We've long admired artist and designer Michelle de la Vega's low-cost kitchen. Situated in a 250-square-foot converted garage in Seattle, de la Vega used a mix of new elements and reclaimed materials from local salvage yards.
We also imagine this configuration installed in a garden shed, a barn, or any other outbuilding to create instant (and separate) summer guest quarters. See de la Vega's home at The New York Times and her portfolio at Michelle de la Vega.
Above: Photograph by Ira Lippke for The New York Times.
Above: Illuminate the space with a 16-inch Benjamin Sky Chief Porcelain Stem Mount Light; $189 at Barn Light Electric.
Above: For an industrial retro look, consider the American Standard Enameled Cast-Iron Wall-Hung Sink; $434.87 at eFaucets.
Above: The versatile stainless-steel Grundtal Wall Shelf is $19.99 for the 31.5-inch-wide model at Ikea.
Above: John Boos Economy Stainless Steel Kitchen Island Work Table; $235 to $546, depending on size, at the Stainless Steel Store.
Above: Wine crates used as storage drawers and shelves is a great idea; contact your favorite winery to see about getting used wine crates. Other sources include your local wine store, Craigslist, or Wine Pine, which sells Classic Wine Crates for $20 each.
Above: New from Bialetti, maker of the classic stovetop espresso pot, the electric Bialetti Electric Mukka Express is easy to use and costs $139.99 at Amazon.
Above: We like the straightforward simplicity of the Grundtal Magnetic Knife Rack; $13.99 at Ikea.
Above: Japanese luxury camping company Snow Peak makes a convenient, all-in-one Chopping Board and Knife Set; $49.95 from Trails.com.
Above: A 20-piece set of Sedlig Flatware from Ikea is $39.99.
Above: A set of six Picardie Glass Tumblers is $19.99 from Amazon.
Above: The 12-piece baked enamelware Pioneer Camp Set includes four place settings; $109.95 at GSI Outdoors.
Above: When there is no dishwasher, the Simplehuman Steel-Frame Dish Rack earns a spot on our must-have list; $70 at Williams-Sonoma.
Above: Not just for camping, the Coleman 2-Burner InstaStart PerfectFlow Propane Stove offers 22,000 BTU in two powerful, independently adjustable, high-performance stainless steel burners. It can cook for up to 1.1 hours with both burners on high (4.5 hours on low) on one 16.4-oz. propane cylinder (sold separately). Make sure adaquate ventilation is available; $69.95 at Amazon.
Above: The Cuisinart Toaster Oven Broiler with Convection is $99.95 from Amazon.
Above: The 3 2/3-cubic-foot Sanyo SR-3770S Counter-High Refrigerator features a stainless-steel door and a black work top; $675 at Amazon.
Above L: A trash bin with an open/close top is essential to an open space kitchen; United Receptacle's red Economical Step Can is 51.99 from Amazon.
N.B.: This post is an update; the original story ran on June 22, 2010.
