Ask an Expert: How can I plan the perfect kitchen storage - Kitchens in today's homes have to meet many needs. They are the place for preparing and cooking our meals, but we often want to be able to eat, work or relax in that room, too. For all this to happen smoothly, the kitchen should be intelligently planned and many efficient storage is crucial. But when installing a new kitchen, how do you get the right storage? How much do you need, where it should go and what kind works best? Here, three experts share their knowledge of food storage tips
Professional advice from :.
Kashi Shikunova Yam Studios
Lindsey Durrant of Burlanes Interiors
Conor Laville Wren Kitchens
Before planning any storage, think about how you use the kitchen, and you have need him. "The amount of storage required depends on the person or family using the space, says Kashi Shikunova. "Do you cook a lot? Do you need access to a lot of different ingredients, such as spices, regularly? Are you a family? Think about this and then see how it can be housed in the space.
Lindsey Durrant accepts. "Working on what is really important to you, she said. "Is this major storage? Would you like to have anything on the work plan? Then focus on the available space.
"It is essential to the design process to have a complete understanding of your needs and desires," said Conor Laville. "Ultimately, needs must come first. Take a look at what you currently have, taking into account that you can include in the coming years. "
While many storage fit in a kitchen is a reasonable goal, be sure not to overload the space. "People often want an island or at least a breakfast bar, but sometimes does not work in space, Durrant said. "Think about how you will be able to move around the room. Be realistic about what will fit. If you spend money on a new kitchen, you do not want a design that you can not move easily or space that seems crowded or too drunk.
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every kitchen is different, as are the needs of people who use it, but every kitchen will need a certain amount of storage. A large larder is really useful for storing fresh food, said Laville. "Then add in two standard cutlery drawers and four pan drawers -. Which is a good place to start
Keep an eye on the long term, too. When designing your kitchen, consider today and tomorrow. A family of four can turn into a family of five or six, "he adds. It is good to leave a storage space for everyone. Ideally, allow two wardrobes for each adult and one each for everyone. "
drawers are much easier to use than standard cabinets, can be difficult to access and can easily become cluttered. "Drawers bring everything for you, so you do not crawl around on your hands and knees to reach things in the back," says Durrant. "Make sure they have quality runners. Good drawers can now take up to 35 kg distributed weight, so they are very practical. "Position some near the dishwasher, too." It's good to be able to dump straight into a drawer, "says Durrant.
" It is good to have a mix of drawers and cupboards, 'said Shikunova. "drawers costs a little more than standard cabinets and, in a large kitchen, fitting many of them could push your budget up. If you love only the appearance of drawers prefer a more minimalist look, they can be hidden behind closet doors. "this gives a uniform appearance to the storage of the kitchen, she said.
regarding the planning of individual drawers, consider what you will store in them. for a utensil drawer, for example, factor in the larger pieces that you may keep in there. "It is essential to consider the size things like spatulas and hammers at planning sizes and drawer depths, "said Laville.
it can be difficult to keep a deep standard cabinet stored or reach items stored in the back, but there are ways to make more efficient the cabinets. A rotation or pull-out tray allows full access to the rear of the cabinet, said Laville. "These can be costly, however. Using baskets or boxes, you can get a similar effect and keep tidy storage. The baskets can also be used to fit into tight spaces that do not fit a full drawer unit.
do not forget to take into account the storage of waste. "Always add integrated bins," says Shikunova. "Some people need more bin space than others - for example, if you are a large family and do not want to take the garbage every five minutes.
Design a closet dedicated to waste and recycling bins, or use the dead space around the kitchen. "It is a good idea to install the bins under the sink, which is often a dead space which is difficult to use, said Shikunova. "You can also spot the adjustment mechanisms for the storage of waste which make use of the corner space difficult to achieve in the work plans."
Added a portion of the open shelves in your kitchen will not radically increase its storage, but it can help soften the appearance of a space fit well with cupboards and drawers.
it can be nice to have some shelves to show good-looking items or cooking books, Shikunova said, 'but remember they are not very efficient use of space. If you have a small kitchen and storage need, it may be best to avoid them and install normal cupboards instead.
shelving can also look messy. 'Open shelves is mind tidy! "Durrant said. "You will also need to think about whether it matches the cabinets or not, and if it is painted, it may be scratched and marked with use."
Items stored on open shelves in kitchen can also be cleaned regularly because dirt and grease from cooking. "A good hood should help, said Shikunova, 'but it can be irritating to have to clean items on shelves and shelves regularly can look messy."
'cellars are especially great for people who cook a lot and have a lot of ingredients they need to access all the time, "said Shikunova. "You do not want to have things like spices on a work plan, but they can get lost in a closet. In a larder, however, they are easy to find.
cellars can also be a useful addition in a small kitchen. "They make very effective use of space, said Shikunova. "They can be designed to be narrower than a standard 600mm unit, so if you have a random awkward space in your kitchen, installation of a pantry in it can be a great storage solution.
Read how tips on making the most of a small kitchen
Durrant advises mounting drawers at the bottom of a pantry. 'This is a dead space and you do not want to be on your hands and knees trying to reach things in the back, she said. "Fit Drawers here, adjustable shelves above and may be a shelf for toaster or microwave inside, too. Inside the door larder can then be fitted with a door for small jars and bottles.
Clear work plans with minimal space on them is a goal for many of us. "Nobody wants anything on their work surfaces now!" Said Durrant. But the small storage devices such as food mixers in cabinets can turn them out and use them in a practical concern. So, if space permits, factor in storage for gadgets that you use quite often.
'We like to create a storage for small appliances such as food processors and toasters,' said Shikunova. "They can be stored all set up, connected to an outlet in the rear wall and ready to use and easily lock then.
in a kitchen, storage does not have to be just for power or large appliances, such as dishwashers. It can be made to accommodate an additional sink, space for drying clothes, ironing boards, shoes or coats. If space allows, you can include a wide range of kit and clobber your kitchen storage.
Think integrate storage that are not the typical closet or drawer. wine coolers, for example, are increasingly popular and very useful. "Ambient coolers allow you to set different temperatures within the device to the red and white wine, so including one in your kitchen means you can get rid of all wine racks, Durrant said. "It also means no bottles in the refrigerator, which frees up space there.
If your ideal is simplified storage banks in the kitchen, think of ways to prevent this seem austere. "Play with texture, avoid flat color and find materials that contain slight variations in tone, said Shikunova.
Think about lighting, too. "If you extend cabinets to the ceiling, you can then adapt to the Recessed lighting above," she said. "This creates the really useful light, but also a very friendly atmosphere.
Doors with glass inserts will also break the appearance of a minimum of units running, but make sure you look good enough to store items inside, everything will be on show!
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