Design

A Whole Kitchen Squeezed Into A Small Island

What can we say? It’s called the “Modern Space Saving Mini Kitchen” for a reason.

This otherwise standard, boring island’s countertop slides out to stretch its surface area while revealing (cold?) storage, a sink and electric burners. Comparing this design to the layout of more than one of my tiny apartments, there’s really no contest—this island is simpler, more space efficient and has a lot more eye appeal. I’d far rather work on an island than with my face pressed to cabinets, and there’s enough surface area here to match most small kitchens.

Then again, keep in mind that you need to leave the open space for everything to unfold and the island fails to accommodate a simple toaster, blender, or even oven. So maybe existing designs don’t have it all wrong even if they aren’t quite as chic or idealistic. [Ensci via freshome via dvice]

Comments (AU Comments | US Comments)

  • Nahnsense

    No toaster? No oven? No Blender? What this thing is missing is a Microwave! You could get by without all that other stuff if you had a convection/microwave/blender combo.

    What? Your microwave can't blend? Get with the times.

    Nahnsense

  • YankBoffin

    Facing the cabinets while doing counter work isn't as pleasing as facing an open space, but it does seem more efficient than an island of counter top surrounded by cabinets. I think a minimum of 5 feet of space is needed to comfortable access lower cabinets or a pantry, what with the bending over at what not. Because of this, you really need a rather large kitchen area to accomodate an island....unless you don't have a need for cabinets and can get by with just a pantry, but most poeple have a lot of kitchen gadgets, pots, pans, bowls, etc.

  • tekdemon

    This is pretty retarded since it appears to require far more space than my kitchen has, assuming you actually want to be able to walk around the damned thing.
    I guess if you were going for an island anyway it might be kinda neat to get some extra space.

    I remember the Kurt Vonnegut book Slapstick where the Chinese figured out how to deal with the overpopulation problem-they genetically engineered everyone to be smaller so more people could live in the same space and not use up more food, and over a couple hundred years everyone eventually became like 6 inches tall. Imagine how roomy your apartment would feel if you were six inches tall lol.

    tekdemon

  • sharkync

    Listen to these comments - everyone knows the world would be a better place if people did not take up space.

    sharkync

  • medopal

    the best use, is when ur family or new friends come to visit, just throw everything inside and close :)

    medopal

  • medopal

    @dwight-schrute: in that age ur space in the world would be so small, u wont be able to put this island in ur bedroom

    medopal

  • stan-the-man

    Actually if you look at the bottom right picture, just below the stove, there's something that looks like an oven. a small toaster could probably fit in the compartment where the water boiler is found... maybe even a blender....

  • Cordfucious of Tech Clan

    Surprisingly not Yanko Vaporware

  • mfusion

    @aznxenocide: i've never associated barstools with classy before, my entire universe has just changed. zomg! it's like dividing by zero! ahhhh!

  • aznxenocide

    @Kaiser-Machead:

    I think the point of the island being expandable is the fact that it'd eliminate the need to buy a separate dining table. Put a couple of barstools around it and you've got a classy dinner table.

    aznxenocide

  • psychiccheese

    @brandeis1: it's to illustrate all the space you save by using this. Had you gone for the standard kitchen outfitting, that room would be full and crowded.

    psychiccheese

  • brandeis1

    Anyone else find it slightly suspicious that they show it off in an incredibly spacious room?

  • beekerstudios

    @Kaiser-Machead: also, I am wondering in what world that island is "small".... seriously?

    beekerstudios

  • I see the light. It burns!

    Just another concept that won't go anywhere beyond those pictures. Imagine, a high-tech design that won't let you incorporate the high tech kitchen gadgets to make the space truly efficient. But you can fit a slap-chop(my nuts) in the corner!

  • dwight-schrute

    Welcome to the World Of Tomorrow! I would love to take my flying car to go buy one of these...

  • Kaiser-Machead

    Seems you need generous open space in the kitchen in order to take full advantage of this thing, in which case, such space could accommodate dedicated (and better looking) traditional kitchen furnishings. Humbug, my good man, humbug indeed.

    Kaiser-Machead

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