10 Ways to Set Up Your Kitchen for Healthy Eating

Article by: Becky Harris

It's remarkable I’ve never had scurvy, because until recently, I rarely ever ate vegetables or fruit. So this year my New Year’s resolution was to eat more produce. Prior to 2014 a half-rotten banana would linger, very lonely, in my fruit bowl for a week, and I never made time for cooking either. However, as I try to establish new habits (including not spending an obscene amount of money per week on takeout), I find I love a baked sweet potato with crumbled goat cheese on it, or to slow cook quinoa (something I’d never tried before) with apples in the Crock-Pot. What has helped me the most was setting up my kitchen for healthier eating success.

As the first month of the new year comes to a close, don’t get discouraged if you’ve slipped on some of those resolutions. Instead, make reaching them easier on yourself by getting the right setup. Here are some ideas to get you started. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Hartland Landscape Architects & Designers Bright Green 

1. Keep fresh herbs and spices handy. Herbs make healthy food much more savory and flavorful, which will help you cut down on less healthy choices like salt and butter. Plus, check out how gorgeous you can make an herb garden look in the kitchen. This vertical garden by Bright Green is a living work of art.

I realize keeping things alive indoors can be a challenge for a lot of us. Growing herb plants need fresh air and sunlight to thrive. Simply keeping herb jars handy in a cabinet next to the stovetop is the low-maintenance version of this suggestion. 

Traditional Kitchen by Santa Cruz Media & Bloggers Shannon Malone 

2. Enjoy making pretty still lifes out of your produce. This sounds silly, but it works. Put out a large platter, a fruit bowl or that cake stand you never use and play with arranging. 

It will inspire you to keep the kitchen stocked with an array of colorful fruits and vegetables, and they’ll always be the first thing you see when you enter the kitchen for a snack.

Modern Kitchen by Dallas Photographers Emily McCall 

3. Play favorite tunes while you cook. Have a radio, docking station or speakers set up so that you can enjoy catching up on NPR or listening to a favorite podcast or playlist while you cook. 

Try to get several things done once you’re on a cooking roll. I’ve been putting my quinoa and apples in the Crock-Pot while I bake sweet potatoes, whip up mini quiches in muffin tins and cook spaghetti squash in the microwave. This means all of my healthier choices will be easy to grab for the next few days, and I’ve only spent an hour in the kitchen. 

Kitchen Products 

4. Add other electronic devices that you like to use in the kitchen. If you’re addicted to cooking shows, bring a TV into the kitchen so you can keep up with Julia, Emeril or Giada. If you love to keep track of new recipes on the Internet, make an iPad station a part of your kitchen. 

Contemporary Kitchen by San Marino Interior Designers & Decorators Charmean Neithart Interiors, LLC. 

5. Organize the pantry in an attractive way. Keep your healthy items front and center and make low-cal snacks easy to grab. Hide your secret chocolate stash in case of a total craving (sometimes you just have to have it), so you don’t get tempted by looking at it every time you open the pantry cabinet door.

Eclectic Kitchen 

6. Keep a tea station handy. Making tea is a wonderfully relaxing ritual, and if you get the munchies, you may find that the scent and warm comfort of tea take care of them (if not, by all means go munch). 

Contemporary Refrigerators And Freezers by New York Appliances GE Monogram 

7. Organize the fridge. Take everything out, give it a good cleaning and keep all this great food you’ve made and produce that needs refrigerating front and center.

Dining Room 

8. Use smaller plates. Every diet-tips article I’ve ever read seems to advocate this — tricking the brain into seeing an overflowing, full plate. I tend do doubt how well it works, because just like with my clock that’s set 10 minutes ahead to trick me into getting up earlier, my brain does the math. However, there is something about having to get up for seconds that gives me pause, so why not give it a try? Stock up on smaller plates and see how they serve you.

Traditional Kitchen by San Leandro Architects & Designers Struthers Dias Architects 

9. Make sure your small appliances are available. If you have to go digging through a messy cabinet and looking for all of the pieces, chances are that you won’t use it. Let the Crock-Pot, juicer, food processor and other small appliances clutter up the countertops if it will make you slow cook that chicken chili or quinoa. 

Down the line you may decide to install an appliance garage (below) or other special cabinetry that allows easy access to your small appliances. 

Kitchen by Albertville Kitchen & Bath Designers Vetsch Custom Cabinets 

Farmhouse Entry by Stowe Architects & Designers Cushman Design Group 

10. Keep sneakers close at hand. Cooking requires a lot of standing, so have good support for your feet while you work. Keep you sneakers stashed in a drawer, closet or mudroom nearby. 

Bathroom Remodel Insight: A Houzz Survey Reveals Homeowners’ Plans

Article by: Mitchell Parker

Older and younger generations often have widely differing viewpoints. But who knew bathrooms could be so divisive? In a recent Houzz survey, we asked homeowners planning a bathroom remodel or already in the process of one about their needs and desires. Of the 7,645 people who responded, young and old homeowners tended to fall into two clear groups. 

Contemporary Bathroom by Glen Ellyn Kitchen & Bath Remodelers Drury Design 

Homeowners 65 and older are more likely to skip adding a bathtub than those under 35. This could be for any number of reasons, but it’s likely that younger homeowners may have or expect to have children, who would be more likely to use a tub. Plus, those 65 and older likely choose showers because they’re more accessible for aging in place.

Bathtubs have traditionally boosted resale value (which 31 percent of the respondents said was the driving factor for their bathroom remodel), but older people may be planning to hang on to their homes longer, so resale isn’t as much of an issue.

Traditional Bathroom by Atlanta General Contractors Cablik Enterprises 

For those adding tubs, freestanding models top the list, with 33 percent of respondents preferring them over drop-ins, undermounts and other styles. 

Contemporary Bathroom by Bethesda Design-Build Firms ART Design Build 

Young and old are also split on how they like their showers. If you’re under 45, you’re more likely to choose a rain shower and multiple showerheads. If you’re over 55, you likely prefer hand showers and sliding bars.

Rustic Bathroom by Toronto Photographers Peter A. Sellar - Architectural Photographer 

Meanwhile, there are two camps when it comes to, er, No. 2. The survey found an even split when it comes to toilet exposure: 52 percent of people want an open toilet versus one behind a closed door. Younger homeowners (25 to 34 years old) prefer tankless or wall-mounted models over the traditional two-piece ones. 

Traditional Bathroom by Fort Washington General Contractors HomeTech Renovations, Inc. 

Upgrading features and fixtures was the main reason cited for remodeling a bathroom (49 percent). Frameless glass is one of the more popular choices. About 79 percent of people will choose all-glass enclosures for their main shower, and 54 percent will chose frameless glass.

Traditional Bathroom by Duxbury Design-Build Firms ARCHIA HOMES 

Lighting is important too, whether it’s bringing in the natural sunshine with skylights or adding more LED lights. New windows top the list too, with 48 percent of respondents saying they plan to add a window and 41 percent a lighted vanity mirror. And if that’s not enough, 7 percent say they’ll add a showerhead with LED lights.

Transitional Bathroom by Victoria Architects & Designers The Sky is the Limit Design 

Also, 42 percent of all respondents are planning to add a shower seat. I think it was Winston Churchill who said, “Why stand when you can sit?”

Traditional Bathroom by Larkspur Architects & Designers McCoppin Studios 

White cabinets are the preferred color choice, with 32 percent of homeowners saying they’ll choose this ultimate neutral hue.

Contemporary Bathroom by Portland Kitchen & Bath Designers Kirstin Havnaer, Hearthstone Interior Design, LLC 

Brushed nickel (26 percent) and polished chrome (24 percent) are the front-runners for faucet finishes.

Conquer Clutter With Drawers: 14 Inventive Solutions

Article by: Lisa Higgins

For many years drawers knew their place in the home. They were filled with a jumble of junk in the kitchen, stocked with sweaters and shirts in the bedroom, and crammed with pens and rubber bands in the office. But designers have begun to recognize the flexibility of this design staple. There’s nothing like an easy-to-access drawer to organize — or hide — the essentials of daily life. 

Consider these options to conquer the clutter in your home. 

Contemporary Staircase by Sydney Home Builders Henarise Pty Ltd 

This narrow stairway features a truly ingenious storage solution: two of the risers are fitted with drawers to make a pile of shoes disappear in a flash.

Traditional Kitchen by Columbia Interior Designers & Decorators LGB Interiors 

Tired of tying up your kitchen outlets charging phones, tablets and laptops? Install a power strip in the back of a drawer and let your electronics recharge sight unseen. Just make sure the drawer is shorter than normal to allow room for the power strip’s cord in the back. 

Traditional Kitchen by Other Metro Interior Designers & Decorators gogo gulgun selcuk 

Make edibles a design detail: Display your pasta or legumes in glass-fronted drawers. Brightly colored varieties (think red beans and spinach pasta) look best.

Contemporary Laundry Room by Stoney Creek Kitchen & Bath Designers Design To Perfection Kitchen Concepts INC 

Instead of wrestling the ironing board out of the closet whenever you need to touch up a shirt, get one of these nifty folding versions that fit into — guess what? — a drawer.

Contemporary Kitchen by Wellesley Kitchen & Bath Designers Divine Kitchens LLC 

Wine lasts longer and tastes better if it’s stored away from the light. This drawer, with its handy wooden cradles, keeps vino safe and close at hand. Don’t put the drawer near the oven, though, as heat is also a no-no. 

Transitional Kitchen by Decatur Architects & Designers TerraCotta Properties 

Even doggies appreciate their own dining area. Keep their bowls off the floor and out of the way with a pet-friendly drawer that slides out at mealtime.

Traditional Laundry Room by Seattle Interior Designers & Decorators Total Spaces Design 

Forget drying delicates over a shower rod or the back of a chair. These skinny drawers are fitted with water-resistant racks that allow air to circulate, so your clothes will be ready to wear before you know it. 

Asian Bedroom by Kailua Interior Designers & Decorators Archipelago Hawaii Luxury Home Designs 

Store clothes, sheets and blankets in drawers tucked under a platform bed. These beds work especially well in small rooms where there’s no space for a dresser. 

Traditional Kitchen by Baltimore General Contractors Greenleaf Construction 

To eke out storage in every last corner of your kitchen, utilize the space under the cabinets with kick drawers. (They’re tucked in behind the cabinet’s toe kick.) This one hides a folding step stool to reach those high shelves, but you could also use this space to hold trays or cookie sheets. 

Traditional Entry by Boston Architects & Designers Jan Gleysteen Architects, Inc 

Clean up your entryway and keep track of outerwear by hiding it in discreet drawers. The ones here are faced with beadboard that matches the wainscoting.

Contemporary Kids by Essex Interior Designers & Decorators Kristina Crestin Design 

Instead of there being a traditional ladder to access the top bunks in this kids’ room, a cleverly designed stack of drawers acts as a staircase. 

Modern Basement by Kilbourne Design-Build Firms Finish Line Building 

Need extra space for guests? Add a bed in a drawer that disappears under a window seat when it’s not needed. 

Modern Kitchen by North York Kitchen & Bath Designers SVEA KITCHENS 

The pipes under a kitchen sink have always made it difficult to organize cleaning supplies. This drawer, with its U-shaped wire basket, is designed to fit around the piping, so you can easily access spray bottles, sponges and scrub brushes. 

Farmhouse Kitchen by Austin Architects & Designers Tim Cuppett Architects 

This airy kitchen nook not only provides comfy benches for seating, but the drawers underneath can hide kitchen equipment.

Serveware Storage That'll Serve You Well

It’s time to get those awkward serving platters safely stored so you can enjoy a season’s worth of cocktail and dinner parties without losing your head. Seriously, precariously stacked platters are dangerous. Consider these ideas for keeping your platters secure but handy, so they’re ready when you need them at party time.  

Traditional Kitchen by Mamaroneck Kitchen & Bath Designers Dearborn Cabinetry LLC 

Stacking too many heavy platters on top of one another in an overhead cabinet is a recipe for disaster. It’s great to have a variety of platters to handle whatever dish you’re serving, but that assortment means your platters probably don’t stack well. 

Keeping platters up high is actually a great space saver; the key is to fashion a deep shelf with partitions so platters can be stashed sideways. Standard upper cabinets are 12 inches deep, whereas base and floor-to-ceiling cabinets measure 24 inches, making the latter the most obvious cabinetry option for large platters.

Going vertical. The team at Dearborn Cabinetry included tray storage over this built-in microwave, making efficient use of the work area’s height. Built-in dividers placed in narrow increments keep upright platters safe, visible and reachable.

Traditional Kitchen by Chicago Kitchen & Bath Designers Rebekah Zaveloff | KitchenLab 

The top tier of a floor-to-ceiling pantry is ideal for partitioned platter storage. It keeps trays available when needed but out of the way of the pantry’s more frequently used areas. Keep a folding stool nearby to lessen any temptation to climb up shelves.

Eclectic Kitchen by Berkeley Closet & Home Storage Designers California Closets 

The comprehensive shelving system in this closet-style pantry takes the need for a stool out of the platter-finding equation. This setup includes vertical storage for muffin pans, another one of the tricky-shaped tools so often used around the holidays.

Modern Spaces by Howard Lake Cabinets & Cabinetry Dura Supreme Cabinetry 

Horizontal stacks. If you still prefer to stack platters, use a deep cabinet or appliance garage and set horizontal shelves in a narrow formation, like in this setup by Dura Supreme. Take advantage of a cabinet’s predrilled borings, if it has them, by adding as many shelves as you need to maximize capacity. You can get additional shelves from the manufacturer or have new ones made to match.

Traditional Kitchen by Woodbridge Interior Designers & Decorators miriam manzo 

Show it off. Plate racks are an ideal way of putting your favorite dishware on display. If your home is older, you just might be lucky enough to have a built-in plate rack. If not, a carpenter can recess one within a wall (as long as the recess is free of plumbing, electricity or venting) and match the rest of the kitchen’s finishes.

Traditional Kitchen by Hagerstown General Contractors david lyles developers 

This rack keeps platters near the ovens and island but doesn’t get in the way of the kitchen’s everyday work zones.

Eclectic Kitchen by Other Metro Media & Bloggers Jeanette Lunde 

These two vintage racks turn an empty wall into effective (and pretty) platter storage.

Mediterranean Kitchen by Dallas General Contractors Gage Homes Inc. 

A more extensive version such as this tall rack allows ample space for plates and platters by placing them sideways. Because its location doesn’t hinge on a connection to cabinetry, it can be hung at any level that makes the most sense. 

Traditional Kitchen by Greensboro Kitchen & Bath Designers Cabinet Concepts, Greensboro 

Don’t forget base cabinets. If your platters are heavy or you use them often, keep them at hand in deep, partitioned drawers like this one from Cabinet Concepts. No stools needed to find what you’re looking for. 

Traditional Kitchen by Mountain View Appliances Kitchens by Meyer Inc. 

A single, full-size pullout behind cabinet doors provides room for larger platters. Its location directly under a large countertop ensures an ample workstation for filling up a big serving dish.

Asian Kitchen by Los Angeles Interior Designers & Decorators Slesinski Design Group, Inc. 

Take advantage of shallow spaces. If storage is a difficult thing to find room for, make room in unexpected places, like shallow drawers. In this kitchen the otherwise wasted space below the base cabinets has been utilized for valuable storage.

8 Ideas for High-Functioning Mudrooms

Mudrooms help us transition from our adventures in the great outdoors to the comforts inside our homes. But when packed with clever built-ins, space-maximizing storage and nifty organizers, a mudroom can also become a high-functioning, double-duty space that can accommodate anything from folding laundry to making crafts. 

Don't believe me? Check out these fantastic mudrooms and my space-saving mudroom organization tips to see how you can make the entry to your home attractive, functional and clutter free.

Traditional Laundry Room by Princeton Architects & Designers Knight Architects LLC 

Office space. Transform your mudroom into a double-function space with a built-in desk and file storage. One wall is all you need if you plan it right. The cubbies and hooks help keep outdoor gear and clutter separated from the desk area. 

Mediterranean Entry by Portland Interior Designers & Decorators Jessica Helgerson Interior Design 

Helpful hooks. Turn an awkward or a dead space into something you'll actually use. A row of simple hooks around the perimeter and a few well-placed wire baskets have turned this once-empty nook into a valuable drop zone near the home's entry. 

Industrial Entry by Brooklyn Architects & Designers Actual Size Projects 

Neat and clean. Not all of us like to have our jackets and coats on display. These floor-to-ceiling cabinet doors keep clutter out of sight and add an architectural statement.

Traditional Laundry Room by Burnsville Design-Build Firms Highmark Builders 

Laundry time. If you have a spacious mudroom at the back of your house, take advantage of all that room. Consider including a laundry section to make life a little easier. A washer, dryer and small sink mean you can throw dirty clothes right into the wash as soon as you get home. 

Rustic Laundry Room by Mississauga Architects & Designers Parkyn Design 

Pet station. If you share your home with furry friends, your mudroom is the perfect place for a doggie stop. This pet-friendly mudroom's special space for cleaning pets means the owners will never see a muddy paw print in their house again. A sophisticated palette of durable materials makes it feel sleek, despite its practical purpose.

Traditional Entry by Heber City General Contractors CD Construction, Inc. 

Seasonal storage. Mudrooms can be the perfect place in which to store outdoor sports gear for all four seasons, with the right organizational techniques. This ski-loving family came up with a great solution to keep their winter gear under control: Cubbies for gloves and hats up top, spots for boots below the bench and custom ski racks keep everything neat and tidy.

Traditional Entry by Weston Architects & Designers Oak Hill Architects

Personalized. Clever and colorful solutions help bring this mudroom to life. Let your little ones choose a favorite color to make their special space in your mudroom more fun. Color-coordinated baskets add a little personality to an all-white space with minimal cost and effort.

Modern Laundry Room by Rockford Interior Designers & Decorators KannCept Design, Inc. 

Get crafty. If you have the room, incorporate a workstation into your mudroom. Wrap a gift, help your child with a school project or prepare a package for the mail on your way out the door. Having everything in one spot will make multitasking much easier.