Functional redesign grounded in how people actually cook, clean, and move through a kitchen — not just how a space looks on a floor plan.
Most kitchen renovations focus on surfaces: new tiles, new appliance finishes, new cabinet colours. These changes can make a kitchen look better without making it work better. Our starting point is different.
We begin with behaviour — how people move through the space, how tasks sequence, where collisions happen, where surfaces run out. Once we understand the behavioural patterns, we redesign the layout to support them rather than obstruct them.
This approach is particularly valuable in compact spaces because every centimetre carries more weight. A poorly placed cabinet in a large kitchen is an inconvenience. In a four-square-metre kitchen, it can make the whole space unusable.
A set of design principles developed specifically for high-rise apartment kitchens in the Chilean context.
The traditional kitchen work triangle (sink, stove, refrigerator) was developed for large suburban kitchens. In a compact apartment kitchen, the principle must be reinterpreted: the goal is not a triangle but a logical sequence that minimises crossing paths and maximises surface continuity.
Most compact kitchens use only the lower portion of available wall height. Extending cabinetry to ceiling height, using the space above the refrigerator, and adding intermediate shelving can dramatically increase storage without occupying any additional floor area.
Distinct work zones — preparation, cooking, cleaning, storage — can be defined through layout logic rather than physical barriers. Clear zone separation allows two people to work simultaneously without interfering with each other's tasks.
Fragmented counter surfaces — interrupted by the stove, a gap, a corner — reduce usable area more than the physical measurements suggest. Designing for continuous counter runs, even in an L or U configuration, multiplies functional workspace significantly.
Moving water connections or gas outlets in a high-rise apartment is not simply a plumbing job — it requires coordination with building administration, permits, potential interference with shared building systems, and significant cost. More importantly, it is rarely necessary.
The vast majority of compact kitchen dysfunctions are caused by poor cabinetry layout, not by where the sink or stove sits. By treating connection points as fixed constraints and designing around them intelligently, we achieve meaningful functional improvement without the complexity and disruption of infrastructure work.
A complete, actionable document set — not a mood board or a general recommendation.
Scale drawings of the proposed layout showing exact cabinetry positions, appliance locations, and counter surface dimensions.
Detailed specifications for cabinetry, hardware, and storage accessories — with alternatives at different price points where applicable.
A curated list of Santiago suppliers and installers with experience in compact apartment cabinetry work, including contact information.
A written guide explaining the implementation sequence, what to discuss with your installer, and common pitfalls to avoid during the process.
Where budget is a consideration, we identify which elements of the redesign deliver the most functional improvement and can be implemented first.
We remain available for questions during the implementation phase — to clarify specifications, advise on installer queries, or address unexpected site conditions.
