Natalie's Big-Window Arizona Kitchen
Name:
NatalieLocation:
Scottsdale, ArizonaDivision:
OwnSquare Feet:
100How many people live in home:
2 people + 2 loving kitty cats (sam and sophie)What makes your small kitchen so cool?
The gorgeous, expansive counter tops - they're as great for entertaining company as they are for rolling dough AND they're naturally antimicrobial so I don't have to be afraid of germies hiding on them! Also, I now have a secret pull-out garbage can so I can scrape food directly from the counter into the trash! Oh, and there's a dishwasher hiding in there, too! How cool is that!?
One challenge you overcame in your small kitchen, or a good resource you've found.
SPACE! We had none - if you look at the "before" kitchen it's kinda hilarious how little the cabinets are. We freed up a ton of counter space by installing an OTR microwave and exchanging our island layout for a solid peninsula. Getting giant upper cabinets provides a ton of storage as well, and all of our cabinets are much taller than our old ones.By opting for deep drawers for storage instead of cabinets (which tend to accrue clutter faster) we are also able to utilize the space we do have more efficiently. We can reach to the very back of our drawers with ease - instead of fighting clutter to get to the back of a cabinet.
Favorite Meal to Cook in Kitchen
I love baking - so I've been taking advantage of my counters by making anything that requires rolling, kneading, or cutting. The recent roster includes cinnamon pull apart bread and various cookies. Meal-wise BF likes to entertain at the counter - so anything that I can lay out as a "spread" for feasting at the counter on our new stools.
91
favorites
Favoriting and voting have ended.
Comments (18)
Great kitchen, but for me it's missing some herbs, or flowers to give it a bit of life.
view Nina79's profile
This layout looks almost exactly like what i'm planning - except i'll have the benefit of a pantry directly across from your kitchen entrance. thanks for the inspiration/validation/goose I needed! Beautiful!
view rmcgrudiva's profile
Love the bow window.
view hello123's profile
Sorry.....I didn't realized it was 3 windows....still looks great!I hope you have a lovely view from it.
view hello123's profile
Thank you! we do have a pretty good view of the mountain from the back - :)
@rmc- the other half really regrets not elongating the peninsular counter out farther, so if your layout is similar you may want to consider that
view natalie.'s profile
Your lower cabinets are beautiful! Would you mind sharing where you got them?
view diy enthusiast's profile
it's all ikea, actually. took advantage of their 20% off promo - it was a great deal! They have some really beautiful cabinet options and from what I've researched they're very durable
view natalie.'s profile
rmc - we actually have a pantry on the other side of that opening!
diy - forgot to tell you they are ikea's Adel Medium Brown cabinets.
Everything was just installed last month, a vast improvement, but we still have a ton left to do - repaint the walls, find new light fixtures, new flooring and do something with those windows! :)
view natalie.'s profile
I am so impressed with such a vast window area not overpowering the room.Thinking about a treatment for it would stump me.
Off the top of my head I will say less is more.Start with your light fixtures and leave the windows until last.Decide then if you want it to be a focal point of the design or bland in.I'm timid when I feel unsure about how to pull something major into a room.
It's just so beautiful to have windows, a view and so much natural light.You can't go wrong with this kitchen because there is so much right about it.
view hello123's profile
looks great!
view nikki l's profile
What anti-microbial couner top is this?
What a beautiful transition. I would not do anything to the kitchen windows unless you are getting too much heat in them - then you are on your own :-). Why not make the cabinet area over the fridge flush with the front of the fridge. It's unusable space otherwise. You can put a slotted fitting there for baking pans and trays.
view HeraHere's profile
Thanks for the comments; very helpful! On the extension of the counter, y'all have a more open floor space than I do, so I'm limited by the hallway :) I was wondering about the outer door opening into the counter; I'm looking to widen mine, and keep thinking that it may be an issue. Has it been for you?
Those really are beautiful cabinets!
view rmcgrudiva's profile
OMG the door! I swear I woke up in the middle of the night panicked when I realized our door opened the wrong way!
We're going to have to switch it out for one that opens to the outside or at least has a left-hand hinge (it's on our long list of things to do - haha).
For now, though, We just attached this little bumper thingy that you put on the hinge to prevent the door from opening into the counter. It only cost us like $4 at the hardware store, and will suffice until we have the time and money to get a whole new door & frame.
view natalie.'s profile
Thank you for sharing the cabinet information. Kudos to you!
view diy enthusiast's profile
you kitchen look speshal.
view sirchristopherkochthegreat's profile
Natalie,
Ha! That is truly a nightmare thought, isn't it? I've got a 6' table in that space now, just to see how it would work, but I did give myself a 3 ft clearance on the door side. That may look funky for a counter, though...
view rmcgrudiva's profile
Yo fridge is shiny. I like it.
view sumyunguy's profile
Very simple and Clean looking, Congrats, very well planned out.
view Lavada's profile