Have you ever tried to prepare a full Thanksgiving dinner in an efficiency apartment? Trust us: It ain’t easy. Small countertops offer an equally small amount of space to prepare food on. And if those countertops aren’t made of a material that can withstand exposure to heat (such as wood or laminate), then you’re really in for a whole lot of fun.
Your efficiency apartment days may be well behind you, but that doesn’t mean your small countertop woes are as well. Older houses’ kitchen countertops are often dreadfully small – and their bathroom counters don’t make up for it!
No worries. With a little careful countertop design, you can maximize any home’s kitchen or bathroom space. Here’s how!
Pull-Out Countertop
A pull-out (aka slide-out) countertop functions exactly like a drawer. Slide it out when you need a couple extra square feet of horizontal surface; slide it back in when you want to restore the room’s original flow.
A pull-out countertop is much more affordable than replacing an existing countertop with a larger one. It can also be combined with a cabinet to provide additional storage space. Just take care that a pull-out countertop isn’t supported as well as a traditional one – but so long as you don’t place a freshly roasted turkey on one, you should be all set.
Island
Want to increase your countertop and storage space – and add a nice focal point and room for additional seating? Then it’s time to embrace the island life. You can buy an island just like you would any piece of furniture, or alternatively install a permanent fixture. The latter will have a welcome effect on your property value, but either can be customized to match your existing countertops to a T.
Islands aren’t suitable for all kitchens, unfortunately. If your kitchen layout is especially small, then you may not be able to achieve the minimum recommended 42″ of clearance between your perimeter countertop and island. If that’s the case, then a portable model may be your only viable option.
Open Shelving
Does your kitchen or bathroom already have plenty of cabinets, but nowhere near enough counter space? Then it’s time to correct the situation. Remove those cabinets, and replace them with functional open shelving.
Open shelving doesn’t just free up more of your precious counter space by providing you with additional immediately accessible storage. It also makes any room appear significantly more spacious – just the ticket if your home’s square footage isn’t especially generous.
Make It Glamorous With Natural Stone
If you choose to add a pull-out countertop or island to your kitchen or bath – or free up more space by replacing your cabinets with open shelving – then you can increase your home’s aesthetics, functionality and property value even further by choosing natural stone. It’s durable. It’s easy to maintain. It’s available in virtually any color, and no two slabs’ patterns are ever the same. Whether you choose granite, quartzite, marble, travertine, or even a synthetic product like quartz or sintered stone, you’ll love the helpful and unique upgrade to your home.
If you’re upgrading your countertops in the Twin Cities or greater Hudson, WI area, then we welcome you to contact Gallery 77 today. Our wide selection of products and custom fabrication and installation services guarantee the ideal addition to your kitchen or bath!
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