Rita St. Clair

A Clever Way to Maximize Space in a Small Kitchen

A table attached to the end of a kitchen peninsula is a clever way of maximizing space in small kitchen.

It's easy to find out how much space should be set aside for just about every element in a home or office design.

"Architectural Graphic Standards" is probably the most widely consulted of several publications that offer size guidelines useful in planning room layouts. But when one of these sources refers to a "standard size," it should be taken as a suggestion rather than a rule. Actual choices, in size as in all other facets of interior design, should always reflect specific circumstances.

QUESTION:

I'm trying to figure out how much space will be needed for a table and chairs in a small kitchen that's about to be renovated. Ideally, I'd like there to be room for four people, but I can settle for two. Kitchen and furniture stores give all sorts of answers to my questions about these measurements, so I'm hoping there's some general formula I can follow. And can you offer some suggestions for making the space look larger?

ANSWER:

You can find the formula in one of those graphic standards reference works, but it won't take into account the layout of your renovated kitchen or how much space you wish to allocate for each of those seated at the table. I can tell you now that an area 24-inches-by-30-inches will generally be adequate for a table for two. With four people, make it 36-by-36. And if you're using a round table, its diameter should be 30 or 36 inches, respectively. You've also got to reserve at least 24 to 36 inches for chairs and room to maneuver around the table.

The accompanying photo shows a clever way of maximizing space in a small kitchen.

There's room for three and possibly even four at this table, which is attached to the end of a peninsula of cabinetry. The choice of glass for the surface reduces the table's volume, while the light color of the wood on the floor and cabinets makes the entire room appear larger. You can find lots of good ideas for renovations in the Taunton Press book from which this photo is taken. And don't be misled by its title. The illustrated examples in " Updating Ranches" by Caren Connolly and Louis Wasserman can be adapted to more than ranch-style homes.

Availble at Amazon.com:

Ranches: Design Ideas for Renovating, Remodeling, and Building New (Updating Classic America)

A Great Way to Maximize Space in a Small Kitchen

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