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You are here: Home / Planning and Design / Space Saving Appliances That Are Perfect for a Granny Pod

Space Saving Appliances That Are Perfect for a Granny Pod

Planning and Design· Granny Flats· Living Small

19 Sep

Compact appliances are a great way to maximize space in a granny pod.

Granny pods (or granny flats) are a great housing solution for many people. From senior citizens to millennials and everything in between. While not as small as a tiny house, a granny pod is still small – usually around 400-500 s.f. or about the size of a two car garage. A granny pod needs to take advantage of every single square foot. Especially in the kitchen.

Compact black kitchen with sage plants growing in galvanized buckets.

You could install this Avanti 36″ Combo Kitchen (sink, cooktop, fridge & storage), and be done. But, if you’re looking for something a little more conventional and that has more counter space, then read on.

Compact kitchenette with sink, stovetop, refrigerator and storage cabinet.

Granny Pod Kitchens

At the bare minimum, the kitchen will need a sink, a refrigerator and some counter space. It will also need something to heat food: a microwave, a toaster oven, a countertop induction cooker, or a full size range/oven. Finally, a dishwasher would be nice.

When planning a granny pod kitchen, you don’t need to reinvent the wheel. Do a little research by checking out HGTV’s Top 6 Kitchen Layouts (with blank sketch templates to download), and BHG’s Secrets of Successful Kitchen Layouts. Most granny pod kitchens will be arranged in a “one wall” layout, “one wall” with an island, or a galley. No matter which layout works best, you want to make every square foot work and get the maximum amount of counter space that you can. Compact appliances will do just that.

Compact appliances look and function like regular appliances; they are just scaled down versions. They are not as small as some appliances in a tiny house, but really fall in between tiny and regular sized. Compact appliances are perfect for a kitchenette, basement or studio apartment, or granny pod.

With that in mind, I’ve gathered this list of compact appliances that would be perfect for a granny pod. In addition to the kitchen appliances, I also included washer and dryer sets.

A final thought before we get to the list, if you’re interested in creating a zero energy home, consider choosing electrical appliances, rather than gas. Then, all your appliances can be run by renewable energy that your home generates.

Granny Pod-Friendly Appliances

Refrigerators

Refrigerators are the number one space hog in a granny pod kitchen. A standard refrigerator can be as big as 36″x36″x70″. Luckily, several manufacturers have a compact option that is perfect for a granny pod. Hop over to my post 12 Compact Refrigerators for Your Granny Flat for details.

Range/Oven

The standard kitchen cooktop range with an oven below, whether it’s a free standing unit or a slide-in, is 30″ wide. Several manufacturers offer a smaller compact version that is 20″ wide. That extra 10″ provides some much needed counter space in a small kitchen.

  • Hotpoint 20″ Electric Range
  • Premier 20″ Electric Range
  • Amana 20″ Gas Range
  • Summit 20″ Gas Range

Dishwasher

The standard dishwasher is 24″ wide, and while it doesn’t take up any counter space, it does take up an entire base cabinet. Several manufacturers offer a compact version that is only 18″ wide. While it’s only a bit smaller, that 6″ can be useful in added cabinet storage.

  • Bosch 800 Series Dishwasher
  • Whirlpool 18″ Compact Dishwasher
  • Frigidaire 18″ Compact Dishwasher
  • GE 18″ Compact Dishwasher

Another option is a dishwasher drawer, which is 24″ wide but only 18″ tall. A single dishdrawer can be installed, or two units can be stacked. Fisher and Paykel offer a single dishdrawer (shown below) or a double drawer.

Compact dishdrawer - stainless steel under counter dishwasher drawer

Washer & Dryer

There are a few options for laundry in granny pods. Some regular washer and dryer units, like this GE front load pair, can be stacked.

Stacked front load washer and dryer in white

A more economical option is the stacked laundry center – the washer and dryer are one tall unit.

Stacked white laundry center

  • GE Laundry Center – electric dryer
  • Frigidaire Laundry Center – electric dryer
  • Whirlpool Laundry Center – electric

Finally, the All-in-One Washer Dryer combo is the ultimate space saver. While it’s a bit more expensive than the laundry center, it’s about the same as the stackable units. But, the real benefit is that it does not need to be vented to the outside.

All-in-one combination front load washer dryer

  • LG All-in-One 2.3 cu. ft. Washer/Dryer Combo
  • LG Signature All-in-One 4.3 cu. ft. Washer/Dryer Combo

Compact appliances can provide the ideal compromise between space requirements and functionality in a granny pod.

Be sure to pin this:

Small homes equal small kitchens. These compact kitchen and laundry appliances will maximize space in the kitchenette of a granny pod or flat.

Thinking about putting in a granny flat or granny pod? Our Granny Flats – Preliminary Planning Checklist can help, and it’s free!

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About Lori

Lori is a licensed architect, and has specialized in residential, commercial and industrial building projects. She lives out in the sticks of Central Illinois with her brilliant husband, three wonderful teens, and two cats of questionable intelligence.

« 12 Compact Refrigerators for Your Granny Flat Kitchenette
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We are Lori and Kim, licensed architects who took a few years off from our professional careers to raise our families. Sage Cottage Architects explores our passion for residential architecture and environmentally friendly design. We aim to make beautiful spaces accessible to everyone.

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