Kitchen layout opinions please!

[Laurie]

I live in an apartment with not much room in the kitchen! I love to cook but find myself really running out of room. I found an island at KMart that is very affordable! It has a countertop shelf, on overhead shelf with hooks for hanging items. It also has 2 lower storage shelfs. They are made of metal with the countertop shelf they only thing not open. I would like to move my microwave cart up against the wall by the kitchen table and move the island where the microwave cart now stands. This would surround the kitchen area, but I would have extra room as the island has a countertop shelf. Also it would double as a mini table if I got a couple of stools to place on the other side of the stove.
Here's my concern. The chin's cages are right next door in the livingroom. They would be right next to the microwave cart if I moved it. Do you guys think it's icky to have the chin cages that close to the microwave cart?

Here are some pics--I'm not the greatest housekeeper!

This is the microwave cart now, it's where I want the island to go:

This is the kitchen table, where the shelf and cooler are is where I would want to move the microwave cart:

Same thing just close up:

Tried to do wide view where microwave cart would go:

Wide view of where cart is but where I want Island:

What do you guys think? Please be totally honest!

Thanks!!!

 

[addictedtochins]

Do you guys think it's icky to have the chin cages that close to the microwave cart?

Depends....do any of your chins have pacemakers?

 

[AZChins]

You need more space for cooking. That kitchen is too tiny for you. I'd never be able to deal with that...it would drive me crazy. The kitchen I have now doesn't give me enough work space and it's pretty huge...

Is there some place where you could put some of the chin stuff? Maybe you could move the table and chairs to the middle of the room and put something against the wall?

Now I know what you are always saying about your place... I'll buy you a house when I win the Powerball.

 

[Rickman]

Are you looking for a temporary cheap cure, or a little more expensive permanant cure? How long is your lease?
Those cabinets are still available unfinished at home depot, I believe, both wall and base, and maybe even a microwave cabinet!
I'd put a microwave wall cabinet where it is now, and a 24"-30" base cabinet below, and then a 24"W-30" x 84"H storage where your chin supplies are, and fill the rest with base and wall cabinets, with a countertop! Probably double+ the countertop space!
Maybe the landlord would chip in, knowing how much an improvement it would be!

 

[RDZCRanch]

I think it would look just fine how you are describing it Laurie! Just make sure to take lots of measurements to be sure it will fit in there exactly how you want it to! You and your wonderful cooking skills need the extra room so you can make me some shippable food! Go for it!

The microwave won't hurt the chins being closer to them...if it were going to hurt them it already would have seeing as it's all in the same room.

 

[Essentia]

My only concern about the microwave near the chins is they produce heat. If the vents are facing away from the chin cage I don't see why it wouldn't work out just fine.

 

[Spoof]

Holy crap that is a small kitchen. The only time I had one near that size was when it was in the bathroom.

Sounds like it would work - for convenience I'd not use a microwave in a space that small -but if I did it would be relocated to on top of the fridge. Most people don't use those cabinets - and neither do you judging by the fridge top inhabitants.

The microwave won't bother the chins, but the dust/fur may cause it issues after time. You might want to cut up a nylon and put it over the vents to keep it safe. Otherwise looks like it should work.

 

[Laurie]

It IS a small kitchen! Hence my dilemna. I've lived here for 13 years and it really is big enough for just me and Stew LOL. Not the greatest landlord though--had water damage in the hallway and water leaking from the nimrod girl upstairs who KNEW about it because she had a bucket under her sink even though I asked her and she said she had no leaking! So the walls are dirty and the carpet is a wreck! I'm getting tired of waiting for them to do things for me so I'm just going to do them myself! Next up wall papering and bordering the kitchen! Lisa was going to help me with it but she got sick. I'm hoping I have some friends who want to step in! Hoping to get it done the Thursday before the chin show in October!!

I never thought about the vents getting fun of dust, thanks for that tip you guys. If worse comes to worse and the cart doesn't work out by the chins I can always move the cart over to the Island and the countertop. It would kind of ruin the extra space attempt though LOL! If only Stewart didn't need his stupid toaster oven!

Thanks for all the suggestions! I think I'm going to do it. I'll post pics when it's finally done!

 

[addictedtochins]

Can you make a couple of shelves to get the toaster over and crock pot off of the counter?

 

[mishellyshel]

too bad you cant mount the microwave over the stove, then you wouldnt need the cart and can just get the island thing that extends your cooking/prepping space. although there are also those type of islands that sit smack dab in the middle of the room.

 

[Lmbswimmer]

Will your landlord subtract some from rent for the painting/wall papering? I know in some states if you do improvements because you have lived there a certain amount of time the landlord has to subtract it from rent. If your landlord is willing to at least subtract supplies then you could do a lot to personalize the place, and help with his rerenting when you decide to move on.

I know in RI when I moved into a slum lord apt. we did a lot of work to the place, and the landlord subtracted all supplies off our rent. There were a few months where I rent was under $100 because we had bought so many supplies. We really improved the place - actually having finished floors When we moved in the wood floors were not even clearcoated or painted. We could paint, but we could not wall paper.

 

[beanjelly]

Laurie--do you use the table that's in the kitchen for eating at, or is just there to be there? If you don't actually use it, you could consider getting rid of it and you'd have more space.

 

[Laurie]

bean I can't get rid of the kitchen table as it was Lisa's. I will admit we haven't eaten on it here yet, but Lisa and I sat at her table every meal I made for her. At one time I actually thought of moving the chin cages into the kitchen as the floor is easier to sweep than to shop vac, but I knew my mom would have a heart attack if I ever did that.
What I'm thinking of doing right now is tacking a sheet up on the overhang in the ceiling to block the cages from the microwave cart. We'll see if a. it looks tacky, b. it helps with poops flying everywhere, or c. really doesn't help much at all.

My island is actually on sale at KMart right now! I'm going Sunday or Monday to pick it up.

 

[beanjelly]

ahh, well of course you can't get rid of the table then! Hopefully the island works out--I feel you on the small kitchen situation; my kitchen is even smaller than yours!!

 

[alli713]

Small kitchens suck! One reason I always hated apartment living. In my first apartment, the kitchen was so small, the fridge was actually in the living room! lol

 

[Chinmama]

Okay, here is what I am thinking:

Will the toaster oven fit under the microwave on the cart? If so, I would move it there, then move the cart to the wall beside the chinchilla cages. Then find (or make) a room divider to go between the cart and the cages. It wouldn't have to be that tall or stand out that far to section them off. And, having the toaster off the counter would clear up a bit of space over by the stove on your counter.

Space wise I can't really tell, but if the cart will be too close to the table, maybe you could put up the side and have one (or both) chair(s) on the front instead of the sides. That way you aren't squished in beside the cart, or blocking the closet door.

Do you have a picture or a link to the island you are looking at? My mom got me an island cart from Kmart years ago when I had a mini kitchen and I loved it. I still use it in my laundry room now that I don't need it in the kitchen.

 

[AZChins]

Laurie, at least the kitchen is easy to clean.

Could you turn the table into more counter space? Maybe that could work...and I am sure that you already use it that way!

 

[addictedtochins]

Why don't you just do what I did. I use the toaster oven and the microwave as a hidey house and ledge in the chin cage. Oh, and the crock pot doubles as a dust house. The ferret nation makes this soo easy to do.
:neener:

 

[Twilight Chinchillas]

What I'm thinking of doing right now is tacking a sheet up on the overhang in the ceiling to block the cages from the microwave cart. We'll see if a. it looks tacky, b. it helps with poops flying everywhere, or c. really doesn't help much at all.

I bet you could also find a inexpensive room divider on Craigslist that you could use in place of a sheet. Good luck with whatever design you go with. I have OCD so would be moving things around all the time! LOL

 

[Laurie]

Ann what a great idea to move the toaster oven to the microwave cart! I think it may work! So much for my nice decorations on the microwave cart LOL! But that would give me some more counter space! I can't believe I never thought of that! AND thanks to all you who have suggested the room divider--great idea! I'm going to check it out!!!

I wish I could have everyone over for my famous lasagna or crab quiche!