I love to cook - although finding the time lately has been difficult! But when I am in the kitchen, I want to be able to get to everything I need without a lot of extra steps or frustrating issues. This room should be as efficient and well-organized as possible. Here are some of the ways that I design a kitchen to be as functional as possible!

Drawers Instead of Doors

Drawers are nothing new in a kitchen, of course, but they are definitely more functional than a regular cabinet door. Why? Because drawers take advantage of every bit of space in the cabinet. It’s so much easier to pull a drawer out than it is to try to rummage all the way back in a cabinet - especially on the lower cabinets. A drawer brings those hard-to-reach items to you, rather than having you lean into the far reaches of a cabinet.

From the Top

In older kitchens, there’s often a gap between the top of the cabinets and the ceiling. That’s usually where people would put dusty plants or baskets that had no purpose at all. A more efficient kitchen uses every square inch of space, so I take the cabinets all the way up to the ceiling. Those cabinets at the top are perfect for items that you don’t use every day, like holiday dishes, serving items, specialty small appliances, and more. And that, in turn, frees up the rest of your cabinetry for items that you use every day.

Pot Fillers

This tip is one that I believe is a must-have in a kitchen. It’s so hard to move heavy pots full of water, or to add more water to an already-boiling pan. Having a pot filler at the stove makes everything so much easier. These do need to be plumbed, so they take a bit of pre-planning. However, there are some stove-side models available today that are mounted on the countertop rather than the back wall of the range. That makes it easier to add a pot filler to an existing kitchen without having to tear out a backsplash.

Make It Special

Specialty cabinets are fantastic in a super-efficient kitchen. That could include pull-out spice cabinets at the range, lazy Susan cabinets in the corners of the kitchen, pull-out drawers with built-in canisters for baking ingredients, and more. Think about how you use your kitchen and what you most like to cook. Then plan those specialty cabinets to fit your cooking style.

How efficient is your kitchen? Does it need an upgrade or a major overhaul? Contact our team today - we specialize in gorgeous and functional kitchen design!

All the best,

Kara