No room for a kitchen--what do I do?

[AK]

Our space is small (under 1500 ft )  so we are thinking of foregoing a kitchen and having a counter with a sink and small under counter fridge.  

I seek ideas and photo of other spaces who have a similar situation ( no full kitchen)

Thoughts on the whole idea are welcome.

Thank you.

[Carl Sullivan]

I have built kitchens that are only 4ft wide that worked. Some kitchens can be super small and fit into cupboards.

Or go onto Pinterest and search "Tiny Kitchens"

Carl

[Alex Hillman]

I love this solution, Carl!

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[Alkaye Media / Al]

Thank you, Carl. My concern is less of a efficiency kitchen, but the WHOLE idea of making the kitchen a separate place for people to relax. It just seems that our space is too small for that.

The one you show is quite nice. More than we intend even. 

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[Carl Sullivan]

I would highly recommend that you have somewhere that is not desks for your team to hang, even if its just 2 x 3 seater lounges that are adjacent to the kitchen.

I have seen and built many small spaces, and a commonality is that if you are trying to maximise space build a small kitchen and place an 8 seater kitchen table next to it. This zone can double up as open plan meeting room space before and after lunch, and as a lunch zone during lunch hours.

It is also a golden opportunity to make a space that has tones of character and photographs well for advertising and socials. Here is an example of a space that I set up, sourcing this old red velvet lounge off ebay and paring it with a couple of simple books, side tables and a plant made it pop...

This space was 126m2 (1356ft2) and we fit space for 26 people, a kitchen, a break out lounge area, 2 video editing studios and an 8 person meeting room. Check out what I did here... https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bz2RcnHfAvyvTWFKbHJwLW1sN0E?usp=sharing 

[AK]

Attached is our current space allocation. There is a wall adjoining the bathroom sink wall. Thus plumbing is not a problem for the kitchette.  We do have space just outside the bathroom which could be a space to congregate...but who would really want to that...there?  Not sure what to with that area --more ideas welcome., 

Al

[Carl Sullivan]

Edit: the office I linked to has 20 person capacity, not 26. and a better link to see the other photos... https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/0Bz2RcnHfAvyvTWFKbHJwLW1sN0E?usp=sharing 

[Alex Hillman]

Big +1 to having some space for gathering. That's more important than the "kitchen" facilities.  

If you think of it as multi-purpose space, rather than strictly kitchen/meal space, I think your options start to open up a lot!

-Alex

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[Marc Bacayon]

How high are you ceilings. Ive seen some space build out a loft space.

[Alkaye Media / Al]

9 ft ceiling height

[Steve Suard]

Mine is tiny and coworkers happy (fridge, microwave, coffee..) Simple bur useful.

[Jeannine van der Linden]

So here's the thing.  You have to work with what you have of course, and my experience has been that the coworkers solve this problem for me if I approach it in the right way.

Our basic motto (loosely translated) is "where the space changes to suit you and not the other way around"

This has a pun in Dutch which is untranslatable I am afraid.

So we provide the basic amenities and the coworkers can:  bring in their own furniture, move the furniture, ask for this and that from the furniture budget, ask to have furniture moved or removed.

It does help that I have a background in theater :-)

One of the more interesting things is to see the space change as the micro communities change within the space.  At one time we had a catering company as a coworker and our largest conference room became a large, eat in kitchen complete with baking cookies which was very homey.  We also had a yoga/meditation space for a while as we had a coworker who did mindfulness courses; at one time we had a near art gallery because the artist in residence was a whole group of painters who were quite prolific.

I give them the ground, the coworkers have to seed it.

All of this is to say, if they want a kitchen and they have to tools and agency to make a kitchen, they will make a kitchen.

Warm regards,

Jeannine

[Trevor Townsend]

Hi AK,

My space is 2/3 the size of yours (~1,050sqft total) and I've managed to squeeze in a full galley kitchen.  It did so because it is likely that I will host events, retreats, etc. where there might be catering, etc., and I also wanted to have an upscale feel to the space.  I'm relocating a lounge area closer to the kitchen so that people can flow back and forth between each.  I'll try to find some pictures to share ...

Best,

Trevor

[AK]

Would love to see it. Here is our kitchenette. No room for more

[Trevor Townsend]

Here's what I managed to cram into my 1,000sqft space - a 6'x8' full kitchen(ette?).

Mind you, I'm not open yet so I don't have feedback, but this should work nicely.  Note: the stove is de-powered (breaker off at the electrical box) unless there is an even that needs it.

On Monday, 19 November 2018 16:36:00 UTC-5, AK wrote:

[Keith Pandeloglou]

Thought i'd share an example of our 1300SF space's kitchen - we do have a fridge / kegerator in the back, separate as well