Although it might not be supersized, your cabin kitchen can still be beautiful and efficient. Careful design decisions and a few tips can make all the difference.
Know your kitchen lifestyle. How many cooks will generally work in your cabin kitchen? Do you prefer to look out a window when doing dishes? Will your cabin be so far off the beaten path that you'll need a full pantry to limit trips to the grocery store? Asking yourself these types of questions helps refine your kitchen plan.
Get back to basics. A small kitchen offers a great excuse for cutting clutter. Take a long look at those specialty appliances you use infrequently. Could you live without the waffle maker, popcorn popper or rice cooker? Do you really need an extra set of dishes?
Choose durable finishes. Cabin kitchens should be informal. High-maintenance finishes in your kitchen will require time-consuming upkeep. Better to opt for easy-clean surfaces proven to survive hard knocks.
Think outside the box. A closet-style pantry could provide extra space if cabinetry is limited. Build storage into a window seat near the kitchen. A hanging rack can accommodate pots and pans, freeing up more cabinet space.
Fight appliance bulge. When space is at a premium, rein in the appliances by choosing standard, not commercial, sizes. Select a refrigerator with French doors or go with refrigerator drawers. Dishwasher drawers save space, too, by not requiring a large, fold-down door.
Put it out in the open. If you plan to host lots of guests or generations of family in your cabin, consider open shelves for the kitchen. Storing dishes, glasses and serving pieces on open shelves allows everyone using the kitchen to see where things go at a quick glance. You want to make it easy for guests to do dishes, right?
