9 Ways to Spice Up Your Kitchen Cabinetry

Article by: Jo Leevers

Freestanding cupboards, mix-and-match colors, contrasting textures, individual drawer pulls — kitchens can be as creative as their owners. If sleek, clean-cut units don’t get you excited, take inspiration from these nine ways to get a more varied look in the kitchen.

1. Mix cabinet styles. This kitchen’s cabinets are all the same trendy gray, but they sidestep predictable symmetry because two pieces are different styles. They work together, but their drawers have different depths and storage options. A rail for pots and pans creates more variety.

2. Feature a key piece. To keep things interesting in a kitchen with matching cabinets, add a standout storage unit. It could be a plate rack or a bright or weathered dresser. It will break up the rigidity of a single-finish kitchen and let your personality shine through.

3. Work in an island. For impact in a large kitchen, an island needs to be a “hero” piece that can carry the space. This weathered central island doesn’t conform to any norms. Along with the industrial storage on wheels, it adds just the right amount of character.

4. Try an urban loft style. A strong dose of industrial style livens up this slim kitchen. Wood, metal, gray paint and ceramic surfaces mix easily, thanks to similar tones. Then there are the contrasts: Bare bricks are mirrored by glossy metro tiles, waist-level units by a taller cabinet. Matching kitchen pieces in this space could have looked too uniform; these look freed up and innovative.

5. Go two-tone. A blend of two shades — palest green and natural bare timber — brings a breath of fresh air to this kitchen. Tongue and groove cabinets and two types of handles are extra custom twists.

6. Compare and contrast. A creative kitchen doesn’t have to be off-the-charts unusual. Simply combining two tones, two surfaces and two heights does the job. Carefully crafted finishes give the space a quality feel.

7. Cast it in monochromes. The dark-on-light color scheme here adds visual interest, and the contrast of raw, waxy timber and smooth marble creates a look that’s unique.

8. Add your own handles. This kitchen works its magic with off-the-shelf Ikea units with tactile leather handles. They handles are eye catching and pleasant to hold — significant, when you consider how often they’ll be used. Open shelving on top combines with a stainless steel countertop that wouldn’t be out of place in a chef’s kitchen.

9. Pare it back. This converted industrial warehouse is a dramatic space, so the designer wisely didn’t try to make the kitchen steal the show. Zinc-colored doors inside pale frames, metallic tones and a pared-back 1960s vibe for the furnishings help this kitchen work in its setting — proof that statements don’t always have to be shouts.

How to Make Your Garage a Storage Powerhouse

Article by: Mary Jo Bowling

Garages often turn into repositories for everything from sports equipment to holiday decorations. But with planning you can turn your garage into a harmonious space with room to actually — wait for it — park the car. 

Traditional Garage And Shed by Cincinnati Closet & Home Storage Designers Organized Living 

Why: “The garage is definitely the most underutilized space in the house,” says Amanda Le Blanc, a professional organizer (she owns The Amandas in Birmingham, Alabama) and spokesperson for Organized Living. “I prefer the garage to the attic for storage, because a garage actually has less temperature fluctuation.” 

Traditional Garage And Shed by Cincinnati Closet & Home Storage Designers Organized Living 

How: Ginny Scott, chief design officer at California Closets, says to start by determining what you need to store. “You need to think of your goal first. Do you want to store overflow from the pantry? Do you want to make a Costco closet? Do you need a workspace like a potting or tool bench? Maybe you need a place to stash sports equipment. Once you have determined what you want to do, that will inform the kinds of shelving, cabinets or lockers you need,” she says. 

Traditional Garage And Shed by Cincinnati Closet & Home Storage Designers Organized Living 

Le Blanc says knowing yourself will help you figure out what kind of storage you need. “It’s all about how you function in a space,” she says. “An organization system won’t change the type of person you are.” 

She says that although a garage lined with storage lockers and cabinets has a clean look — an important factor for garages that open at the front of the house and are visible to the neighbors — if you are of the “out of sight, out of mind” school, closed storage is not for you. “If you are that type of person, then go for open shelves and labeled bins,” she says. 

Traditional Garage And Shed by Cincinnati Closet & Home Storage Designers Organized Living 

Le Blanc says for kids’ items and sports equipment, open shelving is almost always the answer. “I tell parents to forget about lids with kids,” she says. “If there’s a barrier, it seems to keep them from putting things away.”

Whether you are installing shelves that are open or in cabinets, Scott suggests choosing adjustable units for the garage. “It’s more important here than elsewhere,” she says. “We may not change the way we use our pantry much, but what we use in the garage varies from year to year and season to season.”

Spaces by Severna Park Closet & Home Storage Designers California Closets Maryland 

Scott adds that it’s also important to choose storage units that are made from durable materials; items stored in the garage are often heavy, so you want shelves that won’t buckle or bend. She also says in the tighter confines of the garage, you are more likely to bump, brush or spill things on your storage system, so an easy-clean material such as a high-grade laminate is often best. 

Contemporary Garage And Shed by Ronkonkoma Closet & Home Storage Designers California Closets 

Cost: It depends on material selection. “The good news is that garage storage is often less expensive than regular closets, because we usually use simple materials and hardware, and we usually don’t use glass inserts,” says Scott.

She says an 8-foot run of open shelving in a garage could cost $1,000 to $2,000 (rough estimate). A row of storage lockers of the same length might cost $2,000 to $3,000. 

Contemporary Garage And Shed by Ronkonkoma Closet & Home Storage Designers California Closets 

Project length: From consultation to installation, this kind of project could take three to five weeks, Scott says.

Permit: “Unless we are doing something structural or adding electricity, no permit is generally needed,” says Scott.

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.

7 Awesome Add-ons for Kitchen Cabinets

Article By: Jennifer Ott

I remember when having a microwave or an electric can opener mounted under your wall cabinets was considered state of the art. Now you can attach your smart phone and tablet, and even hide the necessary outlets out of sight. Curious what today's cabinet additions can do for you? Check out a few of the latest and most useful offerings in cabinet-mounted gadgets and accessories to see what will work in your kitchen. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Wellesley Kitchen & Bath Designers Divine Kitchens LLC 

Lighting. Even if you're a minimalist who prefers to keep the area under your wall cabinets clear, consider installing some lighting. Undercabinet lights provides crucial illumination for food prep and, if dimmable, work well as a nightlight once the kitchen is closed for the evening. My current preference for undercabinet lighting is low-profile LED (light-emitting diode) strip lights. LED lighting technology is continually advancing, so check with your local lighting retailer or electrical contractor to see what is the best option for your kitchen. Prices vary depending on size and quality, but you can currently get 12-inch strips starting around $20. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Asbury Park Design-Build Firms Robert Legere Design 

Power. You've spent time and money selecting and installing the perfect backsplash tile, so don't mar the beautiful surface with outlets. An undercabinet outlet strip gives you a plethora of plugs — and always one right where you need it — without a line of receptacles all across your lovely backsplash. If, however, you tend to keep your countertop appliances plugged in, you may not enjoy seeing the cords dangle down from underneath your cabinets. 

Kitchen Cabinets 

Belkin Kitchen Cabinet Tablet Mount - $34.19 

Tablet mount. Watch a cooking video, refer to a recipe, check your email or call your mom on Skype, all while keeping your device up and away from any countertop messes with an undercabinet tablet mount.

Kitchen Lighting And Cabinet Lighting

Under-Cabinet Lighting System by Legrand 

If you have multiple devices that you want accessible in the kitchen, check out this modular undercabinet lighting system. You can get docks for all of your devices, along with the receptacles to power them.

Knives And Chopping Boards

Knife block. I realize undercabinet knife blocks aren't exactly new technology, but this model from Wusthof is notable for its slim profile. It also conveniently swings in and out with the touch of a finger.

Food Containers And Storage

Jar opener. For those who struggle with opening bottles and jars, here's a clever gadget that's easy to mount under your wall cabinet. This would make an excellent gift for someone who suffers from arthritis, or anyone else who could use some assistance with tough-to-open lids.

Barware

Stemware rack. If you are tight on kitchen storage space, you'll want to make use of every nook and cranny you can. Here's a great option for storing your stemware under a wall cabinet.

I've mounted a similar rack inside a cabinet, and I really like its functionality — you can store a good number of glasses in a small amount of space without the risk of having them tip over onto one another like dominoes. I should note that this may not be the best storage option if you don't use the glasses very often, or if you don't have adequate ventilation in your kitchen, as the stemware is likely to attract grease and dust.

Barware

Bottle holder. Display your wine bottles next to your stemware, all underneath your wall cabinets. Just be sure to mount this away from your range or cooktop, so the bottles don't feel the heat.

Smart Investments in Kitchen Cabinetry — a Realtor's Advice

Article By: Tiffany Carboni

The kitchen is the most expensive room in the house to build. The national average cost of a kitchen remodel is $50,000, though the real cost can vary widely, depending on where you live, the scope of the project and the materials you choose. New cabinetry can take up much of that expense. Make the most of this big purchase by treating your new cabinets as an investment. 

Realtor Victoria Gangi offers insider tips on how to get the best return on your cabinet investment, even if you're not moving in the foreseeable future. 

Eclectic Kitchen by Falls Church Kitchen & Bath Designers Cameo Kitchens, Inc. 

Create an optimal layout. Long before a kitchen starts to take actual shape, there needs to be a well-crafted plan for how the kitchen will be laid out to offer maximum benefits to the homeowners and their guests. 

"Layout is the number-one feature home buyers are looking at in a kitchen," says Gangi. "You will lose your audience if cabinets aren't designed in a functional way with good flow." 

Traditional Kitchen by Minneapolis Interior Designers & Decorators Kimberly Arnold Fletcher 

A kitchen or cabinet designer can help you get started. Don’t make any rushed decisions in the planning process. 

One way to help visualize a designer's plan is to tape out the dimensions of the new cabinet configurations on the floor and walls. Granted, you're going to need a really good imagination for this to work, but it will give you an opportunity to literally walk through the measurements to see if things feel well spaced. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Vancouver Photographers Heather Merenda 

Invest in quality cabinetry. Once you've got a plan for where everything's going to go, decide on a style and quality that will age well and withstand trends and changing tastes.

Quality cabinets are one of the smartest investments in a kitchen remodel, saysKarl Keul, owner of Cameo Kitchens. "The lesser grades of cabinets tend not to age gracefully and often need more upkeep,” he notes.

Modern Kitchen by Aspen Architects & Designers S2 Architects 

The quality to choose will depend on your long-term plans. “Midrange cabinets are generally a good bet," Gangi says. "If you intend to sell your home, these cabinets will look attractive to buyers, and you’ll likely see a return on your investment."

She adds, "Even if you plan on staying in your home for the foreseeable future, this is still a safe option, because they'll last. Choose top-of-the-line cabinets only if you have the money to create the kitchen of your dreams without any worries of recouping the money.” 

Contemporary Kitchen by Houston Architects & Designers Collaborative Designworks 

Integrate the door style. Choose a door style and color that integrate well with the rest of your home, especially rooms that look directly into the kitchen. If the rest of your house is traditional, you’d be better off steering toward a more traditional or transitional door style than going completely modern, and vice versa.  

Farmhouse Kitchen by Lodi General Contractors WL INTERIORS 

"Don't choose a style that's too ornate or too modern," Gangi advises. "Modern is good; people like clean lines and clean finishes. But ultramodern or any style that's too out of the norm isn't what buyers tend to want." 

Contemporary Kitchen by Austin Architects & Designers Loop Design 

In general the best kitchen designs are those that work in harmony with the rest of the home's architecture rather than try to fight it. A harmonious house is easier for potential buyers to understand and, in turn, to want to outbid each other for. 

A savvy designer can help navigate you toward the best cabinet options that will work for your home and budget.

Contemporary Kitchen by Framingham Photographers Mary Prince 

Choose light colors. Lighter-colored cabinetry will appeal to more buyers. "Dark kitchens are out," notes Gangi. "People prefer light and bright." 

Contemporary Kitchen by Tampa Interior Designers & Decorators Paul Anater 

To integrate the appliances or not? Integrated appliances significantly increase the cost of a kitchen, not only because of the added cabinetry door fronts, but also because the appliances needed to facilitate this option are more expensive.

While this feature may look attractive to some home buyers, especially in a price range where integrated appliances are an expectation rather than an exception, your may not see the return on this high-priced detail in a midrange-price house. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Los Angeles Home Stagers Platform 

According to Gangi, your cabinet investment can be safe even if you don't integrate the appliances. "Stainless steel appliances are still very popular and well accepted by buyers," she says. 

Traditional Kitchen by Raleigh Kitchen & Bath Designers J Maness Designs 

Choose cabinet details that matter. What's inside the cabinet is just as important as what's on its outside. "Buyers are on the lookout for rollout and quiet-close drawers," notes Gangi. "This is where that choice of midrange versus low-range cabinet quality becomes important. Spending the extra money it takes to get good-quality slide rails and quiet-close features will come back to you."

Contemporary Kitchen by Tucson Kitchen & Bath Designers Dorado Designs 

Opt for clean-lined hardware. "Buyers prefer drawer pulls and handles to be just as clean lined as the cabinetry," says Gangi. 

Contemporary Kitchen by Jersey City Design-Build Firms Brunelleschi Construction 

If you like ornate hardware, go for it. However, should you sell your home, expect to replace those fancy pulls with a more streamlined set that will appeal to a broad range of buyers. The good news is that your fancy hardware can move with you.