I’m 31 and on my second small kitchen — and on my first all-mine kitchen. My first small kitchen was in a tiny basement apartment, where I lived for about nine months; I had a bedroom, a bathroom, a large hallway that I used for storage, and about 30 square feet of floorspace to move, and just a little cupboard space (dishes were provided). But the counter space — ah, you would never have imagined it! A double sink lay at the end of one counter, which also contained a two-burner hot-plate and a small toaster oven. (The “apartment” came furnished with those appliances, and that was how I cooked.) My dish-drying rack stood there, too. The other counter was entirely, gloriously clear. This meant that I probably had a good 25 square feet of total counter space, and let me tell you, I reveled in it. (Did I mention that I had a refrigerator that had the capacity of about two dorm-size fridges?) Even limited in these ways, I still turned out good meals, even making a pot roast with accoutrements for four friends one night.

Now, I’m in a studio apartment with a kitchen corner. My counter-workspace is about the same size as yours, with a tiny bit of extra because the single sink is set back. I have a 3/4-size fridge, a small microwave, and my gas stove has four burners, but it’s so ancient that I have to light the oven when I bake. It’s probably just a smidge smaller than yours. My cupboards probably total 20 cubic feet of storage space, so half of my kitchen tools and equipment (like my KitchenAid that’s over 20 years old, a gift from a former roommate) are still in boxes. (And yes, I am careful and choosy about my tools; I, too, am a baker, so I have more than some folks, but still, I have only what I really need, and most of it’s pretty old. Well, I might have more round pans than one really needs…)

STILL (again), I am loving my own, small kitchen, and I cook and bake like the dickens in it. When my boyfriend and I combine our kitchens later this year — he has much newer, prettier stuff than I do — we’ll have a mighty force to reckon with in terms of tools, once we winnow out what we will no longer need. And, because we already love to cook with one another, we will be able to make the most of any kitchen we inhabit.

Thanks for reminding folks that a kitchen is what one makes of it. Large, appointed-to-the-hilt kitchens aren’t necessary to create meals with love!

I have been a fan for a LONG time! So love the pics of your kitchen….its so cute! You have some great ideas! I have a large kitchen (no kitchen envy girls) BUT haven’t always used my space wisely! So off I go to reorganize!

I also love the quote by a commenter’s grandma up top, about room in the heart. Will make a note of it and post on my fridge as a reminder!