Small kitchen in apartment with glass mosaics

With its small work triangle, this new apartment kitchen puts everything in easy reach, while still providing ample work space

A narrow shelf next to the cooktop is countertop, interior design, kitchen, room, gray, black — A narrow shelf next to the cooktop is a handy set-down spot for items used while cooking.The windowless space is open to a large living area and illuminated with downlights and under-cabinet lighting.

Reflective gray-blue glass mosaics line the walls of cabinetry, countertop, home appliance, interior design, kitchen, kitchen appliance, kitchen stove, major appliance, room, gray

A small work triangle in this new apartment cabinetry, countertop, cuisine classique, interior design, kitchen, gray

When you live in a Manhattan apartment you learn all about maximizing space.

But the owners of this unit were luckier than most. They had an opportunity to buy a small adjoining studio apartment and were able to combine the two spaces to create one large apartment.

This meant their original kitchen could be transformed into a bar and breakfast area, and a new kitchen built within part of the former studio.

Etienne Coffinier and Ed Ku of Coffinier Ku Design were commissioned to undertake all the interior design, including the kitchen.

"The kitchen is not a huge space, so it had to be very efficient, simple and clean lined," says Ku. "To this end, we teamed high-gloss blue-tinged white cabinetry with glass countertops and reflective glass mosaic tiled walls that help bounce the light around."

To further enhance the sense of space, cabinets are flush, and most of the drawers and doors have recessed pulls. Overhead cabinets have a niche for cookbooks. There is also specific storage for large pots and pans, concealed garbage bins, and a tall, narrow cabinet for trays.