HOMESTYLE
Compact kitchens: Strategies to make the most of your space
Jeanine Matlow
Special to The Detroit News
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At just 250 square feet, a collaboration between Bakes & Kropp — a luxury design and cabinetry company — and Sharer Design Group, would transform this kitchen in a 1927 Tudor into a highly functional environment for a Grosse Pointe Park family. The freshly renovated space features a classic blue and white palette with modern touches for a timeless design that can be enjoyed for years to come. In order to deliver the client wish list within the modest footprint –— like a central island and a La Cornue range — the creative team designed custom cabinetry to maximize function and style. Manufactured in Bakes & Kropp’s Mount Clemens workshop, the inset Meridian cabinets finished in Hale Navy pack a classic punch, while a custom Bakes & Kropp range hood adds a touch of luxury.
Justin Sharer, senior kitchen designer at Bakes & Kropp, who also owns Sharer Design Group in Plymouth and Bay Harbor, highlights some key features, like the walnut accents that include pullout drawers.
“The walnut fronts provide a nice design detail for functionality as well as tie into visually the same wood for the wine pullouts that make the bottles easy to identify and access when entertaining,” he says. While wine storage depends on each client, Sharer likes to lay bottles flat, especially if they have wood corks, so they won’t dry out.
Walnut shelves also add warmth and storage to the compact kitchen where practical aspects, like a microwave drawer and a trash unit are tucked away. “They wanted to really maximize the space,” says Sharer.
Other convenient features include a refrigerator with a middle drawer and a beverage fridge that allows easy access for kids. Separate areas support different tasks. “We try to create zones through the room for baking, cooking and cleaning and how the homeowners are going to use the space,” the designer explains. “It helps with people not being on top of each other.”
The range hood above the striking dark navy Le Cornue range makes a statement. “We love designing hoods. They are literally the jewelry for the kitchen, so we like to make them a focal point,” says Sharer. “The Bakes & Kropp sloped hood is accented with brushed brass, not only horizontally, but vertically as well.”
Classic pendants and sconces light the well-equipped kitchen that also includes a prep sink and low-maintenance quartz countertops. Counter stools at the island feature faux leather seats with rivet details.
A request for color led to the cabinets and the graphic navy and white cement tile floor. The elongated hexagon tile backsplash installed in a vertical direction strikes a subtle note. “We kept it white because we didn’t want it to fight with the floor,” he says.
The cabinets happen to reflect the latest color trends, but the classic hue has staying power and plays well with other elements. “When you accent blue with brushed brass, it works nicely for fixtures and metal work,” says Sharer. “Because this was an older home, we tried to tie that in, but modernize it, too with blue and walnut. It definitely has that timeless feel, even with the modern patterns and colors.”
Grand central
Their clients are delighted with the outcome and they were ready for the renovation. “The space is compact and we knew we had to redo it when we moved in. We cook dinner every night, so it was our main priority,” says Amanda Bobrovetski, who shares the home with her husband and their two young children.
Color would define the space that was completed in 2022. “I wanted it to be moody,” she says. “Everybody was getting all-white kitchens at the time.”
Their older home was another consideration. “We needed it to be more period than modern with warmer wood features, like the wood beam that was added where the breakfast nook originally was,” says Bobrovetski, who really enjoyed working with the team.
“We spend so much time in the kitchen, so it was definitely an investment,” she adds. “Having two sinks will definitely save our marriage. My husband grinds the coffee beans in the morning and washes everything out at night. He’s like a live-in barista and I do the cooking.”
She appreciates unique features like the refrigerator with a middle drawer above the freezer. “We keep all the produce in there at a different temperature so it stays fresh longer,” says Bobrovetski.
The Zip HydroTap water system from Advance Plumbing in Detroit that delivers chilled, sparkling or boiling water from a single tap is another favorite. Modern-day conveniences like these make the space extra special for the owners, who love to entertain. They recently hosted 20 friends for brunch and look forward to future gatherings.
Neat and tidy
While Julia Monette did not work on this particular project, the professional organizer and owner of Advantage Organizing and Design — who services Macomb and Oakland counties along with the Grosse Pointes — has some tips for compact kitchens.
When setting up your kitchen, Monette says you should know how you’re going to use the space. “So many people unpack boxes and put things away first, but you should think about the flow,” she says. “Where do you want to stand to prep your food? That’s where you should put your food and mixing bowls and you should create a zone for lunchboxes and snacks that you or your kids can grab quickly.”
The dishes you use every day that go in the dishwasher before you unload them and put them away should live close to the dishwasher, so you’re not getting in other people’s way all the time.
For organization, Monette favors Lazy Susans, not just in the kitchen, but for other parts of the home. “They can keep countertops clean for an overall sense of order and simplicity,” she says. “A Lazy Susan can also hold vitamins on a counter as a reminder to take them every day. They also work well in a pantry with deep shelves where canned goods and other items get lost back there and disappear.”
In the fridge, Lazy Susans can hold condiments and beverages. “They’re great to keep track of what you have,” adds Monette, who also recommends decanting and labeling other items. Nutrition information and expiration dates can be secured to the containers with museum wax.
Tiered shelves can organize pots and pans behind closed doors and risers can double your cabinet space for dishes. “Most kitchen cabinets have adjustable shelving,” she says.
Monette likes expandable bamboo drawer dividers that create sections with customizable widths for dish towels, potholders and utensils. She also suggests taking advantage of vertical space with over-the-door organizers to hold food, kitchen gadgets or cleaning supplies in your pantry.
Whenever possible, homeowners with compact kitchens can utilize space in a nearby laundry room with products like the Elfa pantry shelving and storage solutions at the Container Store.
Other items can also be tamed. “Kitchens always accumulate paper,” says Monette. “It helps to have a metal wall organizer for incoming mail, bills to pay, kids’ school stuff and recipes.” Make sure it is anchored to the wall and can handle the weight.
Lastly, lifestyle can be a great motivator for a more efficient kitchen. “The trend has been for a vitamin zone,” she says. “Every client wants to organize their supplements and really focus on health.”
Jeanine Matlow writes the Smart Solutions column in Homestyle. You can reach her atjeaninematlow@earthlink.net.
