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Tag: Storage
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8 Tips For Adding a Functional Kitchen Island
Adding a functional kitchen island changes the heart of your home in so many ways. All without altering the structure, in most cases. A functional kitchen island provides more workspace, storage and seating just to name a few advantages. Here are eight tips for adding a functional kitchen island to your home and reaping the rewards immediately.
1. An Area for Seating and Eating
In many homes the kitchen island takes the place of the dining table. Adding a functional kitchen island for seating and eating makes the most of a smaller kitchen and helps you take advantage of a kitchen with a little more space.
A very versatile and multi-functional island is the dual height island. This allows an elevated eating area and, on the other side, a prep area. Your guests can keep company while you prep the meal or the kids have a place to enjoy an after school snack or do their homework while you get dinner ready on a busy weeknight.
Extend your eating area when you add a functional kitchen island with a dual height island. Make sure there’s a recessed area beneath for comfortable stool or chair seating.
2. Double Your Storage Space by Adding a Functional Kitchen Island
With proper planning adding a functional kitchen island will really boost your storage space. Of course the inside of your island is where you’ll store those everyday accoutrements that make meal prep a breeze, but the exterior side of your island allows you to store those items you use for times like holidays or when you entertain. You could even incorporate shelving at either end of your island for cookbooks or spices. Everything is within reach yet stored away and organized. Adding a functional kitchen island is a wonderful way to increase the storage in your small kitchen without the time-consuming hassle of a major renovation.
3. Outlets Galore
Many building codes require your island have an electrical outlet. But, you don’t necessarily need to stop at one outlet. Add extra electrical outlets to your kitchen island to ramp up the functionality. Use the outlets or your kitchen mixer, a coffee station or any appliances that aid in meal prep or cooking. And these days we all need all the outlets we can get to plug in phone chargers and keep our devices ready.
4. Adding a Functional Kitchen Island and Additional Refrigeration
Do you want to provide your family with an easy access way to grab a cold drink or a snack without disrupting your workspace? Add a refrigerated drawer or a small beverage fridge on the exterior of your island. For a single-sided island place a small refrigerator toward the end for minimal intrusion. When entertaining, guests can get their now beverages without disrupting any food prep.
5. Out of the Way Microwave
Much like the addition of a mini-fridge, wine fridge or refrigerated drawer, am in-island microwave lets your family and friends heat up a cup of coffee or snack without disrupting the kitchen activity. Tucking a microwave into an island keeps it off the counter and frees ups more workspace for you. And moving the microwave for above the stove gets rid of the confining visual clutter.
6. Customize Your Workspace by Adding a Functional Kitchen Island
For the home chef a kitchen island with upgrades that help in meal prep is a gift. Specialized surfaces such as butcher block or soapstone provide an area just perfect for rolling out the flakiest piecrust or kneading a scrumptious loaf of artisan bread. A more durable quartz countertop takes a beating and still looks lovely.
A warming drawer in your kitchen island keeps dishes ready to serve. A second dishwasher is ideal for large families and busy home entertainers. Energy efficient induction cooktops are never hot to the touch as they use a magnetic field to transfer heat. Make meal prep so much easier by installing a prep sink in your island.
7. Trash and Recycling Drawers
Whether double sided or single sided your kitchen island is a handy place to install separate drawers for trash and recycling. Easy-to-use drawers with a foot latch to accommodate full hands means environmentally conscious easy clean-up!
8. Adding a Functional Kitchen Island with Proper Lighting
Every cook appreciates the right lighting to get the job done. Of course overhead lighting is essential to aesthetics and tasks and under cabinet lighting also creates a mood. Combine pendants (But pay attention to the sight lines.), recessed spotlights and cabinet lighting for the best illumination options.
A Functional Kitchen Island That Meets Your Needs
When adding a functional kitchen island be creative and keep your family’s needs front and center. For more information on customizing and adding a fictional kitchen island to your home contact Quad City Kitchen & Bath today. We offer experienced design professionals to help you find the ideal island addition to your kitchen. Don’t wait another minute for the kitchen of your dreams.
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8 Must-Have Kitchen Storage Features
Ask most Quad Cities homeowners what they would like to change in their kitchen and inevitably they’ll tell you kitchen storage. In fact kitchen remodels and renovations always include an upgrade in the amount of kitchen storage. Today’s cooks do enjoy their appliances. Food processors, stand mixes and the like all need a place to stow away. And is there a home chef worth their salt who doesn’t have a vast array of spices at hand?
8 Kitchen Storage Features You Need Now
No one likes clutter and when you have a cluttered kitchen it can make meal prep or simply social get-togethers a real problem. A well-designed, well thought out storage plan ensures your kitchen is beautiful and functional. Any kitchen renovation or remodeling job takes planning and part of that planning includes these must-have kitchen storage features.
1. A Large Customized Pantry or Pull-Outs
A large pantry won’t solve all of your kitchen storage problems, but it will help. Especially when you make sure every inch is usable and organized. An over-the-door rack for everyday items such as mustard, ketchup, vinegar and oil is handy. Add sliding shelves and use the space beneath to put stackable baskets and bins for fruits and vegetables that don’t need refrigeration.
If you don’t have space for or don’t really like the idea of a separate walk-in pantry consider installing pull out pantry drawers. Drawers specifically designed to stow pantry items are shallow and pull easily out of the cabinet enclosure. You can see exactly what you have so the next time you make your spectacular beef bourguignon you won’t need to hunt for the tomato paste.
2. Deep Drawers
Storing pots, pans and their lids in deep drawers is on trend for a reason. It’s so much easier to slide open a drawer and reach for the right pan and lid than scrounging around an overpacked cabinet. Deep drawers are taking the place of cabinets in many kitchen remodels and they add more room for sure. Think about how much wasted space there tends to be in the typical kitchen cabinet. By utilizing the space of a cabinet for drawers, you will add kitchen storage space and style too.
3. Pull-Out Recycling and Trash
It isn’t necessary to take up precious real estate like floor space in your kitchen. When you install pull out kitchen storage for trash and recycling your unsightly trash receptacle and recycling bin are tucked away. Use the extra floor space to extend an island or peninsula and add even more kitchen storage.
4. Easy-Access Kitchen Storage for Herbs, Spices and Oils
When you’re playing beat-the-clock getting dinner on the table it saves time to have your seasonings and condiments close at hand. Slim, pull-out racks next to your oven or workspace put all of your necessary seasonings, oils, sauces and condiments within reach. These shelved racks are part of the cabinetry and shut tight to keep your kitchen tidy and organized.
5. Stand Mixer Lift
This kitchen storage feature is pretty genius and will likely cause you one of those “why didn’t anyone think of this before” moments. A stand mixer takes up a good bit of space on your counter. Sure, who doesn’t like to show off their enviable stand mixer that looks like it just came off a Food Network set? But when it’s stowed out of the way your kitchen looks so much more sleek, uncluttered and inviting. With this state-of-the-art storage your mixer sits on a pull-out lift-up shelf. You won’t need to lug the mixer back and forth to your work space. You have access to the mixer and when it’s time to put it away you can simply push it back into the cabinet.
6. Slide-Out Storage For Your Baking Sheets, Cutting Boards and Oversized Platters
Cookie sheets are somewhat awkward to store and oversized platters don’t fit easily into your dish cabinet or drawer. Custom inserts in a cabinet designed for this type of storage keep your baking sheets, cooling racks, holiday platters and cutting boards from taking up kitchen storage space elsewhere.
7. Kitchen Storage for Pet Feeding Station
We love our pets, and they are a huge part of the family. But, their dishes are often in the way. When company comes over your pet’s feeding area can be an eyesore. This is easily remedied when you install a pet feeding station that holds all of your pets bowls and pulls out at floor level from beneath your cabinets or island. Open and close the pet feeding station with a simple kick of your toe.
8. Kitchen Storage for Kid-Stuff
Whether they’re doing homework, creating a masterpiece or simply hanging in the kitchen to be near you your kids’ art supplies, paper and pencils seem to be, well, everywhere. Solve that kitchen storage problem with a designated space at the end of your kitchen island or a peninsula. Pull out kitchen storage shelves can double as a work space for your littlest Picasso while your older children can grab what they need and do their homework or create at the dining bar or table.
You Can Have It All
These kitchen storage ideas are just some of the must-have amenities today’s homeowner desires. Tackle your kitchen storage problems, be on-trend and make your life easier when you contact the professional problem solvers at Seiffert Kitchen & Bath. Our design team will help you realize your vision of a dream kitchen-organized, functional and a beautiful reflection of you.
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Optimizing Your Bathroom Storage Space
Organizing your home’s bathroom storage space probably isn’t most people’s idea of a good time. But when you take the time to make sure you have a place to stow your stuff where you can easily find it you won’t have any regrets. Optimizing your bathroom storage space may not change your life, but it will definitely make your life much easier.
No matter if you’re organizing a powder room or a master bath it’s a space that should appear neat and tidy. Your master bath should be your own personal spa, the place where you go to escape the remains of the day and ease yourself into a relaxed state of mind. Clutter is only going to detract from that!
Your children’s bathroom needs to be ready to handle the chaos that is bath time or getting-ready-for-school time. And a powder room or guest bath should offer your guests a space that meets and anticipates their needs. Tall orders for what’s often a small space.
Ideas For Bathroom Storage Space
So what is the answer to solving your bathroom storage space dilemmas? Here we take a look at some clever and creative ideas for optimizing your bathroom storage space without compromising style. Whether you need ideas for a large and spacious master bathroom, a children’s bath or a guest bath or powder room we’ve got you covered.
Look Up
If you have some unused space above your bathroom door install a shelf for extra towels and linens. Just be sure to keep a step stool nearby.
Shower Caddy
A shower caddy that fits over the shower head is the perfect space to store necessary bathing items like a loofah, shampoo, conditioner and body wash. You can even repurpose a compartmentalized caddy to store children’s bath rime toys or hang it on a hook outside of the tub area for those bathrooms that lack the space for shelves or cabinets.
Repurpose a Bar Cart
A bar cart is a handy spot to store those items that would otherwise go in a linen closet. Extra towels can stack on the lower shelves while things such as cotton balls and swabs in decorative containers can sit atop the cart next to a potted plant. You can store your hair products and makeup on the cart. Additional toilet paper, soap, lotion and any other bathroom accoutrement are easily stored on the affordable bar cart.
Hooked On Bathroom Storage Space
For bathrooms that are short on closet space or counter area, and walls don’t lend themselves to shelving, hooks offer a place to hang towels, robes and a storage caddy. Opt for hooks that are decorative and functional.
Add a Ladder
Blanket ladders are trendy in living rooms, bedrooms and family rooms around the Quad Cities. Why not use a blanket ladder to add to your bathroom storage space? Prop one in the corner and hang your towels on the rungs. A blanket ladder will hold many more towels than a standard towel bar. Optimizing your bathroom storage space while making a trendy fashion statement.
Vanity Thy Name is Storage!
Even the smallest bathroom has to have a sink. Don’t waste the space beneath your bathroom sink by installing a pedestal basin. Instead opt for a vanity that has drawers or a cabinet beneath the sink. Not only does it add style to your bathroom, but a vanity provides storage where there was none.
If you need additional bathroom storage space in the master or larger bath, consider replacing your current cabinet and countertop combo. Install state of the art cabinetry or customized cabinet for all the bells and whistles. Soft touch drawers are deep enough to hold toiled and additional toilet paper and adding counter space allows you to put your must-have items in decorative baskets and containers so they’re close by.
Add a Shelf
If a vanity isn’t possible, add shelving around your sink. Is there space beneath? Use that area to install some shelves to store containers with the necessities. Above your toilet is typically some wasted space. Consider an over-the-toilet shelving unit or install stylish floating shelves for added bathroom storage space.
Medicine Cabinet
Remember when all bathrooms seemed to have medicine cabinets above the sink? Many still do! A medicine cabinet is ideal for storing smaller items and it does double duty as a mirror. If your bathroom space allows for it, you can install a medicine cabinet with shelving beneath. It may not be adequate for larger items, but you’ll have a place to store the small clutter that finds its way to your bathroom sink and countertop.
Make More Space
Finally, if you need additional bathroom storage space, create it by opening up your bathroom. Renovating and remodeling your bathroom allows you to incorporate all of the space you need. A linen closet or larger vanity space, cabinets above and below your sink, whatever it is you need to make your life easier.
At Seiffert Kitchen & Bath we help you solve all of your bathroom storage space dilemmas. Whether you want to incorporate built-in storage, add a functional vanity or reimagine your entire bathroom we can help. Our design team leaves nothing to chance and we work together with you to achieve the results you want. Contact Seiffert Kitchen & Bath today and we’ll help you find a way to optimize your bathroom storage space and make your life easier.