Fold-Down Counter Adds Much-Needed Space to a Tight Kitchen

HouseLogic.com
by HouseLogic.com
What do you do when you have less than 3 feet of counter space in a kitchen you can't afford to expand beyond its walls?
Image: Lara Edge for HouseLogic
Build a fold-down counter that can be tucked up when you need more floor space. That's what one of our contributors, Lara Edge, did when faced with an incredibly awkward kitchen space.


Here's what the kitchen looked like before:
Image: Lara Edge for HouseLogic
Notice how the fridge blocked half the cabinets from opening:
Image: Lara Edge for HouseLogic
By remodeling the wall with the hard-to-get-at cabinets, she was able to move the fridge into that space and free up the wall where the old fridge was. A fun find in the process was the uncovering of an old chimney. She decided to expose the brick:
Image: Lara Edge for HouseLogic.com
Another challenge was that the wall was next to the entrance to the back porch, the home office, and the stairs to the basement. It needed to be easy to pass through.


Edge originally wanted a permanent counter on the wall, but realized the conventional 24-inch countertop was going to block the passageway to those other entrances. You'd have to turn sideways and shimmy your way between the counter and the stove on the perpendicular wall to the left.


She got the idea of a fold-down counter after she and her husband had been looking at RVs on a wishful lark, and were impressed with the creative way they tucked functionality into every nook and cranny. With the help of a heavy-duty piano hinge and a knowledgeable pro, she was able to make it a reality.


You'll notice that the counter is cut at an angle. She did that because of the clearance issue. Now there's enough room when the counter is down for people to easily move through.


Here's how the wall looks now with the counter down:
Image: Lara Edge for HouseLogic.com
Below you can see how the counter looks when it's up.


Plus there's a bonus storage feature: She installed a strip of bamboo to work as a ledge for the counter to rest on when it's down. That strip is perfect for hanging pots and pans.
Image: Lara Edge for HouseLogic.com
And to keep the counter up when not in use, she uses an anchor pin.
Image: Lara Edge for HouseLogic.com
More creative ways to add storage space:
HouseLogic.com
Want more details about this and other DIY projects? Check out my blog post!
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  • Dj Dj on Nov 02, 2016
    Awesome job on a too-small kitchen! Too bad you had to sacrifice those nice cabinets, but things happen. I love the way you exposed the old fireplace and used that space. I'd love to see a pic of the whole kitchen.
  • Bertha King Bertha King on Nov 21, 2016
    some people are just so smart !
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