A Kitchen Designer's Top 10 Cabinet Picks
An expert reveals her favourite cabinets on Houzz and outlines how they solve common kitchen problems
Anne Ellard
24 March 2017
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane, Australia. I strongly believe that above all else, the most important thing when designing a kitchen is creating something that the client loves!
Houzz Australia Contributor. Kitchen designer at Kitchens by Kathie in Brisbane,... More
Who doesn’t crave more space, particularly in the kitchen? My husband would like to implement the ‘one in, one out’ rule in our house but fortunately for me, he hasn’t managed to enforce it. Because, if there’s one thing I’ve learned as a kitchen designer, it’s that you don’t always need to add more cabinets, or throw out half of your small appliances, to create more storage. Often, all that’s needed is some clever thinking and some hardworking cabinets to make the best use of the space you already have.
Check out these 10 cabinet ideas found in the kitchens of Houzz users, to see how you too can make the most of the space you already have.
Check out these 10 cabinet ideas found in the kitchens of Houzz users, to see how you too can make the most of the space you already have.
1. Suspended overheads
This U-shaped kitchen is cleverly laid out with lots of bench space and under-bench cabinets. However, there is very little wall space against which to position overhead cabinets.
No wall? No worries! Here, an additional row of overhead shelves has been suspended from the ceiling above the bench, providing additional storage in an innovative way. Keeping the cabinets open instead of putting doors on them helps to maintain the open and airy feeling in the space.
Flyover kitchen shelves
This U-shaped kitchen is cleverly laid out with lots of bench space and under-bench cabinets. However, there is very little wall space against which to position overhead cabinets.
No wall? No worries! Here, an additional row of overhead shelves has been suspended from the ceiling above the bench, providing additional storage in an innovative way. Keeping the cabinets open instead of putting doors on them helps to maintain the open and airy feeling in the space.
Flyover kitchen shelves
2. Head in the clouds
When horizontal space is restricted, go vertical. The overhead cabinets in this kitchen extend all the way to the ceiling, making the most of every millimetre of space. The higher shelves are the perfect place to store occasionally used items such as Christmas platters, birthday cake tins and those bulk packages of paper towels.
Keep a small step stool close to hand to make access to these cabinets easier. If space allows, store the stool inside an under-bench cabinet or in the lower part of the pantry.
When horizontal space is restricted, go vertical. The overhead cabinets in this kitchen extend all the way to the ceiling, making the most of every millimetre of space. The higher shelves are the perfect place to store occasionally used items such as Christmas platters, birthday cake tins and those bulk packages of paper towels.
Keep a small step stool close to hand to make access to these cabinets easier. If space allows, store the stool inside an under-bench cabinet or in the lower part of the pantry.
3. Secret drawer
A kitchen can never have too many drawers. And what better place to fit an extra drawer than inside another drawer. This well-organised cutlery and utensil drawer makes fantastic use of space by incorporating two separate pull-out drawers behind one drawer front.
One section can be used for utensils while the other can store cutlery. Alternatively, the second drawer is a great place to store a special set of cutlery reserved for special occasions and celebration dinners.
A kitchen can never have too many drawers. And what better place to fit an extra drawer than inside another drawer. This well-organised cutlery and utensil drawer makes fantastic use of space by incorporating two separate pull-out drawers behind one drawer front.
One section can be used for utensils while the other can store cutlery. Alternatively, the second drawer is a great place to store a special set of cutlery reserved for special occasions and celebration dinners.
4. Pull it out
Corner cupboards are often the most difficult-to-access areas in any kitchen, yet they are essential in order to utilise every tiny piece of space. Building a wire pull-out into a corner cabinet makes it much more convenient to use, and it also facilitates additional storage. Pull-outs are available for both L-shaped corner cabinets and straight corner cabinets, also know as blind corner cabinets.
Clever corner-cupboard storage
The wire pull-out pictured here is attached to the back of the cabinet doors. The front section pulls out as the door is opened, which in turn pulls the back section forward. This makes it possible to pack as much into the cabinet as possible while ensuring everything is still easy to access.
Corner cupboards are often the most difficult-to-access areas in any kitchen, yet they are essential in order to utilise every tiny piece of space. Building a wire pull-out into a corner cabinet makes it much more convenient to use, and it also facilitates additional storage. Pull-outs are available for both L-shaped corner cabinets and straight corner cabinets, also know as blind corner cabinets.
Clever corner-cupboard storage
The wire pull-out pictured here is attached to the back of the cabinet doors. The front section pulls out as the door is opened, which in turn pulls the back section forward. This makes it possible to pack as much into the cabinet as possible while ensuring everything is still easy to access.
5. Behind closed doors
When bench space is limited it can often be difficult to find a place to put everything you need in your kitchen. This clever pantry cabinet serves multiple purposes and makes the most of the space it occupies.
Bench space concealed behind pocket doors can be used to store small appliances such as a kettle, toaster and coffee machine. Here a small prep sink has even been incorporated into the space. The shelving above is the ideal place to keep tea and coffee canisters and cups at hand. The cabinets below and above can be used as pantry storage for dried food, or as storage for crockery, glasses and containers.
When bench space is limited it can often be difficult to find a place to put everything you need in your kitchen. This clever pantry cabinet serves multiple purposes and makes the most of the space it occupies.
Bench space concealed behind pocket doors can be used to store small appliances such as a kettle, toaster and coffee machine. Here a small prep sink has even been incorporated into the space. The shelving above is the ideal place to keep tea and coffee canisters and cups at hand. The cabinets below and above can be used as pantry storage for dried food, or as storage for crockery, glasses and containers.
6. Slot it in
Here is another great example of making the most of nooks and crannies with cleverly designed cabinets. This traditional home boasts a beautiful old brick fireplace that is no longer used for its original purpose.
Building a cabinet to house the ovens, and adding some additional storage drawers into the opening not only makes optimal use of the space available in this room, it creates a stunning visual feature.
The island bench positioned in front of the oven provides bench space to place hot roasting pans as they are taken out of the oven. A space like this could also be used for pantry storage.
Browse more compact kitchens
Here is another great example of making the most of nooks and crannies with cleverly designed cabinets. This traditional home boasts a beautiful old brick fireplace that is no longer used for its original purpose.
Building a cabinet to house the ovens, and adding some additional storage drawers into the opening not only makes optimal use of the space available in this room, it creates a stunning visual feature.
The island bench positioned in front of the oven provides bench space to place hot roasting pans as they are taken out of the oven. A space like this could also be used for pantry storage.
Browse more compact kitchens
7. Climb high
This kitchen takes the concept of using every available millimetre of space to a whole new level. A bulkhead is often essential above kitchen cabinets to conceal unsightly beams, air-conditioner ducting, range hood ducting or plumbing pipes from upstairs. Sometimes it can be possible to steal back some of that space and use it as additional storage.
Here, some open shelves have been incorporated into the bulkhead area. Not only do they create additional storage space, they add an interesting design feature to the kitchen. The inclusion of a library ladder can be dangerous when small children are about, however. It isn’t essential though, particularly if you have space to store a step stool or small ladder close to the area.
This kitchen takes the concept of using every available millimetre of space to a whole new level. A bulkhead is often essential above kitchen cabinets to conceal unsightly beams, air-conditioner ducting, range hood ducting or plumbing pipes from upstairs. Sometimes it can be possible to steal back some of that space and use it as additional storage.
Here, some open shelves have been incorporated into the bulkhead area. Not only do they create additional storage space, they add an interesting design feature to the kitchen. The inclusion of a library ladder can be dangerous when small children are about, however. It isn’t essential though, particularly if you have space to store a step stool or small ladder close to the area.
8. Move outside
When space in the kitchen is tight and already jam packed with essentials it is sometimes necessary to look further afield for additional storage space. These cabinets in a small outdoor kitchen area are a clever way to create some additional storage space as well as somewhere to house a barbecue and outdoor sink.
Use these cabinets to store everything you need for the barbecue, such as utensils, large serving platters, outdoor tableware and barbecue cleaning items. This frees up valuable storage space in the kitchen, and makes barbecue afternoons more pleasurable.
When space in the kitchen is tight and already jam packed with essentials it is sometimes necessary to look further afield for additional storage space. These cabinets in a small outdoor kitchen area are a clever way to create some additional storage space as well as somewhere to house a barbecue and outdoor sink.
Use these cabinets to store everything you need for the barbecue, such as utensils, large serving platters, outdoor tableware and barbecue cleaning items. This frees up valuable storage space in the kitchen, and makes barbecue afternoons more pleasurable.
9. Squeeze in a desk
Tight corners, oddly shaped rooms, nooks and alcoves can make designing a kitchen more difficult. The trick is thinking outside the box and figuring out what each space is best used for.
Here a recess in the wall next to this kitchen has had some clever cabinets built into it to create a small study nook. The desktop is the perfect size for a laptop or even a full computer, while a small drawer underneath can be used to keep unpaid bills and shopping lists off the kitchen bench. The open shelves add visual interest and can be used to display decorative items, store small boxes of paperwork or even display cookbooks within easy reach of the kitchen.
Tight corners, oddly shaped rooms, nooks and alcoves can make designing a kitchen more difficult. The trick is thinking outside the box and figuring out what each space is best used for.
Here a recess in the wall next to this kitchen has had some clever cabinets built into it to create a small study nook. The desktop is the perfect size for a laptop or even a full computer, while a small drawer underneath can be used to keep unpaid bills and shopping lists off the kitchen bench. The open shelves add visual interest and can be used to display decorative items, store small boxes of paperwork or even display cookbooks within easy reach of the kitchen.
10. Split it up
This character-filled kitchen works hard to make the most of the available space. Incorporating space for a microwave into a kitchen design is essential these days. A microwave takes up a lot of valuable bench space so it’s generally preferable to build it into its own space, somewhere that doesn’t interrupt bench space and work flow.
Here a tall pantry has been split into three sections. The top and lower sections cater to dried food storage, while the open section in the centre creates the perfect space for a microwave and cookbooks. A second space-saving design feature of this pantry is its sliding doors. The pantry is located in a corner right next to the main entrance door to the kitchen. Hinged doors would block the doorway when opened, while sliding doors keep the walkway free at all times.
Tell us
How have you managed to squeeze more storage into your kitchen? Share photos in the Comments below.
More
See more eclectic kitchens
This character-filled kitchen works hard to make the most of the available space. Incorporating space for a microwave into a kitchen design is essential these days. A microwave takes up a lot of valuable bench space so it’s generally preferable to build it into its own space, somewhere that doesn’t interrupt bench space and work flow.
Here a tall pantry has been split into three sections. The top and lower sections cater to dried food storage, while the open section in the centre creates the perfect space for a microwave and cookbooks. A second space-saving design feature of this pantry is its sliding doors. The pantry is located in a corner right next to the main entrance door to the kitchen. Hinged doors would block the doorway when opened, while sliding doors keep the walkway free at all times.
Tell us
How have you managed to squeeze more storage into your kitchen? Share photos in the Comments below.
More
See more eclectic kitchens
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The first kitchen layout is useless, hardly any storage space and you'd need to be a giant to reach those upper shelves. I swear some of these "designers" don't cook or never use a kitchen for any other purpose than to sell their "services". So unpractical and silly.
the corner cabinet solution is misleading....the amount of wasted space in the corners is not factored. It looks cool but is hard to organize, you have lost over 2 square feet of storage once you add up the voided out space.
While it is true, a corner cabinet seems like a 'black hole', keeping it organized is key. A 2-tier storage solution will help you get the most out of the corner's cabinet capacity.