ᐅ Overwhelmed by a basic kitchenette – does anyone have any ideas?

In the apartments for our guys, I have a straight wall with a length of 2.9 m (9.5 feet) where I want to install a small kitchen unit. Both kitchen units should be identical but mirrored in their layout. In one corner, a 24 kW tankless water heater needs to fit inside a base cabinet to supply both the kitchen and bathroom. This unit is approximately 45 cm (18 inches) high, 25 cm (10 inches) wide, and 10 cm (4 inches) deep.

The kitchen should include a sink with a small draining area, two cooking zones, a small oven with a microwave function, and a built-in refrigerator with a freezer compartment. A range hood can be omitted. The ceiling height in this area is 2.45 m (8 feet). It would be ideal to have the microwave device in a slightly taller cabinet at working height.

There should be enough space for basic cookware, dishes, cutlery, glasses, food supplies, waste, and some cleaning materials for the apartment. I’m only getting unsatisfactory results experimenting with pen and paper and curse both the Sweet 3D program and the Ikea online planner equally. Who has the time, interest, and passion to help me?

Should this be a surprise? Otherwise, I would have said that the first point of contact should be the end users before YOU start overthinking. No arms -> no cookies!

Otherwise: 2.90 m (9 ft 6 in) corresponds to 4 standard cabinets at 60 cm (24 inches) plus 1 at 45 cm (18 inches), starting with the refrigerator on one side. There isn’t much room for planning because there are limited options.

From left to right: refrigerator, base cabinet, base cabinet with stove, base cabinet, 45 cm (18 in) base cabinet. Sink with drainer above the last two. Heater in the 45 cm (18 in) base cabinet.

Edit: I would consider mobile induction cooktops. Works well with only two and makes more countertop space available flexibly.

chand1986 schrieb:
Is this supposed to be a surprise? Otherwise, I would have said that the primary point of contact should be the beneficiaries before YOU start overthinking it.

No, no surprise, but initially the beneficiaries will be the children, then possibly short-term rental guests, visitors, or my home office...

chand1986 schrieb:
From left to right: refrigerator, base cabinet, base cabinet with stove, base cabinet, 45cm (18 inches) base cabinet. Sink with draining area over the last two. Heater in the 45cm (18 inches) base cabinet.

Thanks. The refrigerator can be somewhat taller and a few wall cabinets / shelves above the other base cabinets. Microwave/oven on top of a wall cabinet instead of inside a base cabinet?

chand1986 schrieb:
Edit: I would consider mobile induction cooktops. It works with just two and makes more countertop space available flexibly.

Good idea!

Thanks, Chand.

Above all, I wouldn’t necessarily mirror the rows, as the placement of the draining area next to the sink makes a difference for the available countertop space. Whether the draining area is on the left or right side of the sink matters. It is often recommended, especially for smaller kitchen layouts, to place the draining area to the right of the sink and close to a wall. However, depending on the floor plan, the opposite arrangement can also make sense.

You can also choose a built-in stove with two burners instead of four. Why would you need four burners? Maybe for a multi-course meal with sauce and dumplings, but that’s usually unnecessary for younger people. This way, the stove can fit into a 45cm (18-inch) cabinet placed in the middle, with enough countertop space on both sides.

A sink without a drainer is sufficient. I would rather consider a dishwasher instead. At least for me, it has become indispensable.

I would leave the refrigerator out of the main kitchen line and place it separately, preferably in an unheated storage room, where it consumes less energy.

Instead, have the oven installed independently with a side-opening door at countertop height; your back will thank you. This doesn’t have to be expensive.

I would also make the countertop deeper, at least 70cm (28 inches) or more. Then you can add a shelf at the back with power outlets. Especially in a small kitchen, this allows placing appliances like a toaster or kettle at the back, which otherwise take up a lot of space and would have to be stored elsewhere.

Once you move away from standard solutions just because “that’s how it’s always been done,” the possibilities increase significantly.

For the tankless water heater, consider whether a smaller unit might be sufficient, unless there are other appliances connected to it. Ours uses only 5.5 kW even for showering.

As far as I remember, there is a subsidy for replacing energy-efficient tankless water heaters (no idea if it’s still available), assuming you already have one.

Elina schrieb:
You can also get a built-in stove with two hotplates.

Good idea, strangely it’s more expensive than the standard size. We will probably separate the cooktop, possibly portable, and the oven.

Elina schrieb:
A sink with just one basin, without a drainer, is sufficient. I would rather consider a dishwasher. For me, it’s essential nowadays.

In practice, the guys just put everything on the countertop above the dishwasher in the old house, because they don’t want to unload it. So, effectively, there is no drainer. Connection is planned.

Elina schrieb:
I would suggest leaving the refrigerator out of the kitchen line and placing it separately, preferably in an unheated storage room (it uses less energy there). Instead, have a standalone oven with a side-opening door at countertop height, which is easier on the back. These don’t have to be expensive either.

I also like the idea of a raised oven.
The small apartments only have one room, so they need a quiet fridge there.

Elina schrieb:
I would also make the worktop deeper, at least 70 cm (28 inches) or more. That way, you can add a shelf with sockets at the back. Especially in a small kitchen, you can place appliances like a toaster or kettle there, which take up a lot of space and would have to be placed elsewhere otherwise.

Very good idea.

Elina schrieb:
But even for showering, our instantaneous water heater only uses 5.5 kW.

The power rating is the electrician’s recommendation. There’s also a shower connected. I will check that.

Thank you very much.