Design Notes
The kitchen is undeniably the most used area of the home, whether it is making the morning coffee before heading out the door, making the kids a snack when they come home, or sharing the day’s events as you make dinner. It is the central hub of the house, and where everyone can just relax. This also means that there is a lot going on, making it important that things have a place and stay there. There is nothing worse than a kitchen that is messy, cluttered, and dysfunctional. We wanted to share some organizational tips and helpful tricks that can help you organize your kitchen.
Stations
The kitchen is a multipurpose space, meaning that cooking, baking, and even drinking are done all within one space. Sometimes, the best thing is to create designated areas that have everything needed to accomplish the task. This means less bumping into one another and more getting done.
- Beverage: Creating a place where the to-go cups, coffee mugs, and sweeteners are all in one place can be the best solution to those early mornings or family gatherings. Consider placing the Coffee maker near the cabinet where the mugs are stored. Even better, how about a unique cabinet created just for that on an easy roll-out drawer?
- Spice rack: When you cook, it is tiring to have to constantly walk around the kitchen looking for that one additional spice before you can finish that meal, not to mention having to wipe your hands before opening the numerous cabinet doors to find what you are looking for. Having the spices all neatly tucked away in a simple roll-out cabinet or on a shelf tucked neatly beside the stove.
- Baking: Cookie sheets, rolling pins, mixing bowls, and cake pans can all be stored together in one area. A tray divider is a great addition to the lower cabinet, while the remaining items can be stored in an upper cabinet. Locate both near the oven, and baking will be much easier.
- Cooking: Pots and pans should be located near the stove and sink to make filling and washing easier. The less distance needed to transport a full pot to the stove, the less mess is likely to happen.
Each station serves a purpose and allows more than one person to be in the kitchen simultaneously, which allows more to be accomplished in the same amount of time.
Storage
There are a lot of things that end up in the kitchen, including larger items such as crockpots, air fryers, and Dutch ovens. These items are useful, but they are heavy and bulky to store. It’s usually best to keep them in a lower cabinet because it is easier to lift them up instead of down. When placing your items in the kitchen, plan on putting lighter ones in the upper cabinets and the bulkier ones in the bottom. Drawers are also a great solution since they allow you to pull everything out to see instead of trying to push things out of the way. Remember that if you rarely use an item, it can be stored in the pantry or even the garage, freeing up space for items used regularly. Talk to your designer about what you have and what is a must in the kitchen. They can help you find the storage solutions specific to your needs.
Space
One way a kitchen can be made to feel disorganized is through clutter. Since so much takes place in the kitchen, it’s easy for this space to become the homework station, office, and craft room. Keeping a designated drawer or specific area for these items will keep the kitchen area more organized. It is, however, essential that the kitchen stay as intended. If a little writing area is needed, make sure to include a space for a small desk in your design or double-sticker drawers for more storage.
Organization is a key part of a successful life. You make a plan, you know what you need, and how you will accomplish your goals. This strategy requires you to lay everything out so you can be prepared, which is why people love apps that help them stay on track or write it down in an old-fashioned paper planner. An organization can also infiltrate multiple areas of life, such as time management and home layout, meaning it has made its presence known in the design world. More and more designers are seeking ways to integrate organization into their designs, to the extent that a new term has been coined to describe this approach: organizeology. Let’s unpack what organizeology means!
If you are looking to hit the refresh button on your home, color is always a great way to start. From simple accent pieces, such as pillows and rugs, to repainting an entire room, choosing a new color can inspire you and help you regain your focus. The color of the year for 2022 are a wonderful place to start and can guide you down the right path for your home. Come visit our showroom in Uptown Shelby, NC, where you can walk through our 5,000-square-foot space and experience the possibilities for your home.
Lighting is a crucial aspect of interior design; it significantly influences the mood in the home and alleviates eye strain when there is minimal natural light or when it gets dark. More often than not, a home suffers from insufficient lighting instead of overillumination. For seniors, lighting is even more critical, as the muscles in the eye weaken over time and the pupil size decreases, making it harder for light to enter. Better lighting reduces the chance of bumping or falling over an obstacle and lessens the strain on the eyes as you look around. Good lighting also helps create a comfortable and relaxing environment, exactly what you want for your well-deserved retirement. Let’s talk about how you can have the best lighting, what the benefits are, and which lighting choices are best for certain areas in the home.
Color matters. It is a part of how we tell our story, especially within our homes. In the last few years, homeowners have ventured off the traditional path of neutrals, such as white, gray, and beige, to bring in pops of bold hues like red, green, and even blue. As the demand for brighter colors increases, both manufacturers and designers have risen to the occasion by creating and incorporating a more diverse color palette for their clients. Traditional products, such as tile, furniture, flooring, cabinets, and even glass, come in a wider selection of bold colors, which provide homeowners with the opportunity to blend a variety of bold colors and neutral colors together in a stunning final design. Although color is a fun element in the world of interiors, it can be challenging to determine the right amount and the various ways it can be incorporated into the home to create the perfect balance for everyone to enjoy.
Home is a reflection of you, and one of the best ways to do that is through color. Color is more than a collection of tints and shades; it has more impact on our mood than anything else and can influence the look of our home more than we realize. Color psychology has been studied for decades, with recent findings revealing just how powerful color truly is in the home. Size and style can change by simply selecting different colors for your furniture, accent pieces, or wall color. As color plays such a vital role in the atmosphere and presentation of the home, it can feel a little overwhelming or even intimidating to make color choices. We have compiled a list of 15 simple ways you can add color to your home.





Walker Woodworking 
Walker Woodworking
Greenbrook Design
Walker Woodworking
Greenbrook Design
Greenbrook Design