Info Thailand inexpensive kitchen construction and layout

The idea of the cool thai house is basically to show how to build a quality good size house for under about 1,000,000 Baht. This will limit the type of kitchen you build. If you go with the modern European kitchen you can easily spend upwards of 300,000 Baht on the kitchen alone. There are a lot of stores which specialize in European kitchens, if this is the direction you are heading my only recommendation would be to shop the complete kitchen first, including stove, counter etc. and work with the architect to design the appropriate kitchen area. Homepro recently added a European kitchen design center, and has several kitchen displays to give you an idea of this option.

Normally the Thais cook outside. I've seen some nice European house designs which incorporate an outside kitchen, the kitchen being roofed but not enclosed. Cooking outside can solve a lot of maintenance problems and solves problems with the ever present ants and flies. It might be an idea to consider having an inside and outside cooking/kitchen area.

What follows is an example of a low cost kitchen which relies on common materials used in house construction. This example allows for a space of about 3 by 3 meters. There is a surrounding counter constructed of red brick supports with tiled cement surfaces. The layout used here breaks up the counter to allow space for an oven, with space on either side of the counter for a refrigerator and hot water tank. The materials cost for the kitchen, not including the hot water heater, would be around 17,000 Baht as follows, ceiling fan = 1,000, exhaust fan = 1,000, tile = 4,000, sink = 3,000, cement = 1,000, hot/cold faucet = 2,000, plumbing = 1,000, cabinet doors = 4,000.

The metal for the kitchen counter is secured on top of some grc sheets and drilled into the wall prior to pouring cement. (26-Apr-04)

The red bricks designate where the sink will go.

Pouring cement to form the counter.

The counter after the cement pour. (27-Apr-04)

The counter will be supported by red brick columns. (13-May-04)

Partially finished counter with supporting brick columns.

Metal rebar (2 hun) is used in forming the brick column supports to add strength. A hole is drilled in the wall so the metal can be inserted.

Nails are used on the outside of the cabinet to anchor to the surrounding wall.

A counter section after the red brick enclosure is complete. (14-May-04)

Each cabinet section has a wood door.

Here stucco has been affixed.

This shows a relatively think layer of stucco is applied.

This shows the rough finish on the stucco and the tiles being applied. Cement unmixed with sand is used as the affixing agent. (15-May-04)

This shows the opening formed for the exhaust fan. The opening is made from a wood frame cemented in place in the wall. The fan fits in place and can be slid out for cleaning. (18-May-04)

The cement surface of the cabinets is rough finished to allow the tiles to affix easily.

Partial wall tile completed.

Floor tiles. (26-May-04)

Affixing grout to the kitchen floor tiles. (27-May-04)

Affixing grout to the tiles on the inside of the cabinets. (19-Jun-04)

Finished cabinet section with stainless sink installed. (06-Jul-04)

Finished cabinet section. The cabinet doors have been varnished with three coats of good quality wood varnish.

The wall exhaust fan looks like this. It is wired to a separate switch on the right hand side of the sink. (24-Aug-04)

This shows a very simple kitchen designed for a small house. There isn't very much in the way of materials required here, this kitchen could be done for about 5,000 Baht. The budget would be as follows: cold water faucet = 700 Baht, cabinet door = 1,000 Baht, tile = 2,000 Baht and cement = 1,000 Baht.