Kitchen Counters: Getting More Space

LESLIE: Michael in Washington is working on a kitchen renovation [1]. How can we help you with the project?

MICHAEL: Yeah. I have a very small kitchen; there’s no room to expand and I’m wondering if putting a refrigerator under the counter would be good, value-wise, so that that would give me seven feet of working counter space. Right now I only have two feet of working counter space.

TOM: Hmm. Well, I think it would be convenient for your particular situation, Michael, but remember, you’re not going to have much storage space [2]because – you know, you’re going to essentially have half the storage space that you have right now. It also could potentially impact resale [3] because most folks expect a full-sized space for the refrigerator.

MICHAEL: Would it be better to take an exterior door out that’s in the kitchen and build the cabinets along that wall, with just a slight [inaudible at 0:16:16.7] in the wall where the kitchen door is to accommodate the cabinet?

TOM: Is that your only back door?

MICHAEL: No, there’s a sliding glass door about halfway across the front wall and then there’s a front door.

TOM: Oh, OK. Well, if you have …

LESLIE: Yeah, I would go that route.

TOM: Yeah, I would too. If you already have two back doors and you can give up one, that would be smarter.

MICHAEL: OK. I thank you.