Undersink drawer. Given the plumbing fixtures that must go beneath the kitchen sink and the fact that there isn’t much room in that space for storage, this area can feel like a dank mini-cave. This drawer has a clever cutout that gently surrounds the plumbing, making available the good, clean space while keeping the plumbing hidden.
Roll-out pantry. When drawers roll out, as they do in this English pantry cabinet, you don’t have to worry about digging behind things to find what you need. The glass drawer fronts and sides also allow maximum visibility of items in the drawers while keeping everything in place. The sleek design works well for a contemporary kitchen.
Pantry cabinet. This pantry cabinet in Ireland brings a highly efficient storage area into the kitchen workspace. Pantry storage areas like this are seen in the U.K., where it is known as a larder. It often is hidden behind double cabinetry doors in the kitchen rather than being in a separate room. The doors open to a storage system with open shelves on top, spice racks on the doors and bottom drawers or bins. The shelves usually are shallow enough so everything can be seen at a glance. This larder has a pullout work surface and a tall appliance shelf as a stand mixer, turning it into a baking center as well.
we worked a set of freezer drawers into the island, across from the full-sized Sub-Zero refrigerator column,” designer Emily Karempelis says. “This prevented us from having to step up the overall width of a refrigerator-freezer combination unit.” There’s also a microwave drawer, placed in the island to keep the look of the kitchen streamlined and to have it near the pantry and refrigerator. Other special features. Recessed appliances that sit flush with cabinets. Wall-mounted sconces over the sink. Walk-in pantry. Reclaimed-barn-wood accent on range hood.
Pretty and Practical For designer Sarah St. Amand’s own kitchen, she selected a stunning quartz for the countertops and backsplash. “I knew I wanted to mimic marble, but marble isn’t the best choice for busy people and families in their kitchens because it’s porous and stains easily.” The quartz she selected gives her the best of both worlds.
Extra-large islands. As we asked earlier this year, at what size does an island stop being an island and become a continent? It’s a tough call, but the latest Houzz research shows that nearly a third of renovating homeowners who are upgrading their kitchen island make it more than 7 feet. (That means the average NBA center player could lie down comfortably on it!) “Many of our clients are doing away with kitchen tables and opting for super-large islands,” designer Katelyn Gilmour of KBG Design says. “That way family and guests can be close by or dine informally while still gathering together in the kitchen.”
Oil and utensil pullouts. In another example of well-designed cabinetry, narrow pullout cabinets on both sides of the range offer space for frequently used cooking oils, as well as utensils — a nice convenience for a frequent cook.
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