When we work on a kitchen remodel with our clients, we are often asked about kitchen cabinet customization to create specific zones and organizational systems. In the thousands of kitchens, we’ve seen and designed, we’ve developed a bit of an opinion on what works and what we think is skippable.
Our Favorite Kitchen Cabinet Customizations for Organized Cabinets
While there is a lot of after-market customization, we can do to more budget friendly cabinetry lines, we find that we get into the micro level cabinetry organization discussions the most with clients who are going with semi-custom or custom cabinetry.
Trash and Recycle Pull-Out Cabinet
Okay, this isn’t a customization, per say, but it’s a kitchen add-on that elevates a kitchen’s functionality and aesthetics. In fact, we include a built-in trash/recylce cabinet in every single kitchen we design, regardless of if we’re using stock or custom cabinetry as it eliminates the trash can sitting out in plain view and also puts the trash and recycle closer to the main countertop and/or sink for cutting and peeling scraps.
Countertops in a Walk-In Pantry
If a walk-in pantry is in your dreams, we think that counter height shelving or cabinetry with outlets above plugging in small appliances is a huge win. It keeps small appliances off the countertop of the main kitchen but allows them to be easily accessed (and even used, when safe!) in their storage location.
Charging Drawers
A busy family needs a place for everything - preferably out of sight! The charging drawer is a favorite because it allows families to designate a place for electronics to charge while keeping cords tucked away.
Utensil and Knife Block Pull Outs
Notably missing from this list is a spice pull out, but one thing we do like in a kitchen is a utensil or knife block pull-out. These are a great solution for filling up a few extra inches with functional storage for the things a cook uses frequently in their kitchen.
The Popular Kitchen Customization We Recommend Against
Spice Pull Outs
Don’t get mad: A spice pull out tops our list for the least useful cabinet customization. You won’t see us put these in a kitchen unless the client specifically requests them (and we’ve talked them through the pros and cons so they can make an informed decision). The main reason we don’t love them? These pullouts are usually 6-12” wide and so can help fill space, but they aren’t easy to access. Spices are usually labeled on the sides of jars, so unless you’re looking to decant your spices into special jars with labels on top, you’ll have to squat down and dig to locate the spice you want. And anything on a shelf lower than the top one is even more difficult to identify from a birds-eye view.
But don’t worry! We’re not the type to just tell you you can’t have something. If you really have your heart set on a spice pull out, we’ll give it to you. But not before we lay out your options. Our preferred method for storing spices is to lay them flat in a drawer next to or near your cooking zone. We love drawers in kitchens and add them as often as possible, so you’ll surely have a top drawer at the ready that can hold all of your spices, label facing up.
Permanent Drawer Solutions
We often try to talk our clients out of micro-organizing their drawers before they’re installed. A few custom features, like the charging drawers and utensil pull-outs, need to be planned in advance, but things like wooden pegs for holding dishes in a drawer can be installed after-market, and we recommend waiting. Why? Because plan as you might, you might discover that you actually really like keeping your dishes across the room from where you planned to keep the dishes. Or you might discover that your dishes are heavy enough they don’t slide around at all and the pegs aren’t needed. Things like silverware organizers can all be added once the cabinets are installed and you start to get a feel for how you want to store things in your new space.
So, tell us what you think? Do you have a favorite kitchen organization hack we should know about? Do you think we’re just plain wrong about the spice pull out? Let us know in the comments! Photos via Julia Zettler Design and Woodland Cabinetry.