Small Timber Homes – Maximizing Kitchen Space

When building a small timber frame house space can be limited, especially in the kitchen. Most of the floor space is used for the bedrooms and living area. When planning your timber home you should plan a kitchen that combines both entertaining and dining areas into one comfortable room. To attain this goal there are things that you need to consider to maximize your kitchen space and make it into the area you desire.

Assess what are your needs

The first thing to do is consider the ways in which you use your current kitchen. Think about when and how your family cooks, eats, and utilizes the current kitchen. Is it an eat-in kitchen or one that hosts large family dinners? If you are building a timber frame house for retirement, then there will generally be only two people in the house but if you have children, you need to consider space when they visit and if they have a family. If you have a small kitchen in your new timber frame house you will have other places for them to sit and eat.

Design the space

When you design your kitchen, you need to look at your lifestyle and your budget. You could design an open kitchen where it looks out into the living area. To create a personalized kitchen you can consider using timbers that are handcrafted, vaulted ceilings, and specialty woods. Having exposed beams and posts will allow you to distinguish visually separate areas without having intrusive walls.

Counter space

In addition to having counters, you could have a freestanding island where family and friends can sit and eat without being in the way of the food-prep area. According to the National Kitchen and Bath Association if you have a large island they recommend that there be a thirty-nine inch walkway between the cabinets or walls and the counter seating so there is enough space for people to eat without hitting their heads on the wall Egypt cabinets. One configuration that is a popular design is a breakfast bar or island with a taller pub-table-height seating on one side and a food-prep surface on the side in the kitchen.

Dining table

If you have a small kitchen space but want to have a dining table, you could put a long table along one side between the living space and kitchen on one side of the cooking area. If you have figured in the plans a separate dining room, you could have a smaller dining table or a round one that is tucked into an alcove or corner.

After considering these things then it will be time to draw up your plans to build your dream timber frame house.