If you follow my blog you know that I am organization obsessed. Perhaps I’m a little OCD but I like to think it is because I spent so many years living in small spaces. As a result of this experience combined with my new role as a kitchen designer I can’t help but think about and share a few tips about how to make your small kitchen big…

Top three recommendations to maximize storage space in a small kitchen:

ONE: Baskets, boxes, and pretty containers – oh my! If you are like most people with a small kitchen most likely your cabinets do not extend to the ceiling. Use that space above the cabinets for items that you want access to but may not use regularly. For example, pretty party linens, kitchen utensils used once per year to bake the Thanksgiving turkey, or barware (okay, some of us use those things regularly but you get my point). Take all of these items and store them in stylish baskets or storage boxes. Try to keep the storage containers uniform in style to reduce the sense of visual clutter.

TWO:  Use your backsplash! Keep the countertop clean but hang utensils and spices from the backsplash. There are some great options out there to add some contemporary style and FUNCTIONALITY to what is otherwise just a statement space in your kitchen. Best part is… you save your counter space for its intended use.

THREE:  Cabinet Accessories are your friend. What do I mean? Hang an organizer from the back of the sink base for dish soap, sponges, etc. Install rollout shelves inside builder grade cabinets. Most base cabinets typically have a 12” deep shelf. This is a missed opportunity for storage by 25% per cabinet! Roll out trays are available at places like The Container Store, Lowes, or you can also stop by a local kitchen cabinet distributor for recommendations. These options are add-ons even in designer kitchens… in other words you can buy the units and install them in your already lived in kitchen.

So now that the small kitchen is functional how do you make it look good? Well there are a number of ways and here are my top three recommendations…

ONE:  Keep it simple & contrast to a minimum! Solid color countertops, clean lines and painted cabinets or a wood that has a tight consistent grain (like Maple) are great options. Keep contrast to a minimum so that the eye isn’t drawn JUST to one place in the space. Too many colors, too many different finishes, and too much contrast will create a choppy visual in a small space. I’m not saying that you SHOULDN’T do these things but if you have a small kitchen keep it to a minimum and the space will feel grander.

TWO:  Glass and reflective surfaces are the secret to making small kitchens LOOK big. What do I mean? If you have a long run of solid panel cabinets add glass to the doors. This will create a visual sense of a larger space. Also, try to keep the interior contents behind the glass organized and uncluttered. De-cluttering is key in small kitchens. Also paint the inside of the cabinets either the same color as the wall or paint them the same color inside and out (if you are part of the current trend of painted cabinets). When it comes to glass inserts in your cabinet doors. the trick is that you don’t want the eye to stop in one spot and the way to do this is with consistent color.

THREE: Make your kitchen a Lite Brite (remember those as a kid?)! If your space is small then layering the lighting options is important. Under-cabinet lighting brightens up the dark corners of the countertop. Rope lights or up-lighting on top of your cabinets can make the space feel tall and add a sense of more space too. Install recessed cans, a central ambient lighting fixture, and pendants if you have the space. Also if you took the tip on the glass door fronts try in-cabinet lighting too. The point is, make it bright with as much light as possible.

I  promise my next post won’t be about kitchens (the theme of late) but will be something inspiring about another space in the home! I hope you will come back to find out what it is. See you soon!

Now to the post for today. It’s all about open storage in the kitchen. Is it for you? Well it looks good but is it practical. This is a question you have to ask yourself. If you are a neat freak and you happen to have matching dishes or at least some sort of coordinating color scheme then this option may be for you.

It looks cool doesn’t it?

If you are thinking of adding open storage to your kitchen then why not go all out? Make the entire upper storage area all open shelving. What this does is create a sense of open space. It also allows you to add some color or unique treatment to the wall. Try a beautiful tile or wood slats like these kitchens.

For those of you that are only partial neat freaks then maybe it is best to limit the open storage to just part of the kitchen. Perhaps a nice place to store coffee mugs and a few dishes for breakfast. This creates a nice little zone that is specific to a task… like drinking coffee in the morning.

If you like the idea of only one open storage zone in your kitchen a great idea is the hanging pot rack. Mix it up a bit and hang it above the sink. This is a great way to make a boring window with no view interesting.

To keep a sense of order and to minimize the perception of clutter keep the color of the dishes and serveware to one clean look. White is always a classically clean look.

Another way to minimze the perception of clutter in open storage areas is to keep it limited to the ends of the island. A perfect spot for cookbooks and a few miscllaneous items that simply look nice when displayed on an open shelf.

If open storage is for you I hope these ideas inspired you.

Hope to share more next weekend when my head is hopefully a little less crazy with the beginning of a new job.

You can buy them as a unit and spruce it up with your own touches.

Create your own.

Most want to have the ability to use their outdoor kitchen rain or shine therefore typically it is located in a covered area.

For chilly nights (or days) include a fireplace.

Sink or no sink, wine refrigerator or not… you can expect that they outdoor kitchen is all about entertaining so a place to serve drinks and food is key. If you really want to do it up why not serve your guests from a swim up bar too?

Some of the basic rules of kitchen design still apply. Each of these ensure that you have ample space for prepping food, handling wet dishes and kitchen utensils…. bottom line they build a comfortable kitchen space

• Standard counter height 36″
• Typical counter depth 24″
• If you have a sink in your outdoor kitchen allow 18 to 30″ on one side and 48 to 54″ on the other
• Minimum of 12″ of counter space on one side of the cooking area (grill) and 15 to 24″ minimum on the other is ideal
• Bar height is 42″ allowing for stool seating

Regardless of your preference to add an outdoor kitchen, or simply a nice grill, to your backyard I hope that these ideas have been an inspiration to at least get you excited for the coming warm days of sunshine and cool evenings full of stars!

My favorite aspect of this trend is that you jazz up the kitchen and make it your own with unmatched appliances. However, there is a fine line with this one… pick one to stand out (typically the oven/range or the refrigerator) and make it a feature piece in the kitchen. Just because the mix-and-match concept is the latest thing doesn’t mean it’s cool to keep the almond refrigerator circa 1990 paired with all stainless steel appliances elsewhere. When considering a different finish for an appliance think a colored stove or a cool retro-refrigerator.

Step up the trend of a unique kitchen island not just by using a “furniture-like” piece but add a punch of color too.

More than one countertop color or material means your kitchen is right on trend. Tip: try stone, quartz, or any solid surface on the primary countertops and butcher block, bamboo, or another type of wood on the island or even mix two colors/patterns of solid surface countertops.

Another way to carry the mix-and-match trend throughout the kitchen is to use two colors of cabinets. Tip: apply the darker color on the lower cabinets, it creates a sense of height in the room and hides dirt as the lower cabinets tend to get the most wear and tear.

This trend is fabulous for the kitchens that are a makeover in-progress… you can change partial elements at a time and it won’t look out of place. It is also a great trend to make your kitchen space your own or to marry the styles of multiple family members.

The trend of putting two colors of cabinets and mixing countertops as well as other finishes throughout the space is here to stay for a while. Don’t be afraid to give it a try, you will be surprised how the contrast can be so pleasing to the eye as well as very practical.