A Kitchen Designer’s Top 10 Cabinet Solutions
An expert reveals how her favourite kitchen cabinets on Houzz tackle common storage problems
Anne Ellard
8 May 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane, Australia. I strongly believe that above all else, the most important thing when designing a kitchen is creating something that the client loves!
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane,... More
Who doesn’t crave more space, particularly in the kitchen? My husband would like to implement the “one in, one out” rule in our house, but fortunately for me, he hasn’t managed to enforce it. Because if there’s one thing I’ve learned as a kitchen designer, it’s that you don’t always need to add more cabinets, or throw out half of your small appliances to create more storage. Often all that’s needed is some clever thinking and hardworking cabinets to make the best use of the space you already have.
Check out these 10 cabinet ideas, found in the kitchens of Houzz users, to see how you too can maximise your space.
Check out these 10 cabinet ideas, found in the kitchens of Houzz users, to see how you too can maximise your space.
1. Suspend it overhead
This U-shaped kitchen is cleverly laid out with lots of counter space and under counter cabinets. However, there is very little wall space against which to position upper cabinets.
No wall? No worries! Here, a row of shelves hang from the ceiling above the counter, providing additional storage in an innovative way. Keeping the shelves open instead of putting doors on them helps maintain an airy feeling.
This U-shaped kitchen is cleverly laid out with lots of counter space and under counter cabinets. However, there is very little wall space against which to position upper cabinets.
No wall? No worries! Here, a row of shelves hang from the ceiling above the counter, providing additional storage in an innovative way. Keeping the shelves open instead of putting doors on them helps maintain an airy feeling.
2. Reach high
When horizontal space is restricted, go vertical. The upper cabinets in this kitchen extend to the ceiling, making the most of every inch of space. The higher shelves are the perfect place to store occasionally used items, such as holiday platters, birthday cake pans and those bulk packages of paper towels.
Keep a small step stool close at hand to make access to these cabinets easier. If space allows, store the stool in an under counter cabinet or the lower part of the pantry.
When horizontal space is restricted, go vertical. The upper cabinets in this kitchen extend to the ceiling, making the most of every inch of space. The higher shelves are the perfect place to store occasionally used items, such as holiday platters, birthday cake pans and those bulk packages of paper towels.
Keep a small step stool close at hand to make access to these cabinets easier. If space allows, store the stool in an under counter cabinet or the lower part of the pantry.
3. Incorporate a secret drawer
A kitchen can never have too many drawers. And what better place to fit an extra drawer than inside another? This well-organised cutlery and utensil drawer makes fantastic use of space by having two separate drawers behind one drawer front.
One section can be used for utensils, while the other can store cutlery. Alternatively, the second drawer is a great place to store a second set of cutlery reserved for special occasions and celebration dinners.
A kitchen can never have too many drawers. And what better place to fit an extra drawer than inside another? This well-organised cutlery and utensil drawer makes fantastic use of space by having two separate drawers behind one drawer front.
One section can be used for utensils, while the other can store cutlery. Alternatively, the second drawer is a great place to store a second set of cutlery reserved for special occasions and celebration dinners.
4. Pull it out
Corner cabinets are often difficult to reach, yet they are essential to utilising every bit of space. Building a wire pullout into a corner cabinet makes it much more convenient to use, and it facilitates additional storage. Pullouts are available for both L-shaped corner cabinets and straight corner cabinets, also known as blind corner cabinets.
The wire pullout pictured here is attached to the back of the cabinet door. The front section pulls out as the door is opened, which in turn pulls the back section forward. This makes it possible to pack as much into the cabinet as possible while ensuring that everything is still easy to access.
Kitchen Confidential: 13 Ideas for Creative Corners
Corner cabinets are often difficult to reach, yet they are essential to utilising every bit of space. Building a wire pullout into a corner cabinet makes it much more convenient to use, and it facilitates additional storage. Pullouts are available for both L-shaped corner cabinets and straight corner cabinets, also known as blind corner cabinets.
The wire pullout pictured here is attached to the back of the cabinet door. The front section pulls out as the door is opened, which in turn pulls the back section forward. This makes it possible to pack as much into the cabinet as possible while ensuring that everything is still easy to access.
Kitchen Confidential: 13 Ideas for Creative Corners
5. Hide behind closed doors
When counter space is limited, it can often be difficult to find a place to put everything you need in your kitchen. This clever pantry cabinet serves multiple purposes and makes the most of the space it occupies.
Counter space concealed behind pocket doors can be used to store small appliances, such as a kettle, toaster and coffee machine. This space even includes a small prep sink. The shelving above is the ideal place to keep tea and coffee canisters and cups. The cabinets below and above can serve as pantry storage for dried food or as storage for dishes, glasses and containers.
When counter space is limited, it can often be difficult to find a place to put everything you need in your kitchen. This clever pantry cabinet serves multiple purposes and makes the most of the space it occupies.
Counter space concealed behind pocket doors can be used to store small appliances, such as a kettle, toaster and coffee machine. This space even includes a small prep sink. The shelving above is the ideal place to keep tea and coffee canisters and cups. The cabinets below and above can serve as pantry storage for dried food or as storage for dishes, glasses and containers.
6. Fit it in
Here is another great example of making the most of nooks and crannies with cleverly designed cabinets. This traditional home boasts a beautiful old brick fireplace that is no longer used for its original purpose.
Building a cabinet to house the ovens, and putting additional storage drawers in the opening, not only makes optimal use of the space available in this room, but it also creates a stunning visual feature.
The well-placed island provides counter space on which to put hot roasting pans as they come out of the oven. A space like this could also be used for pantry storage.
Here is another great example of making the most of nooks and crannies with cleverly designed cabinets. This traditional home boasts a beautiful old brick fireplace that is no longer used for its original purpose.
Building a cabinet to house the ovens, and putting additional storage drawers in the opening, not only makes optimal use of the space available in this room, but it also creates a stunning visual feature.
The well-placed island provides counter space on which to put hot roasting pans as they come out of the oven. A space like this could also be used for pantry storage.
7. Utilise a bulkhead
This kitchen takes the concept of using every available inch of space to a whole new level. A bulkhead is often essential above kitchen cabinets to conceal unsightly beams, air conditioner ducting, range hood ducting or plumbing pipes from upstairs. Sometimes it can be possible to steal back some of that space and use it as additional storage.
Here, open shelves have been incorporated into the bulkhead area. Not only do they create additional storage space, but they also add an interesting design feature to the kitchen. However, the inclusion of a library ladder can be dangerous when young children are about. It isn’t essential, though, particularly if you have space to store a step stool or small ladder close to the area.
This kitchen takes the concept of using every available inch of space to a whole new level. A bulkhead is often essential above kitchen cabinets to conceal unsightly beams, air conditioner ducting, range hood ducting or plumbing pipes from upstairs. Sometimes it can be possible to steal back some of that space and use it as additional storage.
Here, open shelves have been incorporated into the bulkhead area. Not only do they create additional storage space, but they also add an interesting design feature to the kitchen. However, the inclusion of a library ladder can be dangerous when young children are about. It isn’t essential, though, particularly if you have space to store a step stool or small ladder close to the area.
8. Move outside
When space in the kitchen is tight and already packed with essentials, it is sometimes necessary to look further afield for additional storage. These cabinets in a small outdoor kitchen area are a clever way to create additional storage space as well as a place to house a barbecue and outdoor sink.
Use these cabinets to store everything you need for the barbecue, such as utensils, large serving platters, outdoor tableware and cleaning supplies. This frees up valuable storage space in the kitchen and makes barbecues more pleasurable.
When space in the kitchen is tight and already packed with essentials, it is sometimes necessary to look further afield for additional storage. These cabinets in a small outdoor kitchen area are a clever way to create additional storage space as well as a place to house a barbecue and outdoor sink.
Use these cabinets to store everything you need for the barbecue, such as utensils, large serving platters, outdoor tableware and cleaning supplies. This frees up valuable storage space in the kitchen and makes barbecues more pleasurable.
9. Squeeze in a desk
Tight corners, oddly shaped rooms, nooks and alcoves can make designing a kitchen more difficult. The trick is thinking outside the box and figuring out what each space is best used for.
A recess in the wall next to this kitchen contains built-in cabinets to create a small study nook. The desktop is the perfect size for a laptop or even a full computer, while a small drawer underneath can store unpaid bills and shopping lists off the kitchen counter. The open shelves add visual interest and can be used to display decorative items, store small boxes of paperwork or even keep cookbooks within easy reach of the kitchen.
Tight corners, oddly shaped rooms, nooks and alcoves can make designing a kitchen more difficult. The trick is thinking outside the box and figuring out what each space is best used for.
A recess in the wall next to this kitchen contains built-in cabinets to create a small study nook. The desktop is the perfect size for a laptop or even a full computer, while a small drawer underneath can store unpaid bills and shopping lists off the kitchen counter. The open shelves add visual interest and can be used to display decorative items, store small boxes of paperwork or even keep cookbooks within easy reach of the kitchen.
10. Split it up
This character-filled kitchen works hard to maximise the available space. Incorporating a spot for a microwave into a kitchen design is essential these days. A microwave takes up a lot of valuable real estate, so it’s generally preferable to build it into its own compartment where it doesn’t interrupt counter space and workflow.
This tall pantry is split into three sections. The top and lower sections cater to dried food storage, while the open section in the centre creates the ideal space for a microwave and cookbooks. A second space-saving design feature of this pantry is its sliding doors. The pantry is in a corner right next to the main entrance door to the kitchen. Hinged doors would block the doorway when opened, whereas sliding doors keep the walkway free at all times.
Read more:
Kitchens: 5 Biggest Problems Solved
Kitchen Storage: How to Pack a Punch
Tell us:
How have you managed to squeeze more storage into your kitchen? Share your photos in the Comments below.
This character-filled kitchen works hard to maximise the available space. Incorporating a spot for a microwave into a kitchen design is essential these days. A microwave takes up a lot of valuable real estate, so it’s generally preferable to build it into its own compartment where it doesn’t interrupt counter space and workflow.
This tall pantry is split into three sections. The top and lower sections cater to dried food storage, while the open section in the centre creates the ideal space for a microwave and cookbooks. A second space-saving design feature of this pantry is its sliding doors. The pantry is in a corner right next to the main entrance door to the kitchen. Hinged doors would block the doorway when opened, whereas sliding doors keep the walkway free at all times.
Read more:
Kitchens: 5 Biggest Problems Solved
Kitchen Storage: How to Pack a Punch
Tell us:
How have you managed to squeeze more storage into your kitchen? Share your photos in the Comments below.
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The first kitchen layout is useless, hardly any storage space and you'd need to be a giant to reach those upper shelves. I swear some of these "designers" don't cook or never use a kitchen for any other purpose than to sell their "services". So unpractical and silly.
the corner cabinet solution is misleading....the amount of wasted space in the corners is not factored. It looks cool but is hard to organize, you have lost over 2 square feet of storage once you add up the voided out space.
While it is true, a corner cabinet seems like a 'black hole', keeping it organized is key. A 2-tier storage solution will help you get the most out of the corner's cabinet capacity.