K1, an innovative mini kitchen by Kitchoo, is the winner of this year’s Reddot design award. And there is a reason why. This hyper-equipped piece includes refrigerator, sink, two burners, dishwasher, garbage disposal and storage – all in one sleek sideboard. When all the components are tucked away – you will never guess that there is a full-functioning kitchen inside this tiny piece of furniture. Stylish, minimal and very clever. A godsend for studio apartments!
Modular kitchens comprised of interchangeable components are perfect for small spaces. They can be tailored to any room, moved around to accommodate different cooking needs… The Cun kitchen from Joko Domus does all of these things, while being an aesthetically pleasing object as well. All pieces are highly customizable. You can add storage options, accessories, choose between casters and fixed legs. Pieces can be hooked together or function as free-standing components. Side panels are available in a variety of woods, Corian or stainless steel.
This fruit basket from Kare Frandsen is suspended from the ceiling, allowing you to display and store fruits without using any counter space. The piece is comprised of two interlocking metal rings, connected by rubber mesh. You can pick fruits from any side of the sphere just by sticking your hand between the rubber lines. Aside from its obvious space-saving qualities, this fruit basket has one more hidden bonus. The air around the fruit is constantly replaced, allowing it to last longer. So, no more excuses for not having fresh fruits around…
Garbage disposal is an unglamorous thing, but unless it is properly organized – nothing glamorous is ever possible. And this minimalist trashcan by Hommin makes good organizational sense. Unlike the Cuum piece, I featured yesterday, the Clip trashcan is very low-tech. It consists of two interlocking wooden frames, merged with clothespins on their ends. The object is compatible with all types of bags. You can use plastic ones for kitchen waste, and more elegant textile ones for paper. The Clip trashcan can also be used as a hamper. Smart stuff!
Remember Ahhaproject I featured some time ago? Guess what, they have been busy with creating more space-saving designs. And their latest concept for Elecrolux is truly ingenious – a rotating sink/washer combo. ‘The idea came about when we realized the potential of space conservation when our sink was full of dirty dishes! The system works in a way that the dishes are cleaned within the sink, using the mechanics of a dishwasher,’ – designers explain. The sink is divided in two parts – one acts as a sink and another acts as a dishwasher when it rotates under the counter. Perfect for a small apartment!
If you cook in a tiny kitchen – you know too well that an open oven door makes the place non-navigable. It is also unkind to a human body. But what choice do we have other than performing our daily acrobatic etudes with hot dishes, and getting on with our lives… Well, this clever invention from Neff puts the end to this nonsense. A slide-away door, fitted on the new models, is a godsend for small spaces. By sliding neatly under the oven as you fully open the door, it provides easy access to the appliance. And if you look closer, you will notice that the handle rotates towards you in a smooth, circular motion. And once the door is fully open, it stays visible and easily accessible at the top of the door. Smart stuff!
(HT KBculture)
Mono dishwasher, designed by Daniel Simonini, is smaller than your average dish rack. Yet it can hold 4 plates, 4 glasses (or cups), and a set of flatware. Inspired by sea sponges, the piece has a smooth exterior and slick design that can agree with any space. But the best feature, in my opinion, is the fact that the pressurized water, used for cleaning the dishes, is also employed to power the device’s battery making it carbon-neutral. Perfect for an eco-friendly urban apartment.
Even in the absence of space and green thumb, there is still hope for growing an urban herb garden. This planter, created by two Dutch designers Nathan Wierink and Tineke Beunders is completely fool-proof. It can be attached right to the window via suction cups. The pots are transparent to allow maximum sunlight. What a clever idea!
This minimalistic kitchen workstation is a student project by Sébastien Cluzel of the École Supérieure d’Art et Design de Saint Étienne. The piece, called Culinary Landscape, is comprised of four essential parts – preparation area, water station, cutting board, and stove. Everything you can realistically need for cooking is incorporated in this design – cutlery, cookware and even herbs. The designer used interesting and innovative materials; thus, the sink is made from Ductal (a fiber reinforced form of concrete), and the stove is constructed out of soapstone. Other materials include wood, laminated plywood and cons (oak and pine), stainless steel. All are sustainable and functional choices.
Dishwasher is a notorious space eater in the kitchen. That is why designers come up with more and more ideas on how to combine it with other things. Here is another interesting concept – a dishwasher hiding under the drainboard of the sink. How intuitive and simple. It is on the small side, so there are some minor sacrifices, but, according to the manufacturer, the appliance can easily accommodate up to five place settings, including dinner plates up to 11 inches. So, just like in science fiction, you can dump your dirty dishes in the sink and press the button.
