Tips on how to use a kitchen counter in an apartment and gain more space
Not many years ago, apartment-dwellers could only complete kitchens with ready-made items purchased in stores. Today it is possible to create a personalized decoration with bespoke furniture.
One of the biggest advantages of this is precisely being able to optimize the space of this important home environment to the maximum. That is, even if the room is compact, it is possible to have many cabinets, countertops and a kitchen counter.
The following text was prepared to introduce you to some layout ideas for an apartment kitchen.
They are examples of good use of space, adapting old ideas to new market trends, and setting up environments with modular furniture. Keep reading to learn more.
1- Kitchen in tape or parallel lines
As a result of the high dispute for free area in large cities, new developments have apartments with more compact dimensions.
This is a very popular housing concept for young people who want to purchase their first home. And generally this type of property offers a tape kitchen layout solution, where equipment and furniture are distributed in a row or parallel rows.
In this case, so that there is a greater number of counters at the bottom, the traditional stove can be eliminated and replaced by a cooktop – having, in place of the oven, a cabinet module with two drawers. And to further compensate for the lack of area, the verticality of the environment is further explored with modules of various heights; in place of the hood, a debugger is placed and, above it, a cabinet with two doors.
Of course, we still need to point out that this type of kitchen almost always fails to reproduce the famous “functional triangle” indicated by the designers.
This triangle represents the ‘stove, refrigerator and sink’ equipment, which need to be properly distanced from each other.
Preferably, in strip kitchens, the counter block with a sink is installed between the stove and the refrigerator, ensuring the distance between what produces heat and cold, ensuring that everything works properly. Try to use at least one cabinet module with doors and a chest of drawers in this space in the house.
2 - Kitchen in ‘L’
When there is the possibility of making the kitchen of the apartments with more plan width, another possible layout solution is in ‘L’. This design is formed by the grouping of counters, overhead cabinets and equipment.
In this case, it is possible that there will be a lot more bench area. But this will depend on good design planning that can solve the environment, recreating the functional triangle as expected.
Almost always what is done is to place the stove to the smaller side of this “letter L”. On top of it, the wall hood is installed. And on the larger side of the grouping of counters – preferably under a window opening – the kitchen sink is installed.
So, in the corner of the room is the cabinet module also called “corner counter”. And, if possible, on another wall free of the environment, a tower with a built-in refrigerator is placed.
3- Kitchen with breakfast bar
Sometimes, in an attempt to make apartment kitchens appear larger, designers choose to integrate these environments into the dining and living rooms.
This integration or separation can be done with only a half wall on the boundary between the rooms. Or, in place of this structure, there is a dining counter accompanied by a stool – which configures a plate. That’s how “American kitchens” work.
In the case of American kitchens, we can consider the dining counter area as a gain in space for the installation of counters facing the kitchen.
On the other side, the same piece of furniture works as a support for the dining table. But it is during the preparation of meals that this whole line of countertops makes the difference, there is much more space for the cook to support utensils and accessories.
Remembering that not all countertops in this kitchen will need to be made of the same material. It is very important that the area around the sink is made of a more resistant material, especially to the action of water and fire – stainless steel and natural stone are still the best alternatives.
As for the dining counter top, there are more options to choose from – wood is a great material in this type of situation.
Some of the material options for kitchen countertops are: wood, concrete, porcelain, stainless steel, quartz, silestone, granite and nanoglass.
4- kitchen with island
If in American kitchens the main charm of the layout is the dining counter, in gourmet kitchens the highlight goes to the island. And what would a kitchen island be?
It is a counter or group of counters that is placed right in the center of the environment, allowing the circulation of people all around it. In some cases, it is possible to have doors with color and texture all around or 360°.
Above the dining counters, overhead cabinets, shelves and pendant lamps are usually installed. On island counters, hoods can be installed.
Because? Because one of the functions that the island can assume is to be, in addition to a dining counter, a countertop for built-in cooktops. In other proposals, this is the location of the kitchen sink.
Did you like the ideas? So, get started on this project in your kitchen!
