of way. A light coloured knotty timber or ply can get the look of a Scandinavian-style kitchen at a budget price. An even cheaper option is to buy a ‘ready-made’ kitchen that is crafted from a common timber, such as pine, and give it a good lick of paint in your favourite colour.
With only one bank of cabinets and a solitary benchtop to install, the single-wall kitchen is significantly cheaper than the more popular galley or kitchen-island layouts. Choosing a flatpack DIY kitchen from one of the big furniture or hardware stores can also greatly reduce costs, is relatively easy for the home renovator to install and looks rather cool in a ‘less-is-more’ kind of way. A light coloured knotty timber or ply can get the look of a Scandinavian-style kitchen at a budget price. An even cheaper option is to buy a ‘ready-made’ kitchen that is crafted from a common timber, such as pine, and give it a good lick of paint in your favourite colour.
7. Provides clever storage
One-wall kitchens are improved with the addition of extra storage, most usually by overhead cabinets. However, if that space is taken up by a window or other features, deep pull-out drawers best accommodate tableware and pots and pans for easy access; and sometimes can work even better than cupboards.
One-wall kitchens are improved with the addition of extra storage, most usually by overhead cabinets. However, if that space is taken up by a window or other features, deep pull-out drawers best accommodate tableware and pots and pans for easy access; and sometimes can work even better than cupboards.
8. Aids workflow
The one-wall kitchen layout keeps the workflow running smoothly. This is because all the work zones are close together. Highly practical, this kitchen layout uses a single work line, positioning all three kitchen areas – stove, sink and refrigerator – side by side. The smaller the distance between the three work points, the better the functionality.
TELL US
Do you have a one-wall kitchen? Has it adequately served you or do you wish for a different layout configuration. Tell us about it in the Comments section.
MORE
Kitchen Layouts Laid Out: Single-Wall Kitchens
The Single-Wall Kitchen: How to Make It Work for You
The one-wall kitchen layout keeps the workflow running smoothly. This is because all the work zones are close together. Highly practical, this kitchen layout uses a single work line, positioning all three kitchen areas – stove, sink and refrigerator – side by side. The smaller the distance between the three work points, the better the functionality.
TELL US
Do you have a one-wall kitchen? Has it adequately served you or do you wish for a different layout configuration. Tell us about it in the Comments section.
MORE
Kitchen Layouts Laid Out: Single-Wall Kitchens
The Single-Wall Kitchen: How to Make It Work for You
The greatest advantage of the one-wall or single-wall kitchen is that it saves space. All the work areas, such as the sink, stove, refrigerator and dishwasher, are along one wall, leaving plenty of room for a dining table or, alternatively, as open space to use as a living area. Put the wall above the benchtop to good use and install a bank of spacious cabinets.