Simplify undersink space. Undersink drawers that fit around plumbing fixtures are often an awkward shape. They can quickly turn chaotic, chock-full of bits and pieces. Creepy-crawlies love the warmth and sometimes moisture of this area, so don’t cram stuff in. Which items do you actually use in the kitchen? Do you wear more than one pair of rubber gloves at a time? Could some items go in, say, the laundry area? Pare down items like gloves, brushes, cloths and detergent for day-to-day use and top up from a supply in another area as needed.
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The panels on this side conceal touch-latch cabinetry that holds items used less often. The island is very hardworking. Incorporated into its 5-foot by 8½-foot dimensions are shelves for cookbooks, hidden storage, drawers that fit pots and pans, a recycling station, a sink, a dishwasher and a microwave drawer.
The homeowner requested that the hand shower be the kind of industrial sprayer restaurants use to quickly wash pots and pans. It’s operated by squeezing a handle that looks a bit like the hand brake on a bicycle. “She wanted to be able to fill and wash out buckets here,” Perrin says. “The problem was that the force of the water was so strong, the dogs didn’t like it.” Perrin and his team solved the problem by drilling more holes in the sprayer head, creating a gentler water stream. Once that happened, tails wagged. “They love getting in it now,” Perrin says. “They jump right up in there.” The homeowner also requested handrails that were petite, so they would not take over the space. Perrin installed a corner hand rail that doubles as a hanger for the sprayer and a straight rail that hangs a bit higher. “They help steady the homeow
What happens here: The room acts as a laundry, mudroom and dog washing area. Location: Akron, Ohio Size: 50 square feet (4½ square meters) Tip: In a room with heavy traffic where the door is usually open to another room, as with this one, use similar colors and finishes in both so that the two rooms read as one. In the new room, the washer and dryer, which had been side by side, are stacked, which freed up room for a dog shower. “The shower is designed to do almost everything a utility sink can do, but it can also be used to wash dogs,” Perrin says.
paper holder!
The bigger secret is a hidden fort. In the original design for the remodel, cabinets covered a door leading to an empty space under the stairs. The clients’ young sons were forlorn about losing their favorite understair hideaway. The boys’ father and his brother came up with this clever idea. The new pantry cabinet slides on trundle-bed glides to reveal the entry to the boys’ hideout. When the cabinet moves, it also reveals their artwork (left). The glides can support up to 500 pounds.
The cabinetry conceals a handful of secrets. To the left, pocket doors open to reveal a baking center with a granite countertop that can be hidden when guests come over. It also conceals smaller appliances, including a microwave and toaster. Taylor added high upper cabinets with seeded-glass doors to make the 8-foot ceilings appear higher. Their lights help brighten the room, and the seeded glass adds to the period feel.
A lot of people immediately dismiss owning a library ladder because they’ve seen them sticking into the space, becoming a tripping hazard when not in use. However, many are unaware that most ladder manufacturers offer mechanisms to push the ladder snugly against the wall or cabinetry, like in this kitchen, designed by Tim Barber. Barber wall mounted this Alaco ladder system to drywall with 2-inch by 4-inch blocking behind it, and it couldn’t work better in this narrow passageway. Alaco manufactures an upper slide-bar assembly for its ladders to achieve this vertical solution.
Michael Macklin of Cameo Kitchens says his client spent much time selecting the ladder and finally decided on the Akzent line by MWE. Macklin says it has the clean lines and simple tread style his client was looking for that weren’t found in a wood ladder. Many metal ladders are left in their metallic finishes, but some manufacturers, such as Alaco, also offer powder coating. Macklin says this project totaled $3,820, including the railing and mounting hardware.
2. The floor surface must be completely level. If you have an older house with floors that have a charming slope to them, a library ladder won’t work for you. Hard-surface floors, such as hardwood and tile, are ideal. Just make sure the tile or stone is level and doesn’t have a pronounced dimension variance, like in the clefts of slate. Otherwise, the ladder may get caught on high points. Carpet isn’t recommended either unless it is a level loop with a very low pile. 3. You must have a minimum clearance space from the center of the track to the ceiling, which is needed for installation. Some manufacturers require a 7-inch clearance, but this dimension could vary with others, so it’s prudent to verify first. 4. Make sure you meet the weight requirements of the ladder you’re interested in. For example, MWE’s ladders have a 265-pound load capacity.
1. Determine if there’s adequate support at the location you want to install the rail. If not, you’ll need to add it. Keep in mind that the rail needs to support not only itself and the ladder, but the person standing on it and the torque created by that person’s movement. Klint Peacock of Bartels Doors, who represents MWE brand ladders, says that if you’re mounting onto wood cabinetry, as shown here, you don’t need additional support because the unit itself is already solid wood. However, if the rail is to be mounted directly to a wall surface, extra support will likely need to be built into the wall if it’s not concrete. Peacock explains that when someone is sliding the ladder or even climbing on it, there is no force pulling down on the rail or the mounts (the floor receives the force). The problem arises with the force created when the ladder is pulled outward. While the ladder mounts are extremely load bearing, they need to be mounted to something solid.
Bifold doors. Whether you’re on a mission to bring the outside in or vice versa, your success, er, hinges on these glazed beauties. Fold them right back and you effectively remove a wall, opening up the living area and increasing the sense of space. Make sure the floor levels in the house and garden are the same to create a seamless transition between the two.
Sand Castle Kitchens & More, LLC SaveEmail Underlighting isn’t just for cabinets. Glowing toe kicks look great in a space with other modern LED light sources (like in a ceiling alcove).
Toe kicks are, as a rule, typically 3 to 4 inches high, and recessed 3 inches underneath a cabinet. This gives you room for your feet — or your toes, anyway — while you’re standing at the counter without wasting cabinet space or creating a pocket that’s too deep to clean.
custom-made recessed cabinet. “It is a great way to showcase your nice china while not taking up space in the dining room,
A large Bertazzoni range is tucked into the existing brick surround, picking up on the color of the darker bricks and providing contrast with the white cabinetry. Floating shelves balance out the brick wall across the room. “We integrated lights into the shelves to create a sophisticated and calming ambience,”
A sliding chalkboard on a barn-door-like track conceals an appliance garage. “This is really our signature detail. You can hide but also easily access your toaster, coffeemaker and any other electronic appliances,
cupboard/bar w/pass through
3. Seamless. Paint bookcases to match the walls, trim and woodwork for a polished, decorated look. Paint that’s a deep color (like the one shown here) tends to work best in smaller rooms. In a bigger space, try the same seamless look in a soft, neutral hue such as taupe or buttermilk. Styling tip: Fully painted bookcases call to mind a gorgeous old library — play it up by filling shelves to the brims with books rather than fussing with styling objects and stacks. Sconces mounted on the edges of shelves would make a nice finishing touch.
2. Subtle. Bold hues not for you? Color doesn’t always need to hit you in the face to be effective — why not try a soft but rich café au lait color on the backs of your shelves instead? Surround the bookcase with a range of warm neutrals for a cozy and sophisticated look.
Styling tip: Take painting your bookcases as an opportunity to pare down your collection of books and objects — aim to keep at least one-third of each shelf empty. When you paint the back of a bookshelf, it is especially important to leave some free space so you can see the color behind the objects. Mix things up by alternating stacks of books with objects, or try leaning a few taller items behind the books to add depth.
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