Custom cabinetry is something many homeowners consider for years before they begin their kitchen remodel. After all, if you have the chance to customize your storage space, wouldn’t you want to include any and all features that will improve organization, functionality, and space optimization?! It can be both exciting and overwhelming to realize how many options there are; that’s where Medford’s professional designers step in! We have curated this extensive list of popular cabinet features to help you decide what you’d like to include in your custom kitchen:
1. Roll-Out Pantry Cabinets
Roll-out pantries are like hidden gems when it comes to kitchen storage. They truly do conceal a ton of space! You will be surprised at just how much additional storage becomes available with just a few of these pantries installed. They can easily hold as much as a walk-in pantry while taking up significantly less square footage.
2. Drawers Below the Counter
One of the first things we suggest to clients looking to improve functionality and storage in their kitchen is to incorporate drawers below the counter instead of the traditional cabinets with doors. This design solution allows you to take advantage of otherwise wasted space while also making contents below the counter easier to access. No more having to get on your hands and knees to dig out items in the far back of the cabinet!
3. Liquor Drawers
For those of you that frequently enjoy a glass of wine with dinner or love to invite friends over for drinks, liquor drawers are a must! Glass bottles can be heavy, cumbersome, and take up a good amount of space; not to mention, the one you need is always in the back! These convenient drawers can be hidden behind cabinet doors and easily rolled out to find what you need.
4. Spice Roll-out
Anyone who cooks knows how important it is to have the right spices, and also how frustrating it can be when you can’t find the one you’re looking for! Roll-out spice racks keep everything organized and easily accessible to the cook. They can be installed anywhere, but our designers typically suggest putting them within reach from the cooktop.
5. Broom Cabinet
A place to store cleaning supplies probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when considering a kitchen remodel, but trust us, you will appreciate it later on! Brooms, mops, dust pans, vacuums, cleaning sprays – all these things are needed in the kitchen at some point, so having them easily accessible nearby is a welcomed convenience. For the majority of our custom kitchens, our designers choose to install this cabinet beside the fridge.
6. Dog Food Roll-out
Feeding your fur baby every day is a chore, but convenient access to stored food makes it easier! For our clients in Fort Worth, a roll-out dog food drawer just beside the dog station we installed makes dinner time a breeze.
7. Toy/Ball Bins
If you’re planning on including a kitchen area in a game room or guest house, storage space designated for toys, balls, or games will help keep the space organized and guest friendly. Open shelving or cubbies can be installed for baskets or bins, providing great functionality while offering a more casual aesthetic.
8. Cookie Sheet Dividers
Sometimes it can be difficult to find a place to store cookie sheets, pizza trays, muffin tins, and large cutting boards. Vertically divided cabinets not only house these items but keep them separated and organized when not in use. We often install these specialty cabinets close to the cooktop, above the refrigerator, or near the oven.
9. Lazy Suzan
Lazy Susans have been around for a while and are still a very beneficial feature to include in your kitchen cabinetry. These gadgets optimize storage space by holding multiple items and rotating for easy access. They can hold cooking supplies, spices and oils, pots and pans… just about anything!
10. Dog Stations
Another feature for our four-legged babies: a dog station! A built-in dog station is a great feature to include in your kitchen if you find yourself tripping over dog bowls or wishing there was a designated space for them. Our clients in Colleyville even opted to include a hard-piped pot filler in their dog station for convenience when filling the water bowl.
A built-in space for a kennel is another option for a dog station. This is a great option if your dog is crate-trained and sleeps in their kennel during the day or overnight.
11.Wine Storage
Wine racks can be both beautiful and functional! If you have a stunning collection you’d like to display or just need help organizing, our designers are happy to help. Glass-front cabinets and LED backlighting are additional features that can create show-stopping display for wine bottles.
12. Appliance Garage Pop-up
Countertop appliances aren’t always the most aesthetic pieces, but they are certainly necessary if you need your morning cup of coffee and toast! Custom appliance garages are a great way to store and conceal your appliances so that the kitchen can continue to look clean and clutter-free.
13. Fold-out Ironing Board
This cabinet feature is likely more suited for your laundry room than your kitchen, but we wanted to share anyway since it is such a neat idea! A fold-out ironing board can be a game-changer when it comes to convenience. Concealed within your cabinetry, you’ll no longer have to search for a place to store a large ironing board or deal with the hassle of setting it up each time you need to iron. Brilliant!
14. Paper towel holder
Tired of seeing a roll of paper towels sitting on the counter, or it always being set in a different place? A built-in paper towel holder solves these issues by providing an aesthetically pleasing approach to paper towels in the kitchen. The best part is that the inside of this drawer has enough space for 2-3 additional rolls, so it can easily be refilled when needed.
15. Trash Roll-outs
Trash and recycle bins are another item that can be discreetly hidden within a roll-out cabinet, keeping the kitchen clean and clutter-free.
16. Mail cubbies
Tired of always seeing a stack of mail on the counter? Mail cubbies might be worth considering! Have a cubbie for each person, or one for bills, one for magazines, one for junk mail, etc.
17. Toe Kick Drawers
Toe kick drawers are a neat feature in that they take advantage of otherwise unused space below the cabinets or in the island. Although these drawers are shallow, they are ideal for spare muffin tins, cookie sheets, or placemats.
18. Glass-front Cabinets
Glass-front cabinets can create a beautiful display area out of any section of regular cabinets. We especially love to incorporate these in coffee bars or breakfast nooks. If you have a collection of dishes you’d like to showcase, or if you enjoy changing your décor to match the season, you will fully enjoy having this cabinet feature in your kitchen!
While these 18 are not the only custom features available for your kitchen cabinets, they will definitely get some insightful conversations started! If you are considering a kitchen remodel and would like to discuss optimizing your cabinetry, give us a call today. Our designers would be happy to help!
Warm Regards,
The Medford Team
