Kitchen design in "Khrushchev" with a gas water heater

The design of the kitchen of a small apartment must be thought out in detail, preferably before the start of the renovation. But in miniature "Khrushchev" houses, the minimum area is only part of the difficulties, because there, as a rule, a gas water heater is installed. In this case, the task is complicated by one more action: it is necessary to harmoniously and correctly place the equipment in the interior.

The presence of a gas water heater, due to its, most often, inconvenient location and dimensions, makes you tense when planning a kitchen.

The following practical tips will help you arrange a kitchen with a gas apparatus in the most convenient way.

• If the room is being prepared from scratch, it is worth considering the location of the column, the layout and the entire interior even before the start of repair work and ordering furniture. This will give you more chances for maneuvers and problem solving. For example, you can move gas equipment, replace it with a more modern and suitable one for the planned situation. Along the way, improve ventilation and chimney, think over the location of the rest of the equipment in relation to the location of the column.
• It is advisable to make furniture for the kitchen in "Khrushchev" to order, even if it is not planned to hide the water heater behind the cabinet doors. This approach will make it possible to complete a headset in which every centimeter is used with benefit.

• If the design assumes the presence of a stretch ceiling, it is necessary to observe the prescribed distances from the chimney opening to the ceiling (at least 8 cm). It is better to equip the chimney with a so-called sandwich with a layer of thermal insulation. These precautions will protect the ceiling from heat and damage.
• It is not recommended to wallpaper the wall behind the gas water heater or decorate it with plastic panels. These materials melt from prolonged exposure to heat. The best solution is tiling or plastering and painting.

• In a small kitchen equipped with a gas water heater, constant air circulation is required. This is important not only for safety, but also for the stable operation of the unit. Therefore, when installing plastic windows, you need to choose those that have a micro-ventilation function. Wooden frames cope with this task by the presence of micro-slots. The main thing is not to overdo it with seals, waterproofing and insulation of window structures.
• For greater air flow, ventilation valves are cut into the walls even at the stage of repair. It is better to entrust this process to professionals, since the work of the supply and exhaust systems must be balanced. Experts will check the chimney and ventilation shaft, which should be freely accessible. It is unacceptable to close it with anything. You must be aware that in the case of gas equipment, you will have to act in accordance with the rules prescribed in the regulatory documents.

If the kitchen in "Khrushchev" is too cramped and at the same time with a hinged gas water heater, the owners are first of all puzzled by the possibilities of expanding the space while maintaining its functional purpose.

There are several proven ways to visually increase the kitchen area with a column. At the same time, it will become even more comfortable:

• It is better to give up floor-standing cabinets. Heavy facades with massive handles will not work either. An excellent option would be a modular set with glass or glossy doors. Such furniture reflects light and looks more elegant, visually freeing up space.
• If there is a door leading to the kitchen, you need it to open outward. But it is advisable to remove it completely. An open arched opening will save precious meters and create the illusion of a "flowing" space.
• It is convenient to equip a functional shelf in a niche under the windowsill.
• If possible, it is worth taking the refrigerator out of the kitchen or choosing the most compact model.
• Window décor is best limited to roman blinds with translucent textiles.
• For the decoration of the mini-kitchen, wall decoration in light colors is successful. This will make the room visually more spacious. It is better to refuse large drawings altogether, since the kitchen will seem cramped from them.

The ideal solution is redevelopment:

• Combining the living room with the kitchen. The organization of additional space will facilitate the layout of the kitchen with the arrangement of all the necessary furniture and equipment. But you will need a powerful hood so that food smells do not float in the living room.
• Connection to the balcony. The small kitchen will become a little more spacious and brighter, but you will have to spend money on dismantling the wall and insulating it.
• Expansion of the kitchen by reducing the bathroom. Moving the wall deeper will give more maneuverability in moving around the kitchen. But the bathroom will have to make room. The important thing here is to decide which space is easier to donate.

Radical measures will require considerable investment, including the legalization of perestroika. But, having received documents from state authorities, it will be possible to live comfortably with the layout that suits and does not hinder.

If a gas water heater of modern design fits well into the interior, combined with its elements, you can leave it hanging proudly in its rightful place. But with the unsightly appearance of the device and its inconvenient location, you will have to use the advice of experienced designers. Masking and transferring the unit must be skillful, in accordance with all planning and fire safety rules.

Often, the gas unit is located almost above the sink, where there is a cupboard for drying dishes. In this case, it is better to move the column and pipes. This is not as simple a process as it might seem to ignorant masters. There are some nuances that are important to consider:

• In the bathroom. Transfer is possible only with an area of ​​more than 7.5 square meters. m and the presence of a ventilation shaft.
• In the corridor - if redevelopment allows.
• Elsewhere in the kitchen. But not near the stove, sources of fire, and not very close to the refrigerator and cupboards.

If the transfer of the unit is not required, you can beat it in different ways, for example, hide it in a hanging cabinet, creating a competent design. In this case, the cabinet must be wide, with at least 3 cm thick walls and ventilation on the facade. The walls need good heat-reflecting insulation. Also, the cabinet needs holes for the chimney and gas pipe. Between the column and the inner walls of the cabinet, a gap of 3 cm or more is required.

The most comfortable, safest and most affordable way. Modern gas water heaters, in addition to their aesthetic design, are equipped with a convenient control panel.They can be installed between the hinged modules of the kitchen unit, hung separately on the wall, harmoniously creating a composition in the style with the rest of the kitchen appliances, wall decoration and the color of furniture facades. In a classic style kitchen, it is advisable to choose the same color for the speaker box, furniture and other household appliances. In avant-garde interiors, "play" on contrasting combinations is allowed.

For the kitchen in "Khrushchev" it is important to choose such a layout of the headset in order to accommodate a large amount of inventory and equipment. This should be done as rationally as possible. Only the most functional items will do.

• It is better to choose a kitchen set with an angular configuration. This will allow you to use the corner space as efficiently as possible. It is advisable to equip it with drawers.
• It is better to use the entire height of the wall space by installing hanging modules in two tiers. It is modern, rational and convenient.
• The window sill can be converted into a table. Installing a single worktop with a worktop, the headset will visually unite the concept of the kitchen and expand the room itself.
• The traditional dining table can be successfully replaced with a compact folding model that does not take up space. Lightweight chairs or folding stools are suitable as a set.
• Household appliances are preferable built-in, small sizes, including a refrigerator. When located behind furniture facades, it is possible not to select units in the same style and color. They will not spoil the design by hiding in the niches of kitchen cabinets.

The limited space of the kitchen also implies a small size of the worktop. To fully organize it, you need to think over the layout taking into account every centimeter. The solution to the problem can be retractable worktops, built into the furniture set at different levels. Combining a window sill with a working area with a single tabletop is also an option with good functionality.

Then there will be a place under the stove for another cabinet for storing utensils. It is better to refuse a large-scale sink in favor of a deep, but compact one. And the dishes are conveniently dried in a wall cabinet above the sink. It seems a little unusual, but it saves great space on the work surface.

The interior of the kitchen is built depending on the location of the column, the color of its box. The stylistics can be different, it is important to choose your own direction.

• High tech. The interior perfectly combines glass and shiny surfaces. A gas water heater with a chrome box will perfectly complement the furnishings. Smooth surfaces of glossy facades are ideally combined with metal, emphasizing the manufacturability of the style.

• Scandinavian. Classic white gas water heaters with traditional shapes set the mood for a snowy interior. Glossy or matte doors reflect light equally and give the room a spacious look. The set with framed facades and unpretentious milling is organic with airy textiles.

• Eco. It is realized with corner and straight kitchens in "Khrushchevs" with a column. The box of the device is decorated according to the decor. Used colors: white, natural green, wood shades. Bamboo, stone, natural fabrics are welcome in decoration and decoration.

The design of a kitchen with a column encourages you to think over the features of the room, taking into account the rules of ergonomics. For a successful solution, everything must be foreseen at the planning stage.

See the next video for more details.