Small kitchen solutions

Michael Moore has been an interior designer for more than 40 years, but when asked to describe what he does, he said, “I’m a problem solver. A creative problem solver.”

Moore is often faced with the challenge of limited square footage in a kitchen with little or no room to expand.

In a recent kosher kitchen renovation, Moore had to find room for two refrigerators, two dish washers and two microwave ovens — keeping meat and dairy separate, as required — plus one stove, a family eating area and a fireplace.

“I fought for every ¼ inch to overcome the spatial challenges, while still delivering balance and symmetry,” Moore said.

Moore concentrated on ways to improve both traffic flow and visual symmetry. “The kitchen’s one window was off centre and the access to the adjacent dining room was at the far end of a long wall and right next to a short staircase leading to a lower level,” Moore said.

Moore installed a sink at an angle in the corner near the window to draw visitors’ eyes to the symmetry of the sink’s placement and away from the off-centre window. And he created an opening to the dining room dead centre in the long wall.

“Now when you sit in the dining room, you have a pleasant view of the new kitchen island.”

The clients came to Moore with a contemporary kitchen in mind and a modest budget. “I suggested an Ikea kitchen and the clients were open to the idea. I have a great respect for Ikea,” Moore said. “You can always modify things to make the kitchen look custom and the price is reasonable.”

Moore said the base price for the cabinets was around $3,000, but after adding hits of luxury — granite countertops, a kitchen faucet, and innovative storage — the kitchen cost around $20,000.

“As a designer, you are the interpreter. You reflect the client’s personality in the space. If you do that well, you forge strong bonds and almost become a member of the family.”