Design Notes
Everyone enjoys returning to a well-organized, spacious kitchen after a long day. It’s even better if your kitchen includes a nicely organized pantry! So, what, precisely, is the definition of a pantry? A pantry is a tall container or structure with ample storage space, pull-out shelves or drawers on the inside that can be customized, and access from the front, back, and sides to the stored food. They were popular in the past due to the ease with which they could be used. And we’re happy to see them make a comeback. However, you need to take special care when designing one. It may be costly to replace, so careful planning is required before construction begins. So, here’s exactly how to design the right pantry for your home.
Learn from your past
Having a clear idea of your needs before designing a personalized pantry is a huge advantage. Think about your previous successes. Which things have you tried but found to be unsuccessful? Where has it been lacking? Why do you feel so frustrated? For example, earlier types of pantries were equipped with wire shelves. Wire shelving may work for some people, but we have better options today. Think about what you want to store and how much space you need to design the right pantry for your home.
Designate a place for everything
At the planning stage, allocate specific pantry areas for certain foodstuffs. This design aspect is worth attending to early on since it will influence the depth of your storage and shelves. To make more room in cabinets and on shelves, consider installing a spice rack inside a door, for example, or dedicating an entire shelf to cereal boxes.
By color-coding and labeling these areas, you can make it even easier to find what you need immediately. With some careful planning, you can organize your kitchen like a pro! You can use color and category coordination when planning your pantry layout. Create the most aesthetically pleasing pantry by stacking your shelves in parallel lines and organizing them by color, category, and height.
Don’t overlook the doors
To those at a loss as to how to begin when creating or upgrading a pantry, a great piece of advice is to start with the door. There are many different door styles to choose from. It doesn’t matter how big or small your pantry is. You’ll still need a way to hide the mess that inevitably accumulates in there. Consider your needs carefully before purchasing a new pantry door. You may want to use your doors as chalkboards for the family to leave encouraging words and reminders, or as extra storage space. Also, consider the space. Sometimes, you need to maximize the limited square footage in your kitchen. Therefore, a sliding barn door is the solution.
If your dishwasher is located in your secondary storage space, a door to the pantry might provide a visual and acoustic barrier. It all depends on your specific needs, so make sure to take everything into consideration.
Make the right measurements
Estimating the amount of space you’ll need for a pantry is crucial. Ensure you have sufficient space if you plan to incorporate a kitchen island into your kitchen design or remodeling project. If the area is too tiny, it will be unfit for its original purpose. You can also make the most of your space by repurposing old home storage spaces, such as an underused cabinet.
With a walk-in pantry, you ideally look for a 60cm square space to step, turn, and reach for objects. Once you’ve added shelving, a small but functional room will measure around 80 to 90 centimeters on a side. Furthermore, it would be best to plan door styles as well, since they may need to swing out or slide to fit in a small area.
Use movable storage
In a fixed pantry, food is stored on shelves, racks, and baskets. Here, every inch of available real estate is taken up with food products, so there’s no room for improvisation. Compared to a pantry with a bracket that slides in both directions, you can stock it from either side.
You could incorporate a movable rack to get a complete look at the contents. Here, you can place objects at the front and the back of the revolving trays. It’s common practice to avoid the rear of the pantry shelves while stocking up on groceries. With a pull-out shelf tray, your life will be a lot simpler. The plan aims to maximize the available space in a visually appealing and functional manner.
Consider the placement
The location of a kitchen’s pantry is also crucial. Practical storage is, of course, the central role of the pantry. This ultimately comes down to not just the interior workings of the cabinet, but also where to incorporate it into a kitchen design. A common kitchen layout trick is to put everything close together. Placing your fridge and pantry next to each other is preferable, as it allows your food to be neatly organized in one central location.
Consider the lights
Pantry lighting is often ignored but can completely transform the dynamic of these otherwise windowless rooms. Shelving that is illuminated from behind not only looks nice but also prevents things from getting lost in the rear. The kitchen ambiance can be enhanced with dimmable lighting, which may be influenced by your door style. LED lights on motion detectors are the most convenient option for solid doors. There are many options, so take your pick!
Greenbrook DesignThe kitchen tends to be one of the busiest areas in the home, and over the last year, it has become more than just a place to cook food. It has evolved into a multifunctional space where everyone gathers to perform a wide range of tasks. With so much at stake, planning a renovation requires careful thought and well-designed plans. Many designers caution against following the latest trends, but there are a few additional design mistakes they also encourage their clients to avoid. If you are considering a renovation or a new construction project, here are our top five biggest kitchen design mistakes to avoid.
Countertops are often underappreciated and underrated in the design world. They are the true workhorses of any space, as they are used regularly and withstand a great deal. We chop, pound, knead, spill, and more all over these smooth surfaces, yet they continue to function day after day. Unfortunately, they are not meant to last forever. Experts recommend replacing them every 10 to 15 years, especially if signs of wear and tear are evident, such as stubborn stains, chips, or cracks.
Walker Woodworking Sometimes, certain areas of home decor have been influenced by trends that are no longer in style and can make the space feel dated or even uninviting. Rooms also serve a specific purpose, and those can change over time. If your children are no longer living with you, their bedroom can be transformed into a craft room or even a guest suite. There are also some new things that are making their way onto potential homebuyers’ lists. We have done some research for you and discovered some of the top new items being used in home design.
It is always fun to watch those home improvement shows. It is always a delight to watch designers come up with a plan that completely transforms the space from drab to fab. Often, after watching those shows, you have a tendency to look around your own home, wishing you could give it an update, but a renovation is not conceivable at the moment for one reason or another. The good news is that you don’t have to undergo a renovation to give your home a lift or freshen it up; sometimes it’s the little things —the details —that can completely revamp your space and make a big impact without breaking the bank. Discover six simple ways you can freshen up your home and even make it feel completely new without going through a renovation.
Here are some steps you can take to ensure your kitchen is healthy and ready for creating dishes that are not only delicious but also beneficial for your family’s health. We know that it is not always easy to stick with the decision to be healthier, but with a well-designed kitchen, it can be. With over twenty years of experience, our design team is well-versed in planning a kitchen design that functions well for your specific needs while also reflecting the style you will love. We serve more than 15 counties and invite you to visit our 5,000-square-foot showroom, where you can walk through multiple kitchen displays to get a feel for the possibilities that await you. Connect with us and let’s start planning a healthy kitchen design.
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