A secret to designing a great kitchen is to account for your storage needs and desires in the initial planning phase. A storage plan will address how often you cook, entertain and hold gatherings. A great kitchen must not only look out of this world, it also must incorporate the best functionality that meets your and your family’s needs.
The main cause of buyer’s remorse among homeowners the Upper Valley who recently renovated their kitchen is not investing in more efficient and plentiful storage solutions. To help you to avoid buyer’s remorse when you create the kitchen of your dreams, start by organizing what currently exists in your initial planning phase. This will enable you to match organizational needs to your lifestyle.
Step 1: Curate
Empty every shelf, cabinet and drawer and place contents on a countertop or table. Chances are that there will be items that you don’t remember were there and others that are seldomly used. Curate those items. Determine what you want to keep, what you want to donate or recycle and those that should be disposed of. Also, identify items that you want to keep but are rarely used such as a turkey roaster that is only brought out on holidays. There may be other rooms in the home where you can store those items to free up more space in the kitchen for items that are used more frequently.
Step 2: Organize
We advise many homeowners the Upper Valley to organize their kitchens by tasks, by food groups and by product category. In the pantry, put all baking items in one area, oils and vinegars in a distinct space, pasta and rice in another defined area, etc. The foods that you eat most often should be placed in the easiest to reach places. Similarly, your cookware should be placed in the same general vicinity near your range, oven or cooktop.
Step 3: Get the Tools You Need
The kitchen industry has made significant strides manufacturing storage solutions for cabinets and drawers. Don’t under-estimated the importance of storage baskets, drawer systems, drawer dividers, knife blocks and peg organizers, among others. Baskets and containers help to organize food stuffs. Drawer dividers and peg organizers can create designated spaces for cookware and plates without having to store them on top of one another.
These recommendations can help with an existing kitchen and provide a window to what could be possible with a new kitchen designed with your lifestyle in mind. If you would like additional suggestions for organizing your dream kitchen, give us a call at 603-448-9700 or make an appointment to visit us at 105 Hanover Street, Lebanon, NH.
