Cabinetry is all about space and design

You should plan for enough cabinets to give breathing room to everything you already store in your kitchen, to hide all your small appliances — blenders, rice cookers, crockpots, margarita machines — make space for your pantry, and then add a little more.

“Located in the hub of the home, your countertops and cabinets are the face of your kitchen, and they set the tone for the whole home,” KB Home tells customers in its promotional material. “Whether your style is contemporary, transitional or traditional, you’ll be able to achieve the design you want.”

And space is limited to the number of cabinets under or over the countertop.

The butler’s pantry gives homeowners the ability to stock up, store up pantry items. It makes life easier when you’re not rooting around in the back of a small closet to find that extra jar of peanut butter while a small child is hollering for more PB&J.

Space in the kitchen is the key to organization. When there’s room for everything you own to have a designated “spot,” you’re much more likely to put it away and easily find it next time.

And don’t lose the extra space that often goes unused in older kitchens.

Open, outside corner cabinets can give you a great place to stash your Bluetooth speaker or charging stations, while Lazy Susans in lower corner cabinets offer a nice additional pantry area for spices or condiments. DESIGN

The design of your cabinetry is essential to its function.

Beyond the typical wood types — maple, oak and cherry are most common — consider that the color and style of the cabinets will define the style of the room.

KB Home touts flat panel cabinets for a midcentury modern look, available through its design studio, or white cabinets with crown moulding for a more polished, formal kitchen.

The height of the cabinets is also an important decision. Some homeowners look for additional counter space by raising their wallmounted cabinets to the ceiling, with the option to polish the top with crown moulding. Other prefer to lower them for easier access. DRAWERS

And not everything needs to be stashed in a cabinet.

Drawers are making a comeback. Large, deep drawers are a great way to organize pots and pans, find a home for your small appliances and keep Tupperware organized.

Just don’t create the dreaded junk drawer.