The kitchen is one of the busiest rooms in the house. When you consider how many times your family uses the kitchen throughout the week – how many meals are prepped, dishes are dirtied and washed, how often the trash needs to be taken out, groceries need to be put up and so on – it’s easy to see how it can quickly become jumbled and disorderly! Add the regular, frequent use of the kitchen to the occasional birthday celebration, holiday dinner, or Superbowl Sunday party and before you know it, your kitchen is in desperate need of some TLC and reorganizing.
One of the main reasons clients come to us for a kitchen remodel is because they want to improve the functionality and organization of the space. A kitchen that is equipped with the right features, adequate storage and a flowing floor plan not only provides for a pleasant experience when using the kitchen, but also creates a cleaner, sleeker look with less clutter. Trust us, these are two things you will appreciate all year ‘round!
Even if you aren’t ready to complete a full-scale renovation, there are a few storage solutions and features you can incorporate into your kitchen that really will make all the difference in it’s efficiency and organization:
1. Pull-out Pantries and Spice Racks
Many older homes include large walk-in pantries. While this might seem like a great feature to have in your kitchen, these bulky pantries often end up wasting more space than they provide. Not only do they take up potential counter space, but when you consider that there has to be enough room for you to stand inside, how much space is really being used efficiently? Pull-out pantries take up much less square footage while taking advantage of vertical space that would otherwise be wasted. Another neat benefit is that pull-out pantries can be seen from both sides, so you no longer have to worry about digging through your pantry shelves or finding an item that is expired because it was pushed to the back for too long!
Pull-out spice racks are another cool feature that optimize storage space and help with organization. Having this type of spice rack installed near your stove or cooktop makes for easy access during meal prep and provides for quick put-away when it’s time to clean up.
2. Cabinets Extended to the Ceiling
You’re probably family with the common trend of kitchen cabinetry in which there is space between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling. This was popular, and still is, to allow for decorations and over-cabinet lighting to be used. While many homeowners still prefer this option, having cabinets that extend all the way up to the ceiling can provide extra storage space and create a more modern look. The kitchen will look and feel larger, and you won’t have to worry about climbing up there to dust every couple of weeks!
3. Stacked Utensil Drawers
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You may not think about it, but you use A LOT of utensils when cooking, especially if you cook or bake often. How many times have you started preparing a meal and then frantically scoured through several drawers, cabinets, and the dishwasher to finally find the potato masher or the wire whisk you were looking for? It can be frustrating (and cause a big mess!) if you can’t find the right utensils when you’re cooking. Having convenient, easily accessible utensil drawers close to your cooktop or work area will make all the difference in organization while allowing you to enjoy the process of preparing your meal stress-free.
4. Deep Pot Drawers
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Pots and pans are more examples of items that need their own storage space. Having deep drawers to keep your pots, pans, and lids in will provide easy access when prepping meals and also prevent you from having to get on your hands and knees to reach far back into lower cabinets and dig through your cookware.
5. Cookie Sheet Racks
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If you or a family member love to bake, you probably understand how difficult it can be to efficiently store cookie sheets, muffin tins, cooling racks, serving trays and cutting boards. These items tend to take up a lot of space, and while most of them are flat, some might be shorter in length and wider in depth. It’s a struggle to stack these uniformly without the pile toppling over each time you open the cabinet, especially if you’re trying to set mixing bowls or cake pans on top. Built-in cookie sheet racks provide divided sections for these large, flat style items so they are organized and easy to reach.
6. Toe-kick Drawers
If you don’t want to give up one of your cabinets for a cookie sheet rack, another option is a toe-kick drawer, conveniently hidden in unused space below your lower cabinets or island. Talk about a smart use of space! We recently installed these in one of our kitchen remodel projects and our client absolutely loves them!
7. Under-counter Microwave Drawers
It’s hard to picture your kitchen without your trusty, convenient microwave sitting on the counter or built-in to your upper cabinets. However, there is a new trend that is becoming increasingly popular among kitchen appliances: the under-counter microwave drawer. This microwave is a step up from it’s former counterpart in that it’s made to open like a drawer instead of having a door that swings open. Because it’s installed below the counter, it slides open at the push of a button, allowing large, heavy dishes to be set inside without the strain of lifting them overhead. This is safer for young children and the elderly as it’s much easier to access and lessens the likeliness of burns and spills. Not only does the under-counter installation make it easier to reach and to clean, but it also gives your kitchen a much sleeker, organized look. Goodbye, countertop clutter; Hello, modern kitchen!
8. Panel-ready Dishwashers and Refrigerators
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A panel-ready appliance is one that is made without a front panel on the door, allowing one to be installed by your carpenter to match your cabinets and hardware. While these can be pricey, they definitely provide a beautiful, uniform and high-end outcome! If you have the extra money and really want to create a sleek, stylish kitchen, panel-ready dishwashers and refrigerators make for a stunning upgrade.
Whether you’re seeking a modern new look or want to achieve optimal organization and efficiency, these storage solutions and features are a few of the many options you can incorporate into your kitchen! Contact us today for more information about these and other ways to update your home.
Warm Regards,
The Medford Remodeling Team
