Celebrating Wine

Working in the luxury design market, Nar Bustamante’s clients often want to incorporate extravagant and indulgent extras in their homes.

“Our clients want everything,” says the founder of Nar Design Group in Sacramento, CA. “And even though some projects might be smaller than others, they are still high-end…with all the amenities.”

As well, living and working in California, those extras oftentimes include design elements related to storing one of the state’s most beloved beverages…wine. These days, when capacity beyond a beverage refrigerator is needed, that storage is trending towards temperature-controlled, glass-enclosed rooms that become statement pieces within a home.

In this home, Bustamante included a beautiful feature wall with wine storage and display as part of a formal dining room. He also designed a moody bar/wine storage cabinet in the homeowners’ great room.

“Wine used to be stored in basement cellars because they were a perfect environment for keeping the wine cool naturally,” he says. “But now we have sophisticated and elaborate mechanical cooling systems, so we’re seeing a lot of people move their wine out of the basement and into a temperature- controlled space upstairs.

“Also, putting the wine in a room behind glass gives people, especially those who like to entertain, a way to present and celebrate their wine,” the designer continues. “It creates an elevated restaurant feel. Plus, people love to look at beautiful wine labels, so when someone is hosting a party in a home where the wine is visible, guests are encouraged to engage in conversation. A wine room is a great conversation starter!”

Such is the case in one home where Bustamante created a shallow wine room as a backdrop to the dining room table.

“We took what would have been a normal wall and created a rich, immersive experience for guests eating in the dining room,” he explains. “It’s a very rustic, restaurant feel that people just love.”

Given Nar Bustamante’s expertise in architectural interior design of complete homes, he focuses on making sure a wine room flows with other spaces throughout a residence. This is especially important when it is centrally located, such as this wine room that is situated by the stairs, the kitchen and the bar where it is also visible from the living room and dining area.

Custom metal and glass barn doors slide open to reveal the homeowners’ collection that is accented with a chandelier and a table for showcasing art or displaying wines that the host will serve during an event. Both lighting and surfaces for setting items, as well as a cabinet or two, are integral to many of the wine rooms Bustamante designs.

“Lighting is a great way to set a mood for entertaining…with vertical lights, chandeliers, etc.,” he relates. “When someone is entertaining guests, it’s nice to have the wine room fully illuminated to set the tone for an evening dinner. Also, it’s important to have general and task lighting so the homeowner can easily stock the room.

“If the room is large enough, people might actually sit down, open a bottle of wine and engage in conversation with a couple of friends,” he continues. “Then it’s nice to have a place to set something down. And cabinetry is convenient for storing wine-related accessories.”

Nar Bustamante created this shallow wine room as a backdrop to the dining room table, where it is visible to guests and serves as a conversation starter. Custom metal and glass barn doors slide open to reveal the homeowners’ collection. The room also includes a table for showcasing art or displaying wines that the host will serve during an event.

Given Bustamante’s expertise in the architectural interior design of complete homes, he focuses on making sure a wine room flows with other spaces throughout a residence. This is especially important when it is centrally located and is intended to make a statement, such as one recent design where the wine room is centrally located by the stairs, the kitchen and the bar so it is highly visible from multiple spaces, including the living room and dining area.

“It’s a central focus of the home,” he says. “It really illustrates the whole concept of bringing wine storage out of a hidden basement cellar and celebrating it upstairs!”

Creating a Connection

Virtually every larger, multi-room project that Richard Sherer and his design team at Deep River Partners complete each year touches on some type of wine storage. It can be anything from a relatively simple wine rack to a beverage refrigerator to full-blown wine rooms with mechanical humidity and temperature control, extensive rack systems and even cabinetry, countertops and seating for tastings.

Richard Sherer caters to clients from the casual wine drinker to entertainers to the serious collector. Paneled beverage refrigerators that match the cabinetry can be great solutions for clients who only need short-term storage.

Photos: Ryan Hainey Photography

“We cater to everyone from the casual wine drinker to entertainers to the serious collector,” says the founder of the residential architecture and interior design firm in Milwaukee, WI. “Each lifestyle will point us in a different direction as to how elaborate a solution needs to be. Beverage refrigerators, which we often panel to match any cabinetry, are great for people who only need short-term storage. Maybe they want to pair a glass of wine with dinner or maybe they are entertaining for an evening. Wine rooms are better suited for those who buy in volume. Maybe they are part of a wine club. Or, maybe they are a collector. Sometimes the solutions are combinations where we include beverage refrigerators in one area, such as a kitchen or bar, for short-term storage and a wine room where a collection is kept for longer periods of time.”

Sherer included this multifaceted approach recently in a Craftsman-style home where an undercounter refrigerator located in a hospitality bar in the foyer is used to chill a few bottles of wine so the homeowners can welcome guests with a glass as they enter their home.

Richard Sherer often includes a multifaceted approach to wine storage, such as in this home where an undercounter refrigerator located in a hospitality bar in the foyer is used to chill a few bottles of wine. The temperature- and humidity-controlled wine room is an extension of the bar. Its entrance is a welcoming feature off the foyer and its glass back wall is shared with the dining room where it serves as a focal point, showcasing silhouettes of the wine bottles obscurely visible through the rippled art glass.

The temperature- and humidity-controlled wine room is an extension of the bar. Its entrance is a welcoming feature off the foyer where the glass door affords a glimpse inside, where artfully racked bottles contrast against white quartzite wall panels that sparkle in the down light. The back wall is also glass and is shared with the dining room where it serves as a focal point, showcasing silhouettes of the wine bottles obscurely visible through the rippled art glass.

“The wine room, visible through the glass, becomes an artistic expression that is part of the theme of the home,” he says. “You can’t necessarily see through the glass completely, rather it becomes a backdrop…a wallpaper of sorts so the dining room and the wine room can each maintain their own identity and express themselves individually.”

Richard Sherer is often tasked with carving out space for storing wine into existing homes, such as in this renovation where he converted a closet into a wine room with storage and a wet bar, the latter of which can readily accommodate wine samplings and tastings.

While the Craftsman-style home was a new construction project, Sherer is often tasked with carving out space for storing wine into existing homes during a renovation. Such was the case in another recent project, where he converted a closet into a wine room with storage and a wet bar, the latter of which can readily accommodate wine samplings and tastings.

“It still showcases and displays wine bottles artfully where the metal wine racking system allows the bottles to ‘float’ and be set off from the brick behind them,” he explains, adding that the Cream City brick is original to the home’s foundation. “But the display doesn’t necessarily take over the room.

“Wine rooms, in general, are often more about an experience rather than about simply storing wine,” he continues. “They are also about how they connect with a person’s home, their lifestyle and their personality.”

Showcasing Authenticity

Open-concept living has influenced much about the way people live within their homes, giving them physical and visual access to multiple spaces simultaneously, especially kitchens, dining rooms and living rooms. Lynn Holender indicates that living with fewer interior walls has also changed the way people entertain and how she incorporates entertaining accompaniments such as bars and wine rooms, which are included in most of the custom homes she designs.

Lynn Holender designed a second bar near the patio. It includes refrigerator drawers for easy access to cooled beverages such as white wine and champagne.

Photos: Julie Soefer Photography

“About 99.9% of the time we are addressing wine storage in some way,” says the principal for Lynn Holender Designs in Houston, TX. “If someone doesn’t have an especially large wine collection, bottles can be stored in a paneled beverage refrigerator that blends in seamlessly with the rest of the cabinetry in a kitchen. But if someone entertains a lot and needs more storage, we will include a wine room that shows off a collection. Often, it is connected to a room where they are entertaining, such as a bar, which is usually close to a living room or dining room.”

Lynn Holender often incorporates bars and wine rooms near where people entertain. In this home, the wine room is located next to the wet bar, which is accessible and visible from the dining room.

In addition to the expected temperature and humidity control, the designer likes to include a glass or iron door at the entrance to provide visual access to the space. As well, she usually incorporates traditionally styled elements, such as a liberal usage of wood and brick. Both conjure up visions of moody underground wine cellars and caves peppered throughout California’s Napa and Sonoma valleys

“It just feels more authentic to use natural materials from the earth,” Holender explains. “And, they make the space feel warmer and more inviting.”

One focal-point feature of this wine room designed by Lynn Holender includes brick set in a traditional pattern on the wall and in a contrasting herringbone pattern on the floor. White oak shelves provide enough storage for more than 200 bottles of wine, as well as accessories. The slightly curved shelves ‘soften’ the visual and give a touch more room for her client to maneuver when she is working within the space.

Creating that vibe was an integral focus of one recent custom home built by Unika Custom Homes, where the designer included a wine room located next to the wet bar, which is accessible and visible from the dining room. A second bar, a sports bar created for the husband to entertain his friends, is sited near the patio and includes refrigerator drawers for easy access to cooled beverages such as white wine and champagne.

One focal-point feature of the wine room includes brick, which is set in a traditional pattern on the wall and in a contrasting herringbone pattern on the floor for added interest. White oak shelves provide enough storage for more than 200 bottles of wine, as well as accessories such as wine glasses. Holender gave the shelves a slight concave curve to ‘soften’ the visual and give a touch more room for her client to maneuver when she is working within the space.

In addition to temperature and humidity control, Lynn Holender likes to include traditionally styled elements, such as a liberal usage of wood and brick.

“We really wanted to include some architectural features, which we accomplished by curving the shelves,” she indicates. “The curves also play off of the straight lines of the brick.”

Adding a ledge, made from the same white oak as the shelves, provides a place for her client to set a bottle of wine as she uncorks it.

“When there is enough room, I like to include a countertop or table, or minimally a ledge such as the one in this wine room, where the homeowner can set something down,” Holender says. “Being able to pull down a bottle of wine and uncork it right in the wine room is useful.”

The post Wine Storage: Tasteful Choices appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

As the heart of the home, the kitchen is also routinely asked to do more than just prep and cook food. It is now the place where people often pay bills and charge electronics…both of which come with unique storage requirements, which left unaddressed can lead to kitchen chaos.

This month, KBDN asked designers to share thoughts and projects that highlight some of their favorite storage solutions.

Thoughtful Storage

Kitchens are asked to do a lot these days beyond their historic task of serving as a place to cook. 

“They are now multi-tasking spaces, used for working from home, doing homework or entertaining, so there’s a push for hidden storage that keeps visual clutter to a minimum,” says Ashley Neff-Hinkle, founder of Neff Designs located in the Columbia River Gorge in the Pacific Northwest.

As such, the designer encourages her clients to consider toe-kick drawers, pullout spice racks, trash/recycle pullouts, charging drawers and cabinetry equipped with slim vertical dividers for organizing baking sheets, muffin tins and cutting boards. Another favorite storage solution is a tall pantry organizer with swing-out doors and adjustable shelves. 

“Pantry cabinets can sometimes be so deep that things get lost,” she relates. “But I love ones where the doors ‘unfold’ to make everything accessible.”

Several of these favorites were included in a recent kitchen renovation where her clients wanted to brighten the kitchen and move beyond its outdated style. As part of that mission, they also wanted a streamlined design that maximized storage and cleared the countertops of clutter, especially small appliances…all while striking a balance between modern and transitional aesthetics.

Storage solutions include a trash/recycle pullout, a plethora of shallow drawers near the range for spices and utensils, vertical dividers for cookie sheets and cutting boards, and cabinetry that is large enough to keep those small appliances close at hand, yet hidden from view. Neff-Hinkle also extended the cabinetry to the ceiling to give her clients additional storage capacity that comes in handy for less frequently used items. 

“Taking the cabinetry to the ceiling gave them a foot and a half more space that wasn’t utilized before,” she says, noting a collaboration with Allen’s Fine Woodworking. “That upper level of cabinets is a great place to store things you still want in the kitchen, without taking up valuable ‘everyday’ real estate.”

Since her clients also wanted to brighten the kitchen, Neff-Hinkle included glass doors in several of the wall cabinets.

“The previous kitchen was very dark,” she notes. “The glass doors help to lighten the space, while creating some interest.”

While these clients kept wall cabinetry as part of their overall storage solution, some of Neff-Hinkle’s clients are eliminating upper cabinets and shelves and are focusing on base cabinetry drawers because they are easier to access and are more ergonomic. Deep versions are especially useful for storing pots, plates and pantry items. Homeowners now also prioritize large, walk-in or butler-style pantries, often with dedicated zones for dry goods, small appliances and even prep areas.

A plethora of deep drawers and a walk-in pantry were the main storage solutions for another recent kitchen project, this time a new-construction home where Neff-Hinkle’s clients minimized upper cabinets to preserve their mountain view.

“This kitchen has enough square footage that we could include more base cabinets, including two islands, and eliminate most of the upper cabinets,” she says, noting a collaboration with Allen’s Fine Woodworking and Gorge Design Build. “There are a few wall cabinets around the refrigerator and double ovens, and we included some floating shelves around the range hood, but the kitchen is very open with a lot of windows.”

A butler’s pantry also alleviates in-kitchen storage pressure by offering a place for small appliances and dry goods.

“Thoughtful storage keeps a kitchen free of clutter to streamline the space,” she relates. “It helps the kitchen work like an oiled machine. I’m ever so grateful for my deep drawers, cutting board storage, trash pullout and spice pullout. 

“Kitchens are the workhorse of the house,” she continues. “They need to be able to function at a high level while also being a showpiece. That only really works when storage solutions are thoughtfully mapped out based on space and personal needs.”

Greater Customization

Nancy Jacobson appreciates that cabinet manufacturers and after-market suppliers continue to introduce accessories that allow her to be more creative when designing storage solutions for her clients.

“For a long time we’ve had the attitude that base cabinets need some kind of accessory,” says the founder/president of Kitchen Design Partners in Northbrook, IL. “But more recently we’ve seen a trend toward greater customization, even without using fully custom cabinets. 

“People want to express their individuality, so whatever their level of investment, we work very hard to customize their kitchen…giving them accessories to make their kitchen as functional, and beautiful, as possible…without going so far as to lose flexibility and usefulness,” she continues. “We don’t want a kitchen to be so specifically designed for a moment in time that it doesn’t have the ability to accommodate items that are added in the future…for example, designing storage for only five pots and pans, without considering that the homeowner might add three more later.”

Jacobson especially appreciates customization as it applies to drawers, which is her favorite storage solution. She often includes accessories for their contents such as spices, knives, utensils, etc. Including outlets gives clients a place to charge electronics out of sight. 

“Kitchens used to have desks,” she relates. “But now they are no longer useful. I can’t tell you how many kitchens I’ve designed where we’ve taken out a five-foot desk and replaced it with kitchen storage. But many people still want a laptop in the kitchen. We also like to include a place for office supplies, tape, scissors, etc.”

The designer even finds some clients prefer to store their plates in drawers. 

“It became especially popular when people moved away from wall cabinets,” she says. “Even though that’s tapered a little bit and people are back to doing wall cabinets, I find that they like to put small, lightweight items like glasses, coffee mugs, small bowls and small appliances in a wall cabinet and heavier items like plates in a base cabinet drawer. It’s easier to take them out of a drawer than it is to reach up to a wall cabinet, especially for older homeowners, shorter homeowners or those who have difficulties reaching upwards.

“I love using drawers because they are so useful,” she adds. “I prefer them over cabinets with doors because with drawers there is just one motion…pull out the drawer and get what you need. They are also based on a concept where everything comes out to the homeowner. That’s why I prefer something like a LeMans insert to an old-style lazy Susan. We really want to make it as easy as possible for our clients so they don’t have to dig through their cabinets to find things.”

Pullout cabinets, which perform similarly to drawers, are also common specifications, especially for storing cutting boards, trash/recycling bins, utensils and knives. They are particularly valuable for narrow spaces that might not otherwise get used. 

As Jacobson considers storage she also pays particular attention to the ‘knees to eyes’ area, i.e., the top two drawers of a base cabinet, the bottom shelf of a traditional wall cabinet and the lower levels of an appliance garage or cabinet that extends to the countertop. 

“It’s a concept I learned from Ellen Cheever during one of her training sessions,” she indicates, in reference to the renowned kitchen and bath designer who left an indelible mark on the industry. “The ‘knees to eyes’ area is prime real estate when it comes to a kitchen, and it’s the place where we store the most important things we use.”

Location also plays a role in terms of kitchen flow. 

“Having the right storage in the right location creates an efficient flow,” she relates. “For instance, you take vegetables out of the refrigerator and clean them at the sink. If you cut them at the island, it’s really important to have knives readily available in the island. Likewise, you’ll want cooking utensils, such as spatulas and spoons, located near the cooktop. And we often include tray storage in a deep base cabinet near the oven or in a wall cabinet with dividers above a double oven. It’s about designing storage with workflow in mind to enhance the efficiency of a client’s kitchen.”

Taking Inventory

Living on the outskirts of Washington, DC, where a host of celebrities and government dignitaries also reside, Kelly Emerson has ample opportunity to work in generously sized homes that are 8,000, 10,000 and even 15,000 square feet with supersized kitchens and copious amounts of storage capacity. However, the bulk of her work is in more modest confines…colonials and bungalows where kitchens are, at most, 200 square feet. Sometimes they are much smaller.

“We do work in large kitchens where we have enough space to include specialty storage like a dedicated cabinet for a stand mixer,” says the senior designer for Aidan Design in Silver Spring, MD. “But in many kitchens, storage is a bit more limited, and we are counting spice jars and knives to ensure we have solutions to store them.”

These two items alone generate lengthy discussions between the designer and her clients, in large part because of the difficulties associated with accommodating their variations in size. Spice jars aren’t all consistent. Neither are knives.

“Nine times out of ten we’re including angled wood inserts in drawers for small spice jars because they provide an awesome visual,” she relates. “But larger jars, along with similarly used items like oils and vinegars, are often stored in a rack on the back of a wall cabinet door. Another option is a pullout base cabinet.

“And then there are the knives…paring knives, chef’s knives, knives with chunky handles, etc.,” she continues. “We have multiple options here, too. Some people like to store them in drawers, others in a knife block on the countertop. A relatively new option is for them to be stored in pullout base cabinets in canisters with ‘bristles’ that can accommodate knives in a variety of sizes.”

Ultimately, Emerson begins each conversation by taking an inventory of everything her clients need to store. As well, she encourages them to think about how they might expand that inventory down the road. 

“We design our kitchens to work for our clients today and for years to come…at least 20 to 25 years,” Emerson relates, “so we encourage them to think beyond today or just a few months from today.”

For her, that means incorporating storage solutions that are flexible and practical, without being too customized. Often, that translates to LeMans units for corners, trash/recycle/compost bins in pullout cabinets and any other accessories that roll out to bring cabinetry contents forward so they are more accessible. As well, open drawers retrofitted with aftermarket dividers aren’t necessarily taboo.

“Sometimes less is more,” she indicates. “Our cabinetry interiors are often maple, and the contractors we work with are very adept at tacking in loose drawer dividers so those interiors look very custom. With extensive lead times that are often required with custom cabinetry, sometimes it can be difficult for our clients to commit to more permanent, custom storage solutions at the time cabinetry is ordered, so considering aftermarket solutions can be a great option.”

When the kitchens she works in are on the smaller side, Emerson also looks to adjacent spaces to help ease storage pressure within a limited-space kitchen. 

“We do a lot of work in older homes where kitchens are modest, very utilitarian and tucked away,” she says. “As needs and lifestyles have changed, we look to expand kitchens by opening walls to adjacent spaces, typically dining rooms. This allows us an opportunity to expand the footprint and bring more light into the kitchen. Everyday function is always the focus, but the extra space captured, typically in dining rooms, gives us flexibility to create coffee bars, china pantries and more, all while giving better flow.”

Such was the case in one recent renovation where her client, an avid baker, needed a place to keep related supplies.

“The kitchen is only about 75 square feet,” the designer relates, adding that she knocked down a wall between the kitchen and dining room to make the spaces more open and bright, as well as more communal for the family and for entertaining their guests. “We were able to create baking storage in a tall pantry in the dining room, which is only a handful of steps away.”

Stepping further into the dining room, Emerson included two additional tall pantries, one to each side of a window with a custom bench seat below. One pantry serves as a dedicated coffee/tea station while the other serves as overflow storage for canned goods. As well, the designer included storage in the bench seat.

Upgrading Storage

Christine Ramaekers and her design team at MainStreet Design Build in Birmingham, MI, often remodel upper-middle to high-end homes, many of which were built more than a century ago in the greater Detroit area. Kitchens are often designed to be the heart of those homes that serve everyone from gourmet chefs to large families, all of whom want innovative storage solutions that focus on accessibility and elegance that keep the space uncluttered and beautiful.

“Many of the staple items related to storage have been around for a while, such as rollout trays, dividers, spice racks, etc., so we haven’t really seen many dramatic changes in recent years,” says the CKD/founder and creative director of interior design. “However, what we’re seeing now is a perpetuation of these staple solutions getting better and more dramatic, making storage even more convenient and easier to manage items in the kitchen.”

For instance, not only are trash and recycling bins now fully customized to fit perfectly within a pullout cabinet, the cabinet can also include a custom cubby for holding associated accessories such as garbage bags. 

“Custom cabinetry, in general, provides endless possibilities for innovative storage with extra-deep to thinly narrow spaces to accommodate diverse items from large pots and pans to cutting boards and baking sheets,” Ramaekers indicates. “Custom drawers can be turned into home automation hubs with built-in USB and power outlets for charging every type of device. And built-in, below-the-sink storage options are terrific for pullout shelves and trays containing soaps, household cleaning products, plumbing supplies and other unwieldy and toxic items. Above-cabinet shelves, racks and wall units are ideal for rarely used, cumbersome items that are accessible with a hidden ladder or step stool, which can also be integrated into these creative storage spaces…out of the way and out of view.”

As well, cabinetry interiors can be upgraded to include specialty woods like walnut or rift-cut oak that match or contrast with the cabinetry exteriors. Those same interiors might also include lights so when a drawer or cabinet door is opened, their contents are illuminated and readily visible.

“Lighting has moved beyond what is used in a glass-door cabinet,” she relates, adding that glass-door cabinets are, however, still quite popular for displaying treasured items. “Now we also use lighting in drawers and even in corner cabinets. Oftentimes, it is an option provided by many cabinet manufacturers. We just provide them with our electrical plans and we no longer need to worry about installing it on our end.”

One of Ramaekers favorite storage elements is a walk-in pantry, especially those that blend with the cabinetry.

“We do a ton of built-in appliances where refrigerators, freezers and dishwashers are paneled to give a seamless look to the kitchen,” she explains. “To keep that sleek theme going, we’ve been doing a lot more kitchens where the entrance to the walk-in pantry is ‘hidden’ as cabinetry. So rather than having a traditional door or barn door, we will create a door out of the same material as the cabinetry so it all looks built in. Our designers love creating them and our clients love using them because they keep the kitchen clean and put together.”

Once inside the pantry, Ramaekers will furnish it with quartz, natural stone or butcher block countertops, base cabinets and plenty of shelving. Oftentimes, this is also where she will include the microwave and other large countertop appliances.

“Our clients still want microwaves, but they don’t use them as much as they once did,” she says. “It isn’t as integral as an appliance, so the pantry is a great place to store it.”

Along the same lines as hidden pantries, Ramaekers also frequently includes appliance garages because they conceal items traditionally stored on the countertop.

“Our clients love to use them for the small appliances they use every day,” she explains. “They can sit right on the countertop, plugged in and ready to use. Appliance garages offer more choices to hide everything from dishes and utensils to coffee makers and toasters.”

The post Winning the Storage War appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

However, life is usually much messier than what is portrayed. Consider that someone in the family needs to charge their phone. Another doesn’t have time to put away the toaster or clear away the accompanying crumbs before heading off to work or school. And where does everything go after making the ‘big box’ store run?

Tackling life that happens in a kitchen or bathroom can seem daunting. However, incorporating the right storage solutions can streamline much of the chaos to create a more idyllic space that more closely matches the vision.

This month, KBDN asked designers to share savvy kitchen and bathroom storage solutions that streamline everything that happens in life. 

Tackling Storage in Zones

Laura McCroskey remembers the frustration associated with storage in her kitchen when she moved into her home 18 years ago. She recalls that, for example, when she would carry out a recipe, she’d trek across the kitchen to her pantry where she would load up her arms with supplies, then trek back to her island to prepare the meal. If she didn’t have enough ‘carrying capacity,’ she’d have to make a second, or worse yet, third, trip. After she was finished, she’d have to repeat the process, in reverse, to put back everything she didn’t use. 

“There is so much going back and forth with walk-in pantries,” says the founder/principal designer for McCroskey Interiors in Kansas City, MO. “They just aren’t efficient…on any level. People forget what they have, they buy too much, things get lost. That’s how people end up with 10 bottles of ketchup! They don’t think they have any so they buy more. In reality, they’re buried somewhere in the pantry.

“It’s also difficult to stay organized in a walk-in pantry when everything, such as water bottles, canned goods, flour, etc., is intermingled,” she continues. “Everyone tries to be organized, but it ends up being a mess.”

Instead, she and fellow interior designer, Leann Lynn, encourage their clients to think about storage in zones. In fact, that’s how McCroskey designed her own kitchen when it was time for a renovation.

This heavily used kitchen for a family with three small children and in-laws who frequently visit is divided into several zones based on the intended task, for example, baking, cooking, etc. Designers at McCroskey Interiors also included plenty of associated storage, much of which is hidden to maintain a clean aesthetic.

“When I consider storage now, I divide a kitchen into zones based on a task, such as baking, cooking, etc.,” she explains. “Within a baking zone, for example, we will design storage for everything someone needs to bake. The same applies to a cooking zone or a beverage/snack zone. A person never has to leave the zone they’re working in to get supplies. That means we need to get very creative with storage. Sometimes, that may also mean there are duplicates of some things, but that’s okay.”

One creative solution she and Lynn often utilize is shallow storage accessed via a sliding panel(s). Oftentimes, it is in a cooking zone, for example, integrated into the backsplash behind a range or cooktop.

“It is a lot easier to have shallow storage for items like spices and oils right by your cooktop, rather than having to reach into an upper cabinet or into a base cabinet drawer,” she explains. “Upper cabinets can be difficult to reach, and they are often about 14″ deep. Spice jars are usually pretty small and they can get knocked over and easily lost. Spice drawers can be better, but they have their limitations, too, because bottles and jars aren’t necessarily uniform in size. And, some of them just don’t fit into drawers. These sliding panels that conceal shallow storage are great because everything is stored upright, and they can be customized to fit bottles of any size.”

McCroskey indicates that the concept readily works in a bathroom, too.

“You can position a mirror in the middle of a vanity, then have shallow storage on either, or both, sides with panels that slide behind the mirror to expose the ‘medicine cabinet,’” she explains.

The designers are also always looking for ways to improve storage in an island, which, given its central location, can be considered a ‘neutral’ zone that is accessible from several other zones. As such, they often include built-in paper towel holders, vertical slats for cutting boards and knife holders integrated into countertops or islands for knife storage. 

“Taking it even further, we also push for drawers underneath a sink,” McCroskey continues. “People often have baskets with some cleaning supplies, but it’s usually unutilized real estate. With drawers, they can store cleaning supplies, as well as prepping supplies like utensils and cutting boards…and also onions, garlic, tomatoes, etc.”

While she isn’t a fan of walk-in pantries, she does advocate for what she terms ‘Costco closets’ or overflow storage zones.

“I am realistic,” she says. “I understand that people buy in bulk so I create overflow storage areas where clients can store items they buy in bulk, or in multiples. In my kitchen, I have two shallow storage areas for overflow supplies that I use for replenishing. I only visit these sections every two weeks, or maybe once a month, when I need to replenish items that are integrated into the kitchen itself. These overflow areas eliminate the need to visit another room on a daily basis.

“In general, people are more open to creative storage solutions, and to thinking outside the box,” McCroskey continues. “Today, that means saying ‘no’ to a walk-in pantry, and ‘yes’ to zone storage. Whatever the solutions, having a well-organized, clutter-free space makes the space not only beautiful but more enjoyable to work in.”

Seamless Storage

When Jenny Murphy first meets with her clients for a kitchen or bathroom renovation or new-build project, she conducts an ‘anatomy session,’ where among other topics, she discusses storage needs.

“What’s essential for one family might not suit another, especially as it relates to a kitchen,” says the owner/principal designer of J. Reiko Design Co. in Fort Collins, CO. “Everyone lives, and eats, differently. So, based on their comments, we plan storage to ensure optimal functionality and convenience.”

In this contemporary kitchen, Jenny Murphy’s clients wanted to hide everything to create a streamlined aesthetic. Other than the ovens, all the major appliances, including the refrigerator and freezer, are paneled to blend with the cabinetry. A pocket door to the right of the refrigerator and freezer leads to a working pantry that helps keep the main kitchen tidy.

Photos: Sierra Ann Photography

Even though every client’s storage needs are different, there are some commonalities, especially as they relate to technology and appliances, both of which are changing the way people live in their homes.

“I’m seeing a lot more technology and appliances, with more items that need power sources,” she says. “That, of course, has pros and cons. Some of the cons are finding ways to blend everything seamlessly into a space.”

With an increased emphasis on hidden storage, Murphy encourages the inclusion of appliance garages, cabinets that extend to the countertop. Typically larger and more functional than appliance garages of yesteryear, today’s updated kitchen versions are often equipped with outlets for power-in-place usage of small appliances and multiple shelves for organizing associated accessories. Bifold or pocket doors allow full and easy access to cabinetry contents. 

“We’re seeing a lot more small appliances that people use every day, such as coffee makers, blenders and juicers,” she says. “People want them accessible, but they don’t want them visible on the counter.”

As well, cabinets in bathrooms that reach to the countertop and function in an appliance-garage manner can conceal the ever-growing abundance of powered items used in these spaces, such as toothbrushes, water flossers, razors, etc.

With an increased emphasis on hidden storage, Murphy encourages the inclusion of appliance garages – cabinets that extend to the countertop. Today’s updated kitchen versions are often equipped with outlets for power-in-place usage of small appliances and multiple shelves for organizing associated accessories. 

“These ‘towers’ sit on top of the vanity top – often one in between two sinks or multiples flanking the sinks – and function almost like a really large and deep medicine cabinet,” the designer relates. “We can cut electrical into the back of them so powered bathroom items can be plugged in all the time.”

Since Murphy often renovates historical homes, being able to conceal these contemporary conveniences also preserves their period appeal.

“People who live in older homes don’t always want modern-day technology jumping out at them,” she says. “Appliance garages give them the ability to maintain the historic nature of their house while enjoying the functionality of modern conveniences.”

Such was the principle behind the renovation of a 1901 Victorian home where the designer created a custom coffee center tucked behind a pair of pocketing doors. This renovation also features another of Murphy’s favorite storage solutions…a secondary-use kitchen.

When space allows, Murphy likes to incorporate secondary kitchens, including working pantries, butler’s pantries and sculleries, because they give homeowners a place to be messy while keeping the main kitchen tidy. The most elaborate ones, such as this one, even have sinks and duplicated appliances.

“When space allows, these secondary kitchens – including working pantries, butler’s pantries and sculleries – give homeowners a place to be messy while keeping the main kitchen clean and tidy,” the designer explains. “The most elaborate ones will even have sinks and duplicated appliances…typically pro-level in the main kitchen and mid-range in the secondary kitchen.

“Secondary kitchens are also great solutions for people who have a lot of appliances, and not enough room for all of them in the main kitchen,” she continues. “When someone wants all of the traditional appliances as well as specialty appliances, we can quickly run out of cabinet and wall space for everything to be located in one place.”

Whenever possible, and as budgets allow, Murphy also utilizes drawers for efficient storage in base cabinets, which can be especially valuable when upper cabinets in a kitchen are reduced or even eliminated entirely. As well, in bathrooms, L-shaped/notched versions capture valuable space that has historically been lost beneath the sink. ‘Character’ storage, such as furniture-style apothecary or antique cabinets for keeping linens tidy, is also becoming more popular.

Whenever possible, and as budgets allow, Murphy utilizes drawers for efficient storage. Even in bathrooms, L-shaped/notched versions capture valuable space that has historically been lost beneath the sink. 

“Storage has become so important, especially in high-functioning areas like kitchens and bathrooms, and in historic homes where we’re trying to incorporate efficient storage into a space which traditionally hasn’t had much,” Murphy states. “It can certainly be a disappointment for someone to invest in a remodel or new-build project and not be able to fit everything!” 

Taking Storage Personally

As a kitchen and bath designer with more than 30 years of experience, Mary Maney is well-versed with how to handle challenges related to helping clients attain their storage needs. And now, as a homeowner who recently renovated her own kitchen, the ASID/CKBD for Crystal Kitchen + Bath in Crystal, MN, shifted those talents to herself and her own home. Admittedly, she found it to be as challenging, if not more so, to tackle her own storage needs.

“I know too many things!” she quips. “My space is also limited, and I couldn’t do everything I wanted, so it was very difficult to make decisions.”

Even so, one decision she has been especially appreciative of includes a pull-out cabinet next to the range top where she can store cooking utensils.

“I used to store my spatulas, rubber scrapers, whisks, spoons, etc. in a jar on the countertop,” she says. “Now everything is in the cabinet and out of the way. I love it!

“I also have a knife block in a drawer on my island so I don’t have to have it on the countertop,” she continues. “I also included a tray divider above my ovens. These items used to be in a drawer where they were all piled up. Now they are all upright, and it’s much easier to pull out what I need.”

Mary Maney’s clients, especially those who have limited space, don’t want to waste any space, thus they have an appreciation for cabinetry and accessories that can fit into tight spots. Such was the case in this kitchen renovation where the designer included a narrow pull-out next to the refrigerator and a pair of narrow pull-outs on the island.

Photos: Spacecrafting, LLC

These types of storage options are popular with her clients, too, as are pull-out waste/recycling bins and corner cabinet solutions with pull-out shelves. Charging stations inside of drawers keep electronics and their associated chaos of wires off the countertop while drawer inserts organize spices, and backsplashes that extend into a shelf above the cooktop keep frequently used spices and oils within easy reach. 

“My clients are most interested in organizing their kitchens to keep items off the countertops,” she remarks. “And, they want to find stored items faster. By keeping a kitchen organized, free of clutter, with easy to find ingredients and supplies, it makes cooking more enjoyable.”

Clients, especially those who have limited space like Maney, also don’t want to waste any space, thus they have an appreciation for cabinetry and accessories that can fit into tight spots.

“Sometimes, after factoring in doors, drawers and appliances, we are left with spaces that can be pretty narrow, even less 9″ wide,” she relates.

Such was the case in one recent renovation where Maney included a narrow pull-out next to the refrigerator and a pair of narrow pull-outs on the island. 

“This kitchen is super small…just one perimeter wall and the island,” she says, “so every single square inch had to be well thought out. At one point we were contemplating using a hallway linen closet as a pantry. Ultimately, we were able to plan for enough storage that she didn’t need to use that closet.”

Maney wasn’t sure there would be enough room in this kitchen for a pantry. However, since she needed wall space to the left of the refrigerator to fully open the doors and bins, it worked out to add a narrow pull-out pantry cabinet for dry goods storage.

The narrow pull-out in the island is perfect for oils, vinegars and spices in large containers.

 

The ‘saving graces’ were, in part, those narrow pull-outs, which are tucked conveniently into otherwise wasted space. The two in the island are perfect for trays and oils, vinegars and spices in large containers while the one next to the refrigerator stores dry goods. 

“We didn’t think there would be enough room in this compact kitchen for a pantry,” Maney indicates. “We also needed wall space to the left of the refrigerator to fully open the doors and bins, so it worked out beautifully to add the narrow pull-out pantry.”

As well, the designer included shallow-depth storage on the seating side of the island where her client can store less-frequently used items. Deep drawers are ideal for storing pots and pans and a drawer insert organizes spices in small bottles.

Shallow-depth storage on the seating side of the island is used to store less-frequently used items. 

Maney planned well enough that she could even give her client a bit of décor display space above the sink.

“When a sink doesn’t overlook a window, it’s nice to have some open shelves or cabinets with glass doors so you don’t have to look directly at a cabinet door,” she explains. “With this client, she used to display things on top of her cabinets, and she didn’t want to do that in her new kitchen. This way, she has a place to keep some of those items, and she can change up things when she wants.”

Practical Storage With Style

Social media sites, such as Instagram, Pinterest and Houzz, are great places for people to find inspiration related to kitchen and bath storage. However, they can also be great places for people to get overwhelmed given the wealth of information that is posted and shared. 

“There are so many choices these days, and people see so many different trends and styles,” notes Lauren Mills, president, Sea Pointe Design & Remodel in Orange County, CA. “That’s where our designers come in. They ask questions about their clients’ everyday routines and lifestyles so we can sort through all of the information to create tailored storage that utilizes every square inch of their kitchens, without sacrificing style.”

Frequently, discussions center around a desire for open spaces, clean lines and clutter-free countertops. To meet those priorities, designers often turn to semi-custom and custom cabinetry for built-in storage solutions that can clear the countertops, yet, equally importantly, provide easy access. 

“It isn’t only about hiding things,” she stresses. “It’s also about optimizing access.”

Areas of particular emphasis include maximizing storage in islands and ever-challenging corners. Because of their size, islands often offer a capacious place for storage, especially for larger items.

Narrow pull-outs are great solutions for spices and similar ingredients, such as in this kitchen where designers at Sea Pointe Design & Remodel tucked it alongside the refrigerator. They also included a corner pull-out rack system and storage in the island for big pots and pans.

Photos: Leigh Ann Rowe

“Deep pull-out drawers fit cast iron cookware, pots and pans, woks and other items that are big and bulky,” Mills reports. “They keep them hidden away so they don’t need to be left out on the stove or countertop, or even in the oven.

“Corners are often a forgotten area,” she continues. “People really struggle with what to store in them, and usually they are left digging deep to find anything. We make it easier for them with either a traditional lazy Susan or, more commonly, a pull-out corner rack system that gives easy access to contents.”

Other custom solutions include pop-ups for heavy stand mixers and pull-outs for spices and similar ingredients. The latter is great because they can maximize narrow spaces, which can potentially be wasted. Such was the case in one recent kitchen remodel where a narrow pull-out, used for spices, was tucked alongside the refrigerator.

“It’s common for people to store spices next to the range or cooktop,” the designer says. “However, for this client, we chose to locate their spices next to the refrigerator, in a narrow space that was otherwise hard to use. We also included a corner pull-out rack system and storage in the island for their big pots and pans. These clients love to cook, and they really needed to maximize storage in their small kitchen. They also have kids and they wanted to give them easy access to things, rather than having them grab them off of the countertops.”

Designers at Sea Pointe also like to incorporate custom solutions into bathrooms. For example, toiletries niches in showers can be discreetly hidden in benches so they are functional, yet hidden from the overall vision of the bathroom. Also, in one recent bathroom renovation, they included a custom built-in pull-out hamper to corral and conceal dirty clothes and linens. 

“This bathroom is a great example of how we can maximize bathroom storage with custom cabinetry,” Mills indicates, noting the addition of cross-shelving for towels and traditional shelves for décor or toiletries. 

This custom built-in cabinet features a pull-out hamper, cross-shelving for towels and more traditional shelves for décor or toiletries. Designers at Sea Pointe Design & Remodel also included hidden electrical outlets in the floating vanity so the homeowners can plug in their hair dryer, curling iron and even phone charger, all while keeping them hidden in the drawer.

Designers at Sea Pointe Design & Remodel like to incorporate custom solutions into bathrooms. For example, toiletry niches in showers can be discreetly tucked away in benches so they are functional yet hidden from the overall vision of the bathroom. 

Sometimes storage solutions are deceivingly small. For example, electrical and charging outlets inside drawers and appliance garages are changing the way people charge electronics and store small appliances in kitchens, and even in bathrooms.

“With charging outlets in drawers, people can charge laptops, phones, watches, etc. inside a drawer so all of the wires aren’t on the countertops,” she relates. “With electrical outlets in appliance garages, people can keep appliances, such as toasters and coffee makers, hidden while still being easy to use. Even in the bathroom, people can tuck away hair dryers and curling irons to keep vanity tops clutter free.”

The post Savvy Storage appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Thankfully, for many kitchen and bath designers, storage considerations have become an integral part of the conversation, and of a kitchen design overall. And, in some cases, storage solutions can lead the entire process.

This month, KBDN asked designers to share some of their favorite storage solutions along with projects that highlight how they use them.

Disguised Storage

When Amy Pearson’s clients come to her for a kitchen renovation, oftentimes they ask her to maximize the space and make it more efficient…without expanding the footprint.

“For a kitchen to function better for a family, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it needs to get bigger,” says the CKBD/principal designer for Amy Pearson Design in Portland, OR. “Instead, it usually needs to be more thoughtfully laid out, and storage needs to be more intentionally considered.”

Such was the case for a recent kitchen renovation where the designer, who worked in collaboration with Matt Larsell Construction, needed to maintain the existing square footage, while making the space feel and function larger. To accomplish their ‘feel larger’ request, she removed a portion of the wall between the kitchen and dining room, thereby creating a cased opening that gave her clients the visual expansion they wanted. The resulting peninsula is home to the range and a pair of base cabinetry drawers on the kitchen side and shallow-depth storage with adjustable shelves on the dining room side. Pearson added matching tower cabinets – one in the kitchen and another in the dining room – that extend from the ceiling to the countertop.

“Mirroring the cabinets on either side of the cased opening connects the two spaces,” she says. “They are also a fun way to use storage as a design element.”

Creating storage that belies its function is also a technique that Pearson likes to utilize in her designs.

“I love to include efficient, creative storage where everything is hidden away and its function is often disguised,” she explains.

Case in point for these clients is how Pearson addressed their wine storage, which is part of what appears to be a three-drawer bank of base cabinets. 

“Originally, my clients wanted to store their wine on the refrigerator side of the island,” she relates. “But there wasn’t enough depth to store them any way other than to have the bottles parallel with the width of the cabinet, which wasn’t ideal. So, I worked with the cabinet maker – Rockwood Cabinetry – to create a customized solution that includes a concealed drawer within the bottom drawer so they have two levels of wine. It maintains the exterior look of the cabinetry as three drawers, but there are actually two drawers within the bottom drawer.”

Likewise, Pearson manipulated the aesthetics of the trash/recycling/compost/glass pullout in the island. Rather than have a pullout with a single panel, she designed it to look like three drawers, which matches the three-drawer base cabinet next to it. 

“When the pullout is closed, it has a clean look that is uniform across the island,” she says. “It’s important to consider what storage looks like from the outside. It can appear one way to match a desired aesthetic, but function completely differently on the inside.”

The designer is also cognizant of using every inch of space, even those dimensions that are seemingly unusable.

“Sometimes when laying out the kitchen we are left with a few inches, but there are cabinetry solutions that can make great use of every inch,” she says. “Even a small 3″ space can be used to store spices.”

As an example, in this kitchen, Pearson was left with a 9″ space to the left of the sink. Rather than sacrifice it, she included a pullout with storage for knives, utensils, cutting boards and frequently used oils and vinegars. 

“I do a lot of pullouts because there are so many different configurations,” she says, adding that she often includes narrow pullouts that flank a range for spices, oils and vinegars, and tall pantry pullouts with adjustable shelves for efficient food storage. “Given some research, you can almost always find something that will work well.” 

MAKING STORAGE MORE EFFICIENT

The ongoing extinction of the kitchen desk often gives Beth Johnson a way to increase storage capacity in her clients’ homes by reallocating the once-used workspace into a more useful and relevant function for today’s modern living. 

“Nobody works or pays bills in the kitchen anymore, so they don’t need a desk,” says the principal designer, B Interiors in Alpharetta, GA. “And oftentimes, the space where people would sit usually becomes a ‘clutter-catch,’ so in the past few years, I’ve removed the desk in about every kitchen renovation I’ve done.”

However, increasing storage isn’t always about simply adding more capacity. In fact, in one recent kitchen renovation, the designer actually made the kitchen footprint smaller, yet she was still able to give her clients more storage…and make it more efficient.

“In the 1990s, a lot of homes had weird angles in the kitchen, including this one, which had an angle on the back wall,” she says. “To better accommodate a new ventilation hood – which replaced the inefficient recirculating microwave above the range that seemed to spread more grease than it eliminated – we actually brought that wall forward about 11″ and created a false wall so the hood could vent to the outside.”

That adjustment not only straightened the wall, but it also created a more aesthetically pleasing continuous line of custom cabinetry, supplied by Pro Remodeling, that highlights the new focal-point range that Johnson accented with a zellige tile backsplash in a range of green hues. A plethora of base cabinetry drawers and pullouts offers easy access to contents. Equipping them with accessories such as spice and oil/vinegar organizers, knife blocks and peg systems keeps contents orderly and readily available.

“In general, my clients want more accessible storage, even for items they may only use once or twice a year,” she relates. “That often means we use a lot of pullouts and drawers, which makes it easier to access things without having to bend over, which is especially helpful as people age. A pullout drawer was a must for these clients’ dry bar. It made it easier to find the right cocktail ingredients…without having to unload an entire cabinet of bottles.”

The designer also gave these clients some display storage via glass-front wall cabinets that are part of ceiling-to-
countertop towers, which also include drawers that corral small kitchen items.

“My client has a lot of pretty things…classic white dinnerware and beautiful salt and pepper shakers,” Johnson indicates. “She wanted to be able to display those things.”

Additional perimeter storage includes an appliance garage that houses the coffee maker and microwave. Retractable doors tuck in neatly, and out of the way of traffic flow, when the cabinet is open. 

The designer further improved storage efficiency by creating a large rectangular-shaped ‘conversation’ island that replaced the previous L-shaped, two-tiered island that offered little in the way of workspace or storage. Hidden storage via shallow 12″-deep cabinets on the seating side meets the need for easy accessibility, even for items used less frequently, such as those for holidays or neighborhood gatherings. On the ‘working’ side of the island, Johnson included a stack of drawers and a trash pullout, one of her ‘must-haves’ in every kitchen design. 

“When you have adequate and efficient storage in a kitchen, everything has a place and nothing sits out on the countertop,” she adds. “And that means you actually get to see the beautiful design elements like a stunning backsplash.”

Creating an ‘Invisible’ Kitchen

It used to be that incorporating an abundance of drawers was enough to satisfy the storage needs of Laura Britt’s clients. That concept hasn’t entirely changed since drawers are still a must-have, go-to item in the kitchens she and her team design. 

“We love using drawers,” says the designer/founding principal, Britt Design Group in Austin, TX. “Some of our clients don’t want any upper cabinet storage, especially those with really modern homes, so we use a lot of drawers because they can house so many things and they are easier to use than doors with shelves. We typically use drawers over doors any time we can.”

However, these days, drawers are much more than the vast, cavernous cavity of yesteryear. Today’s drawers, as well as other storage-related components, are much more specialized. Think spice storage, cookie sheet and tray pullouts, trash/recycling/compost pullouts and drawer peg systems for plates, bowls and glasses, she proposes.

“It’s interesting,” she continues. “Years ago, storage was more general, such as having a utensil drawer. Now we’re seeing more specific storage, especially in higher-end lines where storage is custom fabricated or fashioned for a certain item…for example, stir frying equipment.”

Britt sometimes also specifies base cabinets that are 30″ deep, rather than the standard 24″. While the extra 6″ adds to the cabinet’s interior storage capacity, more significantly it allows for shallow custom storage in the space between upper and lower cabinets.

“We have seen a trend, especially with European cabinetry lines, where storage is incorporated in the area where you would traditionally have a backsplash,” she explains. “They have rail systems – where you can hang different components – that are hidden behind doors that lift up or drop down with the push of a button to reveal and conceal items. It’s really a beautiful way to store items in modern kitchens. And with deeper base cabinets, you don’t lose any valuable countertop work space.”

Creating a concept of an ‘invisible kitchen’ whereeverything is out of sight and behind closed doors or drawers is furthered with the use of updated appliance garages.

“We’ve been seeing really large appliance garages…those that are extra wide with double doors that can pocket back into the cabinet so they aren’t in the walkway,” she says. “We also include outlets so the appliances can be used in place. In general, today’s modern storage is really about making access to items more convenient.”

Easy-access storage also makes a kitchen more enjoyable to use, says the designer.

“Some of our clients have specialty interests, such as being a coffee drinker or enjoying nice teas,” Britt explains. “We can create stations where those items and their accessories are all stored, for example, loose leaf teas in special canisters in drawers. It can be a more pleasant experience because everything is organized in its own zone according to its use. The same concept applies to something like a baking zone, sous chef zone or compost zone where similar items are grouped together so the homeowner doesn’t have to trapse back and forth across the kitchen.”

Specialized display storage, which focuses on showcasing personal or frequently used items, is featured in one recent kitchen renovation where Britt and her design team created a 4″-deep ledge that sits atop the extended-height marble backsplash behind the cooktop.

“It’s a nice way to incorporate artistic touches into the kitchen, as well as store things like salt and pepper shakers that people use a lot,” she says, adding that an open bookshelf on one end of the island also offers a way for her client to personalize her space. “A lot of storage solutions we’re using now give homeowners the ability to curate what they display in their kitchen. That concept is driving so much of what we do where we create a place for everything, and everything is in its place.”

Sell or stay?

Monica Boldea’s clients often purchase food and kitchen consumables in bulk to minimize trips to the stores. In addition to finding enough storage space for it all, the designer with Kowalske Kitchen & Bath in Delafield, WI is frequently asked to find better ways to stash and organize pantry goods, spices, utensils and cutlery. 

In response, she finds that clients appreciate drawers with organizational accessories for everything from utensils and spices to cookie sheets and serving platters. Special food containers, hanging rails, hidden drawers, peg systems inside drawers, rollout shelves and visible storage, either behind glass or on open shelves, are popular storage requests as well. One of her favorite storage solutions is to add pantries – hidden, walk-in, etc. – some of which are even elaborate enough to serve as a secondary kitchen.

“Big or small, they tend to function as either just storage, or as both storage and a space for using small appliances,” she explains. “I especially love walk-in pantries behind pocket doors.”

A more functional pantry was one of the storage solutions Boldea utilized in a recent kitchen renovation for some empty nesters who love to host family and friends. The too-small kitchen was transformed with a new layout, which included turning a previously awkward corner pantry into a more usable hidden pantry that is tucked behind a paneled door that mirrors the adjacent paneled refrigerator to create a seamless, cohesive look. 

“It’s small, but it holds enough for overflow food,” she indicates. “We also included outlets so stored appliances can be used in place.”

Additional storage features in the kitchen include open shelving that runs the full length of the wall in the main cooking area, which was formerly unutilized space. It wraps around a corner and flows into an extension of the kitchen workspace. The angle of the shelf follows the angle of the unique corner sink that makes the kitchen more functional for simultaneously prepping and cleaning when the husband and wife cook together.

“The shelf provides storage for décor, kitchen items and cookbooks,” she explains. “It also gives the kitchen an airy look, which was one of the goals for renovation. It is one of the elements the husband loves most!”

Boldea complemented the shelf with a hanging rail that keeps pots and pans, cutting boards, towels and more within easy reach. Its brass finish works with the handmade zellige tile backsplash to create an old, imperfect vibe for the 100-year-old cottage.

“The rail and open shelving draw in the eye and provide our clients with unique storage options,” the designer notes.

A furniture-style, built-in oak hutch, located right off of the dining room, keeps dishes used for entertaining and family meals in close proximity to the dining table. It also doubles as a dry bar.

“People are spending more time at home and they entertain more often, too, so there is a growing request for built-in bar spaces,” she adds.

The island, a furniture-style piece that grounds the space and adds to its airiness, is created with storage in mind.

“The island is all about storage…and seating,” she explains, drawing attention to the inclusion of deep drawers and the absence of any surface disruptions or appliances. 

“In general, a well-organized kitchen ensures that everything has a place,” Boldea continues. “It also makes a kitchen more functional and easier to clean, and it is more pleasurable to live and work in. For these homeowners, who were debating about selling the house and moving to their cottage on the lake, a more functional kitchen made them decide to stay!” ▪

The post Interior Access appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

One of the trends that has emerged out of the pandemic is the increasing interest in large walk-in pantries. Home cooking and storage of extra food became all-important during the pandemic, and that trend remains.

But kitchen designers say that, while Instagram-worthy pantries with rows of cork-topped spice containers and apothecary jars of dog treats have gone mainstream, the pantry as accessory kitchen predates COVID. And that type of pantry promises to be the real trend ahead.

At a recent kitchen design summit, the National Kitchen & Bath Association defined the majority of luxury pantries as either a walk-in space for dry goods and kitchen items or an outsized, floor-to-ceiling space just for dry goods. But experienced kitchen designers like Sarah Robertson and Heather Hungeling say that prep or “mess” kitchens are on their way to replace the conventional pantry.

“Main Street is catching on to the convenience of the prep kitchen concept,” says Hungeling, an Atlanta, GA-based kitchen designer and influential blogger. “Savvy builders are already offering home designs with these supplemental workspaces.”

She finds it ironic how it has gotten to a point where there is a need for an ancillary kitchen. “We’ve been craving open floor plans for so long,” she explains. “Every home improvement show on television has had the designer knocking down the walls in the main living space to create those open floor plans. In addition, homeowners wanted to increase the number of windows in their kitchen, inevitably leading to a lack of storage and convenience.”

Hungeling continues, “We’ve gladly accepted these trade-offs as part of getting a kitchen that we can live in, until we realized that we had nowhere to put the toaster. Also, we’ve found ourselves feeling burdened by the need to have our kitchen be pristinely displayed at all times. The solution to this pickle is the prep kitchen. It allows us to have the openness and beauty in our main kitchen while giving us an extra work/storage area that’s a bit out of sight.”

Robertson, principal, Studio Dearborn, in Mamaroneck, NY agrees. She calls pantries that offer more than storage “hot.” 

“Be it a coffee bar, a home bar or a secondary prep/cooking area, people love it because it allows the main kitchen to be designed more as a luxury living space,” she observes.

PANTRY PLUS

The design that Robertson created for one client is a good example of the way the pantry is evolving. The client wanted a storage space off the main kitchen for overflow of small appliances; a coffee bar that included a small refrigerator, sink and cold brew tap; a kids’ snack bar and room for kids’ art supplies, and, of course, food storage. The overriding goal was a pantry where a mess can live, but be open and accessible. 

The design accomplished all of this, but she had to get very creative. For example, 11′ ceilings required a ladder that could wrap around the room, and the coffee bar needed a cold brew tap because the client loves a special brand of cold brew and has it delivered to the house in a small keg. Robertson used insight from a New York City coffee bar on how to run a cold brew tap from the basement up into an unused corner of the pantry. The kids’ area was designed with shallow drawers for granola bars, nuts and other snack items. Open shelves and baskets are used to corral things like chips and popcorn. The “external” part of the pantry stores kids’ art supplies.

“This is what true luxury is all about,” comments Robertson. ”It’s not just anticipating a client’s needs, but tailoring a design to meet those needs and provide special spaces where everything is contained and organized when our lives are out of control.”

ELEGANCE AND FUNCTION

Not all pantries have to be that complicated, however. Empty nesters who like to entertain asked PB Kitchen Design of Geneva, IL for a nice-looking home bar. PB and Haven Design Group of Geneva complied.

“It was a historic home, and finding room for such a bar was complicated,” tells Dan McFadden, president, PB Kitchen Design. “We did find room in the back hall between the kitchen and the back door. It was a tight squeeze, but we pushed a tall cabinet into a void in the wall and mirrored the door to help reflect light back and make the space feel wider. “

The bar is a source of pride for the homeowners. The black custom cabinetry features a sink and lots of storage, while open shelves on a background of gleaming subway tiles hold ample supplies of glassware and bottles.

Peter Deane, principal, Deane, Inc. in Stamford, CT designed two pantries for discerning homeowners. One, called the butler’s pantry, features wall-wide, floor-to-ceiling cabinets and stores food staples and overflowing kitchen items, while the other is a dining pantry, located right next to the dining room. It stores china, silver and other items for elegant hosting. The dining pantry is especially lavishly appointed, with light blue/gray cabinetry, decorative wallcovering and stunning accessories. 

For their showroom at the Clive Christian Furniture New Jersey showroom in Tenafly, NJ, Valerie Corsaro and Alyson O’Hanlon decided to showcase just how glamorous a butler’s pantry can be. They chose high-gloss black cabinetry, a wall of deco-inspired glass mosaic tile by Artistic Tile, and a light marble countertop and floor. A generous home bar is included. It’s designed as a self-service bar, with exposed shelves displaying glasses and bottles. The backsplash is goldleaf-backed mirror by Antique Glass and elaborate wallpaper by Pierre Frey. The butler’s pantry includes a concealed refrigerator, freezer drawers equipped with an ice maker, and, of course, plenty of space for ice buckets, serving pieces and bottles.

PANTRY WITH A HISTORY

As Hungeling reports in her blog, historically, a butler’s pantry was a downstairs room in a large estate home, where the china and silver was stored. Since it contained valuable items, it was a locked room to which the butler had the key. Hence, the name. 

Eventually, the butler’s pantry evolved into a walk-through area between the kitchen and dining room, usually with glass display cabinets and a bar sink. In today’s homes, it often features a coffee station or bar area.

In the hands of Jere Bowden, an Auburn, AL designer long serving an international clientele, a butler’s pantry becomes a gem of efficiency and classic elegance, As beautiful as any main kitchen, it features all types of specialty storage:
extra-deep bases for large appliances and trays; raised areas to accommodate endless flatware, complete with locks, and lots of carefully calculated room to hide small appliances, a pair of dishwasher drawers, a large ice machine and cooking and serving equipment. The extra-deep countertop is essential when serving large casserole dishes and arranging silver trays. Classic, timeless cabinetry and old reclaimed pine flooring creates the impression that the space has always been there. 

Bowden has designed numerous auxiliary kitchens, considered musts in the fine old mansions and modern estates that have been her venue throughout her career. “In most homes there was always a clean and a dirty kitchen,” she tells. ”The clean kitchen was for guests and the new way of cooking with ease, with better equipment and luxurious, detailed interiors. The dirty kitchen was the service kitchen/chef’s pantry, often with commercial appliances. For a few years now, this formal service/caterer’s kitchen has given way to the chef’s prep kitchen. It has some real dirty work going on. Close to the primary kitchen, it has a lot of mechanicals, such as many outlets for specialty small appliances. These prep rooms are where the food is prepared and readied for plating. It’s also where the chef’s bar cart, the most important component, comes in. Featuring heavy-duty, handsome casters, it rolls back and forth to the kitchen.”

One of Bowden’s favorite projects is a kitchen for world-traveling homeowners, with amazing treasures from exotic places. Those treasures – sculptures, paintings, rugs and fabrics – are even displayed throughout the kitchen and bar/chef’s prep areas. 

There are several parts to this kitchen, which was designed with an abundance of mixed cabinet colors, glass doors and open shelving. There is a bar area, with cabinetry, beaded backsplash, marble countertops, filtered water dispenser, sink, a crystal collection displayed behind glass doors, microwave, ice machine and wine cooler; the kitchen, with both banquette seating for family dining and conversation and counter-height seating; and a chef’s prep area with all the prerequisite components. 

“Only a very large space could accommodate all these elements,” comments Bowden. “The homeowner loves it because there’s room for two or more cooks and guests to work and enjoy meal preparation together and still be in conversation.”

THE WELLNESS CONNECTION

Sarah Barnard, principal, Sarah Barnard Design, in Santa Monica, CA says she is especially interested in the infinite ways that design can enhance life, and she thinks pantries and auxiliary kitchens can do just that.

“A well-designed pantry for dry goods, supplemental refrigeration and appliances instills a sense of order, organization and abundance,” she says. “Being able to enter a pantry space, quickly find the items you need, and bring them into a prep space will improve the efficiency and pleasure of cooking. And a closed-off pantry can help with sound reduction, muffling the whir of the coffee grinder or blender in the early morning.”

A kitchen designed for Pacific Palisades homeowners also shows her fondness for connecting design with nature. The cabinetry color is the light blue of sunny seas and skies, and artwork by Christopher Medak, Kalsang Dawa and Louise LeBourgeois also displays nature’s best blues. The adjacent pantry area is designed to store food and small appliances, and  also includes the refrigerator.

Designing a great luxury pantry or prep kitchen takes a lot of technical know-how, of course, but Bowden encourages designers to get to know all the new bells and whistles coming down the pike. Of the presently available innovations, she particular enjoys the new concealed LED lighting, the array of accessories, the engineered hinges for concealed storage, and superior air-tight containers for dry goods and condiments. 

“There are so many ways to make the home fun again,” she says. With all these new ways to prepare food and beverages, there is a need to find extra space to store ingredients and small appliances. Walk-in pantries fit the bill and are enjoying their resurgence in popularity. ▪

The post Walk-in Pantries: Hidden Gems appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

• National homebuilder Taylor Morrison’s National Design Director Lee Crowder;
• Marine Sargsyan, with online home products giant Houzz.com;
• National Kitchen & Bath Association’s Pamela McNally;
• Philadelphia area designer Liz Walton;
• Designer Shannon Ggem in Los Angeles;
• Minneapolis-based designer Lisa Peck.

OVERVIEW

It’s no secret that our industry is booming, with strong consumer demand and ongoing shortages of skilled labor and products. Nonetheless, homeowners are still seeking to improve their spaces. Despite the challenges, everyone is surging forward and cabinetry has a significant slice of that activity.

Eye-popping color and outdoor cabinetry are both trending.
Photo: Shannon Ggem, Ggem Design // Mike P. Kelley (Photographer)

“Incorporating storage was an important aspect of homeowner’s renovation activities in 2020,” Sargsyan reports. Houzz’s 2021 study found that nearly one in five homeowners cited inadequate storage for enlarging their kitchens, she notes, and “More than half of all kitchen renovations included new cabinetry (57 percent).” Smaller kitchens included even a higher percent of cabinetry replacement (63 percent).

“Storage is one of the top three areas of consumer interest,” McNally agrees, noting that, “Reducing clutter, better organization, easy access all are driving this shift.” Some of this growth can definitely be attributed to the pandemic, especially as homeowners sought to reduce their shopping trips.

Hot Spots: “The pantry is becoming a very trendy place in the home to not only organize but maximize your storage, especially as bulk buying became more popular this past year,” declares Crowder. She notes the popularity of food storage organization. “It obviously starts with a great pantry.” Houzz also saw a surge in pantry upgrades, with nearly half of study respondents improving their cabinetry, an increase over 2020.

Flex rooms are definitely trending with new cabinetry needs. This includes laundry, pet and craft spaces. They’re also popular spots for bulk buying storage to enhance pantry capacity.

Home offices, garages and outdoor spaces have become hot spots for new cabinetry designs, too, because of the pandemic. Working from home, exercising, storing overflow items and escaping safely outdoors are all COVID-19-driven accelerations. “Many of our floor plans offer a mud locker or drop zone built in,” Crowder observes, “The more time you spend at home, you realize how important having a built-in space for those daily essential items at the entrance (usually from the garage) gives you peace of mind and [helps] everyone find what they need when it’s time to leave the house.”

Technology Trends: Smart home features are making their way into cabinetry as well. “Kitchens, baths and entire residential environments have been embracing fully integrated technology, and storage is a key area,” McNally says. The goals include accessibility, better visibility and security, the NKBA executive observes. “Smart home sensors help facilitate leak detection, temperature and lighting controls and are being designed into pantry areas, lower cabinets, shower enclosures, under sink drawers and under cabinets in kitchens. LED lighting is now a standard in virtually all cabinetry installs,” she reports, and the designers agree. Chargers are also being built into cabinetry to reduce clutter.

KITCHEN STORAGE TRENDS

The heart of the home has definitely gotten some transplant improvements. With pantries taking on more importance, sometimes beyond the kitchen, these areas are being freed up to serve more comfort roles.

Specialized Zones: NKBA’s study sees separate spaces for wine and coffee usage. Houzz sees dedicated areas for baking, snacks and beverages and homework. Among the specialty spots, pantries and wine bar storage have the greatest resonance in NKBA’s study. Kitchens are catering to personal preference and specialized zoning.

“We love to include coffee and wine stations with all the associated storage laid out for clients, like a mug drawer and fridge drawer for cream if they use it, or a pod drawer and a nearby wine fridge for bottles not yet being dispensed by the wine dispenser,” shares designer Ggem. Peck is seeing smoothie stations become a trend, along with coffee and beverage centers, and Walton says just about all of her kitchen projects have coffee/breakfast bars.

Comfort zones like wine and coffee centers are trending.
Photo: Eolo Design / NKBA

Configurations: “Our clients no longer want upper cabinets, preferring instead deep drawers with peg systems for plate and glass storage,” Ggem notes. Open shelves are still popular but used sparingly, as homeowners realize the dusting required to keep their contents clean, Walton points out. Peck sees narrow pullouts, as well as the general lack of wall cabinets and well-equipped bases and pantries. NKBA’s study cites large pull-out drawers with dividers.

Peck also sees an increase in secondary kitchen spaces, both as “back areas” for cleaning and storage, and auxiliary for older relatives to live independently with the family.

Styles and Finishes: Houzz has Shaker as the most popular style (57 percent), flat panel/slab at 21 percent and raised panel at 17 percent. In terms of finishes for the kitchen, Walton declares, “Wood tones are coming back in a big way! We are seeing a lot of warm walnut islands paired with soft white perimeter cabinets. Painted wood cabinets especially in navy or a powdery blue are very popular and pair well with white and warm wood tones.”

“Self-expression through color in cabinetry is definitely a trend,” Peck says. “We have done orange, yellow, blue and teal cabinetry in the spirit of this trend. We are also seeing a return to mixing painted cabinetry with wood. Rift cut white oak is a strong contender here in the Midwest. In modern kitchens we are seeing the use of acrylic slab door panels in gloss and ultra-matte finishes,” she adds.

Across the country, L.A. designer Ggem is seeing matte finishes and wood, including textured, fluted panels trending in materials. Taylor Morrison’s Crowder is seeing earthy hues along with warm neutrals and NKBA finds ash and rift cut oak solids and veneers trending, along with sophisticated high-pressure laminates.

One final note on finishes: “Wellness is huge in the kitchen conversation. Toxins and off gassing are no longer tolerated, and all clients inquire,” proclaims Ggem.

BATHROOM STORAGE TRENDS

The bathroom has also gotten enhancements. “Just like in kitchens, many people are having electrical outlets and charging stations built into their cabinets,” reports Taylor Morrison’s Crowder. “Another technology item popping up is cold storage,” she observes. “Adding a mini fridge into your cabinet bank allows you to store beauty items that require being cold – but they can also help keep creamers cold so you can make your coffee while getting ready in the bathroom.”

Configurations: Built-in vanities far outstripped freestanding in popularity, with floating styles trending upward, Houzz reports. “The floating vanity helps create visual space, making the vanity feel less heavy within the space,” Walton suggests.

Peck is seeing appliance garages migrate to her midwestern bathrooms, she says. They include chargers for hygiene and grooming tools and magnifying mirrors. She’s also seeing an emphasis on accessible cabinetry and nontoxic materials.

Taylor Morrison homebuyers like open shelves in their bathrooms, Crowder shares. They also want auto-opening and closing doors, outlets and charging stations.

Shaker is still a leading style trend for kitchens and bathrooms alike.
Photo: Caroline Sharpnack © Houzz

Styles and Finishes: Bathroom style trends track pretty close to kitchen, with Shaker, slab and raised panel in similar proportions. Walton sees natural wood tones like white oak and warm walnuts mixed with white or dark gray. Taylor Morrison is seeing light washed warm wood tones and textured woods in low maintenance matte finishes. The builder is also seeing painted looks, especially dark green, trending. Peck is seeing personalized colors, like teal and blues, along with rift cut woods, especially oak and walnut topping trends. Ggem sums up her clients’ preferences this way: “A minimal aesthetic is what is happening right now – slab doors, hidden pulls, quiet and clean.”

LAST WORDS

If your business is based on cabinetry manufacturing, distribution, installation or sales, this should be a strong season for you. It can also be a strong season for those who are “cabinetry adjacent,” like technology providers with a growing area of opportunity. Knowing and predicting the latest trends is essential to staying successful and a candy land full of fun and flair. ▪

Jamie Gold, CKD, CAPS, MCCWC is an author, wellness design consultant and industry speaker. Her third book, Wellness by Design (Simon & Schuster), published September 2020. You can learn more about her Wellness Market presentations, books, Wellness Wednesdays Clubhouse conversations and consulting services at jamiegold.net.

The post Cabinets Deliver Clever Storage and Style appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

To accommodate, many designers turn to efficient – and sometimes elaborate – walk-in pantries and even time-honored, yet updated, butler’s pantries.

Alessia Zanchi Loffredo carved out some space from her clients’ garage to create this new walk-in pantry, which incorporates the same marble and limestone checkered floor seen in the kitchen, along with the same cabinetry, hardware and countertops. The swinging doors, which are stained the same color as the floating shelves in the kitchen, are the star of the show.
Photos: Ryan MacDonald Photography

As Alessia Zanchi Loffredo points out, the pantry’s role has changed because the kitchen’s function has changed.

“People want their kitchens to be functional, but they also want them to be places where they can show some personality and highlight architectural features that set the tone for the rest of their home,” says the designer/principal of reDesign Home, who, with her business partner Sarah Coscarelli, transforms clients’ homes in the Chicago and Detroit metropolitan areas. “They don’t want clutter or small appliances sitting on the counter, and they don’t want a lot of upper cabinets.

“They are still in the kitchen prepping and cooking food for family and guests,” she continues, “but they also want to entertain. The kitchen has become a different space to live in, so the pantry is now getting a lot more attention because you still need a place to put all of your things.”

Claire Teunissen, designer, Studio M Kitchen & Bath, in Plymouth, MN, agrees. “Clients are desiring more storage and prep areas off the main kitchen,” she states. “Sometimes those decisions are based on space and sometimes they are made to conceal the preparation and mess that come with cooking and entertaining. Pantries can also relieve congestion in a busy kitchen with large families or gatherings.”

Jason Rolstone, designer, Thomas and Birch Kitchen and Bath Boutique, in Victoria, BC, typically designs modern and contemporary kitchens with a clean, sparse aesthetic, which often means removing small appliances and other items from the countertop…and into some type of storage.

“We definitely see more pantries and hidden storage,” he emphasizes. “In general, people have more stuff…more specialty items, appliances, etc. We have better ways to hide them with cabinet gadgets like lazy Susans, which have become much more sophisticated, and appliance garages that definitely look a lot better than they used to, but they all take up room. That’s when the pantry becomes handy.”

Ryan La Haie, principal, 42° Architecture + Design, in Grand Rapids, MI, finds that pantries are becoming the real workhorses of the kitchen. “I think a lot of their popularity stems from people who like having guests and visitors, but don’t like the mess,” he explains. “With a pantry, they can shut the door and address the mess later. And, people are buying larger quantities of things – in part to get better deals, but also because of events like the pandemic and a wavering economy – so they need more storage so it can all be organized. What do you do with seven bottles of ketchup?!”

“Storage is huge today,” adds Nancy Henry, interior designer, DDK Kitchen Design Group, in Glenview and Wilmette, IL. “People no longer want to keep things in their basements. I hear from so many who tell me their wedding presents are still down there, and they haven’t looked at them in years. I tell them it’s time to move them upstairs!”

Open shelves are one of Claire Teunissen’s favorite elements in this walk-in pantry; they display the family’s white dishes, baking essentials and fixings for entertaining.

It starts with open shelves

Nearly every pantry design starts with open shelves, in large part because of their ability to provide easy visual and physical access to items. They are one of Teunissen’s favorite elements in a walk-in pantry she designed as part of a recent transformation that was made to a 100-year-old home in collaboration with Black Dog Homes.

“We remodeled the farmhouse to give it a fresh new look while keeping some of the original history,” she explains. “The pantry, which includes open shelves that display the family’s white dishes, baking essentials and fixings for spur-of-the-moment entertaining, acts as a prep area and place to keep dishes – and messes – when guests are over. I’m also partial to all of the drawers, especially the deep ones, because they offer the ideal space to keep items organized. Since they can be pulled out all the way, you can see everything inside so nothing gets lost in the back of a dark shelf or corner.”

La Haie often combines shelves with cabinetry as well, creating a kitchen-esque visual.

“More shallow shelves will be on the top, and deeper shelves and cabinetry will be on the bottom,” he explains.

Henry and Loffredo both mention the importance of shallow shelves…“no deeper than 15″, and more like a standard 12″, so items don’t get lost,” says Henry. “Shallow shelves also make it easier to see everything and grab what you need. It’s important to be able to view everything, so that means no boxes or cases either.”

Loffredo usually stacks shallow shelves from floor to ceiling for maximum capacity. Typically, they are no more than 12″ deep and are ideal to store shelf-stable food items and small appliances.

“That’s deep enough to allow for two rows of canned goods,” she says. “Shallow shelves provide a visual that allows you to walk into a space and know exactly what you have so items don’t get lost or forgotten. By knowing what you have, you can also be more efficient when grocery shopping. You can walk into the pantry, glance at the shelves and write down anything that is missing. That can help tremendously for someone who works all day. They can have everything on hand and easily put together a meal at night, rather than having to look for everything.”

If her clients want to store larger items, such as pots/pans or large bowls, she’ll divide the pantry to accommodate deeper shelves or maybe add an armoire to conceal ‘messy’ items. “Pantry items aren’t always pretty,” she adds.

A divided layout is how she designed her own kitchen’s pantry, which was inspired by her grandmother’s pantry in Rome.

“She had the tiniest pantry and kitchen I had ever seen,” she says. “Within it she had a table that was used as a countertop for prepping food, as well as for us to have a meal. There was also a door that led to a tiny, tiny pantry space. But, in that pantry you could find anything. It was so helpful for her because she could store so much.”

Alessia Zanchi Loffredo’s own kitchen pantry was inspired by her grandmother’s pantry in Rome and includes one wall of 12″-deep shelves that run floor to ceiling and an opposite wall with 20″-deep shelves for larger items.
Photo: Ryan MacDonald Photography

Loffredo’s pantry includes one wall of 12″-deep shelves that run floor to ceiling. Pantry staples are stored in glass jars or open baskets for quick visual identification and small appliances are located on the lower shelves. On the opposite wall, she deepened the shelves to 20″ for larger items. Painting the shelves a deep green hue, which is the designer’s favorite color, contrasts and complements the black cabinetry in her kitchen. Tiling the walls, including those behind the shelves, eases cleanup from spills and sticky children’s handprints.

One of her favorite pantry design elements is the glass entry doors, which she admits may be counterintuitive for some people.

“I love the visual of the shelves,” she says. “To me, it’s very calming and soothing when everything is lined up.”

Open shelves are also a must-have for many of Rolstone’s clients. If possible, he’ll tuck them into an area of the pantry that isn’t visible from the entry door to maintain a sleek design vibe.

“Open shelving is definitely a must,” he says. “But generally, I don’t like those shelves to be seen.”

Such was the case for one recent kitchen pantry where a few open shelves are set atop banks of drawers, with the bulk of the open shelves tucked around the corner so they are hidden from the entry door.

In this pantry, designed by Jason Rolstone, a few open shelves are set atop banks of drawers with the bulk of the open shelves tucked around the corner so they
are hidden from the entry door, and a countertop provides a place to mix tea from leaves stored in glass jars on the open shelves above.
Photos: Dasha Armstrong

He also included a countertop, another ‘must-have’ for many of his clients. For this homeowner, it provides a perfect place to mix tea from leaves stored in glass jars on the open shelves above. Others use their pantry countertops for mixing up a batch of cookies or for staging food-filled platters and desserts while entertaining. Another popular countertop use is for storing the microwave.

“A pantry is the number one location for the microwave,” Rolstone indicates. “No one wants to see it in the kitchen. It’s the same for toaster ovens. From a design perspective, if these small appliances can be located in a room other than the kitchen, that’s fantastic.”

Rolstone also finds that pantries are a great place for locating recycling bins.

“Garbage and compost bins typically go under the sink in the kitchen,” he says. “But here we need three boxes for recycling paper, glass and plastics. Oftentimes these bins end up in a pantry.”

Upping the ante

While pantries can be relatively straightforward with a focus on maximizing storage via open shelves, countertops and cabinetry, in some cases they essentially become secondary kitchens, complete with full-size sinks (with garbage disposals), dishwashers, refrigerators (both full-size and undercounter units), ovens and even warming drawers. Lighting, both natural and task, and electrical outlets for powering the appliances are often included as well.

“When a kitchen is small, the pantry is a great place to locate a set of double ovens or even a microwave,” says Teunissen, adding that her clients also use their pantries to store infrequently used items such as sous-vide machines, instant pots, fine china and large platters. “The pantry is also a great place for a built-in coffee station or even a wet bar.”

In addition to appliances such as coffeemakers, dishwashers and microwaves, La Haie often expands on the pantry concept to include home management and bar/liquor functions.

“It’s expensive to build so we try to make spaces flexible and adaptable,” he says. “That’s the nice thing about a pantry…you can utilize two or three functions, without taking two to three times the space to do that.”

For example, he’ll often include a pantry behind a range/ventilation hood, with openings on each side so the homeowner can easily circulate throughout the space. If possible, he’ll also locate it within close proximity to a garage to save steps when unloading groceries from a vehicle. Within the pantry, he’ll create a c-shaped layout with pantry functions located in the middle. To the left and right, he’ll include a home management area with a desk and chair on one end of the ‘c’ and a liquor/wet bar with beverage refrigerator, ice maker, etc. on the other.

Another version of a hybrid pantry/multi-functional space was created for a client who wanted a pantry combined with her mud room and laundry room. It includes a second refrigerator and tall pantry cabinets on one side and mud room functions on the opposite side. An island for crafting is centrally located while a washer, dryer and sink round out the room.

Save or splurge

To maintain continuity, designers oftentimes use the same materials in a pantry that are used in the kitchen. However, depending on a client’s budget, the pantry can be a great place to either save funds or showcase a bit of extravagance.

“Generally, I try to use the same materials as in the kitchen so there is some consistency,” says Rolstone. “However, they don’t always have to be the same, especially if there is a door between the rooms, or if they aren’t next to each other. For example, if we use marble or granite as a countertop in the kitchen, we could use quartz, or even laminate, in the pantry. Or, if the kitchen is all walnut, we can do simpler, less expensive cabinetry in the pantry, but add an element of walnut to tie everything together.”

La Haie agrees, adding, “Pantries are becoming prettier than they used to be…more like a kitchen rather than a closet. However, a lot of times, in pantries we’ll step down a level in cabinetry.”

A pantry can also be a great place to experiment with color, he continues.

“I find that people tend to be very creative with these spaces,” he says. “While they may not be so daring to include orange or red in their kitchen, they may be willing to have a red microwave or mixer in their pantry. I do tend to see more pops of color in a pantry.”

Pantries can also be a place to splurge.

“I like to be consistent with the design,” says Loffredo. “However, I also like to incorporate a few elements that maybe we can’t use in the kitchen because of their price point. In some cases, it’s possible to splurge in a pantry because it’s a small space. It’s similar to a powder room where a homeowner will splurge on a wall covering, tile, countertop or custom cabinet. It’s fun to designate a ‘wow’ factor in a pantry as a way to bring in some new and fresh style into a space. Pantries don’t have to be boring!”

Henry also sees pantries as a place where design elements and materials can take center stage. Such was the case for a recent butler’s pantry renovation that went from humdrum to highly stylized. Completely open and sited traditionally between the kitchen and dining room, she incorporated several elements from the kitchen such as the custom gray cabinetry that includes a custom toe kick and paneled beverage refrigerator as well as a framed unit that allows visual access to its contents. A stunning quartzite countertop – accented with an undermount hammered stainless steel sink that is a reclaimed relic from the original design – features a 6 cm mitered edge to mimic the kitchen island and give it greater prominence.

Completely open and situated traditionally between the kitchen and dining room, Nancy Henry incorporated several elements from the kitchen such as the custom gray cabinetry and quartzite and elevated the pantry’s focal-point status with the inclusion of a highly reflective, mirrored backsplash.
Photos: Michael Kaskel

To further enhance the pantry’s focal-point status, Henry included a highly reflective, mirrored backsplash. Framing the section between the upper and lower cabinets gives it a finished look. Extending it as the backing for the upper cabinets intensifies the ‘bling’ since the mirror is visible through the mullion glass doors. In-cabinet lighting enhances the shine.

“We included the mirror because it reflects the beautiful backyard,” she says. “It’s really quite lovely.”

Henry also included a mirrored backsplash in another recent butler’s pantry renovation where the client wanted to make the space feel larger and highlight it as a showstopper.

“She does a lot of entertaining and she wanted to encourage people to come in and get a drink,” she concludes. ▪

The post Efficient & Elegant appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

“Cabinets are the foundation of any kitchen, and their form and function can make or break a space,” says Jessica Smalley, national sales trainer for Cabico&co in Coaticook, Quebec. “As home design trends such as smart technology, wellness, multifunctional spaces and pops of color evolve, cabinetry design supports and brings their functionality to life.”

“Our homes used to be the place we retreated to at the end of the day, but over the past year they have evolved to act as so much more. Our homes are our office, our classroom, a place to work and a place to play – and the kitchen is the central hub of it all,” reports Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends at Jasper, IN-based MasterBrand Cabinets.

Decisions around cabinetry are impacted by much more than just the kitchen design, including layout of the home, aesthetic and functional needs, she adds. “There is no one-size-fits-all solution for kitchen cabinets. Instead, homeowners need to ask themselves what type of layout, finish, door style and storage solutions will work best for their household. It comes down to a lifestyle preference.”

Current trends highlight flexible design that incorporates cabinets into open-concept spaces; creative storage solutions; customized features; finishes that incorporate metal accents, natural wood tones and pops of color, and a continued desire for a sleek, clean look. That’s according to manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News.

Open Space and Plentiful Storage

Whether designed to blend in or stand out, cabinets shouldn’t skew the overall design. And with open-concept spaces as popular as ever, it’s important to consider the impact of cabinets on the flow of the space, as well as the impact that open space has on cabinetry.

“A designer’s job is to pay attention to the amount of natural light, vertical space or other architectural details in a room and guide the customer towards selections that make sense for the space while also giving them the flexibility to make it their own,” emphasizes Hannah Gebauer, marketing director at Showplace Cabinetry, based in Harrisburg, SD.

“The function of the kitchen and the layout should be designed with the space in mind, while material selections can match the current homeowner’s style. A really successful design will make the client feel like it was made just for them, while the next homeowner will appreciate a successful layout just as much,” she notes.

Cabinets are an essential piece of the storage puzzle, which means they’re showing up in more places throughout the home than ever, manufacturers say.

Because of the importance of natural lighting, Angela O’Neill, director of marketing for Wellborn Cabinet in Ashland, AL, says open kitchen/living room spaces are often filled with large windows. “The use of a lot of windows can eliminate the wall cabinets needed for storage, so secondary rooms [and] pantry areas are a must. The walk-in pantry is in popular demand,” she reports.

Brian Stowell, president of Crown Point Cabinetry based in Claremont, NH, says that cabinetry is being purchased for reasons they’ve never seen before in 40 years in business. Projects are being designed to be comfortable for either one family or to include extended family, just in case, he explains. Kitchens are sprawling into family rooms, twin islands are added to accommodate multiple family cooks, and long walls house floor-to-ceiling cabinetry. Cabinets are being put in kitchens, office areas and additional separate spaces, he adds.

“Cabinets for the home office have become a huge priority over the past year,” agrees Gebauer. “Pantry cabinetry is more of a priority as well. Whether it be a custom walk-in pantry, or just a large cabinet for pantry storage and organization, overall home organization is a hot trend with consumers right now,” she reports.

Smalley emphasizes demand for flexible, multifunctional spaces. “Homeowners are re-evaluating their homes, and cabinetry plays a significant role in creating more flexible spaces. From large kitchens with multiple workspaces, to home offices, mud rooms and entryways, incorporating cabinetry into the home adds functionality and storage solutions wherever you need it most.”

Practical considerations also come into play. Mary Baber, design & training manager at Marsh Furniture Company in High Point, NC, says popular requests when designing client spaces include a double trash pull-out and as many drawers as possible.

Flexible Features

The myriad ways cabinets are used creates demand for flexible, customizable features that meet the specific style and functional needs of homeowners. Both technology and organization are important considerations, manufacturers say.

“As people rethink their spaces, the full range of customizable elements we offer complement and reflect the entire variety of styles,” emphasizes Jennifer Paul, product development manager for Elmwood, Cabico&co, in St. Catharines, Ontario. “Cabico and Elmwood work with leading manufacturers including Häfele, Blum and Hettich, harnessing the latest technology to innovate and create motion solutions for outstanding functionality,” she adds.

Smalley notes, “In the kitchen and beyond, we’re seeing an increased appetite for touch-latch cabinets, power sources and docking stations, and voice-activated features.” She adds, “The home of the future will be wired for wellness, and lighting will play a key role in the pursuit of the healthy home with principles such as biophilia, task and ambient lighting.”

Multifunctional spaces with plenty of good lighting and charging station areas are top priorities, Gebauer offers. Other important features for cabinetry include interior organization, drawers with outlets, and colors that look good not only in photos, but in person as well, she adds.

“We are plugged in from our breakfast to our bedroom, and our spaces need to help us not just stay connected but stay charged,” stresses Pierce. “Recent MasterBrand research reported a 67% increase in requests for charging or docking stations. And while we continue using our phones, tablets and computers, our kitchens need to keep up.”

She adds that, while a demand for storage is a given, they are constantly working at MasterBrand to meet the needs of evolving kitchens. “From drawers specific to single-use coffee pods to an appliance garage the exact dimensions of your mixer and even a biometric secured drawer to safely store valuables or medication, we are also considering how new technologies you use might impact your cabinetry needs,” she remarks.

When it comes to cabinets, important technological advances include how materials are made as well as elements that impact function. Melamine prints are becoming more advanced, Stowell states. “Companies are able to create textured materials that are closer to reclaimed wood than ever before,” he adds.

“It’s interesting to see so many turning to wrapped technology that is used to produce durable alternatives to the popular painted door styles to get the same look but at a more attractive price point,” Baber states. “Designability meets affordability with Marsh’s expanding Captiv8 product line.”

Metal Accents

The use of metal as an accent feature in kitchens is currently trending, manufacturers say. “Metal shelving at the end of islands, floating on walls, or as a total base to rest cabinetry on the floor is a great look,” offers O’Neill.

“Metal is being integrated into almost every project we manufacture,” says Andrea Tobias, CKD, sales & marketing for Premier Custom-Built Cabinetry in New Holland, PA. “From whole kitchens to metal accents on doors and parts, the majority of Premier projects feature metal in some form or fashion.”

Gebauer adds that open shelving that mixes wooden shelves with metal frames is popular. “Designers are using a mix of materials, finishes and textures within a room. This includes mixing different metal finishes in hardware, faucets and lighting,” she says.

Emerging Finishes

Painted finishes remain a top choice, according to manufacturers. And while white is still most often selected, colors and natural wood tones are also emerging.

“Painted finishes still rule. I tell people 80 percent of what we sell is painted and 80 percent of that 80 percent is one of about 20 different whites,” Stowell says. “We are finally starting to see more of a shift to color, and not just on islands or ‘accessory pieces,’” he adds. Demand has been higher for walnut and lighter woods, especially rift cut oaks, he reports.

O’Neill says gray, green, blue and black paints are all strong. Wood tones with natural-to-dark stains are also being used, particularly in kitchen islands, she reports. And though the perimeter more often sees painted cabinets, she adds, they are seeing all wood stain kitchens and baths starting to come back.

“What is exciting is that this industry is finally seeing color on cabinetry as a positive enhancement again,” Pierce reports. “We have been slowly incorporating color back into our cabinetry palette, seeing blues first emerge, and now green and black. But don’t be surprised if you see reds and yellows appear on cabinet doors,” she says.

“The biggest change in this cyclical trend is that we no longer see the single ‘avocado green’ as the universal driver for color infusion. Once a tone emerges, we have been seeing it carry anywhere from three to six variations of the tone into popular demand, so emerging greens are dark, olive and pale. This trend aligns well with the current culture desiring personalization of products,” she adds.

“Painted finishes are still very popular, but designers are incorporating more natural wood tones with pops of color in the kitchen,” explains Gebauer. Top requests for Showplace include Rift Oak and White Oak, she says. “While gray finishes are still popular, we are seeing a shift to more taupe finishes,” she adds.

Paul says that earthy hues and pops of color are currently trending. “Earthy pinks, nature-inspired greens and blues that reflect water and sky will dominate color direction for the next few years. We’re proud to say, we’re ahead of the crowd. Many of the colors cited had already been featured in our trend color suggestions,” she notes.

Nature-inspired, calming styles are also on the rise. Pierce says, “The notion of Japandi stylization crossing over into the kitchen space is a natural evolution in lifestyle trends that we see in this area right now. Kitchens have been solidly dominated by neutral palettes and clean lines to minimize clutter for a while, but what is fresher in the mix is the integration of nature. Black painted accents, balanced grid-like cabinetry lines and neutral paint colors that complement organic wood tones are all a great place to start with inspiration to incorporate this trend.”

“Warm wood and wood-looks are in the spotlight right now,” Paul stresses. In the past few years, she says, Walnut and White Oak have been on the rise. Now, Hickory and Red Oak are emerging, she notes, along with cerused and glazed finishes that highlight the material’s natural beauty.

Pierce agrees that wood grain is re-emerging. “Walnut wood tones and Walnut wood are in high demand and have beautiful inherent undertones that pair especially well with gold metal details, black finishes and green accents, which make them easy to integrate and be on-trend within a design,” she says.

Baber adds that there’s a current trend toward using three finishes, rather than the traditional two, for increased interest.

Simple Styles

Transitional styles that lend themselves to a clean, sleek look and an uncluttered design are still preferred by many homeowners and designers, manufacturers say.

“People still appreciate the clean and simple lines of a Shaker or modified Shaker,” Baber reports. “We’re also seeing more flat panel requests in stained wood due to the minimalistic mid-century style that is so popular now.”

“The most popular or in-demand doors for Cabico are all very simple profiles, minimal details, clean lines,” observes Smalley. These include Shaker style, variations of Shaker with beveled or beaded edges, and slab doors, she reports.

Stowell notes that thin, tapered framing around a rift oak slab panel is a door style that’s attracting a lot of attention currently. They also see demand for this type of door in painted finishes, he adds.

O’Neill reports the door styles currently in demand lead to simpler profiles. Shaker has long been a top design choice, she notes, but the look today is a slight twist from straight Shaker to doors with slight profile details. Solid panel, slab doors and square panel doors are all in currently, she adds, while cathedral and arch profiles are not. “Sleek and clean is the word,” she stresses. ▪

The post Around The House appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

“Today, the interiors of cars receive a lot of attention – this is the same for cabinetry as well,” says Daryl Nauman at Häfele America Co., based in Archdale, NC. “Everyone wants to lead a less cluttered life, and the kitchen is the heart of the home,” he says. “Keeping items out of sight when they aren’t needed and having good, efficient organization systems makes for happy customers.” 

Shari McPeek, marketing manager at Rev-A-Shelf, LLC in Jeffersontown, KY says that design isn’t just about the space, but also about creating a feeling. “[Homeowners] want to come home and enjoy a space that is open and relaxing, not cluttered and chaotic,” she notes, explaining that well designed interior storage “is a must.”

Storage solutions that support the overall flow of the kitchen are essential, and they must integrate seamlessly into their surroundings. Fittings that add convenience, flexibility and true value to the space are key, while kitchen accessories that allow consumers to show some personality while making the space more comfortable are also in high demand. That’s according to manufacturers recently surveyed by Kitchen & Bath Design News.

A Place for Everything

Accessories and tools that used to live on the countertops are more often being contained within cabinets and drawers. And there’s often a space designed just for each item, to keep the insides neat and tidy as well. 

“To keep kitchens neat, and give them that clean, open feel, homeowners are searching for ways to get clutter off countertops,” says Karen Smith, brand communication coordinator for Blum, Inc. in Stanley, NC. “Full-extension drawers in base cabinets give you a quick overview of the entire drawer’s contents, and utilizing interior organization keeps everything neat and within quick reach.” 

J. Ulrich Hauser, CEO at Schwinn Hardware, Inc. in Scottsdale, AZ, also acknowledges the trend toward less clutter on the countertops and more internal organization within the cabinets. Specific needs require specific solutions – for instance, the added demand for power in more places requires power boxes, grommets and wire management, he says. Functionality and versatility are key, he adds. 

Angelika Weidling, head of marketing at Vauth-Sagel Systemtechnik GmbH & Co. based in Germany, has noticed a stylistic mix of tradition and new technological design in accessories. 

And, in addition to having a proper spot for everything, it’s expected that every bit of space will be usable – which means solutions for hard-to-reach places are essential.

“It’s important that every millimeter of space within a drawer be able to be utilized in some fashion,” believes Jan Fitzpatrick, customer & market relations manager at Kernersville, NC-based Grass America Inc. This means that full-extension or full-access drawers are high on the list of “must haves,” she says.

“Space optimization continues to be an important factor in considering remodel options, especially when you’re dealing with tight quarters,” states Billy Peele, marketing/PR representative for Doug Mockett & Co., Inc. in Manhattan Beach, CA. While opening up wall space that usually holds cabinetry can make a small space feel larger, storage needs must then be considered, he notes. “Your walls can be outfitted with shelf supports that still serve as a great way to store kitchen accessories and foodstuffs without overpowering your overhead space. Shelf supports are much more versatile than cabinetry since they can be installed anywhere.” 

Integrated Flow

When it comes to how fittings and accessories look, it’s important that they’re integrated with the look and feel of the cabinetry, manufacturers agree. 

“Seamless integration is the most basic requirement from an aesthetic standpoint, though it can often be one of the most difficult properties to achieve,” Peele states. “A truly seamless design that blends with the design almost does its job a little too well – it’s really a shame that its brilliance is not on full display. But that’s the idea, that adding accessory options will not overpower the existing design and will add function to the furniture without calling attention to itself.”

With the increasing popularity of simple, modern kitchen styles, Smith sees plain styles and doors without handles on the rise. “Touch-to-open mechanisms, with either electronic or mechanical components, are the key element to achieve this look without compromising storage space,” she notes. 

Functional Value

Finding interior fittings and accessories that add real value is important to consumers, manufacturers say. 

Cost is a factor, but consumers are willing to pay more for what they really want – especially if those things will add convenience and efficiency to their kitchen. “Consumers don’t want to spend money on things that are too trendy or flashy,” believes Nauman. “They’re willing to pay more for the functional aspects of their space, whether that be the proper hinge for their opening or an efficient pull-out to store their cooking needs. Something as simple as a spice rack can add enormous functionality to a kitchen.”

“The best investment is in quality goods that have a timeless, classic style,” adds Peele. “Quality retrofit accessories like drawer pulls and cabinet handles will go a long way in adding value to your furniture as well, which is also an easier way to update furniture and give it new life without having to replace it.”

Weidling agrees that quality and longevity are important factors. She also believes people are willing to spend money on something that is unique, as globalization and social media make it harder and harder to stand out. “People are willing to invest more when they know it’s worth it. They spend more on designer statement pieces and are looking to save on basics. Handicraft products are also very popular, since people are seeking individuality and quality,” she says. 

Value becomes a little more complex when talking about luxury accessories like radiant heating and cooling. Tim Botten, single family segment specialist for Uponor based in Apple Valley, MN says, “Most people who have lived with radiant will simply not do without it. The comfort experience is that meaningful to the homeowner. Those who are new to the technology tend to have sticker shock.” 

While homeowners are drawn to the new smart thermostat and app, Botten believes “the value that has the most importance is comfort. A system that is designed and installed properly will be able to operate without the occupants knowing it,” he adds.

Standard Options

Much like how some of the options on vehicles that used to be upgrades now come standard – like power locks and windows – some interior fittings features that used to be optional are now considered standard, manufacturers say. Options like pull outs and soft-closing mechanisms are so popular they are now available at any price point, and often incorporated automatically. 

“While we used to talk about soft-closing doors and drawers being an upgrade for your cabinetry, they are now the standard, or quickly becoming that way,” says Fitzpatrick. “Of course, there are still the self-closing items, but if a consumer is educated in any way, they will ask for the soft-closing feature in their functional hardware. In our manufacturing operations, we consistently see the soft-close items outsell the self-closing items,” she adds. 

“Just like consumers have come to expect a quieter dishwasher, soft-close drawers and doors are a must,” agrees Smith. “Soft close has become the standard in mostly all cabinet lines. In fact, it is now expected in mid- to-high-end kitchens. Having the soft-close technology built into the runner or hinge cup makes installation quick and simple,” she adds.

Pull-out systems are also becoming common, particularly for waste bins and hard-to-reach spaces. “Pull-out waste bins such as the Häfele MX Waste Bin have now become a standard in today’s kitchen,” says Nauman. “Consumers can have one or two bins that pull out, keeping their trash concealed. We’re seeing a similar trend with blind corner pull-outs.”

Modern Conveniences

One of the key tasks of accessories and fittings is to simplify kitchen tasks. Hauser says consumers are looking for convenience, and products that make their lives easier by saving time and requiring less effort.

“Efficiency and convenience are really the name of the game,” says McPeek. “No one wants to get on their knees and dig through a cabinet or riffle through a drawer. They want what they want, and they want it right then, and that’s why more people are adding cabinet accessories to their kitchens, bathrooms and closets. “

Peele agrees: “We are constantly looking to improve efficiency and convenience in design. Those are the driving factors in the way we work and the way we live. Ergonomic solutions that promote comfort and function without losing sight of basic aesthetic values are the crux of contemporary design solutions.”

Drawers that incorporate a wide range of accessories are on the rise in order to meet the demand for increased convenience, and for better ergonomics, manufacturers say.

“Full-extension drawers in base cabinets are an ideal solution because they bring the contents out into full view, eliminating the need to get on your hands and knees to search for an item that’s been pushed to the back corner of the cabinet,” says Smith. “Deep drawers can hold more than their traditional counterparts. Having storage items that are easy to access means less time spent preparing meals.”

Fitzpatrick also sees this shift toward drawers due to added convenience. In the future, she believes it’s likely that cabinet doors will be replaced by lifter units. “Lifters offer quick and easy access to cabinet interiors. In one smooth motion, doors lift up, providing full exposure to the cabinet contents. And most lifters will hold firm in any position. Depending on the type of lifter used, one can accommodate a variety of door sizes and weights,” she says.

One additional option to fulfill the desire for efficiency and convenience is digitalization, notes Weidling. “The market is working on solutions that serve the trend for smart homes. Motion sensors (e.g. to open doors) and other electrical supports of interior fittings are used to increase convenience. Time efficiency and energy efficiency are important,” she says. 

Efficiency and convenience are relevant to the radiant heating and cooling market as companies try to find ways to differentiate themselves by providing products that can bring value to the installer – such as labor savings or ease of installation, says Botten. “Of course there needs to be value to the end user in the form of energy savings, less maintenance and reliability,” he adds. 

Individualized Accessories

Beyond storage considerations, kitchen accessories are as varied as the individuals and families who use them. Accessories are an easy way for designers to personalize the space for their clients, and the range of available options means the possibilities are endless. From the need for extra power sources to specialized lighting, manufacturers see a wide variety of accessories on the rise.

As people grow used to being constantly connected, digital products – and places to keep these charged – top the list of kitchen accessories. “I think you are seeing more and more items with technology being built in,” says McPeek. As an example, she cites cabinets that have speakers and even tablets incorporated into their design. 

“At Rev-A-Shelf, we listen to the industry and design accessories that fill this need,” she states. That means not only offering darker finishes, but also developing products that are easy to use, beautiful to look at, and that answer a need, she notes. “Years ago, a charging drawer would have been overlooked as a ‘need,’ but with all the electronic gadgets, they are being included in designs without a second glance,” she points out. 

Peele says, “Accessible power options are in demand on every inch of usable space to create a more accommodating and more efficient work and living space.” That means power hubs are turning up in unexpected places: in countertops, inside drawers and cabinets, or on the sides of islands. “These simple power additions can make all the difference when it comes to hosting and food preparation,” Peele maintains. Units that pop up from the countertop when needed, but hide away for a clean, uncluttered look when not in use, are becoming a popular alternative, he adds. 

In radiant heating and cooling, technology has allowed hydronic systems to become more energy-efficient, Botten says. Technological advances in equipment that includes heat pumps, condensing boilers, variable speed pumps and a smart thermostat with remote access capabilities have made radiant heating and cooling appealing to the tech-savvy user, says Botten. “However, they have also made radiant complicated and expensive. There are some radiant system companies and installers that are looking beyond the technology curtain and implementing other means to increase market share by using radiant panels. This does not mean floor and ceiling panels exclusively; the innovators are also taking advantage of radiant walls. These panel products tend to be more feasible to install in retrofit applications,” he states.

Interior lighting is another accessory showing up everywhere. “When consumers see lighted cabinetry, it’s something that they don’t want to live without,” says Nauman. “Opening a drawer, pantry or cabinet and having it immediately light up adds ‘wow’ to the space. It’s also convenient and functional.” ▪

The post Clutter-Free Kitchens appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.

“Kitchens are expanding into multi-function rooms by encompassing dining areas, breakfast rooms and living areas,” says Randy O’Kane, CKD, senior designer at Bilotta Kitchen and Home, with several locations throughout New York. “Thus, the expansion of the kitchen is definitely happening.”

However, kitchens aren’t always given any extra square footage to accommodate the additional demands. That means space saving is often top of mind for designers. Even kitchens that aren’t necessarily considered small can benefit from space-saving principles since they can improve efficiency and workability within the room.

“A number of years ago, it wasn’t that uncommon to do an addition or bump out to a kitchen,” says Gail Bolling, co-owner of The Kitchen Company, in North Haven, CT. “However, more recently, we’ve been doing less of those because they’re expensive. Now, we’re looking for more creative ideas to use the existing space.”

Steve Ptaszek, CKD, agrees, noting the days of the massive homes with colossal kitchens are also going away. “In new construction, kitchens seem to be getting smaller,” says the owner of Imagine That Kitchens + Baths, in Minneapolis, MN. “I do mostly remodeling, and I’m doing more and more smaller kitchens.”

Hannah Hacker’s clients are trending in the direction of petite spaces, too. “On the West Coast, we have been seeing a move toward more condo living and smaller footprints for homes,” says the owner/AKBD of Adapt Design, LLC, in Beaverton, OR.

For Jennifer Austin, RJ Austin Interior Design in Kenwood, CA, kitchens aren’t necessarily scaling down, but space challenges still exist given that many of her clients prefer open kitchen designs. “People seem to be gravitating to larger kitchens that they use as gathering spots,” she says. “They want open kitchens, but one of their drawbacks is that we lose a wall for cabinetry. Clients also don’t want cabinets to come into a space, such as over an island, so we need to find other places for storage, often within the same footprint…all while keeping costs down.”

SPACE-SAVING IDEAS

Designers address space constraints in a multitude of ways, including with design.

“When I approach a kitchen design, I always start with the layout before we even start talking about materials,” says Hacker, who indicates a focus on layout is especially key in small spaces. “It’s important to think about not only the basic work triangle, but also where everything will be stored.”

Walking space in a small kitchen is often an issue as well, she continues. “Islands are a classic example,” Hacker says. “Everyone thinks they need an island in their kitchen, but it’s often not the best use of space in a small kitchen since you need to account for walking space on all sides of it. A u-shaped kitchen or a peninsula may give you significantly more counter and storage space than an island.”

Austin agrees, noting that while islands offer base cabinet storage, their inclusion must accommodate traffic throughout the kitchen. “Everyone wants an island, especially with an open floor plan,” she says. “But, it can disrupt the flow, so there needs to be enough room to move around it.”

Many designers encourage clients to consider multi-tasking as a way to save space. For example, Hacker recommends that seating in the kitchen be kept at counter instead of bar height. “That way, it can be used as countertop work space as well as for seating,” she says.

O’Kane agrees, adding that an island can have a pull-out table for extra seating. The designer applies the multi-tasking concept to appliances as well. “One of my favorite space-saving tips is to use appliances that utilize one footprint, such as ranges that allow for cooking in one spot,” she says. “Microwave/convection/hoods are one appliance that does several functions, and steam ovens and/or speed ovens are great multi-functional pieces for a small kitchen.”

Convertible refrigeration appliances that convert between a refrigerator and freezer based on need – such as an ice cream party where extra freezer space is desired versus keeping drinks cold for daily use – are also a good element when space is limited, O’Kane adds.

Hacker appreciates the space-saving abilities of combination appliances as well, noting that these can help reduce the physical size of an appliance package. “Many of my clients say they have to have two ovens,” she says. “But they really only use the second oven a few times a year. A combination oven checks off the need for a microwave and also the secondary oven. I’ve found that the speed ovens are so easy and quick to use that they become the main oven and the full-sized oven is the one that gets used only a few times a year.”

Bolling also focuses on multi-tasking principles, such as creating a bar area that can be used for mixing and serving drinks during a party and as a spot for collecting mail, charging electronics and managing family communication the rest of the time. “It’s also a great place for storing recipes,” she adds. “There’s no reason why it has to be single purpose. I often design bar areas with wall cabinets that have glass doors for displaying barware and base cabinets that can be used for storing notepads, pens and clutter.”

Islands can benefit from the same thought process, she continues. “People may have a teeny kitchen table and teeny island, or maybe no island,” says Bolling. “It’s crowded for working and there isn’t any good place for people to come into the kitchen and mingle. I suggest getting rid of the table and replacing it with a big island that includes seating, which can maximize counter and work space, plus add base cabinet storage. It’s also more inviting and easier for people to come in and circulate.”

Bolling also looks for ways to get rid of diagonals and angles. “They waste a lot of space,” she says. “We used to do a lot of diagonal corner cabinets and ranges, but squaring off those corners maximizes counter space, working space and cabinet storage.

“I just remodeled my own kitchen,” she continues. “It had an angled island and diagonal sink. I squared everything off, moved the sink and made a big rectangular island that gives me so much more storage and seating. I didn’t change the footprint at all. I just changed the design and reconfigured the layout. When people walk in now they can’t believe it’s the same kitchen because it looks so much bigger.”

Designers also often add pantries that help save space by providing a lot of storage in a relatively small amount of space. For narrow spaces, Bolling will turn a tall, 12″- or 15″-wide space into pull-out pantries with shelves that can be accessed from both sides. “Since it’s narrow, items don’t get lost and it maximizes space,” she explains.

Austin’s clients often want large walk-in pantries. “But if there isn’t enough room, or if there are budget constraints, I will include a pantry made by the cabinet company that is 24″ deep and 7′ high,” she adds.

Austin likes to eliminate narrow pull-out base cabinets that are frequently located on each side of a range, opting to add that space to adjacent cabinets. “Usually those narrow cabinets are about 9″ wide,” she says, “which means you only have 6″ or less of interior room. By eliminating those narrow cabinets and making the cabinets next to them wider, you’ve gained extra room. It’s about using fewer, wider cabinets to maximize space.”

Hacker turns to non-standard cabinet sizes to utilize all of the available space. “A typical wall cabinet is 12″ deep,” she says. “But there are a lot of items, such as glasses, bowls and pantry items, that can be stored in a shallower cabinet if that is all you have room for.”

O’Kane often helps clients find more storage space by extending wall cabinets to the ceiling and/or to the countertop, which utilizes the backsplash area. “If the cabinet is 13″ deep, you still have 12″-13″ of countertop where small appliances can fit nicely,” she notes.

Additional space-saving ideas O’Kane likes to utilize are to tuck paper towels under the overhang of an island, and to use pot racks instead of pot/pan drawers.

SPACE-SAVING PRODUCTS

One of most effective ways to find more space is to look inside cabinets. Advancements made in cabinet storage/organization accessories have vastly improved storage efficiency and access, meaning homeowners can store more stuff in less space and have easier access to it.

“Being organized is a great space saver,” says Ptaszek, who indicates he often utilizes double-tiered cutlery dividers and ‘stepped’ inserts for drawers to corral utensils and manage spices.

Bolling adds that clients worried about storage often simply lack space-saving and organizational cabinet accessories. The concern becomes even greater when new floor plans eliminate walls to open up kitchens. “My clients are often surprised to learn about new cabinet features that maximize storage,” she says.

In particular, Bolling appreciates the space-saving capability of vertical tray dividers, which she utilizes in high, hard-to-reach spaces such as above refrigerators and double ovens and also in narrow base cabinets and spaces 12″ or less. “I use them for everything from cookies sheets to roasting pans, serving platters, cutting boards and muffin tins…basically anything that can be stored vertically,” she says. “When these items are stored horizontally, they waste a lot of space in a base cabinet. Plus, they are also stacked on top of each other.”

Hacker and Austin both indicate that corner accessories have been a boon to saving space for their clients.

“I personally stay away from lazy Susans in corner cabinets because they take up too much space,” says Austin. “Instead, I like to use kidney-shaped trays. Each tier works independently and can be pulled out into the room.”

Austin also sees cabinet accessories, such as roll-out shelves, as critical for making base cabinets more functional. “An island offers base cabinet storage,” she says, which can be a space saver. “Making sure that storage is accessible with roll-out trays means people don’t have to bend down to see what is inside the cabinet.”

The availability of smaller appliances, as well as a greater variety of appliances – such as combination appliances and modular cooking appliances – has also helped designers find extra space. “Appliances take up a huge amount of space in a kitchen,” says Hacker. “Selecting an appropriately sized appliance package for the space available is very important. Column-style refrigeration is great for small spaces. They are cabinet depth, come in multiple widths and do not need to be installed side by side. I have done kitchens where the freezer column gets installed in a pantry outside the kitchen.”

Ptaszek agrees, noting that refrigeration advancements in particular have been a game changer. “Appliance sizes used to be pretty standard,” he says. “Ranges were 36″, or maybe 48″. Refrigerators were side-by-sides. But now manufacturers offer 24″ cooktops and ovens, and 18″ dishwashers. Refrigeration options are off the charts – you can have cabinet-depth refrigerators that save space and column refrigerators and freezers that don’t even need to be next to each other. You can also have a refrigerator and/or freezer drawer, which can be great options for clients who don’t want any ‘talls.’ There are a lot of options, and being able to pick and choose elements makes so much sense.” ▪

The post Doing More with Less appeared first on Kitchen & Bath Design News.