Small Kitchen Idea - Nesting Bowls

I think these are a great idea for a small kitchen:

You have several large bowls, a collander, measuring cups and spoons all withing the space of the largest bowl.

Depending on you design aesthetic you may love the colorful combination or wish for something with a little less pop.  Either way these could be a colorful solution to minimal storage space. 

Microwave Oven Combo

Using a wall oven with microwave can create a more ergonomic cooking experience.  I like them because they free up the space below the range for storage of cooking ware and accessories and I like the height that the built in gives you. 
In a single wall kitchen I would have this full height casework on one side of a counter and a built in refrigerator at the other side to balance out the design.

Contemporary Kitchen design by Calgary Design-build Fifth Element Homes

I think this combo unit that includes a small refrigerator and a coffee maker is a create space saver for a small kitchen that still wants all of the gadgets built in:

Asian Kitchen design by Toronto Interior Designer XTC Design Incorporated

Ultra Small Appliances

I Love These!!!
Appliances in miniture. 
This is a KitchenAid product but as far as I can tell it is not available in the United States. 
Wouldn't this be a great addition to a minimalist kitchen or an efficiency appartment?

Found here:
http://www.houzz.com/oven-microwave/p/8

Go Green: Ditch the Paper Towels

This was a really hard decision for me to consider.  I hate laundry - wouldn't I end up doing twice as much without paper towels? 

I really did want to reduce my waste so I decided to try it.  Turns out my load of whites was never full so adding two or three tea towels didn't put me over the top into constant laundry.  I didn't go   through them as often as I thought.  Most of the things I was using paper towels for was not dirty tasks like wiping up messes.  I switched from putting a snack on a paper towel to a real plate.  Drying my hands after doing the dishes didn't actually dirty the towel and even wiping down the counter left the towel fairly clean.  I ended up switching out every other day or so.   

I love it and haven't looked back; plus it's nice to not have to shop for paper towels anymore.
 http://www.lushlee.com/2009/02/lovebirds-tea-towel/

Kitchen Multi-Tasker Idea: Strainer / Dish Drainer

I ran across this article on house logic:
http://www.houselogic.com/blog/kitchens/minimalist-kitchen/
And she has a great idea about using a strainer as a dish rack. 
There are several in sink dish drainers you can buy but why not use a strainer that can double duty when you make pasta. 

Genius:


Other ideas on saving space with the dish drainer:

In Sink Drainers:


Hanging Option:




Fold Up or Roll Up Options:



Other Minimalist Options:
 

Single Wall Kitchen

I've been sketching up kitchen options for small apartments (I'll post sketches soon)
The most efficient layout is a single wall kitchen.  Most research notes that an I shaped kitchen, sometimes called a pullman kitchen, eliminates the traditional work triangle.   True - but if you add an island, either movable furniture or built in casework you can create a type of work triangle that keeps everything within arms reach. 

I really like the idea of having a movable piece because it would allow you to modify the space and add a dine in table or a bar height element that would allow casual dining in the kitchen. 

I would much rather upgrade the finishes and appliance then have a larger kitchen and I think that the island creates a nice visual and plenty of work space.

 

Here are some of the better resources I've found for single wall kitchens:

http://www.houzz.com/i-kitchen
http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/4128/list
http://www.diynetwork.com/kitchen/8-ways-to-make-a-small-kitchen-sizzle/pictures/index.html
http://www.channel4.com/4homes/rooms/kitchen/planning-ideas/along-one-wall-kitchens-gallery-08-06-04/display/image/36-SE4004-l
http://glo.msn.com/living/tiny-kitchens-with-big-results-7416.gallery
http://www.kitchens.com/design/layout/common-kitchen-layouts/one-wall-kitchen/

Small Kitchen Ideas

Eclectic Kitchen design by Dc Metro Interior Designer Lauren Liess Interiors

I want to explore living with less but living better with less.  My ideal kitchen would have no upper cabinets and use open shelving.  My mother has warned me about dust collecting but if you only have items that you use you wash them often and eliminate the issue.  I love the white dishes in this image!

Another Item that can save space and keep things at arms reach is a magnetic knife strip.  Save the space on the counter and I happen to like the look.  Just remember to keep out of reach of little hands.

Traditional Kitchen design by Sydney Media And Blogs A Beach Cottage