Kitchenette
What is a kitchenette
When you come across the word ‘kitchenette’ you would probably think how it is different from a ‘kitchen’. ‘Kitchenette’ is to a tiny apartment what ‘kitchen’ is to a normal sized apartment. Today there is a big demand for studio or one room bachelor’s accommodation. These small flats do not have space for a large kitchen. They have enough space for a tiny kitchen or a kitchenette.
What would you expect to find in a kitchenette
In a kitchenette you will not find many things that one takes for granted in a kitchen. For a beginning there just won’t be enough space for a full fledged counter and the sink will be smaller than what you see in a normal kitchen. It will difficult to store big appliances in the kitchenette, again due to lack of space. You will have to cope with small appliances that don’t make the kitchenette look crowded since they take up much less space. It is very unlikely that you will find a full sized stove or a full sized refrigerator. A kitchenette will provide you with a small dorm sized freezer, a hot plate, a microwave and a toaster oven. In many places they come with the apartment
These appliances are enough to cook meals for you and at the most one other person who might be sharing the flat with you. The hot plate can double up as a stove top while the toaster oven can also be used as an oven. Cooking for a bigger crowd is not possible and you may not be required to since these flats are not meant for more than two people.
Making the kitchenette look like a kitchen
You are not restricted to the appliances that come with flat. You can add your own set of appliances and gadgets to make the kitchenette look more like a kitchen. However, you should careful to choose those appliances that can fit in the limited space available. For instance it would be smart idea to invest in an electrical kettle that boils water quickly. You don’t have to take the risk of boiling water in a microwave or on the hot plate. You can also buy a food steamer to steam meat, chicken and vegetables quickly. Don’t be disappointed if your kitchenette does not look like an ideal kitchen. They are not meant to look like one. But you will have enough means to cook a variety of dishes
How to solve storage problems in a kitchenette
Because of the small space available you will have to adopt unconventional ways to solve storage problems. A great place to store pots and pans would be to hang them from hooks on the walls. Use the vertical space by having tall cupboards and cabinets reaching the ceiling. Many tiered Lazy Susans would be of great use in tall cupboards allowing you to use the wasted vertical space. The microwave, when it is not being used can be used to store microwavable dishes. You must of course remember to remove them before using the microwave.