Advice from Our Professional Kitchen Design Contractor

• Island and other storage alternatives- Adding in a kitchen island not only gives you more space to prep food, but it provides extra space to store small kitchen appliances or kitchen utensils. While not all kitchens are big enough for an island, there are other effective ways to add workspace and storage including adding a small table or cabinet peninsula.
  
  
• Add shelves and utilize wall space- On the wall, you can mount pegboards to hang pots and pans or kitchen utensils. If you have space above or between cabinets, shelves are a simple solution to add more storage space. Although it may be tougher to get to, it's ideal for storing items you don't use every day including cake stands, bigger stockpots, decorative plates, and small appliances. Shelves also come in a vast array of lengths and sizes that help to find additional storage even in narrow cracks! They can be a great solution for keeping spices out on display for easy access or hanging light-weight utensils from.
  
  
• Make use of the space around your fridge- Consider installing a hidden rolling pantry on the side of your fridge, if your kitchen allows for it. This is the perfect place for storing canned goods and other non-perishable items. Adding kitchen cabinets above your fridge can also provide safe storage for items you don't use often, or even additional pantry space. Optimize the space inside your fridge, too, by adding lazy Susans on the shelves!
  
  
• Install a slide-out prep station- By building a butcher block into a drawer with a hole over the garbage can, you can create a great prep station that is easy to hide when not in use. 
  
  
• Utilize the space above your stove- Adding cabinets beside or above your stove top adds more space for the pots and pans you reach for most. While most kitchens store these items on the bottom cabinets, they tend to be stored across from or the furthest away from the stove, so dedicating a cabinet or two for pots and pans makes the kitchen layout more intuitive.
  
  
• Install hooks in cabinets- Hooks can be used to hang mugs and therefore won't take up shelf space. They can also be used to hang pots and pans for better organization.
  
  
• Hang things on the open side of a cabinet or fridge- Installing magnetic shelves on the side of your refrigerator helps add storage for spices, salt and pepper shakers, and more. Magnetic strips installed on the side of a cabinet are great for storing spices.
  
  
• Make use of inside cabinet doors- Here you could install hooks to store a variety of kitchen gadgets, foil, and plastic wrap to create a more organized look. Lazy susans and hanging spice racks are also great additions here to allow you to extend the amount of shelf space you have inside the cabinets. An organization tip to consider is adding a whiteboard or chalkboard to help keep track of everything stored inside the cabinets, which can also help with building the weekly grocery list!

Besides practical ideas, there are multiple kitchen design solutions that can help make your kitchen look bigger and flow better, including custom kitchen design and professional advice on kitchen cabinetry. Kitchen cabinet design is a great first step in optimizing your existing layout to suit your storage needs. however, if the layout of your kitchen creates hassle rather than peace of mind, it's time to consider discussing your kitchen remodeling project with our kitchen design contractors!

Your kitchen design must work for you and your family. Let the team at Al's Home Remodeling LLC help create a kitchen design that complements your lifestyle. We have been helping residents in the Fairfield, Stratford, Trumbull, Shelton, Norwalk, and Milford, CT areas with quality kitchen design services since 1951! Our team strives to transform your home and provide you with the dream kitchen you've been wanting. Contact us today for more information or to set up services.