Kitchen Cabinetry Organizational Features and Innovations

In my last blog post, I talked about some of the big trends in (I use the word “trends” lightly, as trends can imply a lack of longevity, which is not the case) in kitchen cabinetry and cabinetry design.  Now it is time to delve deeper in to the inner workings of cabinetry and find out how cabinetry can be used to simplify your life.

Before I start, I just want to note that organization through the use of kitchen cabinetry is not something you will be able to optimally achieve without the help of a professional kitchen designer or interior designer.  These designers are trained to work with you (the client) to optimize the space you have, learn exactly how you use the space, and inventory what needs to be stored—all while providing a design that is both aesthetically pleasing and code compliant.

According to Diamond Kitchen Cabinetry, the main “building blocks” of organization are accessibility, visibility, capacity, and flexibility, which allows “…you to have a place for everything, and everything in its place.” Keeping that in mind, here are my top ten favorite innovations in cabinetry to aid in a more organized kitchen.

(All cabinets featured below are from Diamond Cabinetry.)

Some Basics:

Roll Trays (also known as Pull Outs):

This one is sort of a given, but I have to include it on this list anyway to talk about its importance.  I am a firm believer that if you are considering remodeling a kitchen, roll trays in cabinets should be everywhere possible. They are great for pantry items, but also for kitchen items like pots and pans which can be difficult to store. Roll trays, versus shelves, completely eliminate the need to crawl on all fours with a flashlight to try and find that bottle of barbecue sauce you thought you bought three months ago but aren’t really sure. Say goodbye to never really knowing what lurks in the way back of your cabinets.  Roll trays conveniently pull out to allow for easy reaching and accessibility. Plus, all items are easy to see once pulled out of the cabinet! These are typically a relatively inexpensive option and highly recommended in as many applications as possible.

Trash Pull Outs:

This one may also seem obvious, but I still come across people questioning this helpful cabinet.  This gets the yucky trash can out from the open and also frees up useful space underneath the sink base, where trash tends to end up.  The caveat here is to make sure you do not waste too much valuable cabinet space on trash in lieu of storage.  Maxing out at 18-21 inches designated to trash is ideal

Corner Cabinets:

Lazy Susan:

Yes, the classic lazy Susan is still current in kitchen cabinetry and even more useful than ever.  This option makes good use of the space that is in the corner. All too often, that corner space is underutilized or only has a few stationary shelves that make it impossible to reach to the back.  The lazy Susan allows for several products to be right at hand and easily visible. With updates to the lazy Susan, like chrome rails to keep everything in place and independently rotating shelves, you really can’t go wrong with this classic option.

Base Corner with Curved Pullout:

Perhaps the fancy new upgrade of the lazy Susan, the base curved pull out truly makes use of almost every centimeter of those corner cabinets. It features two sleek and adjustable kidney shaped pull-outs that can hold over fifty cans of soup or as many boxes of pancake mix as ou’ll ever need at one time. When you’re done retrieving your pantry goods, the curved pullout gracefully slides back in to the cabinet, completely filling the corner space.

Drawer Options:

Pegged Dish Organizer:

We all already know my thoughts about roll-trays, but specialized drawers are also great options, especially for the elderly or for people with joint problems.  By keeping dishes in a base drawer, the need to reach overhead to bring potentially heavy (or breakable) plates down to the counter is eliminated. Instead, the convenient and adaptable peg board allows you to store dishes of all sizes within a comfortable reach.  The Pegged Dish Organizer even earned the Arthritis Foundation’s Ease-of-Use Commendation, acknowledging the accessibility it provides to those with arthritic limitations.

Toekick Drawer:

I love cabinets that make optimal use of space.  The toekick drawer is the ultimate example.  The toekick space is the space at the bottom of most base cabinets that provides a place for our toes to go to allow us to stand close to the cabinets and counter.  The toekick drawer is a small 4” tall drawer that tucks away in to that toekick space.  It utilizes space that would usually go to waste below your cabinets.  It is ideal for items like placemats, baking sheets, and other small kitchen items.  My clients always seem the most excited about this feature at the end of a project and are eager to show this secret drawer off to others!

Wood Tiered Cutlery Divider Drawer Organizer: 

Again, this is another solution that optimizes space. Typically, the height of a drawer is much more than that of a typical cutlery organizer.  This means underutilized space once again. The tiered cutlery organizer not only gives each kitchen tool and cutlery piece a precise home, but also has a second layer that makes use of that otherwise wasted space.  The top tiered divider slides front-to-back to once again give every item a home. Finally, no more digging around for that bottle opener!

Kitchen Cabinets For Family Organization

Wall Message Center:

This convenient cabinet, at just three inches deep, takes up very little room, but can help in a very big way.   Every kitchen needs a place for the mail, the car keys, and any other important items.  This cabinet gets these items off of the counter and behind a closed, but easily accessible door.  Also behind the door is the magnetic message board—perfect for appointment reminders and grocery lists! The wall message center is a small and simple way to keep the family more organized.

Drop Zone Cabinet:

This cabinet is kind of like the big brother to the Wall Message Center. With plenty of room for backpacks, hats, keys, school supplies, mail, and all those other important family needs, this cabinet shows once again how cabinetry can truly accomplish the idea of “a place for everything and everything in its place.”  The best part of this cabinet, however, is the charging station which is set in to the roll tray at the top of the cabinet.  It features three cord cut-out areas and includes a power strip and a USB charging port—meaning you can say “goodbye” to tangled phone and tablet chargers all over the house! Plus, no more forgetting your phone! How convenient!

Utility Organizer Cabinet:

Like the Wall Message Center, the Utility Organizer Cabinet takes up very little space (only six inches at the end of a cabinet run) but once again gives all items a home behind a cabinet.  Hooks in this cabinet are perfect for hiding the broom and Swiffer (because honestly, if you do not have a cabinet like this, where do they go?!), as well as other cleaning supplies. Adjustable selves add to the versatility of this cabinet.

These ten cabinet storage solutions are only a small sampling of the organizational tools available through Diamond’s Kitchen Cabinetry, as well as several other cabinet lines.  They all work to make a kitchen more functional for the whole family.

Look out for my next blog post later this month where I switch gears a little bit and explain the differences between the main options for countertops. Until then, happy designing!

Contact Alex Yavarow at Masters Touch at 508-359-5900 x 215 if you are thinking about remodeling a kitchen and would like to implement some of these kitchen cabinetry organizational solutions in to your life.

Click here to arrange a consultation.