Around The Home

Spanish designers transform recycled pallets into a rustic kitchen

Spanish designers transform recycled pallets into a rustic kitchen
The Paletina is a kitchen island built using reclaimed pallets and other materials found on the streets of Barcelona
The Paletina is a kitchen island built using reclaimed pallets and other materials found on the streets of Barcelona
View 9 Images
1/9
The different layers and sections of pallets can be used as open shelving to store food, pots, cups, plates or other kitchen items
2/9
The different layers and sections of pallets can be used as open shelving to store food, pots, cups, plates or other kitchen items
The work station includes an electric stove top, oven and chopping board
3/9
The work station includes an electric stove top, oven and chopping board
Add a couple of stools and you have a comfy eating bench
4/9
Add a couple of stools and you have a comfy eating bench
Paletina kitchen by Anatomica design
5/9
Paletina kitchen by Anatomica design
Anatomica has also designed a quirky wine rack, made from a recycled filing cabinet
6/9
Anatomica has also designed a quirky wine rack, made from a recycled filing cabinet
Bottles sit neatly in upcycled filing folders
7/9
Bottles sit neatly in upcycled filing folders
Quirky wine rack, made from a recycled filing cabinet on wheels
8/9
Quirky wine rack, made from a recycled filing cabinet on wheels
The Paletina is a kitchen island built using reclaimed pallets and other materials found on the streets of Barcelona
9/9
The Paletina is a kitchen island built using reclaimed pallets and other materials found on the streets of Barcelona
View gallery - 9 images

Spanish designers Alessandra Samson and Paco Serinelli from Anatomica Design have come up with a novel way to transform old wooden pallets into a rustic eco-kitchen. Dubbed Paletina, the kitchen island structure has been built using reclaimed pallets and other materials found on the streets of Barcelona. In combination with a sheet of glass, a stove top, an oven, a sink, some wiring and plumbing, this simple design makes for an easy DIY pallet-kitchen.

The Paletina kitchen comprises a work station, which includes oven, chopping board and an electric stove top that is positioned back to back with a single stainless steel sink. The work station is framed with reclaimed pallets and sits neatly next to the adjoining pallet bench which has been covered with a single sheet of glass. This section features a series of stacked pallets and doubles as a functional preparation space or eating bench.

Furthermore, the different layers and sections of pallets can be used as open shelving to store food, pots, cups, plates or other kitchen items. To accompany the kitchen module, Anatomica has also designed a quirky wine rack made from a recycled filing cabinet.

If you think you might want to have go at building your own pallet kitchen here’s what you will need to get your hands on:

  • 6 pallets 120 x 80cm (47 x 31.5 inch)
  • 3 pallets American type 100 x 120cm (39.5 x 47 inch)
  • 1 pallet 60 x 80cm (23.6 x 31.5 inch)
  • 1 pallet American type from 130 x 110 cm (51 x 43 inch)
  • 1 pallet 100 x 80 cm (39.5 x 31.5 inch)
  • 1 laminated glass sheet
  • 1 stove top
  • 1 oven
  • 1 kitchen sink

That being said, there are some safety issues that should be acknowledged when building from reclaimed pallets. It is quite common for manufacturers to treat pallet wood with dangerous chemicals such as formaldehyde in order to prevent decay and pest infestation. This is because the pallets have been built to be disposed of after use and not intended to be brought into the family home.

Green Upgrader offers some hints on how to tell if your reclaimed pallet wood is safe for upcycling, or if in doubt head to your local building supplier and purchase some cheap local wood that’s similar to the wood used for pallets ... and then, happy building!

Source: Anatomica Design via Architettura Ecosostenibile

View gallery - 9 images
6 comments
6 comments
StWils
I really do not see any future at all for refugee chic` interior decor.
Bruce H. Anderson
The "safety" issues go way beyond the possibility of a little formaldehyde. You never know what has come in contact with those pallets. Wood has a tendency to soak up stuff (anyone have a blacklight handy?). And, pallets that are laying about are generally not in very good condition. There are several reasons that wood pallets are not welcome in food processing facilities. Making kitchen cabinets out of them is pretty stupid.
Mike Bartonick
garbage will be always garbage...how you clean that...what a collector of bacteria
Denis Klanac
Lipstick on a pig.
VoiceofReason
Setting aside the obvious chemical and bacterial concerns, which are large. There are ways to code those pallet so they are never used, or they could be sealed.
What I don't like it that astetically, they STILL looks like someone slapped several pallets in a kitchen. That countertop has many open spots for stuff to fall through. Recycling wood is great, but it still needs to be pleasing to the eye. That looks like an afterthought.
Roger Dutton
I think that the most exacting comment here is "Lipstick on a pig". I work in a wood recycling works as a volunteer and promise, nothing that look even remotely as crappy as this would ever see the light of day!