Hidden Spaces in Your Small Kitchen

Are you struggling to design a smart kitchen in a small space? You're in good company — there isn't a kitchen designer in the business who hasn't shared your pain.

It can be difficult to pack maximum form and function into a minimal footprint, says kitchen and bath designer Joanne Cannell. Cannell works in San Francisco, where space commands quite a premium. She has an arsenal of strategies she uses to create space in surprising places.

Borrow Nearby Space

The kitchen space you desperately need doesn't actually have to be in the kitchen. The pantry is actually a dining room closet, adjacent to but not inside the kitchen, that Cannell remade into a super-functional pantry and microwave nook. The pantry features tray storage, deep adjustable drawers and a pull-out counter space underneath the microwave.

"When you install drawers like this, make sure they're adjustable to accommodate changing needs," Cannell says. "And note that the pull-outs are flush with the opening. I always recommend frameless cabinets in small spaces instead of those with face frames - that inch everywhere can make a real difference."