Special Series: Appliances: Part Three: Solutions for Small Spaces

Cleaning It Up Your small kitchen can host a dishwasher. But, Gillingham-Ryan suggests, GE’s Single Double Wall Oven fits two ovens in a space that usually accommodates only one. homeowners should think long and hard as to whether the convenience is worth the lost cabinet space. If you live alone and don’t entertain much, then maybe not. If the opposite is true, you might want to consider the single drawer dishwasher model made by Fisher & Paykel. This unit takes up half the space of your standard dishwasher, and you could maintain storage space above or below the unit if you like. McCabe recommends positioning these drawers as close to the floor as possible. Raising dishwashers off the floor so that they are The Bosch Axxis Washer and Dryer are slimmer than comparable models and the dryer requires no venting. easier to load and unload can be a tricky installation job. “The other thing that I find is that when you do that, the noise level increases because being down on the floor absorbs some of the operational sound,” she says. Many people who live in small spaces often forego the convenience of washing machines and clothes dryers simply for lack of space. But European models as well as stackable units mean that you can stop lugging your duds to the Laundromat. Bosch’s Axxis line features a 24-inch-wide stackable washer and dryer that, despite its slim design, can accommodate 14 pairs of jeans. And because the Axxis Dryer condenses water released during the drying process and sends it through a drain, no venting is required. This innovation means units can be placed anywhere in the home, such as an upstairs closet If even a stackable unit takes up too much space, consider a dual washer/dryer such as the one from Haier America. Put your dirty clothes in this combo unit and when you return they’ll be both washed and dried. This feature has long been used in Europe but is only recently more available in the U.S. This unit also features a condensed drying feature as well as six fabric care settings on the washer and dual temperature settings for the dryer. Just because your kitchen is small doesn’t mean you can’t make it the kitchen of your dreams, designers say. Besides necessities, you can incorporate items, such as wine refrigerators or warming drawers, if you are willing to sacrifice something else, like storage space or a dishwasher. And the truth is, regardless of how small your kitchen is, people will tend to congregate there when you entertain. Give them a space that is sophisticated and inviting, and odds are no one will complain about having to fight for some elbowroom. Read other Special Series: Appliances articles here .

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