Design Ideas for Small Kitchens

A grand country kitchen with all the bells and whistles may be on every interiors-lover’s bucket list, but what if you’re pressed for space? These space-saving bijou kitchens make the most of every nook, cranny and cupboard. Guaranteed to turn heads, they’re all the proof you need that even with a small kitchen in a London apartment or narrow town house, you can make a statement. Good things really do come in small packages.

Archidrum

Bringing us over all Pretty in Pink: this kitchen was designed by Ensemblier founder Tara Craig and Marcus Ayshford Sandford of West-London based Archidrum. Cupboard units are painted in a bespoke shade by Papers and Paints, and it features bianco carrara marble surfaces and bespoke joinery. Small, but beautiful. archidrum.com; ensemblierlondon.com

Artichoke

Somerset-based kitchen designers Artichoke have their very own answer to the petite kitchen in the form of the scullery. Featuring artisan cabinetry, beautiful work surfaces and hi-spec finishes, this is everything you’d expect from a country-estate kitchen in perfect miniature. ‘It often helps to work out whether you can stack appliances to create space,’ suggests Bruce Hodgson, Artichoke’s Founder and Creative Director. ‘If ceilings are high, then make the most of them with double height cupboards and even a ladder to maximise space.’ When it comes to finding a designer to curate a small, but perfectly-functioning space, Hodgson says to be clear about how flexible the dimensions are of a space, and focus on durability and quality. ‘Kitchens need to be durable – how the kitchen is going to cope with everyday life in the long term is vital,’ he adds: ‘whether designing elaborate rooms for entertaining or more domestic spaces – we always have in mind that we are designing and building to last. We are creating Britain’s future heritage.’ artichoke-ltd.com

Blakes London

With a team of architects, interior designers, carpenters, draughts people and builders to hand, Blakes have established themselves as the go-to kitchen designers for London modernistas. Skylights and light-refracting work surfaces add visual intrigue to this pint-sized kitchen. Clever use of space also ensures all appliances are included while incorporating plenty of space for cooking and preparation. blakeslondon.com

CRL Stone

With 20 years’ experience in the stone industry, Manchester-based CRL Stone are masters at transforming beautiful, hardwearing materials into striking kitchens. A marble effect surface, Ceralsio Calcutta Gris, has been teamed with dark cabinets here to make an impactful, two-tone effect in a compact kitchen. Prices start from £350 per sq/m. crlstone.co.uk

Eggersmann

Paging James Bond: although this kitchen is ultra contemporary, it could still easily fit into a more compact space. German company Eggersmann are behind the design, which features work surfaces in stainless steel and Eggersmann’s dark grey laminate cabinetry. A monochrome scheme has been balanced with natural materials to create an illusion of spaciousness and light. eggersmann.com

Jack Trench

Swedish hygge (if you’re into a bit of Scandi chic) infuses this sleek design by London-based designers, Jack Trench. The perfect accompaniment to apartment living, this clever design is light-filled on a relatively small footprint, making use of double height ceilings and eaves space. The Corian-covered hob can be cleverly concealed to double as a breakfast bar, or food preparation area. jacktrench.co.uk

Ledbury Studio

Don’t be afraid to dabble with colour; a vibrant pop of copper and teal can do wonders to electrify a small space, as Ledbury Studio’s Metallics Collection proves. Featuring antiqued copper, mixer taps from Perrin & Rowe and Bianco Macaubas Quartzite on the worktops and splashback (which has the look of marble whilst being more hardwearing): it’s as functional as it is stylish. ledburystudio.com

Life Kitchens

City slickers, this is one for you. Life Kitchen’s slim-fit hidden kitchen contains in-built sliding bi-fold doos, which seamlessly fold away to conceal it behind a panelled wall. Don’t be fooled by it’s size, either, this whizz kid of a kitchen packs away a fridge-freezer, oven and dishwasher. Plus, areas for preparation, cooking and storage. A must-have accessory to any chic, state-of-the-art sky-rise. life-kitchens.co.uk

British Standard by Plain English

Luxury-rustic touches like iron handles and muted paints help upgrade any kitchen that’s on the smaller side, and these British Standard cupboards from Plain English have it all. Manufactured in Suffolk, this off-the shelf range is designed using traditional methods, and made to last a life time. It’s also the perfect understated canvas for an old-world style butler’s sink. britishstandardcupboards.com

Smallbone

This is a small kitchen with a twist: both a kitchen and wine and cigar lounge have been configured into this smart design, which was handcrafted by Smallbone. The design blends ebonized black walnut with non-reflective leather finishes, and a double wine coolers and ‘hidden mirror’ 4k flatscreen TV. Shadowy lighting (including an artisanal pearl and glass chandelier), with art-deco feeling accents create unity, making a small work of art out of this compact space. smallbone.co.uk

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