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Creating Livable Luxury in a Compact Condo

February 25, 2022

As a primary or secondary property, not every client needs a large single-family home to give the functionality and feel of luxury and convenience. Having a condominium in a metropolitan area is a luxury by itself, but square footage can be challenging to provide a fully functional kitchen. Despite this, it can be possible in a smaller space with the right planning.

Analyze What You’re Working with

A NYC kitchen for one of my clients started as a confined area in a compact condo with small appliances in non-functional areas. Priority one was to maximize the square footage, and the second was to create a functional space for everyday living and entertaining. The original kitchen was blocked off by a wall with a small doorway entrance to the right. To achieve a grander feel, the new floor plan required a wall removal to open up the space and relocation of the appliances to give a better workflow. This new floor plan maximized floor and counter space, cabinet storage and options for full-size appliances.

Caption for above photo: Designer Denise Pough was able to create a luxury kitchen in a compact condo with a glass mosaic backsplash, custom cabinets, a slim but deep refrigerator from Liebherr, a Marvel wine fridge and beautiful pendants from Prisma. A Viking cooktop, Miele dishwasher and microwave and wall over from Dacor round out the ample list of appliances.

Prioritizing the Checklist

Creating the right kitchen floor plan starts with knowing where the appliances should be best placed and which sizes allow them to live in the space harmoniously. This client really wanted a wine fridge, but before planning its placement, the major appliance locations needed to be decided first. The original gas stove was lined up next to a wall on the right side and near the sink located to the left without counter separation, which can be dangerous. The small fridge was where the current gas cooktop is, so reversing the location of the gas line for the cooktop with the wall oven and refrigerator made the kitchen a safer environment for cooking and cleaning and provided a better workflow and seamless counter space. Once the wall was removed and the appliances were positioned, other amenities could be decided on. A wine fridge, dishwasher and microwave are appliances that many take for granted in larger homes but are an absolute luxury for a compact condo.

Whether you are a culinary master or just love to cook, having a full-size range is definitely on the must-have luxury list. Making way for a 30-in. gas range and a vented convection microwave provides multiple options for cooking. From gas to convection to induction – to using knobs or digital monitors and Wi-Fi to save time – ranges provide owners with many options based on their cooking preferences.

Optimizing Space in a Luxury, Compact Condo

So where do we fit a wine fridge when we also need to maximize storage with cabinetry and prep space with countertops? One area that can be overlooked is the blind corner. In this case, the corner cabinet of the peninsula had a blind corner by the left wall, which was not enough space to add an appliance without sacrificing storage. Also, that corner did not provide roomfor an open cabinet on the inside area of the kitchen. So as not to waste the space, putting the wine fridge facing the outer side of the kitchen was the best solution, and it was also a convenient place to store wine. A cabinet door panel was added for a seamless, luxury look.

In a small space, optimizing storage while maintaining function is key. Using a 24-in. by 84-in. refrigerator that took advantage of the vertical space allowed for the function of a full-sized unit’s cubic feet and enough floor space for an 18-in. dishwasher. A vent is important for cooking, but having a vented microwave gives dual duty for additional cooking preferences, as well as for safety.

Pulling It all Together

With all the appliances harmoniously placed, the look and layout of the cabinets were developed. To optimize storage in this project, the upper-cabinet height went to the ceiling, and the cabinetry provided amenities for better organization. There are utensil drawers for silverware, a lazy susan in the back corner, customized options for cutting boards – all luxury upgrades that enhance the functionality of the space. For this client, a cabinet that strictly housed wine glasses for entertaining was crucial as well.

Other elements that added the finishing touches of a luxurious kitchen included ebony cabinets for sophistication, and the white granite countertops, undercabinet lighting and crystal-like ceiling fixtures brighten the space while still giving that modern vibe of NYC.

When redesigning a smaller, older and less forgiving space, working with what you have can be challenging but also rewarding when all is said and done. Using every square inch is key to making a unique space grand and luxurious.

By Denise C. Pough, Founder/Interior Designer of A-Jay Interiors by Dee, LLC