Most base free standing kitchen units stand on legs. This alone helps open up the space of a small kitchen. The base units can have doors like most cabinets, or drawers. Depending on what suits you better, you can mix and match cabinet types.
Upper Cabinets
How can you have upper cabinets with free standing cabinets, you might ask? The upper sections are usually wall mounted and can also be moved if necessary. A great idea for space challenged kitchens is to use a combination of closed upper cabinets with open shelving. Restricting the amount of closed shelving helps a small room appear larger while making good use of space.
Using a combination of free standing cabinets, islands, trolleys and shelves can help turn your small space into a wonderful useable area.