I don’t cover appliances very often on the Tiny House Blog and I really should. Owen brought this one to my attention recently and I thought I would share it with you. If you are going to live in a tiny house a small kitchen is also part of the deal. Now that does not mean you have to settle for a camp style kitchen, there are some very modern ones available too. Kitchoo offers the Mini Kitchen, though not cheap at $7,500 it has most everything you will need.
The Mini Kitchen is a super compact and hyper-equiped kitchen that is also highly functional and stylish. When put away your guests will wonder where you made your wonderful meal. The Kitchoo Mini Kitchen is made in France so I’m not sure that they are available in North America. Go to Kitchoo to learn more.
Very cool, but achievable for far less cash if you can draw, and know some fabricators. I like this complete kitchen in a box: http://www.yestertec.com/details.asp?cat=The_Press_Room&id=40&gclid=CNvD5py28qsCFUhjTAods2a5Hg
This with some cladding, and gas burners + a quality convection microwave/oven would come in far less than a $1000: http://www.amazon.com/Avanti-Complete-Compact-Kitchen-Refrigerator/dp/B001BZKAD0/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1318947669&sr=8-3
The item cited in the article and your first link will inspire me to build something with more style than the utilitarian item in the second link.
That is a bit of a fantasy. Anything I build would appear to have been assembled by drunken chimps.
Drunken chimps can be quite good company. In fact, I am thinking about spending Thanksgiving with some rather than going home to my family. 🙂
That being said, very pricey, but extremely functional with the burner, sink and fridge in that attractive unit. I can’t tell if there is some kind of appliance in the drawers; not sure what that is in there.
My take is that the top drawer is storage for silverware, etc. (center lower to clear the sink). The bottom drawer looks like wastebasket and recycling bins.
The bottom drawer is for trash or the manufacture can install a drawer dishwasher unit if you like. But can it be bought in the U.S. and are there any electricity changes to be made?
The ‘kitchen’ shown in the article is very clever and fine for a board room, or hotel room with contemporary furnishings; but I like the ‘kitchen’ in your first link much better for livability. I lived in a motor home for two years with just a microwave, convection oven and 1 stove top burner (more or less like what was in the kitchen in your link) and that was just fine; – and I like to cook, too. The only thing I missed was having a full-sized oven for baking large things, but it wasn’t a real problem.
The article’s solution looks good, though kind of tight, plus it is pricey. I’m not sure how much your first link’s option may be, but it certainly looks like it’d be a better way to go. Truly an entire kitchen in one. The company has some great designs for kitchens in general too.
I love this site!
mybluemake: THANK YOU for posting that link! I saw an image of that ‘armoire’ kitchen somewhere but must have been using the wrong search words, because I could not bring it up for the life of me… Your ‘yestertec’ link took me right to the combo/armoire kitchen I was looking for!
Tho’ it’s not as suitable for the ‘tinier’ tiny houses, it would be perfect in any small kitchen, especially if appearances could be considered as ‘first and foremost’!)
The kitchen in my senior/disabled living facility apartment is a 7 X 8 ‘galley’ style, but I’d much rather have that armoire along the one wall so I’d actually be able to use the resulting wider floorspace for a tiny table and chairs! I SO miss having a kitchen table and chairs… I’m currently one of those apartment dwellers who must eat their dinner on the living room coffee table out of space limitations, not preference…
Terriffic design. I love how it looks like a bureau and transforms. Simplistic, low, beautiful lines. The price however blows my budget out of the water.
This thing is best described as very stylish, and prohibitively expensive (or outlandishly priced).
As a cabinetmaker I would say that $7500 is not all the expensive for what you are getting. Sure just the cabinetry excluding the appliances, plumbing fixtures and worktop might come in closer to $3000. Sure you could probably through together a mini kitchen that will function similarly for less than $1000. But that’s not an apples to apples comparison is it?
This isn’t fancy cabinetry though. It looks like the type of laminated particle board that you find on cheap desks and tables that you might find at Wal-Mart. I looked on their website and didn’t see anything about it being solid wood – just that the wood comes from certified forests. I could maybe understand $7,500 for custom designed and built cabinets of a quality, solid wood, but these aren’t custom made, and it seems questionable that they’re even solid wood.
Holee Crapolee… A tiny kitchen that costs nearly twice what I spent for the raw materials for my entire Mobile Dwelling? I don’t think so. Although I had weight concerns, I overcame those and used Ikea base cabinets and plastic laminate countertops for my kitchen, lavatory vanity and office work-surface. Even though I design furniture and cabinetry for a living, and occasionally build them, I still could not beat the Ikea price and convenience. My kitchen and office shelving will be lacquered pine 1 x 12’s with a 1 x 2 front edge for stability.
Like BLP above, I have been preparing myself for compact living for the last 18 months by using only a convection toaster oven, an 1100 W Microwave and a 2 burner cooktop for all my cooking and it works just great. And I like to create meals like Eggs Florentine on hot biscuits with hollandaise, breakfast potatoes and bacon. One learns how to make it all come out hot at the same time.
Thru careful shopping at Costco and Wal-Mart (I know. I hated patronizing WM) BUT my kitchen cooking appliances cost just over $160 total. That is hard to beat.
Actually they are a company in Switzerland who are available in Europe. They are very cool and innovative.
oops.. *whose products* are available throughout Europe.
I love this concept, except for the fact that the burners are too close together. You would not be able to use two pots at the same time. Wonderful though.
If the pots are the size of the burners they’re going on you certainly could. But now that you mentioned that, it made me think that this sort of chic little kitchenette looks more like something that would go in some tiny NYC bachelor pad loft/apartment, occupied by someone who eats take-out all the time and doesn’t know how to boil water. The fridge there would only contain something like a six pack of beer, some mustard, and a bottle of hot sauce!
Thanks Kent for posting this.
Personally I like it for its clean lines and well thought out design -and if nothing else a source for ideas.
That seems a bit steep for what it is. There is not a huge market for this type of kitchen and the few companies that manufacture them will always have high prices. If you can have your kitchen stationary then I’d look into standard kitchen cabinets, see what the appliances would cost and add in how much it would cost to have someone install it all. Maybe this is cheaper getting a unit like this rather than building it into the house? If you’re able to install these appliances then it would always be cheaper, this is a given, these products are aimed at those that can’t.
Oops, didn’t mean to say ‘those that can’t’, anyone can, it just depends if they want to take the time to learn and do it themselves.
cost prohibitive, but fodder for the design imagination. Nice plannin!
To order up Euro Trade Booths from the Sole Source Show Vendor, I got to review their Mini Kitchen rental options. They were really slick and Industrial. They reminded me of the ruggedized Sound System Racks I hauled around in my Youth. Later on, I assembled a $350- ‘knock down’ Hardwood Kitchen Island out of KY. The construction quality was excellent. The price point would make one comfortable with cutting in customized details. I took the Wheels off our Island and mounted it on a simple Wood Frame Base. Such an Island with a 2 Burner Cooktop; Convection/Toaster Oven; Dorm Fridge; and recycled Sink would have the looks and versatility req’d. Some folks like Coleman Camp Ovens that go on a Burner top IF you monitor the Oven Thermometer. ~$750- seems a reasonable Kitchen cost target to me. 2nd Hand Store components could lower that cost. Last, a Euro Scientist I visited had a very kewl idea. To knock around ideas and review Paperwork, he grabbed a piece of finished Cabinet Plywood w/4 corner Rubber Feet on it. He set it over his perpetually-messy Desk. Presto! We had a new, clear surface to set Papers and Samples on. Brilliant. The same could be done over this Mini Kitchen top. Also, a fold up/down side Counter that locks in place expands usable Cooking/Prep space.
IKEA had one of these for $300 with an oven. Can’t see the value in this. My same complaint about some of these postings…about “trendy” living instead of reducing our footprint.
IKEA had one of these for $300 with an oven. Can’t see the value in this. My same ol’ complaint about some of these postings..”trendy” living instead of reducing our footprint. We built a kitchen for our cabin that is for outdoor use..we took a beautiful old door and sanded and refinished it with marine varnish ($50). We then set into it an old rv oven/burners ($100)that works great even if it is from the 60’s. We rigged a sink from an old porcelain washtub ($25) and we have an old Dometic refrigerator(free) slid on a platform underneath. The whole shebang is on big hinges so when we close the cabin we take out and slide the appliances into our container that serves as a bedroom in the season and storage over the winter and then drop “the kitchen” against the cabin. Works great! Makes us feel good to have made it. (one feeble mom and one strong daughter)
All well and good…for the rich with hot and cold running water…abundant electricity etc.
Our off grid cabin kitchen is a 2 burner white gas colmen stove, a HD cooler, a 5 gallon Nalgene bottle and some Rubbermaid wash basins.
Moontreeranch has a point. Many people read this blog because of finaces or should I say lack therof. On the other hand, you can get single, double or triple burners that run off of propane. If you have access to electricity, even solar, wouldn’t something in the genre of the “Nuwave” be more practical. In the warm weather, with the aid of an extension cord, you could move it out side to a picnic table. It would seem to do everything except boil water and a $12 coffe maker could take care of that if you didn’t have the burners.
http://www.amazon.com/Cast-Double-Burner-Propane-Stove/dp/B001RF4DIM/ref=pd_sbs_sg_3
If you’ve got electricity a toaster oven is a fantastic addition to the kitchen. You can bake bread, cookies, cakes and all sorts of stuff in it as well as making marvellous melted cheese things. Oh and toast too. There’s a great little cookbook, Small-Batch Baking by Debbie Nakos that has recipes for small quantities just perfect for the toaster oven. One burner, a toaster oven and a kettle or coffeemaker and a tiny fridge will make a good start on a functional kitchen.
Love Tiny House Blog, everything you find is great to see!
Have noticed in the last while that replies seem (though infrequently) to be heating up towards flames. A big part of THB is the evident joy of the crowd…
While the unit pictured may be beautiful, it’s way overpriced compared to other less-beautiful but still handsome and functional units. Companies that make them ship them in a box and they can be installed easily.
[ all in one kitchen unit ]
[ combo kitchen ]
Paste the above words into google and check the results. You’ll find many products offering the same features from US$500 up to $1500.
I don’t mean to plug companies, but here are two places to look at examples:
http://www.kitchenlav.com/compact_kitchens.htm
http://www.atinyhouse.com/shop/Combo-Kitchen-Units.shtml
.
So glad you posted those ‘searches’ for others here! I, to, knew of several links that offered ‘combo kitchens’ that offered much more in the way of space AND featured a better array of ‘appliances’, all within (less than) a 22″ X 60″ footprint, AND the most pricey one comes in at almost ONE THIRD what the Kitchoo thing costs!!
Here’s the BEST PART: there are quite a variety of low-priced PROPANE/LP combo kitchens, too (actually, they are offered as a model that can be used BOTH as an LP OR standard electric!). I WAS a teensy bit disappointed that the ‘alternatives’ weren’t mentioned, but then I realized: that’s WHY WE’RE here, so WE can discuss the article, share resources, expand upon the topic… right? 😉
The links to the best sources I can recall, off the top of my head are: http://www.bensdiscountsupply.com/combokitchens.aspx (Ben’s also has a TON of off-the-grid-worthy appliances to check out, in general, a MUST-SEE site for anyone interested in ‘going small/tiny/green’)
and
http://www.appliancesbuyphone.com (which has the CHEAPEST Summits I’ve seen yet!)
and
http://www.appliancesconnection.com/b775-combo-kitchen.html (another HIGHLY RATED site with tons of combo kitchens and at competetive prices)
Great article overall!
Hope P Smith’s search tips and my ‘second’ (with some links) can help anyone who is looking for these hard-to-find appliance/kitchens… 😉
Very stylish indeed, but I like the function provided by the YesterTec in the link that mybluemake provided. It not only has a microwave, but also shelves for food and drawers for pots & pans. That’s far more useful, although the look of the one Kent covered is definitely a looker.
Last post on this subject (my third) but it really got my seek and find juices going:
SInce all of the ‘alternatives’ I had brought up, thus far, were really more utilitarian in appearance, and in a singular way could not really be compared fairly to the Kitchoo model, I discovered THIS beauty:
http://www.appliancesconnection.com/images.php?pid=139429
Now, I’m a ‘cherry’ wood finish fan, myself, so would take the alternative combo over the Kitchoo on that aspect alone. BUT, being much larger, with more options going on inside AND ABOVE (UPPER CABINETS!!!), a prettier wood finish (in my opinion) and with FREE SHIPPING, well, this one is (nailing in the final point) a little CHEAPER STILL, at $7,716.00. SO, if you’ve got the extra space in your tiny kitchen, and, unless the Kitchoo offers FREE SHIPPING (or less than $166.00), I’d rather spend my odd-7,000 to 8,000 bucks on the “Acme ROE9Y72SC” at Appliances Connection… 😉
Now, just got to get my tiny house situation taken care of, FIRST, as I’ve got my ‘tiny kitchen’ all picked out… lol
Great concept and a great find Kent! It only adds to the evolution of what is sorely needed in downsizing one’s space. This is proof of concept that all utility can be neatly tucked away in a wall with little lack in creature comfort.
We keep building the same floor plan because we do what we know and have seen. This article should shock us into looking at how little we need to live well.
This $7,000.00 unit as an option for a tiny house Completely Misses The Point; the reason for tiny houses (unless you’re doing it because it’s perceived as being, um, “trendy”) is to reduce your footprint in the world…and playing the Affluenza Game by buying horrendously overpriced, wastefully built products, no matter how cleverly designed, is to fail the greater good.
There are plenty who will be willing to jump down my metaphorical throat for speaking truth, but I’m quite simply fed up with well-heeled people co-opting and contaminating ethical ideas by inserting the greed virus into things.
To bring this rant back full circle to completion, a kitchen unit for a tiny house should not only be compact and efficient, but be REASONABLE both in price and use of materials. Thank y’all for lending me your ears; you may commence the yelling now.
GREAT point, and I couldn’t agree with you more! 😉
New York City’s teensy-tiny apartments (particularly the larger, pre-war apartments that have often been divided into two, more often THREE, separate ‘studio’/singles) are a good example of what happens when ‘living small’ falls victim to trend, and what the rich consider fashionable. Very few places in the world (well, Tokyo comes to mind as another) where a 2-room ‘apartment’ of 140 to 200 square feet rents for $1500 to $3000 a month (LOW END!), sells for $900,000 to $1.5 million… with VERY FEW tenants actually being ‘small footprint’ consumers/dwellers… tsk tsk.
Umm, to be the devil’s advocate in this flamey war….
THis wasn’t designed for us… meaning (mainly) north american “Tiny house” enthusiasts. THis was designed for the Euro market where living small isn’t a financial/social/life choice, it is usually just a necessity. Small living doesn’t HAVE to mean “DIY” or even lower cost… I don’t think it’s about being fashionable, but in cities LIKE new york, small isn’t just about price, but about lifestyle. I have friends that live the small lifestyle without even knowing it! THey have small apartments in major cities and don’t consider their “home” to be more than clothes storage/spot to sleep! I have friends who are changing up to a smaller apartment right now that would KILL for in item like the one Kent posted… It isn’t about small being fashionable, they like the ease of maintenance, and don’t host parties at home anyways.
Overall, I think it was a great post by Kent, It wasn’t aimed at everyone buying one, but it led to people here thinking about a compact kitchen and discussing how one could be made/obtained more locally/inexpensively for our own projects..
Does it always have to turn into a flame war on these things???
Not meant as a flame war; just speaking truth.
Wasn’t aiming the fire extinguisher at anyone in particular 🙂
It’s just that the small living movement sometimes gets lumped together and there are a lot of different types of us. Sort of like the home power people… a lot of the people in that group are earth loving nature protecting people with a desire to leave the earth a better place for their children, BUT there are occasionally, just cheap bastards who are sick of paying hydro bills and seeing add on charges for crap I have nothing to do with. (me)
I am a nature advocate, but my main “live small” interests are tight design (lots of euro designed/efficient furniture) and ease of startup (Being that i am currently in a condo) All that being said, i am happy to frame up my custom home, and do the rough work, but i hate detail work!!!! so something like this, ready to go is a nice option. Not the most cost effective, but building something different than the “off the shelf” parts tends to jump the price a lot.
Just my $0.02 we’re all friends here.
Thank you, Shea.
Thank you, Kent.
I appreciate posts of the “unobtainable,” more costly items because they give me ideas for my future home…in a tiny home, some people like a more modern design, some do not want their kitchen visible in their living area. My husband prefers a very modern, uncluttered look…I have considered using shoji screens to close off the appliances, etc. Seeing the “furniture” kitchens (others look like wardrobes when closed) inspires me to consider a kitchen that can not only be out of sight, but possibly moved to a different location during hotter months (maybe to a summer kitchen) to prevent heating up my home while baking bread, etc. That way, I can invest in nicer appliances, since they will not have to be duplicated in my summer kitchen. RV hookups would be needed to make the transition easier and safer. If you have a love for the old-fashioned, log-cabin or cottage look, using a wardrobe to house your more modern appliances, like a propane oven, microwave, etc. would help preserve the look you love, while providing the convenience you prefer. Thanks for this posting! Please keep posting not only the DIY alternatives, but the ones that might give us better DIY ideas!
Craig’s List has a lot of wardobes/entertainment centers for free, due to the number of people mounting their flat-screen tv’s to the wall. Put on casters for easy relocation or left in one place, these could be used to house your tiny kitchen.