Collection by Jaime Gillin

Dwell's Coolest Kitchens

We've compiled a slideshow of some of our favorite kitchens we've featured in Dwell over the years, from a tiny galley kitchen in New York City to a wheelchair-accessible kitchen in California's wine country. Click through and get inspired!

Create circulation and connectivity. It's important to ensure that people can effortlessly transition from the kitchen to the living room and dining areas, and vice versa. If you have a patio, garden, balcony, or courtyard, site your kitchen next to (or near) these areas so that dining alfresco can be an option. By designing a kitchen with good circulation and connectivity, the crowd will naturally spill over to other areas of your home.
Create circulation and connectivity. It's important to ensure that people can effortlessly transition from the kitchen to the living room and dining areas, and vice versa. If you have a patio, garden, balcony, or courtyard, site your kitchen next to (or near) these areas so that dining alfresco can be an option. By designing a kitchen with good circulation and connectivity, the crowd will naturally spill over to other areas of your home.
In a 15.5 by 20-foot studio apartment, space is at a premium, to put it lightly. The resident, a designer, sized his kitchen shelves to accommodate specific kitchen gear: narrowest at the bottom for spice jars and juice glasses and widest at the top for plates and cookware. The most frequently used objects are all within arm's reach. The small fridge and Tappan stove are perfectly adequate as long as you "get a little smarter with your yogurt layout," says the resident. See the full slideshow here.
In a 15.5 by 20-foot studio apartment, space is at a premium, to put it lightly. The resident, a designer, sized his kitchen shelves to accommodate specific kitchen gear: narrowest at the bottom for spice jars and juice glasses and widest at the top for plates and cookware. The most frequently used objects are all within arm's reach. The small fridge and Tappan stove are perfectly adequate as long as you "get a little smarter with your yogurt layout," says the resident. See the full slideshow here.
For a tiny Brooklyn kitchen, Workstead mitigated a dire lack of counter space by wrapping the cabinetry into the living area, creating one larger, fully integrated workspace. The custom cabinets were made out of ray-dyed Tabu birch veneer. Sliding panels with punched finger pulls act as a decorative screen.
For a tiny Brooklyn kitchen, Workstead mitigated a dire lack of counter space by wrapping the cabinetry into the living area, creating one larger, fully integrated workspace. The custom cabinets were made out of ray-dyed Tabu birch veneer. Sliding panels with punched finger pulls act as a decorative screen.
This New York kitchen is a miracle of efficiency. Every inch is used maximally, from the built-in double-decker Miele oven to the Sub-Zero fridge and freezer under the counter, distributed between four unobtrusive drawers.The Arclinea kitchen system includes an integrated lighting and power strip, which brightens the worktop and negates the need for jutting wall outlets. Read the full story here.
This New York kitchen is a miracle of efficiency. Every inch is used maximally, from the built-in double-decker Miele oven to the Sub-Zero fridge and freezer under the counter, distributed between four unobtrusive drawers.The Arclinea kitchen system includes an integrated lighting and power strip, which brightens the worktop and negates the need for jutting wall outlets. Read the full story here.
San Francisco architect Christi Azevedo built her kitchen very affordably, thanks to a sanded acrylic sheet used as a countertop, flooring made of cheap HardiPanel exterior siding (just $1 per square foot), Ikea pendant lights, and a reconditioned vintage stove snagged on Craigslist for $15. Azevedo put her metalworking skills to good use creating the open shelving out of hot-rolled steel. A rolling ladder ensures access to the highest shelves. Tour the entire house here.
San Francisco architect Christi Azevedo built her kitchen very affordably, thanks to a sanded acrylic sheet used as a countertop, flooring made of cheap HardiPanel exterior siding (just $1 per square foot), Ikea pendant lights, and a reconditioned vintage stove snagged on Craigslist for $15. Azevedo put her metalworking skills to good use creating the open shelving out of hot-rolled steel. A rolling ladder ensures access to the highest shelves. Tour the entire house here.
This family home in Sebastopol, in the northern California wine country, had to be completely accessible, since one of the children, Ian, was in a wheelchair. The solution was to create an open-plan space with smooth concrete floors, and a massive slab of cypress perched atop sawhorses that provides storage for pots and pans.
This family home in Sebastopol, in the northern California wine country, had to be completely accessible, since one of the children, Ian, was in a wheelchair. The solution was to create an open-plan space with smooth concrete floors, and a massive slab of cypress perched atop sawhorses that provides storage for pots and pans.
Nearby, a concrete island contains various appliances. With the extra surface area, there’s plenty of room to roll out dough, and a wide berth for Ian’s power chair.
Nearby, a concrete island contains various appliances. With the extra surface area, there’s plenty of room to roll out dough, and a wide berth for Ian’s power chair.
For this San Francisco kitchen remodel, designer Larissa Sand installed custom-built textured glass panels that roll on blackened steel tracks. The translucent finish and back lighting abstract the stored items, creating a clean composition (even when it's a mess).
For this San Francisco kitchen remodel, designer Larissa Sand installed custom-built textured glass panels that roll on blackened steel tracks. The translucent finish and back lighting abstract the stored items, creating a clean composition (even when it's a mess).
Interior designer Kathryn Tyler's Falmouth, England, kitchen, featured in our recent June 2012 issue, is a clever compromise between tight budget and calculated splurges. Furniture maker David Restorick wrapped Ikea cabinets with oak for a custom look. For Tyler, open shelving provided a chance to show off her collection of colorful vintage cookware.
Interior designer Kathryn Tyler's Falmouth, England, kitchen, featured in our recent June 2012 issue, is a clever compromise between tight budget and calculated splurges. Furniture maker David Restorick wrapped Ikea cabinets with oak for a custom look. For Tyler, open shelving provided a chance to show off her collection of colorful vintage cookware.
Restorick also built this quirky oak staircase with open shelving along one side. "I use accessories as the color in spaces," says Tyler, "so these items are an integral part of the overall design."
Restorick also built this quirky oak staircase with open shelving along one side. "I use accessories as the color in spaces," says Tyler, "so these items are an integral part of the overall design."