The List: 5 Appliances to Skip in a Small Kitchen

We live in 400 square feet, with one of the smallest kitchens I have ever seen.  This includes an under counter refrigerator, no dishwasher, and a very small counter.  Through a lot of creativity, the kitchen is not only usable, but enjoyable.  While there are some quirks that cannot be solved, many of the difficulties of living in a small space are easily avoided with some creativity. I found one of the biggest helps for this was getting rid of bulky appliances.

5 Appliances to Skip in a Small Kitchen

Microwave
Why skip it?

• While they are handy for your leftovers, they take up a lot of space.  
• Most offices have one, so eat your leftovers at lunch.  
• Switch over to glass containers for your leftovers, which can be microwaved at work and popped in the oven at home.  
• You can also use a small non-stick skillet for quicker warming.

Toaster Oven
Why skip it?

• Use the toaster, or the oven.  
• To go farther: use the broiler for  your toast and skip the toaster as well.

Coffee Maker
Why skip it?

• Use a small french press, or a pour over cone like this one (you can also get a much cheaper plastic one at most large stores).  
• You will save a lot of counter space, and have better coffee.

Crock Pot/ Slow Cooker
Why skip it?

• They are a storage nightmare.
• A large soup pot can be stacked easily and is light enough to hang.  Another option is a dutch oven that can be stored in the oven.

Stand Mixer
Why skip it?

• How often do you use it?
• You can make almost anything with a hand mixer, which is much easier to store. 
• I will admit, this one I could not part with.

What would you skip?

Friday Links: Gardening in Small Spaces

Our freshly planted garden

Tuesday morning we donned hats and shovels and planted our seedlings in the vegetable garden. You might think it sounds late, but gardening at high altitude requires waiting for the frost to pass and then planting short season veggies. This is my first real garden of my own, besides the herbs I grow indoors. These links show some amazing ideas for small space gardening that I wish I would have tried in my apartment days. Get your hands dirty this weekend!

Perfect for a patio: wine Crates for a mobile and edible container garden.
Hang it on a door: vertical vegetable garden, in a shoe holder.
Stack a garden: urban veggie box.
If you have a small yard: make a raised bed.
On the balcony: create a potted vegetable garden.

Pepper shoots

Tomatoes, basil and peppers started inside