My kitchen measures about 8 feet by 6 feet soaking wet. While a fancy aqua glass tiled backsplash sure sounds pretty, I'd really kill for a dishwasher, extra counter space or a window for the luxury of natural light. My 1980s galley kitchen isn't the cook space of my dreams, but it's what I've got for the foreseeable future and so I make do. It turns out that I do pretty well. 
 
 
And I'm not the only one as some pretty fantastic and famous chefs cook in kitchens just as tiny (or tinier). 
 
 
In an Apartment Therapy post, pastry chef and cookbook author, David Lebovitz showcased his puny Parisian kitchen. While I'd kill for a view of the Eiffel Tower or pretty much an apartment anywhere in Paris, his kitchen is pretty damn small. David makes due with going vertical and has things stacked everywhere--mixing bowls and long handled utensils live atop his fridge and he leaves things out in the open claiming "...I need to see everything. It inspires me, as queer as that sounds!"
 
 
Cookbook author & New York Times columnist Mark Bittman shocked readers a couple years ago when he posted a photo of himself cooking in his small kitchen. He says, "When it comes to kitchens, size and equipment don’t count nearly as much as devotion, passion, common sense, and, of course, experience." And to prove his point, Bittman has a great list on what every kitchen should have. And, no, it doesn't include that frickin' expensive thing-a-ma-bobber you're always drooling over at your posh kitchen shop. 
 
 
Bob Blumer is a tv chef with a new book out. He recently came up with an actual handy cookbook trailer (remember those?) of sorts called "Top 10 DIY Kitchen Feng Shui Tips." The key to a workable small space, says Bob, is to streamline your kitchen so it not only becomes usable but also is a pleasure to cook in. For a three-minute video it's packed with good information--including placing a damp towel under your cutting board to help stabilize it to create a solid workspace. Having track lighting pointed down at your work areas and keeping the compost and garbage bins close by are also good tips. But I love the idea of tossing up some cheap kitchen speakers so you can have your music close at hand. 
 
So how do you deal with your small kitchen? Do you go vertical? Do you keep cabinet doors on or do you remove them? While I'm okay with my current kitchen setup, I'm always on the hunt for affordable and creative solutions to turn my kitchen into my "happy shiny place." Share your teeny tiny kitchen survival tips below!

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