Ideal for studios and smaller apartments, the single-wall, or straight-line kitchen, might seem limiting, but its simplicity can also be its strength.
About the Single-Wall Kitchen
Consisting of one run of cabinets along the length of a single wall, this layout is typically reserved for smaller apartments, but can be surprisingly flexible in larger homes as well. That’s because the openness of this design allows you to turn your kitchen into a multi-functional eat-in dining space, and it also leaves the option for the addition of an island or breakfast bar.
Planning Your Single-Wall Kitchen Layout
Since this layout consist of just one straight run of counter space, your work triangle becomes more of a work line in the single-wall kitchen. This requires some careful planning because with limited space available, it’s easy for this design to become cluttered. Consider the following when designing your single-wall kitchen:
- Sink and Cooktop – In a small single-wall layout, you are going to want to space out your work stations in order to free up as much usable counter space as possible between your sink and stove.
- Tall units – In this layout, your tall units will be located at one or both ends of your cabinet run. If the space allows, you can also position the refrigerator and/or pantry on an adjoining wall, giving the illusion of an L-Shaped kitchen and hopefully freeing up a little more counter space.
- Size – If you have the space for a larger kitchen but like the simplicity of the single-wall design, you might want to consider adding an island or buffet with some bar seating for entertaining and adding some extra prep space. And as with the L-Shaped kitchen, be careful not to make your cabinet run too long, or you risk making your work space too spread out and impractical.
Furthermore, if you are dealing with a very limited space, you can open up the design by keeping your flooring consistent from your living/dining room into your kitchen. A nice easy transition from one room to the next eliminates visual barriers and creates the illusion of more space.
While this layout can seem restrictive, you can always give it some extra life with your materials. The money that you save from not having to buy as much cabinetry could allow you to get creative with your kitchen cabinet ideas, and maybe even splurge a bit on top-quality countertops.