How to make your kitchen space work for you
Having the kind of sparkling, beautiful kitchen worthy of a glossymagazine spread is one thing, but when it comes to a functional space, it’s what’s behind the cabinets that counts. If you can’t find your small saucepan because your drawers are crammed with pots and pans or your spice jars keep toppling over every time you open the cupboard, you can end up feeling as frustrated as Gordon Ramsay on Hell’s Kitchen.
The good news is you don’t need to undergo a costly, complete overhaul to optimize every inch of your kitchen. These new, clever organizing and storage solutions can transform your kitchen into an efficient space worthy of a professional chef.
Reface Magic is the go-to source for bringing simple yet dramatic changes to your own home. Proudly based in Edmonton since 2002, Reface Magic has the expertise and selection to help you optimize every square inch of your space.
“True organization makes your life so much easier,” says Reface Magic owner Ken Nicholl. “You’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.”
NOT-SO-LAZY SUSAN
Most kitchens have a Lazy Susan in a corner cupboard, but older versions tend to be flimsy and unable to support much weight. Rather than being supported on a central pole, modern Lazy Susans are supported on four corners, meaning they can withstand greater loads—think stone wear, big bags of flour, or bought-in-bulk cans of soup. Plus, the new ones have a centre portion that pulls out like a drawer, giving you easier access to your goods.
TIP-OUT TRAYS
These are located right underneath the sink, occupying what’s typically unused filler space. The small tray tilts out toward you, becoming the ideal space to store scrubbing pads and brushes and other small items neatly out of sight.
THE PERFECT PANTRY
Having a pantry is wonderful, but it’s less so when shelves are so deep that products end up being shoved way in the back—no wonder crackers go stale when you can’t see them and forget about them. New slideout pantries solve the problem of crammed shelves. With a series of height-adjustable baskets that pull out, they allow for total visibility and easy access to all of your products. Tip: Tired of the sound of slamming cabinet doors? Add shock-absorbing mechanisms for a soft closing.
GO DEEP
Kitchen drawers are nothing new, but what may come as a surprise to homeowners is that oftentimes they aren’t as deep as they could be; many cabinet companies default to using 18-or-20-inch drawers in a 24-inch space. Even a few inches can make a tremendous difference when it comes to storing pots, pans, plates and serving dishes, making deeper drawers an invaluable upgrade. Fully customizable features such as inserts, pegs and dividers allow for sleek separation of kitchenware and equipment.
SECRET COMPARTMENTS
Many kitchens have narrow filler spaces between cabinets that traditionally aren’t used effectively, if at all. New solutions include sliding baskets that make for ideal places to store cooking oils, cleaning products, paper towels, baking sheets and more.
NO MORE MESSY DRAWERS
They’re the bane of anyone who has ever found themsleves fumbling for measuring spoons or steak knives: disorganized drawers that contain a jumble of utensils and tools. Cost-effective, user-friendly dividers come in a range of configurations, some even designed for saucepans and plates, that allow every object to have a place.
CLEANING UP GARBAGE
With today’s kitchens requiring room for a garbage can, recycling bin and compost bin, spaces can become awfully cluttered. Available in all sorts of sizes and configurations, new systems allow for waste bins to be attached to sliding shelves, maximizing space and optimizing organization. Odour-controlling lids even have room to stash old newspapers until recycling day.
SPICE IT UP
If you can’t see the cinnamon through the jars of peppercorns, curry powder, and paprika on your cupboard shelf, you’ll love drawer inserts and dividers made specifically for herbs and spices. Their graduated design means the jars lie face up and you can see all of your spices at once.
These are just some of the many affordable options out there to make your kitchen more functional and efficient. As any professional chef will tell you, a well-organized space makes cooking that much more efficient and enjoyable.
Learn more about how you can make your kitchen-space work for you at refacemagic.ca