Posts

Kitchen Storage Ideas Whats In and Whats Out

Kitchen Storage Ideas – What’s In And What’s Out

Kitchen storage ideas are everywhere, but which ones are best for your kitchen? It’s a good idea to take a look at what works and what doesn’t before you invest in any kitchen cabinet remodel.

The most important rule when it comes to kitchen storage is to do what’s most practical and convenient for you. After all, it’s your kitchen and you want it to be easy to use.

As you try to decide, consider ideas that work for all types of kitchens. Also, consider ideas that look great on paper, but rarely work out well in an actual kitchen.

In – Retractable Pan Racks

Stacks of pans are never fun to deal with. They’re heavy and you can easily scratch your pans. Instead, opt for a retractable pan rack that slides into your cabinet. Store your pans and their lids neatly. Simply slide out the rack to get the pan you need.

Out – Space Above Cabinets

On the surface, this might seem like one of those absolutely genius kitchen storage ideas. After all, you can use the space to store decorative items or items you don’t use often. In reality, that’s just space collecting dust. You could use it for taller cabinets and an extra shelf inside those cabinets to store more items without worrying about your kitchen turning into an army of dust bunnies.

In – Under Cabinet Hanging Storage

For some, this idea might seem more like an out. However, if you have ample space between your upper cabinets and your countertop, adding a rail to hang commonly used cups and cooking utensils can be an ideal way to save space and quickly reach kitchen items. You can hang items directly from the bottom of your cabinets, but a rail along the wall or under the cabinets looks neater.

Out – Storing Items Too Far Away

One of the top kitchen storage mistakes you can make is storing items too far away from where you’ll use them. For instance, if you store most of your dishes in the dining room, but usually eat in the kitchen or living room, you’ll waste a lot of time going back and forth. The same holds true if you store your favorite pot on the other side of the kitchen from your stove.

The best kitchen storage ideas make it easier to use your kitchen. Always organize your storage so items are close to where you’ll use them the most.

In – Side Cabinet Storage

Side cabinet storage is one of the top kitchen storage ideas that never goes out of style. While you can go overboard with this one, it’s a great way to store smaller items. Adding small shelves, racks or hooks to the sides of cabinets allows you to gain more space for spices, cookbooks and cooking utensils. You can also add small herb pots on cabinets near windows to grow your own fresh herbs all year.

Out – Relying On Organizers

Cabinet and drawer organizers are great, but not if they take up all your space. Only use these if they help. Adding too many plastic organizers and Lazy Susans can harm your storage potential. Use these sparingly and opt more for built-in storage options.

In – Inside Door Storage

Prefer kitchen storage ideas that hide your items? Add small racks and baskets to the inside of your cabinet doors. While you shouldn’t store anything heavy, this makes a great place to store small or thin items that could easily get pushed to the back of your cabinets. Storage bags, cutting boards, spices and cooking spoons all store well on the inside of cabinet doors.

Out – Too Much Open Shelving

Open shelving is one of those brilliant kitchen storage ideas that gets overused. Having a few open shelving areas works well for commonly used items or even a few knick-knacks. However, this is also an opportunity for things to get knocked off easily or gather dust. Use glass doors to store items you want to see without the risk of them getting broken or lost. Save open shelving for very specific items that you’ll use almost every day.

In – Other Great Kitchen Storage Ideas

If you’re looking for even more inspiring kitchen storage ideas, use the following resources:

Now that you’re feeling inspired to add different types of storage to your kitchen, contact us today to learn how we can build custom kitchen cabinets for your unique storage needs.

Image: Josh Hemsley

/by
Organize Kitchen Cabinets

Insiders Tip: How To Organize The Kitchen Cabinets The Smart Way

It’s a secret that seems to be impossible to discover – how to organize the kitchen cabinets so you always find what you need without endless searching.

While there isn’t just one perfect way to do this, there are some smart ways to make the most of your cabinets without piling them full, constantly having to bend over or reaching way over your head.

The first step is to clean out all your cabinets, purge whatever you don’t need and then get ready to start organizing.

Use Different Storage Containers

Product packaging isn’t always your best friend. This is why using square or rectangular storage containers helps you make the most of your cabinets. Store cereal in clear airtight containers that stack easily. Do the same with cookies and crackers. Whenever possible, transfer items to containers that are easy to stack and easy to see inside of.

Assign One Function To Each Shelf, Drawer or Cabinet

Are your spices stored over multiple cabinets? Maybe your canned goods are all over the place. Take the time to assign a single function to every drawer, shelf and cabinet. For instance, you might have one drawer just for eating utensils and another for cooking utensils. One cabinet might be dedicated strictly to baking dishes and pans. It may take some trial and error to figure out what works best where, but it’s well worth the time. Don’t forget you can have your kitchen cabinets custom made to best fit your needs.

Utilize Drawer Organizers

Drawer organizers can be your best friend. Just remember, use organizers wisely to avoid losing space in your cabinets and drawers. These organizers keep your drawers from becoming a free for all. Organize any smaller items, such as utensils quickly.

Take Advantage Of Lazy Susans

A Lazy Susan is a must-have for organizing kitchen cabinets. Of course, they’re also ideal for organizing your countertops and other areas too. Easily get to those hard to reach items by placing them on a Lazy Susan. You can even have a pull-out version for those back corner cabinets. If it happens to get cluttered, check out these tips for organizing even the messiest Lazy Susan.

Put Your Most Used Within Easy Reach

No matter what else you do, always put your most used items within easy reach. If you use a certain frying pan often, don’t put it on the bottom of a stack in the back of your cabinet. If possible, dedicate a cabinet to your most used cooking supplies. The less you have to reach, the easier it is to get more done.

Use Pullout Shelves

Pullout shelves work much like drawers. However, they ensure you’re able to reach everything in the back without any problems. This is ideal for items that may be hard to see, such as spices or pot lids. Be careful not to put heavier items on these as it may cause the shelf to bow when you pull it out.

Hang Small Things On Cabinet Doors

Don’t forget about all the space that’s on the inside of your doors. Kitchen cabinets are often used to store smaller items. For instance, consider placing hooks on the door that you use to store pots and pans. Hang lids and cooking utensils for easy reach. You can also place small baskets inside the door to store sponges, storage bags and other smaller items.

Hang Bulky Or Oddly Shaped Items

You don’t always have to stack everything in your kitchen cabinets. Sometimes you gain more space by hanging oddly shaped items. Place hooks at the top of your cabinets to hang larger pots or any bulky items. You then leave the bottom of the cabinet free to store stackable items or even smaller odd-shaped items, such as waffle makers.

Eliminate Reaching Back With Pullout Baskets

Much like pullout shelves, pullout baskets work well to organize your kitchen cabinets and eliminate too much bending and reaching. These are ideal if you don’t already have pullout shelves built-in. You can get them in various sizes to organize like items. For instance, if you don’t need a spice cabinet, have a smaller pullout basket to store all your spices.

Keep A Sturdy Stepstool On Hand

Finally, you’ll need a sturdy stepstool from time to time to reach those items stored at the very top of your cabinets. These are items you rarely use. However, you’ll save time by having a small stepstool hanging on the outer side of your cabinet.

Want to learn how to better organize your kitchen cabinets through custom sizing, shelving and organizational features? Contact us today to find out how we can help.

Image: cooktime

/by
custom cabinets edgewood cabinetry

Before You Build or Remodel Determine How Much Kitchen You Need

 If you are building a new home or remodeling your current home you are probably considering kitchen plans and trying to determine how much kitchen you need.

This is a question that has been asked by homeowners for years. In fact, in 1934 Westinghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company released the results of a three year study to help people determine appropriate kitchen size for their family. The theory was that you could estimate the household occupancy based on the number of bedrooms and from that you would know how many people would need to be provided for. The size of the kitchen should relate to the amount of people. They concluded that the actual occupancy should be considered three more people than the number of bedrooms and for each person 6 square feet of wall cabinet shelf area was required. In the standards of modern day this would be considered a small kitchen. So, how should you figure out the right size kitchen for today? Here are some considerations:

Overall Functionality

It is likely you will want to include a refrigerator, stove, oven, sink and dishwasher in your kitchen but what you will need to determine is the correct size of each appliance. Many people focus on the color of the appliance. Will they buy stainless steel, white or black? Really, the size will make the most difference in the functionality of your kitchen. Examine what kind of meals you prepare to determine if a double oven would be beneficial. If you eat out a considerable amount a large refrigerator or warming drawers may not be necessary. It is important to keep in mind your future plans as well, however. You may not be cooking at home frequently now but when a baby arrives that may change.

Ergonomics

Determining kitchen ergonomics can be difficult when you don’t have the actual kitchen in front of you but instead just a concept on paper. Use your imagination to think through the entire process from bringing the groceries into the home, to putting the items away in the cupboard and the refrigerator, to preparing a meal, serving the meal and then cleaning up after the meal. Are you walking long distances with the hot food you just removed from the oven? Are the cabinets for plates and silverware a hike from the dishwasher? Is the kitchen traffic pattern reasonable? You want to think through these details to determine if the kitchen is too big, too small or inappropriately designed for your everyday use.

Storage

Many homeowners dream of extensive cabinet space but it is important consider how many items you have to place in cabinets. You want the right amount of storage for the amount of items you will be storing. You don’t want to wind up spending excessive amounts of time opening cabinet door after cabinet door to retrieve items. It is important to be realistic about what you will really use. If you are considering an island it is also important to consider space requirements. You will need the right amount of clearance around the island or the kitchen will feel overcrowded.

Resale Value

If you may sell the home in the future it is important to consider resale value. You do not want too large or expensive of a kitchen because you won’t get that money back. If your kitchen is not in line with the kitchens in your neighborhood you will lose money when you move. On the other hand, if you kitchen is not up to par with those in the neighborhood you may have trouble finding a buyer or take a financial hit when you go to sell.

At Edgewood Custom Cabinetry we can help you create a kitchen that is the right size for you and your family. Contact us to learn more or request a free quote.

/by

Innovative Wine Storage for the Kitchen

Wine bottles can be many things: collectable treasures, sentimental objects, or even just simple refreshments.  But when you incorporate beautiful wine storage into the kitchen, they can also become art.
Built-in wine storage can be stained to fit right in with existing cabinetry, or it can be painted or finished differently to create an accent piece.  Let’s look at some examples of different types of wine storage to see the variety of styles being used.
Some homeowners prefer to have their wine storage high up, such as in this traditional kitchen, which is still convenient for adults, but mostly inaccessible for curious children.  The criss-cross design offers a generous amount of bottle storage, and the bright labels add a punch of color to the room.
In this very contemporary kitchen, the built-in storage is lower to the ground, and purposefully does not match the all-white cabinetry that surrounds it.  It helps break up monotone, and also accentuates other decorative wooden elements in the kitchen.
This country kitchen epitomizes the notion that a wine storage can become decorative art in the right space.  The ornate details and geometric design draw the eye right to the wine rack, which matches perfectly with the rest of the elements in the breakfast nook and makes great use of an otherwise under-utilized corner.
These are just a few examples of how built-in wine storage can elevate your kitchen design, while also providing a practical, organized space for favorite bottles.  Contact us to learn more about designing the perfect wine storage for your home!

/by