I have an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny…kitchen.
You could call it a galley kitchen, except for the fact that there is only one way in and one way out and they happen to be the same way. There are very few cupboards and even fewer countertops. And there’s no chance I’ll ever get a kitchen makeover because I live in a rental.
I have lived here 3 years and I kept thinking there has to be a solution to this lack of real estate, but short of knocking out a wall (something I doubt my landlords will approve of), I couldn’t come up with anything. Finally, this summer, I had an AHA! moment…
We were visiting some friends who have 10 children. Their oldest daughter was busily rolling out crusts for quiche ON THEIR DINING ROOM TABLE! They have one of those long Amish-style tables with a table cloth and plastic over top of it. I was just sure this was the answer to my kitchen counter space nightmare.
My husband did not agree.
You see, this dining room table:
is a family heirloom. When we had the table refinished several years ago, my husband insisted the cigarette burns left by his grandmother remain in the table and the mark where his grandfather set his glass every single meal be left as well. There was no way he was going to let me cover this table.
Oh well. Nice try, Amy.
Recently, I was sitting in my living room staring at my kitchen wondering, once again, how I could gain some counter top space, when I remembered something from my childhood…my mom’s pastry mat from Tupperware. After doing some research, I realized I needed more space than that particular mat could offer, but remember the plastic from my friend’s table???
Another friend who also covers her table with a table cloth and plastic told me her husband had purchased the plastic in the fabric section of a local WalMart (we have one WalMart here that still carries fabric). Why not purchase precisely the amount of plastic sheeting needed to cover one end of my table and make that my extra counter space?! Then, when I was finished working, it could be rolled up and put away in the pantry. Perfect! The table remains uncovered and I get to use it as an extra working surface! Everyone is happy!
Gayle says
I am in the exact same circumstance! Rental (apartment, actually) and hardly an inch of counter space. I left a HUGE kitchen when we moved here, so I really didn’t know what to do at first. What a great idea!
Clara says
I have one of those itsy bitsy kitchens in a rental as well (what is wrong with people who build houses for rentals…? don’t they think normal people rent the houses…? normal people with normal kitchen needs…?). I find having such a small space really frustrating. My husband built a shelf to put over one of the counters in our kitchen to provide extra shelf space (in lieu of appropriate cupboard space), which means I have even Less counter space. I have a heavy duty plastic tablecloth on our dining table (which is in the kitchen anyway), and I often use it for food preparation and serving etc. It really does help!!
I admire your patience with such a small kitchen and a large family – I don’t have such a large family and I find my kitchen REALLY frustrating! (This has led to me having to work REALLY hard on being content as God exhorts us to be in His Word!) .
Renee says
love it! How creative to work with what you have 🙂
Rachel says
Love it!!!
I have several friends that keep the plastic on during the week and put maps underneath it, or memory verses, etc….
I think I need to invest in some plastic.
And I love the sentiment of your husband. 🙂
Blessings, friend!
Laney Homan says
It’s official! My kiddos are never allowed to sit at your table again, lest they leave a mark that is not so treasured as the ones left by dearly loved grandparents. lol!
Hope you are doing well. And I totally need some plastic for my table. Great idea!
Laney
Amy says
We would cherish your marks too, Laney! 😉 lol
Jeni says
That sounds like a great compromise! I frequently use my dining room table for overflow, like when I’m cooling several batches of cookies. I never thought of making a reusable plastic mat – I always use wax paper!
Lisa says
Amy, Could you show pictures of the burns in the table and the the marks from your husband’s grandfather’s glass? I love that! 🙂
Amy says
Sure! 🙂
Melinda says
My sister has lived for years with a small galley kitchen. Her husband had an extra piece of counter top cut at the local home improvement store. She puts it over her sink when she needs a little extra room. Not ideal – but it does work.
Amy says
I’ve seen that done with flat top stoves as well (I don’t have one, so that wouldn’t have worked), but I never thought about my sink! Great idea!
Verna says
I know what you mean about a gallery type kitchen. When we lived in the apartment and had one, I always pulled out my big sink cut out formica board and laid it over the sinks to help make more work top space.
The only bad thing about it was that if I had a dirty dish to put in the sink if it didn’t fit under the board in the sink I would have to wait till I was done before I could put it in the sink for washing.
Now that we live in our trailer we don’t have much space either, but with just the two of us we do manage. How you manage with a larger family is amazing.
I am glad you are able to cover your table and help with your work space.
Kate @ Modern Alternative Mama says
My kitchen’s decent sized, but I always need more space for something. It’s all that soaking, sprouting, and fermenting that I do! I frequently use part of my table (with the leaf in it) for “storage” or work space. I have to! But hey…as long as it works, right? 🙂
Young Wife says
What a great solution!
h. rae says
I too, love the sweet memories connected with old furniture. Your genius in utilizing it, yet leaving it visible and unharmed is commendable. 🙂
'Becca says
We have a small kitchen and sometimes gain “counter” space by pulling out the top drawer and putting a cutting board across it. You do need sturdy drawers for this if you’re going to cut on the cutting board or put anything heavy on it–we have awesome 1950s steel cabinets. If the drawer contains utensils that you’ll need, of course you’ll want to take those out first; I usually put them in the dish drainer until I’m ready to grab them.
Kristin says
I just bought a clear vinyl tablecloth from here: http://www.fitted-tablecloths.com/ and love it. I like it fitted so it doesn’t shift around with my three littles. We have either a US map or a world map under it. The kids and us adults all enjoy looking at it.