Kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building with a gas water heater: layout ideas and 37 photos of solutions.

Safety precautions

When moving or replacing gas equipment, a new gas supply project must be created. If the kitchen is combined with the living room, the room should not be used as a bedroom, and the room should be separated by a mobile partition and equipped with gas leak sensors.

Gas water heater location options

A necessary condition for the safe operation of the water heater is its correct location. It is not allowed to hang the device above a gas stove or refrigerator. Placement above the sink is permitted if the area of the room is 6 m: this is exactly how much the kitchen in a Khrushchevka takes up.

The photo shows gas equipment that is located above the sink. Surrounded by cabinets, the column is not noticeable at first glance and does not attract attention.

The layout must be thought out before starting the renovation in order to purchase a suitable kitchen set and implement the desired style. An open location of the column in the kitchen in a Khrushchevka is the safest and simplest. The design of modern models allows you to choose colors and shapes that match the interior. The device looks especially good against the background of white facades.

The photo shows a corner kitchen in a Khrushchevka with a snow-white column, which fits perfectly into the light interior.

If the equipment is placed in a cabinet, the following requirements must be met:

• The combustion chamber of the water heater must be of a closed type.
• The distance from the walls of the cabinet to the body of the gas appliance must be at least 3 cm.
• It is necessary to provide ventilation of the cabinet by dismantling the bottom, back and top parts. This will provide air flow and help to avoid fire from heating and ignition of the walls.

The photo shows a small kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building with a hidden column by the window and a refrigerator. The work surface arranged on the windowsill deserves special attention.

When ordering furniture for a kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building and disguising a gas water heater, you should consult with specialists: this is necessary for the safety of all residents of the building. If it is necessary to move the device more than 1.5 m, approval and new design documentation are required.

The photo shows a small kitchen with a white set and a column. Thanks to the neutral background, the interior is perceived as a whole, and the bright details distract from the open gas equipment.

How to decorate pipes and a chimney?

When decorating a small kitchen, the question arises of how to hide the pipes, the presence of which most people consider a disadvantage. They cannot be sewn up: blind plasterboard niches and boxes will be a gross violation. When hiding the pipeline, it is necessary to leave free access to it – equip the decorative box with a door or hatch.

The photo shows a kitchen in a Khrushchevka, where the only reminder of the water heater is the gas pipe left in plain sight. The refrigerator is built into the cabinet, and the windowsill serves as an additional place to relax.

Connoisseurs of modern styles (Scandinavian, loft, fusion and contemporary) are more tolerant of open pipes and chimneys, preferring to leave them in plain sight. Firstly, the boxes deprive the kitchen in a Khrushchevka of valuable space, and secondly, even “unattractive” gas pipes can perfectly fit into the chosen style.

The photo shows a straight mini-kitchen with a neat black column and pipes that harmonize with the stylish setting.

Features of kitchen arrangement

When renovating an apartment with a water heater, you should select safe fire-resistant materials. You cannot wallpaper the walls near gas equipment. Ceramic tiles or plaster are suitable for the kitchen backsplash.

The photo shows a kitchen in beige and coral tones, the walls of which are covered with decorative plaster.

The ceiling in a kitchen with a gas water heater is covered with non-flammable materials: water-based paint, plasterboard and plaster. Plastic panels, wallpaper and enamel are prohibited. A suspended ceiling is allowed, but it should be installed at a distance of 30 cm from the column.

Despite all the difficulties and rules that must be followed when using the column, the device has an undeniable advantage: its owners are very rarely left without hot water.

The photo shows a Scandinavian kitchen in a Khrushchevka with whitewashed ceilings. Thanks to the uniform color scheme, the room looks more spacious and lighter, and the painted pipes “dissolve” against the white background.

Real interior design ideas

It is important that the gas water heater in the interior of the Khrushchev kitchen looks them as a single whole. There are many design examples where the device remains visible and fits perfectly into the environment. But for a kitchen in a classic style, this option is not suitable. The column is either hidden behind a solid facade or hidden behind a door with additional ventilation holes in the form of a decorative grille.

The photo shows a combined kitchen-living room in cream tones with a column hidden in a niche.

Even after remodeling the kitchen in a Khrushchev-era building, there is still a risk of not being able to fit everything you need. When designing functional areas, it is worth using every free centimeter. It is useful to use the space in height: long hanging cabinets up to the ceiling will help.

In a small kitchen, it is better to use built-in appliances: this way the interior will look more laconic, and the room will seem larger.

The photo shows the interior of a kitchen in a Khrushchevka, where the possibilities for storing dishes are implemented as rationally as possible, and the column is hidden behind the facades.

If you are not satisfied with the color of the gas column, you can paint it in any shade. To do this, turn off the gas valve and water, remove the housing. After removing traces of carbon from the surface, you need to sand it and degrease it with a solvent. Then cover with a primer, which will protect the coating from rust and ensure adhesion. The body is painted in two layers using a special paint for metal from a spray can.