Big Ideas for Small Kitchens and Baths

by | Oct 31, 2010 | 2, 3, Articles

<h2 style="margin: 10pt 0in 0pt"><font size="3" color="#990000">Big Ideas for Small Kitchens and Baths</font></h2><p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">(ARA) – When you have a small kitchen and bath you’re often pulled in opposite directions -constantly looking for places to put things, yet longing for an open, uncluttered look. But you can achieve both if you combine sound organization principles with today’s innovative cabinetry. Here are some big ideas for small kitchens and baths.</span></p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt"><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Turn a corner.</strong> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Finding space for small kitchen items is hard enough, but keeping track of them is even harder when the few cabinets you have are stuffed to the gills. If you’re always knocking over larger items like food boxes while reaching for smaller items like spices, a lazy Susan corner cabinet can help bring order out of chaos, in an often underused area of the kitchen. For example, Diamond Logix offers the Segmented Super Susan complete with pull outs for easy access and metal guardrails which help keep all contents in place. It’s part of a full line of cabinets that squeezes out space where none existed before.<span> </span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span></span></p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><span><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/2b.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/2b.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div> </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Fool the eye.</strong> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Make the kitchen and bath look bigger by choosing lighter colors and finishes. For example, Dover Maple cabinets have a versatile finish inspired by one of nature’s timeless masterpieces: the White Cliffs of Dover along the British coastline. The doors have an understated opaque off-white finish with soft gray undertones to harmonize with any number of interior decorating elements, from neutral-colored wall coverings and satin nickel hardware, to stainless steel sinks and natural wood flooring. Install light bars above the cabinets to draw the eye up and create the illusion of higher ceilings, and add floor moldings below to create a seamless floor-to-ceiling look.<span>     </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">&lt;strong>Instant office.</strong> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">If you think a kitchen desk is out of the picture in a small home, think again. A solid wood file drawer can make a big difference in organizing essentials for taking care of life’s business. When the drawers are closed, the top can double as a bookshelf or display space for framed photos or a lamp. No room for a desk? Create a workable space by installing open and closed cubbies under a counter, either horizontally or vertically, with or without drawers, to store home office odds and ends.<span>  </span></p>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Multi-purpose.</strong> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Every kitchen needs a landing spot for keys, cell phones, notes and mail. Stash these things in colorful pottery, or take organization a step further by hiding them in a secret compartment at the end of a cabinet run. For example, a Mini Message Center cabinet is a three-inch-deep bonus storage compartment with key hooks, a metal cubby divider, fixed shelves and a magnetic message board. This solution blends in with your cabinets while conveniently parking small items out of sight. </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"> </p><div style="text-align: center"><object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,29,0" width="425" height="282"><param name="movie" value="../images/banners/3c.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="menu" value="false" /><param name="wmode" value="" /><embed src="../images/banners/3c.swf" wmode="" quality="high" menu="false" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="282"></embed></object></div>  <p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal"><strong>Off the counter, out of sight.</strong> </p><p style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt" class="MsoNormal">Use ingenious bathroom cabinets to store grooming essentials neatly off the sink or countertop. A Vanity Cosmetic Cabinet can park your hair dryer in an attached appliance cooling rack located on the inside of the door. The cabinet’s built-in, two-tier segmented drawer keeps makeup and small essentials accessible without crowding the sink area. Another option is a vanity pullout with shallow shelving to keep things at your fingertips, with adjustable shelves that you can customize to fit your needs.<span>     </span></p>  <p><span style="font-size: 10pt; line-height: 200%; font-family: ‘Verdana’,’sans-serif’; letter-spacing: 1pt">Courtesy of ARAcontent</span></p></span>