How to Design Kitchen Cupboards
Well-designed kitchen cupboards are a necessity for a serious cook but just as useful for the novice. Efficient design requires that pots and pans, kitchen utensils, dishware and food products are within easy reach and that infrequently used items are stored out of the way. Adding a few new elements to your kitchen will make it easier to use. A complete kitchen redesign should include solutions that are based on how you use your kitchen. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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1
Plan a pantry cupboard that reaches from floor to ceiling. The shelves should be deep, so put the pantry at the end of a countertop, or as a visual divider between the kitchen and breakfast room if your counters extend into the eating area.
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2
Install a cabinet at the end of a counter with a large shelf that pulls out and then lifts up for permanent storage of a stand mixer called a mixer lift. Put an electrical outlet in the shelf so that the mixer doesn't have to be moved onto and off of the counter for each use.
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Make items on very high shelves accessible by installing shelves that are designed to pull out and then drop down.
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Leave one cupboard without shelves for storage of large, infrequently used items such as bread machines, cappuccino makers, large stockpots and roasting pans.
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5
Install pull-out shelves and standard drawers in lower cabinets. Use a pull-out pot-lid and pot-holder drawer near the stove.
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Use glass-fronted cupboards, or cupboards without doors, for storage and display of china, glassware and serving pieces.
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Put a tall, narrow pull-out shelf in the cabinet next to the stove for spice-jar storage.
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8
Build a two-shelf lazy Susan into the corner of a lower cupboard for canned goods or items that are awkward to lift down from higher shelves.
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Tips & Warnings
Choose colors, styles and materials that complement your kitchen decor. Real wood, laminates and painted plywood come in a variety of styles and price points. Use large drawer pulls and cabinet handles if you have problems with mobility.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit Reliable Remodeler, Rockler, Kitchen Trends
