72 Small Kitchen Ideas With Big Style That Do More With Less (2024)

Room Design

Kitchen Design

Small Kitchens

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  Add Flexible Seating

  

  This 237-square-foot Parisian mini loft from Space Factory has an open kitchen decorated with bright white cabinetry, subway tiles, and OSB accents to add warmth and texture. A slim bar helps to visually divide the space, provide extra counter space for meal prep, and has a slide-out component that doubles its width for dining.

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  Hang Floating Shelves

  

  Keep a small kitchen space feeling light and airy by using open shelving instead of upper cabinetry. The key to making this work is keeping those open shelves neatly styled, like this space from A Beautiful Mess.

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  Hang a Chandelier

  

  Give a small kitchen a sense of grandeur with charming details like the crystal chandelier in this London space from deVOL Kitchens. A period fireplace, custom cabinetry neatly built in against a single wall, cool blue paint, quirky art, and plants complete the pretty picture.

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  Use Lacquered Cabinetry

  

  High-gloss lacquered cabinetry with a flat-front design will amplify light in a small L-shaped kitchen like this all-white space from Fantastic Frank. A large picture window floods the tiny kitchen with natural light.

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  Add a Corner Banquette

  

  In this galley-style city apartment kitchen from Georgia Zikas Design, a corner banquette is squeezed in at the far end beneath a window with a skyline view.

  A round tulip-style table without any sharp edges allows for easy maneuvering in the compact space. Glass-front cabinetry helps keep the narrow galley kitchen from feeling too closed in, while a gleaming tile backsplash on opposite walls helps to bounce light around.
  

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  Try a Peninsula

  

  If you dream of having a kitchen island but don't have the square footage for one, try installing a peninsula instead.

  This compact kitchen from Rashida Banks for Emily Henderson Design has a sleek quartz waterfall edge peninsula with seating for three, anchored by a pair of black and gold vintage-style pendant lights.
  

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  Add Patterned Tile

  

  This small London kitchen from Emilie Fournet Interiors has a geometric patterned tile backsplash that defines and energizes the open kitchen area. The U-shaped design makes everything you need to prep, cook, and serve meals within arm's reach.

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  Skip the Island

  

  In a smaller kitchen, swap an island for a round bistro table and chairs that provides a place for dining and an extra surface for meal prep, like this cozy rustic kitchen from Lobster and Swan.
  

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  Optimize Odd Angles

  

  This small kitchen from Fantastic Frank is tailored to seamlessly fit into the room's angled walls to maximize storage and functionality. The minimalist Scandi kitchen has pale gray cabinetry, light blond hardwood flooring, mixed metals, a whisper of pink on the walls, and hanging bulb lights hung on a rosy pink knotted cord that adds a note of studied nonchalance.

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  Define Space With Pendants

  

  A pair of pendant lights can help define space in a semi-open kitchen. Desiree Burns Interiors carried the same rose gold metal tones in the kitchen and adjacent dining area and living room for a cohesive look.

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  Install a Modular Table

  

  In this small Parisian kitchen designed by Space Factory, a custom-built fold-down burnt-wood table creates a place for dining that can be neatly stowed away when not in use to open up the space.
  

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  Add an Interior Window

  

  Bring more light into a smaller kitchen by opening up the wall and adding an interior window, like this faux kitchen sink window in a small London space from deVOL Kitchens.
  

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  Carve Out a Dining Area

  

  This long and narrow eat-in kitchen from Fantastic Frank has a wall of cabinetry, countertops, and appliances on one side, leaving space for a small bistro table and chairs on the opposite side.

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  Embrace Scandi Style

  

  This small Stockholm kitchen from Fantastic Frank is authentic Scandi style at its best. The airy, light-flooded space has simple white and silver finishes, a streamlined wall of cabinetry and appliances, painted white bentwood chairs, and a small table covered in a lacy tablecloth to add a note of vintage charm.

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  Hang Floating Shelves

  

  Hang floating shelves to add storage to a smaller kitchen. This small kitchen from deVOL Kitchens has a spare traditional feel with plenty of built-in storage to keep it from feeling cluttered, and a limited palette of soft white, gray, and pale wood.
  

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  Use a Light Palette

  

  See Also

  Small IKEA kitchens can be perfectly formed if you know these 10 designer secrets to getting them right51 Small Kitchen Design Ideas That Make the Most of a Tiny Space10 space-saving solutions for seriously small kitchens | homify75 Beautiful Small Modern Kitchen Ideas and Designs - March 2024

  Blogger Ursula Carmona of Home Made By Carmona installed a small L-shaped kitchen in the corner of this open cottage kitchen and dining room remodel. The light palette of the kitchen matches the rest of the room for a cohesive feel.

  In a small kitchen, add extra storage with a repurposed bookcase or a versatile kitchen cart.

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  Work Around the Back Door

  

  This small kitchen from Jessica Nelson Design is arranged in a double L-shaped configuration that maximizes functionality while accommodating the presence of the back door. Packed with storage, the kitchen's palette of soft whites, grays, pale wood, and mixed metals keeps it feeling streamlined and serene.

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  Accent With Black Paint

  

  Use black paint to define space in an otherwise white kitchen. In this small open kitchen designed by Eric Gilmer and Sven Simon of DasMod in conjunction with interior designer Sara Simon of Handsome Salt, matte black wall paint provides contrast to white cabinetry and creates continuity with the seating area on the other side of the room.
  

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  Use Neutral Colors

  

  This compact U-shaped kitchen from Violets & Vinegar Design keeps it simple with a neutral palette of white, gray, and black. A subtle pattern on the backsplash tile adds interest, while countertops are kept clear to keep the small space looking sharp and clutter-free.
  

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  Try a Tonal Look

  

  Embrace color in a small kitchen with a tonal look. This cottage kitchen from deVOL Kitchens is finished in multiple shades of green on the walls, backsplash tile, lower cabinetry, and open shelving. Antique brass plumbing fixtures, rich stained wood glass-front upper cabinetry, and terracotta floor tiles add warmth.
  

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  Minimize Upper Cabinets

  

  This light and bright galley California kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors has tons of natural light that makes the sober white, black, and gray palette feel fresh, while mixed metal accents add shine.
  

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  Use Reclaimed Materials

  

  Rustic reclaimed wood and textured walls make this DIY English kitchen from Lobster and Swan feel homey and inviting.
  

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  Be Bold With Dark Colors

  

  Dark green paint on lower cabinetry and walls makes this London space from deVOL Kitchens feel cozy and warm, while a dramatic cool marble backsplash and countertops and antique brass accents add polish and style. Open shelving with a thin brass ledge provides easy access storage for tea supplies, glassware, and pots of flowers.
  

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  Use a Cool Palette

  

  This U-shaped kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors maximizes every last nook and cranny with wrap-around cabinetry from floor to ceiling, a kitchen island with built-in storage, and a white and gray palette with mixed metal accents that makes it feel light and airy.
  

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  Try Sage Green

  

  In a small kitchen, using soft color accents can add dimension and variation without overwhelming. In this small kitchen from Bees Knees Interior Design Studio, soothing sage green paint on the lower cabinets is carried onto the mudroom cabinetry visible through the arched doorway, creating a sense of continuity.
  

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  Make It Multi-Functional

  

  This top floor Paris apartment designed by Space Factory has tall ceilings and is flooded with light from skylights on the roof, making the small kitchen seem larger. Deep teal lower cabinetry has a grounding effect, while a small multi-functional kitchen island houses the stovetop and includes a breakfast bar for two.
  

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  Keep It Semi-Open

  

  This small kitchen designed by Parisian interior design firm Space Factory shares space with the entry. The designers used an atelier-style metal and glass window partition to visually divide the space, and used a striking tile mosaic floor to unite it.
  

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  Use Retro Appliances

  

  In this small kitchen from Velinda Hellen for Emily Henderson Design, a retro-style refrigerator is lined up beside the built-in L-shaped cabinetry, sink, and oven, helping to define the space.

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  Choose Wood Window Shutters

  

  This L-shaped space from deVOL Kitchens has dark lower cabinetry topped with marble slab countertops, leaving room on the walls for framed art and a vintage wall sconce. Wood window shutters provide shade and privacy while enhancing the classic feel of the space.
  

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  Add a Full-Wall Backsplash

  

  This remodeled 1950s Texas lake house kitchen from Erin Williamson Design has a modern rustic feel, with a warm full-wall tile backsplash, rustic beams, white cabinetry accented with wood pulls, glass pendant lights, a retro-style refrigerator, and wood and woven bar stools around the peninsula.

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  Use Colorful Cabinetry

  

  Pale blue cabinetry with black accents and white countertops and tiles make this small midcentury modern-style kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors feel fresh and functional.
  

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  Mix and Match Patterns

  

  This small kitchen from K Shan Design has a big personality and an eclectic, upbeat feel thanks to colorful wallpaper, black-and-white check tile flooring, geometric backsplash tile, and gold bar stools around the peninsula.

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  Embody a Retro Look

  

  This country kitchen from Rockport Building Partners has plenty of built-in cabinetry painted in a retro pastel mint green, vintage pendant lighting, and a modern kitchen island with a pair of French bistro stools.

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  Go for California Modern

  

  This California modern Eichler house in San Jose was updated by Cathie Hong Interiors, who installed an island to optimize circulation, replaced outdated cabinets, and added new appliances, tile work, light fixtures, and open shelving.
  

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  Try an Accent Tile

  

  Erin Williamson Design removed the upper cabinets of this 1950s A-frame lake house, adding a striking black-and-white tile backsplash to modernize it while taking advantage of the vaulted ceilings that make the compact space feel much larger than it is.

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  Enclose With a Curtain

  

  This little L-shaped alcove kitchen from Studio Peake can be banished from sight thanks to a green-and-white patterned curtain hung from the ceiling on the outside of the cased opening.

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  Colorblock the Cabinets

  

  Interior designer Alvin Wayne made the most of this compact New York City kitchen by using cabinetry and countertops in a mix of matte black and bright white lacquer finishes.

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  Display Your Tools

  

  This Victorian kitchen was remodeled by interior designer Tyler Karu, who worked with the owners to restore the original character that had been erased during previous renovations. The modest kitchen is finished with quality materials with a timeless but updated feel. A gallery wall of cutting boards is playful and practical.

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  Maximize a Kitchenette

  

  This tiny Stockholm studio from Fantastic Frank has a compact kitchenette to match, seamlessly tucked in beneath the loft bed stairs that double as extra storage.

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  Merge Zones

  

  In this small open plan kitchen in Paris designed by Space Factory, a custom-designed dining table is accompanied by a custom leather bench that is placed back-to-back with the adjacent living area sofa, creating separate zones within a 581-square-foot apartment.
  

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  Match Hardware and Decor

  

  This small minimalist Berlin kitchen from Fantastic Frank has white walls and matte black lower cabinetry, sink, and plumbing fixtures, with a black industrial wall sconce with a long arm that looms over the countertop. A blonde butcher block countertop adds warmth, and a framed black-and-white print on the pristine white walls adds some minimalist decor.

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  Preserve Flow

  

  This compact L-shaped kitchen from Bees Knees Interior Design Studio hugs the corner of a larger pass-through space, leaving plenty of room around the kitchen island to preserve flow. Built-in cabinetry that hugs the ceiling maximizes every inch of space and allows the kitchen to fade into the background when not in use while remaining at the center of the home.
  

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  Lay Brick Floor Tile

  

  A small dated kitchen from True Home was renovated with brick floor tile, black cabinetry, and salvaged marble countertops. Plenty of recessed can lighting compensates for the lack of natural light.
  

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  Utilize Built-In Storage

  

  This small bungalow kitchen from Mid City Interiors has an L-shaped peninsula with built-in storage that provides seating for four while helping to define the kitchen area. Built-in cabinetry runs all the way up to the ceiling to maximize storage.

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  Maximize Vertical Space

  

  This compact kitchen from Mindy Gayer Design Co. is located at the bottom of the stairs, laid out in an L-shape with a small island that seats two. Tall cabinetry maximizes vertical space, and a neutral palette with warm touches of wood and natural woven accents adds warmth to the open space.

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  Add Counter Seating

  

  In this small galley kitchen in a Georgian-style apartment from deVOL Kitchens, a two-seater cafe-style breakfast bar is built in right next to the window to provide a cozy place for a cup of coffee or a meal.
  

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  Hang a Witch Eye Mirror

  

  This small kitchen designed by Jess Bunge for Emily Henderson Design has a free-standing oven positioned on its own against the back wall as a matter of necessity. A convex witch eye mirror with an ornate gold frame is hung on the wall to distract the eye and make the space feel bigger by maximizing views.

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  Add Contrast With Tile

  

  Emilie Fournet Interiors added contrast to the white walls of this London kitchen with emerald green backsplash tiles and dark wood wraparound shelving that ties in the reclaimed wood ceiling.
  

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  Multiply Light Fixtures

  

  Ensure that your small kitchen has balanced lighting by incorporating multiple fixtures, like this industrial farmhouse kitchen from Forge & Bow Dwellings that is outfitted with everything from pendant lighting to can lights in the ceiling.

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  Create a Focal Point

  

  This small self-contained kitchen from deVOL Kitchens has a U-shaped layout that maximizes space along the three main walls. A vintage-style pale yellow oven creates a focal point.
  

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  Accent With Gold

  

  This small condo kitchen from Mary Patton Design creates the illusion of a larger space by sticking to a light and bright all-white palette dressed up with gold-toned accents.
  

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  Add Bar Seating

  

  This small New York City kitchen from interior designer Alvin Wayne has pale neutral finishes that allow it to blend in with the open adjacent living room. Bar seating turns the peninsula into a place for casual dining.

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  Include a Color Accent

  

  This top-floor duplex kitchen from Space Factory is built along a wall next to a plywood staircase inspired by a Kapla game. A single shelf above the sink is painted in Yves Klein blue that matches color accents found throughout the open space.
  

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  Choose a Small Island

  

  Choose a small kitchen island that is proportional to your space to maintain an easy flow, like this space from deVOL Kitchens. A butcher block top will add a rustic note.
  

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  Swap Cabinets for Shelves

  

  This compact kitchen from Leanne Ford Interiors has a dramatic arched window over the sink that floods the space with natural light. In lieu of cabinets, bracketed open shelving maximizes space on the adjacent wall.
  

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  Put Your Island on Wheels

  

  Put your small kitchen island on wheels so that you can move it around as needed. In this space from Becca Interiors, a small kitchen island has a painted pale sage green base and is complemented with vintage metal stools.

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  Keep It Open Plan

  

  Forbes + Masters managed to squeeze two separate seating areas into this modest-sized open-plan highrise kitchen. A pair of bar stools at the central island provides a perch for a coffee break or co*cktail hour, and a small round table and chairs by the floor-to-ceiling windows provides a comfortable place to dine.

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  Downscale Furniture

  

  Blogger Annie Diamond of Most Lovely Things ripped out the space-hogging built-in island of her new home and swapped in a smaller scale freestanding model instead. In place of bar stools, a cozy corner banquette is set up for dining.

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  Try a Work Table

  

  In a smaller space, swap an island for a work table. Erin Williamson Design installed a square central work table with a thick marble top and slim metal legs that fits the space, making it feel larger than it is while ensuring there is enough room for multiple people to move around while prepping meals.
  

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  Add a Peg Rail

  

  This small space from deVOL Kitchens has a pale palette and a wrap-around natural wood pegboard in lieu of upper cabinetry that lightens up the wall and creates a display space for tools and plants.

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  Add French Country Notes

  

  This small kitchen from Jessica Nelson Design includes French country-style touches like cross-back wooden bar stools and a wood bead chandelier that makes it feel timeless and warm.

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  Add a Mini Kitchen Floor

  

  Paris-based Neva Interior Design turned a small L-shaped apartment kitchen into a stylish feature with floor-to-ceiling cabinetry painted navy blue and a small but bold patch of patterned tile to define the space.

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  Add Cozy Touches

  

  In this New York City kitchen, interior designer Alvin Wayne added fur throws to the bar stools and a vase of extra tall branches to the top of the small kitchen island that draws the eye upward to emphasize the tall ceilings rather than the limited footprint.

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  Sneak In Extra Seating

  

  Finding Lovely added a small overhang the small kitchen island to accommodate a pair of bar stools without infringing on the flow of the bright and airy space.
  

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  Create a Central Hub

  

  A shiny gold central island is the organizing principle of this Stockholm studio apartment kitchen from Fantastic Frank. The gleaming showpiece adds glamour to the simple space while housing a sink, induction stovetop, oven, and seating for two.

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  Mix Tile and Wood

  

  Neva Interior Design used penny floor tiles embedded into light oak flooring to create a transition between the small kitchen and the rest of the apartment. Colorful cabinetry defines the kitchen space.

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  Mix Finishes

  

  In this small kitchen from Urbanology Designs, dark paint on the traditional cabinetry is trimmed with gold accents. Open shelving and a glass-front upper cabinet in natural wood keeps the space feeling open and modern.

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  Limit Your Color Palette

  

  Choosing finishes, appliances, and dishware in a similar palette will reduce visual clutter in a small space, like this tiny cabin kitchenette from Arbor & Co.

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  Pair Blue and White

  

  Cobalt blue cabinetry adds a vibrant finish to the cabinets and two-seater island of this small blue-and-white kitchen from Kendall Wilkinson Design.

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  Define Space With Lighting

  

  Good lighting will add functionality and atmosphere to a small kitchen. Warm LED strip lighting adds a pleasing glow while helping to define this small apartment kitchen and adjoining peninsula from Fantastic Frank.

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  Opt for an Open-Plan Layout

  

  Make a small kitchen feel bigger with an open-plan layout. This Northern California kitchen from Cathie Hong Interiors has a large kitchen island located beneath the skylight that acts as a partial room divider while maintaining flow with the adjacent entry and living room.

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  Choose Bold Floor Tile

  

  Don't be afraid to make bold decor choices in a limited space. Caroline Andreoni Interior Design Studio used dramatic black-and-white floor tiles in a loopy graphic pattern to energize this otherwise minimalist Parisian kitchen that turns it into a showpiece.