Finding Room for Everyday Dishes
If you have a fairly large kitchen, our next reveal is going to sound a little silly.
If you have a really small kitchen like us, you just might want to file this under “thoughts to consider”. You ready for it?
The floor to ceiling cabinets were the first things we built. We squeezed the frames into place and built three drawers below the oven/microwave combo unit. The top two drawers quickly filled with standards like utensils and aluminum foil. We didn’t have a plan for the third drawer yet; we also didn’t have anywhere to put our every day dishes so that they wouldn’t get sawdust all over them. They landed in the bottom drawer.
Now that the kitchen is done, we’re trying to decide where to put everything. The dishes are staying in their drawer. The advantages of this totally crazy approach are:
Dishes in a drawer. It’s just one more way we managed to squeeze a few more inches out of our kitchen.
Anyone else found some great tricks for maximizing your kitchens? We’re still on the hunt for a few good ideas.
(Images by Katie for Making This Home)
February 28th, 2009 at 10:24 am
I think that works really well and I love the colour of your dishes!
February 28th, 2009 at 10:45 am
I am in love with every single thing you did. I just couldn’t imagine your kitchen before, and I’m so glad you had “the vision”. I, too, love those dishes! Such a pop of color! Beautifully done!
February 28th, 2009 at 11:28 am
Congratulations on completing your kitchen! You must be so proud!!! My husband and I built our “ikea-esque” wardrobe unit today and we’re walking on cloud 9! I love the tip about building your cabinets all the way to the ceiling… in fact, its great tips such as these that are the reason why I’ve declared “Your Blog is Fab” and given you an award!
Come check it out at http://antiquesdiva.blogspot.com/2009/02/your-blog-is-fabulous-award.html
Best,
Toma, aka The Antiques Diva
February 28th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I think that’s a great idea! Ikea has advertised dishes in a drawer. I think they have some kind of plate holder or something so you can pull them all out at once and take them to the table. In our tiny kitchen, I love having two of the metal bars attached to the wall under the upper cabinets. One holds all of our measuring cups & spoons and the other above the stove holds our cooking utensils. I never wonder where any of these things are and never have to search through a drawer full of stuff to find them.
February 28th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
I have a large kitchen but next to NO storage. I have a drawer with all my mixing bowls and other cooking supplies, one with the kids plates and bowls in it, and the small ‘grill’ above my oven is where I store all my baking sheets. I have some wine glass shelves from IKEA (I don’t drink – - but I love other beverages from the glasses!) this saved some cupboard room. I also have a corner plate stacker which has four sections and holds all the plates and bowls in an upward position. We also tend to take most products out of their packages and put them into ‘ziplock’ bags. It keeps them fresher for longer and it means I don’t have to worry about knowing how much is in each bag/box. It also takes up smaller spaces.
February 28th, 2009 at 5:48 pm
This is a great idea. I have seen this idea used before. And in my sister-in-law’s parents kitchen their dishes were stored this way. I remember thinking that I wish my drawers were deep enough for that kind of storage. My drawers are too shallow. If I were to remodel my kitchen, I would make all of my lower cabinets drawers that are deep enough for things like that. Looks great in your kitchen.
February 28th, 2009 at 8:01 pm
I love the idea about using the drawer. And may I just say I love the color of your dishes!
March 1st, 2009 at 8:54 am
Aren’t those green dishes just something?! Martin and I were just so overwhelmed with the color white that we just had to find something with a little punch. Well maybe we found something with a LOT of punch, but we love ‘em.
Katie
March 2nd, 2009 at 7:56 am
I love those dishes and that storage solution. Fab!
March 3rd, 2009 at 8:43 am
I love your remodel. I like the drawers, that’s how I store some China I was given by relatives. I personally prefer to use shallow pantries with the shelves adjusted to the specific height of the cup or bowl. Then you don’t need to stack them and worry about chipping. The shelves also take up a little less room than the drawer glides.
March 3rd, 2009 at 10:46 am
We have our everyday dishes in the bottom drawer too. This way the kids can get a cup when they are thirsty without coming to get me 12 times a day, plus they can empty the dish washer now. LOVE IT!
March 3rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Love it! I keep dishes in my drawers too. I think most people just don’t have enough drawers in their kitchen. Lower cupboards are almost completely useless. I did my entire pantry in drawers too. The lower cabinets that is. I can’t wait to get my studio organized the same way!