A current client project of an 800 sq ft guest house has had me in the cabinet maker's shop of late, going over stain colors, finishes, and door styles for the small kitchen that will fit on one side of the main room. The details of the final plan have been set, and we're all anticipating watching it unfold in the next few weeks. Excitement is thrumming in our bones. It's fun, of course, to choose all these details, to make something come of nothing. Anything can happen if there's the budget for it.
But, I found myself wondering, what if there were virtually no budget? How would I create a kitchen? Aside from the fact that I've basically already done that, I wondered what else I might do if there was ever the need. I wondered this outloud, right there in the cabinet maker's shop, and soon he & I had fallen down a rabbit hole of ideas. I've collected some images here, to demonstrate what might be possible. Note: these images feature the work of other talented people.
Curtains in lieu of cabinet doors, painted plywood floors, open shelving, and a salvaged worktable make for budget friendly if ever there was.
An old table made into a sink base, or a simple sink base made new? Win, win.
Antique case pieces do a great stand-in for built-ins. Auctions, yard sales, street corners - you never know when or where you might stumble on the perfect piece.
And a pantry with simple shelves? There's a reason our grandmothers had them.
In a world of more is better, it's nice to know that beautiful design and a modest budget can go happily hand-in-hand.
Have you been looking for a tastefully designed, small house plan that lives large? You may just find what you've been seeking in the Shelter Collection - four small floor plans, based on our little house, designed for gracious living in 1100-1400 square feet. Find the study plans & building plans here.
