Small Kitchens Cornwall: Expert Small Kitchen Design from Torben Schmid Kitchen
If you’re searching for expert small kitchen design in Cornwall, look no further than Torben Schmid Kitchens. Based near Truro, we’re known throughout Cornwall for transforming even the most compact kitchen spaces into beautifully designed, high-performing environments. Whether you live in a period townhouse in Penzance or a coastal cottage near St Ives, we specialise in crafting bespoke kitchens that maximise space without compromising on aesthetics or functionality. Here, we explain how we approach small kitchen design and why a visit to our inspiring showroom is a must.
Why Choose Torben Schmid Kitchens for Your Small Kitchen in Cornwall?
Designing a small kitchen presents a unique challenge, and it’s one that our expert team relish! We don’t view limited space as a setback but rather as an opportunity to create smart, tailored kitchen solutions. At Torben Schmid, our experienced team thrives on clever thinking and meticulous design. Every centimetre counts, and our free, personalised design service guarantees a layout that reflects your lifestyle, habits, and preferences.
At Torben Schmid, we’re not just another kitchen retailer—we are true small kitchen design experts in Cornwall. With brands like Bauformat and Daval at our fingertips, we’re able to offer high-end kitchen furniture that’s beautifully crafted and impressively versatile. Whether you’re based in Newquay, Padstow, or Wadebridge, our team is here to provide you with a kitchen that fits your space and vision perfectly.
Small Kitchen Design That Works
1. Clever Layouts for Compact Spaces
A well-considered kitchen layout is the foundation of a successful design. For smaller kitchens, we often recommend a galley-style, L-shaped, or one-wall kitchen layout. These configurations are highly efficient but also help prevent a cluttered look. We’ll walk you through the pros and cons of each, helping you choose the layout that best suits your space and lifestyle needs.
2. Small Kitchen Colour, Finish and Lighting: Enhancing Space with Style
Our team have a sound understanding of how colour and finish impact a small kitchen space. For example, lighter tones such as cashmere, white, and soft grey can make a room feel more expansive, especially when paired with a satin or matt lacquer finish that diffuses natural light without glare.
For those who prefer something a little moodier, we can combine dark kitchen base units with lighter wall units to retain an open feel. Our inspiring kitchen showroom includes a full wall of sample doors and worktops, making it easy to visualise different combinations in person.
Lighting is another key consideration. We incorporate under-cabinet LED strips, task lighting, and reflective splashbacks to boost brightness and give the impression of a larger space.
3. Integrated Kitchen Appliances for a Seamless Look
Our small kitchens in Cornwall benefit enormously from built-in and compact appliances. We offer thoughtful, space-saving appliance solutions from premium brands such as:
- AEG and Miele: Known for their slimline dishwashers and 45cm compact ovens.
- Bora: Featuring hobs with integrated extraction, eliminating the need for bulky cooker hoods.
- Quooker: Their boiling water taps replace the need for a kettle, freeing up valuable worktop space.
We display many of these models in our Truro kitchen showroom, allowing you to see and experience their benefits in person.
4. Kitchen Storage Solutions: Smart, Stylish, and Space-Saving
In a small kitchen, effective storage is absolutely essential. The difference between a kitchen that feels spacious and one that feels cramped often comes down to how well the available storage has been designed. At Torben Schmid Kitchens, we’re experts in incorporating innovative, discreet, and highly functional storage features that help you make the most of every square inch.
Small Kitchens Cornwall: Reclaiming Lost Corners and Awkward Spaces
Corner spaces are notoriously difficult to utilise, but with our premium storage systems, no area is wasted. Our Le Mans corner units are a prime example. These feature semi-circular shelves that glide out smoothly and completely, allowing you to access items tucked away deep in the corner without having to kneel or stretch. They’re perfect for storing pots, pans, or small appliances like blenders and mixers.
In addition, we offer carousel units—another corner solution—which allow full 360° rotation of the shelf trays, ensuring nothing gets buried or forgotten. These are ideal for dry goods, baking essentials, or cleaning supplies.
Small Kitchens Cornwall: Vertical Space and Floor-to-Ceiling Ingenuity
Small kitchens often lack surface area, but height can be an untapped resource. With our tall units and double-stacked cabinetry, you can utilise vertical space right up to the ceiling. We frequently design floor-to-ceiling larder units, especially in homes with high ceilings such as period cottages in Padstow or terraced houses in Falmouth.
Our tall pull-out larders are engineered to slide out effortlessly and rotate 90 degrees, giving you full visibility and easy access to dry food items, spices, and oils. These systems hold more than a standard cupboard but also help keep your kitchen organised and tidy.
If you need overflow storage, we can even incorporate plinth drawers at floor level. These hidden drawers are ideal for baking trays, chopping boards, or seasonal items like slow cookers and roasting pans that aren’t used every day.
Small Kitchens Cornwall: Smart Drawers and Hidden Solutions
Drawers offer unmatched accessibility in a small kitchen. That’s why our kitchens are fitted with deep pan drawers, complete with internal compartments for utensils, crockery, and cutlery. These drawers often include tiered systems that allow smaller items to sit above larger ones without creating clutter.
We also install swing-out shelves, which are particularly useful inside base units next to ovens or sinks, providing a convenient spot for detergents, foil, or frequently used gadgets.
Another favourite among our clients is hidden pull-out bins, integrated seamlessly into cabinetry. These can include compartments for recycling and general waste, keeping unsightly bins out of sight and preserving valuable floor space.
Open and Accessible Kitchen Shelving
In many small kitchen designs, particularly those that embrace a Scandinavian or industrial aesthetic, open shelving works brilliantly. This prevents upper cabinetry from feeling overpowering in a small space, but it also provides a spot to display your most-used or most-loved items—think stylish crockery, spice jars, or even trailing plants.
We often recommend combining closed and open storage, creating a balanced layout that delivers both function and visual interest.
Flexible Solutions for Multi-Purpose Living
For clients who use their kitchen as a flexible living area—perhaps in holiday lets or compact townhouses—we can incorporate features like pull-out tables, fold-away breakfast bars, and even integrated wine racks. These are especially useful in areas like Newquay and Rock, where open-plan kitchen-diners are common and every bit of space needs to work hard.
Lastly, we never underestimate the value of bespoke shelving, especially for awkward alcoves or chimney breast recesses. Custom-built shelves or cubbyholes can turn these unused gaps into smart storage for cookbooks, baskets, or glassware.
Small Kitchens Designed to Your Needs
All of these features are available through our fully customisable cabinetry from Bauformat and Daval. We take the time to understand how you cook, what you store, and how often you access particular items. Then we tailor a storage plan around your daily routines—whether you’re in a compact flat in Pool or a characterful home in Tregony.
And because our kitchen showroom near Truro features a wide variety of internal storage solutions on display, you can see and test these clever mechanisms in person before making any decisions.
The Importance of a Kitchen Showroom Visit
We highly recommend starting your journey by visiting our Cornwall kitchen showroom near Truro. Here, you’ll see:
- Real-life examples of compact kitchen designs.
- Working displays of appliances and taps.
- An extensive collection of finishes, handles, splashbacks, and worktops.
You’ll also meet our friendly and knowledgeable design team.
Free Kitchen Design Service: Tailored to You
Our design consultations are entirely free and extremely detailed. During your appointment, we’ll discuss your storage needs, aesthetic preferences, appliance requirements, and more. We’ll then produce a design that reflects your taste and makes the most of your available space—whether that’s in Rock, St Agnes, or the Isles of Scilly (yes, we’ve even delivered there!).
This personal, considered approach sets us apart and consistently delivers results our customers love.
FAQs: Small Kitchens Cornwall
- What’s the best layout for a small kitchen?
It depends on the shape of your room. Galley and L-shaped layouts tend to work well in narrow spaces, while single-wall kitchens are ideal for open-plan settings.
- Can I have an island in my small kitchen in Cornwall?
In many cases, yes. We can design slimline islands or peninsulas with integrated storage and worktop space.
- What finishes help make a small kitchen feel bigger?
Lighter colours in satin or gloss finishes can reflect light and create the illusion of space. Mirrored splashbacks and handleless doors also help achieve a more open look.
- Which appliances are best for small kitchens in Cornwall?
We recommend 45cm compact ovens, slimline dishwashers, Bora hob systems with built-in extraction, and Quooker boiling water taps.
- Do you offer installation?
- Yes. We have a long-term team of fitters familiar with our products. If you’re using your own builder, Torben will coordinate with them directly.
Ready to Maximise Your Kitchen Space?
Whether you’re in Padstow, Newlyn, or Mawgan Porth, Torben Schmid Kitchens are here to help you unlock the full potential of your kitchen. Our expert design team takes the time to understand your needs, crafting solutions that are functional, stylish, and unique to your home.
Book a free design appointment or download our brochure today to start your small kitchen journey with Cornwall’s trusted experts.
👉 Visit our website or call 01637 808395 to book your visit to our Cornwall kitchen showroom.
