Turning a Small Kitchen into an Eat-in Kitchen

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

13 May 2008 03:22 PM

Just last week I visited a home that had the most amazing Tuscan-inspired kitchen, complete with the designer tile. The thing that struck me most, after I stopped drooling over the above tile, the dark hardwood floors and the smooth black granite countertops, was the way that the kitchen was more of an entertaining kitchen. Our own kitchen in comparison, while larger than what we had before, is still more of a place to prepare food, rather than to hang out.

These days, large entertaining kitchens sell houses, not to mention the fact that they are fun and welcoming to enjoy in your home. But what can you do if you have a smaller kitchen? Here are some ways to optimize it and give it the feel of something larger.

To create an eat-in kitchen with space to spare, lose the dining room table and instead install a diner-style both. A custom built in may cost you between $2,000 and $5,000. You can install it in a corner or alcove to transform your kitchen into an eat-in one.

Another way to achieve an eat-in kitchen is to install a new counter that hangs over to form a peninsula. Or, install an island that has an extra 15 inches or so more than it needs. Backless stools can provide seating and be tucked under the counter as needed.

Do you have a dining room next to your kitchen? Consider knocking down the wall between the two and turning that area into an attached eating area. You may lose some cabinets and storage, but you can replace that storage with an extended peninsula. Knocking down a non-structural wall will cost about $1,500. Removing a load-bearing wall can cost much more, in the area of $5,000.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, technology in the Computing Blog, and creating a home in the Home Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here.

Related Articles:

Redoing the Kitchen: Flooring Choices

5 Kitchen Design Solutions for Easy Accessibility

Silestone FAQ

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

View Full Profile | More from this Blogger