Kitchen
Use baskets for anything round. I usually keep round, nonperishable items like onions and potatoes in their bags on the lowest shelf of my pantry, but as the shelves roll, a few veggies inevitably escape and make a mess. Baskets like those used in this pantry keep food organized and still allow air to circulate, preventing the food from getting prematurely moldy.
Invest in pretty labels. Every time I pull out a container of a white, powdery baking product, I have to taste it to see if it’s corn starch, flour or confectioner’s sugar. I put all three in containers, but I didn’t like the business-like look of the labels from my label maker, so I simply stopped marking them. So now I’m hunting for pretty kitchen labels like the ones here so I’ll know what everything is, when I bought it and when it’s ready to be tossed.
Keep go-to items at eye level. Judging by where these cereal boxes are kept, I’d guess that a couple of self-directed kids hit this pantry for breakfast every morning. I’m taking a cue from this smart parent and organizing my pantry based on how often my family uses individual items. I’ll reserve eye-level shelves for cereal, pasta and other staples while keeping baking supplies and treats higher up.
Install a spice shelf. I love my roll-out pantry, but my spices are getting lost in the mix. Because they’re stacked one behind the other, they waste space, and it’s hard to see what I have. To remedy this problem, I’ll install door-mounted spice shelves inside the cabinet where I keep my cookbooks. The trick will be finding a rack that doesn’t require heavy mounting hardware that might poke through to the outside of the cabinet. So while I would absolutely love a wooden rack like this one, I’ll likely need to find one made of wire.
Sink systems. Pros: More manufacturers are making very specialized sink systems, such as the galley sink. In units such as this one, everything from rinsing to chopping to serving (made possible by ice chest and condiment container inserts) happens at the sink.
Lowered Divider. Pros: Want to have a double sink and be able to comfortably wash or soak a long-handled pan? A sink with a lowered divider might be for you. Cons: If your cooking style demands deep water, this is not an ideal configuration. “So much is possible,” says Burcher. “With so many options and custom possibilities, if you can dream it, there is usually a way to do it.”
Three basins (two large ones and one small one with a garbage disposal). Pros: You can use the garbage disposal independently of the sink. Cons: In some models, such as this one, you can’t sweep food scraps off the counter and into the disposal (this could be remedied with a cutting board insert). Because it is a wider sink, more space is needed. “For people who like to keep the garbage disposal away from the food, this is a good option,” says Flatley. Burcher notes that during cleanup, accessing the garbage disposal while a pan is soaking can be annoying. “This setup eliminates that,” he says.
Three basins (two large ones and one small one with a garbage disposal). Pros: You can use the garbage disposal independently of the sink. Cons: In some models, such as this one, you can’t sweep food scraps off the counter and into the disposal (this could be remedied with a cutting board insert). Because it is a wider sink, more space is needed. “For people who like to keep the garbage disposal away from the food, this is a good option,” says Flatley. Burcher notes that during cleanup, accessing the garbage disposal while a pan is soaking can be annoying. “This setup eliminates that,” he says.
Consider a dishwasher with a utensil drawer. The last thing I want to do when I entertain is to disturb guests with the clatter of hand washing dishes, but I don’t want to wake up to a mess either. Choosing a dishwasher that can comfortably accommodate a heavy load was very important to me. The model I chose has a narrow utensil drawer that slides out above the top rack, freeing space below for unwieldy pots and large stacks of dishes. A year later I can definitely say this was one of the best decisions we made.
1. Buy the right vent hood. Vent hoods are rated by the cubic feet per minute (CFM) of air they can suck from a room. While formulas for determining how much power you’ll need vary, you’ll want to start by acquainting yourself with the basics. There’s no point in buying a hood that’s larger than your range. It won’t really suck more smoke out, and it won’t look right either. Gas ranges generate more heat than electric ones, and thus require more powerful vent hoods. Maxxing out the CFMs isn’t always a good thing. For example, a 1,000-CFM vent hood will suck the air from a 10-by-10-by-10 room in about a minute, then will lose suction unless you have an HVAC system or an open window. So have your room dimensions handy to show the vendor when it’s time to buy. Learn more about selecting
Give yourself a view. If your kitchen is part of a new construction project, or you are either unable or disinclined to keep the sink where it is, then do yourself a favor and give yourself a nice view. I am not a fan of washing dishes by hand but would gladly take on the chore if I had this fabulous view to take in.
Some manufacturers and retailers include a soap dispenser — such as on this faucet — although it can cost more. Advantages While this technology is mainly touted for its ease of use (especially with messy or full hands) and ability to keep your kitchen clean (and avoid cross-contamination) there are other benefits. For example, these faucets are an excellent option for people with dexterity or mobility issues.
Showpieces. Sometimes a coffee center is better suited to stand out, rather than hide in your cabinetry. This coffee center's unusual shape is a reaction to the other dynamic shapes in the kitchen. Have you done it? We'd love to see your take on the coffee center. Please post a photo in the Comments!
Breakfast centers. If you have enough space, you could set up a complete breakfast center around the coffee station by incorporating space for a microwave and toaster. If the layout allows, dedicate space close by to store your favorite cereals and breads. Other setups combine the coffee center with a bar, adding a beverage or wine fridge (or fridge drawers), storage for glassware and items such as napkins and bottle openers. If space allows, consider a single dishwashing drawer for this area. And an ice maker would make this work zone even more sophisticated!
Hidden spaces. Many people want their coffee center to be hidden; an appliance cabinet with a countertop and retractable doors tends to work best. Make sure to connect the retractable door function to a shut-off switch that disconnects the power from the appliances inside the cabinet — you don't want to risk appliances or timers malfunctioning behind closed doors.
Where to Put Your Coffee Station? Choose the location for your coffee center wisely. If it's a full breakfast center, it should be out of the way of cleanup and cooking zones, but still close to the refrigerator. Position a bar area in between your kitchen and dining area. A butler's pantry would also be a convenient location for this work zone. Note the additional pull-out counter underneath the shallow countertop on this coffee center — perfect for adding valuable and much-needed counter space to an otherwise tight space.
Warming drawers. Consider installing a warming drawer under your built-in coffee machine to preheat your cups. This extra luxurious touch will help coffee stay hot longer and make it that more enjoyable on chilly mornings. A shallow model will work for cups, but a regular depth model can store food and plates as well. However, you may want to put a multi-use warming drawer in another part of the kitchen, so you can use it more frequently.
Grinders. The sound of a coffee grinder was my morning wake-up call when I was a child. The subsequent era of prepackaged ground coffee, silenced the start of the day, but today's coffee aficionados swear by freshly ground beans, so a good grinder is a must. Sometimes grinders can be taller than the actual coffee machine, so make sure your coffee center has enough clearance when you put in your upper shelving. Freestanding coffee machines. There's a plethora of sophisticated coffee machines on the market today — including the newest generation of machines with ready-made coffee capsules. Discerning home baristas probably have very clear ideas of the pros and cons. But freestanding coffee machines of all types tend to be a popular choice for homeowners, due to their flexibility in cost, style and location in the kitchen.
Ingredients for a truly deluxe coffee center: Grinder Coffee machine Sink Small refrigerator Cup warming drawer Storage and small garbage can You also want to make sure to put in a sturdy counter that can take a beating, especially if you use espresso. Just think about the force your local barista uses when tapping the espresso filter to get the powder out!
Corner drawers. These are a twist on the corner cabinet, pulling out from the corner. You usually have to bend over backward or crawl on your hands and knees to find items inside a corner cabinet, but these fully accessible drawers help solve that problem. These drawers may not be available from every cabinetry company; check before settling on a manufacturer.
Be mindful. The pantries that inspire me most are never packed to the gills with snacks and canned goods. So as I reorganize, I won’t just toss expired items. Instead, I’ll note what I’ve been purchasing too much of and avoid those things in the future. And when I do come home from the grocery store, I’ll think about not just where I put things away but how they’re put away, taking care to face containers with the labels out and align similar items.
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