STEP ONE, ORGANIZE YOUR KITCHEN

Happy new year!  Thank you for showing up here at Kitchens for Living where my new year's resolution is to continue to bring you the latest in products, trends and  kitchen related (mostly) tidbits as they cross  my path as a professional kitchen designer.  Whether you are planning a new kitchen, thinking about planning a new kitchen (someday) or just want to make the one you have better you're in the right place.  I am here to help as little or as much as you want!





Do you feel like these babies? Quite often we come to the conclusion that we need help when we realize how powerless and out of control our lives have become.  Well, guess what?  This happens in the kitchen too.  Do you want to have more time, less stress?  Organizing what you have in your kitchen is definitely a step in the right direction.  Here's how you can start.


DOWNSIZE


One of the number one trends for 2011 is downsizing in all aspects.  This includes not only your waistline but your schedule, your closet and yes, your kitchen.  Gone are the "McMansion" days.  Today we are learning about living smaller with quality instead of quantity.  The smaller the space the more each element counts and the more organization matters.  The Intuitive Kitchen philosophy agrees with 19th century creative William Morris who said, "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful."

The Not So Big Life by Sarah Susanka

One of my favorite books about downsizing, prioritizing and organizing your life is Susan Susanka's The Not so Big Life.  She uses the metaphor of a house and its architecture and interior to show us a different way of looking at how we live.  She's actually written a whole series on this theme but this is the one I know.


SITUATE WHAT YOU HAVE


Now that you're down to the nitty gritty, the point is to store it so we can see it.  This is necessary for the items we use on a daily basis.  There is also what I call remote storage, or the hard to reach or up high areas which are ideal for storing seasonal items.  The biggest organizational day to day kitchen challenges are pots and pans, especially the lids, (according to my clients), spices, tupperware and cutlery.  Today we'll start with  solutions for pots and pans.


POTS & PANS


First of all don't Google "POT STORAGE". I did. It serves me right.






Seriously, you can easily get into a fight with your kitchen cabinets over pots.  I like to store mine in a deep drawer.  I keep the flat pans under the range but I love tray dividers or vertical partitions for storing cookie sheets, pizza pans, cutting boards and serving platters.  This type of cabinet can be located over a wall oven or better yet it's the best solution for a small base cabinet.

Wasted space becomes practical and beautiful pot & pan storage

If you thought the space over your windows was wasted, think again.  An over-the window-hanging-pot-rack can be convenient adding visual interest at the same time.

A Blind Corner Base sees the light with a LeMans storage system by Hafele USA used for pots!

Now a word about those lids.  They do make door racks to hold them but my favorite solution is this nifty chrome rack that fits in an upper cabinet or in a deep drawer.  It's great for the lids or other items and you can get one at  organize-it.com for $9.99

Lid storage and more from organize-it.com

So now you have some idea how to stash your pot pots for easy access.  Next post we'll organize your herb spices and cutlery.  ALSO COMING UP IS A GIVEAWAY! Yes Kitchens for Living is going to give one lucky winner some kitchen love!!  (I'm not really a pot head.  It was just funny so I had to run with it.)

TAP INTO YOUR CREATIVE ZONE

I live in a hectic family household  but Sundays are sacred.  Joe is off at work and kids sleep late, sometimes really late.  That is when I am blessedly alone.  That is when my spirit flies.  I catch up with all the blogs I haven’t been able to read during the busy week, maybe I do a little art and I dream.  Despite all my financial responsibilities,  my parenting realities and my work I get into a place where, for a moment,  I think just because I’m alive I can do ANYTHING.  Here are some things I become capable of on Sunday morning:

1. Going back to India to take up where I left off.

[caption id="attachment_169" align="alignright" width="213" caption="Glo in India 2001"][/caption]

2. Buy and decorate a hip Mid-Century modern apartment in Miami

[caption id="attachment_170" align="alignright" width="300" caption="My MCE Dream, Courtesy of Apartmenttherapy"][/caption]

3.Become a full time artist exploring and developing my many ideas and musings at my leisure. This is one of my collages.  If you want to see more visit www.papermoongoddess.blogspot.com

[caption id="attachment_171" align="alignright" width="224" caption="This is Hope"][/caption]

4. Go back to California to study more art

[caption id="attachment_172" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Glo at Encaustic Workshop in Carmel Ca. 2008"][/caption]

Ok, you get the picture.  When you want to create or remodel your own kitchen or design a kitchen for a client this is a very good space to be in.  Get in the mood and the ideas will come.  This is truly the first step in the Intuitive Kitchen process. When you have returned to earth you can edit.  Trust me it works.  Now tell me, don't be shy (that's counter intuitive). How do you get in the zone?

Happy (Kitchen Design) Endings

It's been one of those weeks.  I'm happy to be busy but struggling to keep up!  I have been working on a big traditional kitchen design for a client trying to recreate her favorite kitchen back in Toronto.  Since lots of walls are being removed to create a large open space we ended up with a situation which will locate the end of the refrigerator in the hallway! One of the most unsightly kitchen endings would be the side of a refrigerator.  Who wants to look at that?

With the enduring popularity of the open kitchen plan we are faced with including a seamless transition between the "kitchen proper" and the adjacent living area.  Even if you opt to spend a little extra for a decorative finish to the sides or backs of cabinets that are fully exposed there are some other creative solutions.  This got me thinking about how to end it all, in a happy way, of course.  I decided to employ a technique I have used previously.

We accomplished this fine ending with less than 12" of space.  I will use this solution in my new design

If you're short on space, you can implement this solution with only 6" of extra space.  Make the top doors glass for a place to display a collection or if you can squeeze out 12" in depth, use solid doors and you have a handy pantry. Don't forget you'll have to finish side of the end cabinet so it looks great from the front too.

Photo courtesy of Holiday Kitchens

This traditional example by Holiday Kitchens, becomes warm and inviting with the addition of an attractive end unit which, not only creates a beautiful spot to display that special something, but it's also a great way to transition from kitchen to living area.

Mini peninsula placed at the end adds counter, storage and visual appeal

Easy access to BBQ tools from porch

Here's a handy solution for a client with a smallish kitchen who was looking for a little extra counter space as well as a handy place to store his barbeque paraphanalia.  The back of the cabinet opens right at the opening to a sliding glass door leading to his barbeque on the porch.  It also visually defines the end of the kitchen.

This solution by Holiday Kitchens uses 12" deep cabinets and offers a little extra counter space

Happy (Kitchen Design) Endings

It's been one of those weeks.  I'm happy to be busy but struggling to keep up!  I have been working on a big traditional kitchen design for a client trying to recreate her favorite kitchen back in Toronto.  Since lots of walls are being removed to create a large open space we ended up with a situation which will locate the end of the refrigerator in the hallway! One of the most unsightly kitchen endings would be the side of a refrigerator.  Who wants to look at that?

With the enduring popularity of the open kitchen plan we are faced with including a seamless transition between the "kitchen proper" and the adjacent living area.  Even if you opt to spend a little extra for a decorative finish to the sides or backs of cabinets that are fully exposed there are some other creative solutions.  This got me thinking about how to end it all, in a happy way, of course.  I decided to employ a technique I have used previously.

We accomplished this fine ending with less than 12" of space.  I will use this solution in my new design

If you're short on space, you can implement this solution with only 6" of extra space.  Make the top doors glass for a place to display a collection or if you can squeeze out 12" in depth, use solid doors and you have a handy pantry. Don't forget you'll have to finish side of the end cabinet so it looks great from the front too.

Photo courtesy of Holiday Kitchens

This traditional example by Holiday Kitchens, becomes warm and inviting with the addition of an attractive end unit which, not only creates a beautiful spot to display that special something, but it's also a great way to transition from kitchen to living area.

Mini peninsula placed at the end adds counter, storage and visual appeal

Easy access to BBQ tools from porch

Here's a handy solution for a client with a smallish kitchen who was looking for a little extra counter space as well as a handy place to store his barbeque paraphanalia.  The back of the cabinet opens right at the opening to a sliding glass door leading to his barbeque on the porch.  It also visually defines the end of the kitchen.

This solution by Holiday Kitchens uses 12" deep cabinets and offers a little extra counter space

FIND YOUR KITCHEN MOJO

If your new kitchen is going to be an expression of who you are and how you live it's helpful to have a little inspiration. One of the things I frequently mention is the benefit of something I call "kitchen scrapbooking".   When you get your first inkling that a new kitchen may be in your future, begin collecting pictures and ideas.  Use magazines, the internet or your camera.  Then pay attention to that inner voice. That's your intuition and your cue to tear, print or click that shutter.  Look for everything from specific details to general feeling. Let's begin today.  I will share with you all kinds of interesting tidbits.  Keep a file (real or virtual) of your inspirational loot.  Before you know it you'll have all kinds of useful information and you will begin to see the patterns in your selections.  For example you may find that in 5 out of  7 pictures, you selected kitchens with white cabinets, or glass doors, or shiny finishes.  Oh, and remember it doesn't even have to be a kitchen!  Your heart-of-the-home can also be inspired by non-kitchen images such as art, architecture, nature and more.  Here are three images to start you off.  

I love the juxtaposition of modern and African tribal elements in this photo of a Nolte kitchen.

  This one, from luxury-ideas.com, is all about feeling natural, open and a little luxurious.  Notice the interesting open shelves, the open island design and the lovely use of texture.     

Lastly, I just love the feeling of this black and white kitchen.  It represents a comfortable easy British Colonial aesthetic to me.  How about you?

FIND YOUR KITCHEN MOJO

If your new kitchen is going to be an expression of who you are and how you live it's helpful to have a little inspiration. One of the things I frequently mention is the benefit of something I call "kitchen scrapbooking".   When you get your first inkling that a new kitchen may be in your future, begin collecting pictures and ideas.  Use magazines, the internet or your camera.  Then pay attention to that inner voice. That's your intuition and your cue to tear, print or click that shutter.  Look for everything from specific details to general feeling. Let's begin today.  I will share with you all kinds of interesting tidbits.  Keep a file (real or virtual) of your inspirational loot.  Before you know it you'll have all kinds of useful information and you will begin to see the patterns in your selections.  For example you may find that in 5 out of  7 pictures, you selected kitchens with white cabinets, or glass doors, or shiny finishes.  Oh, and remember it doesn't even have to be a kitchen!  Your heart-of-the-home can also be inspired by non-kitchen images such as art, architecture, nature and more.  Here are three images to start you off.  

I love the juxtaposition of modern and African tribal elements in this photo of a Nolte kitchen.

  This one, from luxury-ideas.com, is all about feeling natural, open and a little luxurious.  Notice the interesting open shelves, the open island design and the lovely use of texture.     

Lastly, I just love the feeling of this black and white kitchen.  It represents a comfortable easy British Colonial aesthetic to me.  How about you?

INTRODUCING INTUITIVE KITCHEN DESIGN

So I'm writing another book.  Never thought I would go there but I have an idea whose time has come.

Make no mistake.  A new kitchen can be a daunting task, but the good news is it can also be an adventure in learning a little more about who you are and discovering a bit more efficiency and beauty in your home everyday.  You know they say it’s all about attitude and that is how this book is different.  I will show you how to consider, plan and implement  the creation of your new kitchen from a new perspective.  That’s right, your intuition.  As you may know, I have been a professional kitchen designer for 16 years but my whole life I have been drawn to what lies deep inside, that potential and ability we all have.  Some call it Spirit, some God and for some it is simply innate intuition.  It’s about carefully listening to your gut to make the right choices for you. When you are done you will know it’s right because it contains your heart and soul.  Whether you work with a professional, are a do-it-yourselfer or, like most of us, are somewhere in between you can apply these principles.  Over the next however-long-it-takes to produce this book I will be sharing tidbits and previews with you here.  There will be a tremendous amount of research going and I'm going to share that with you. You'll get a behind the scenes look at how this book comes together.  So stay tuned, come back often and for heaven's sake if you have anything to contribute, let's hear it!

This fab photo is by photographer/artist Martha Rosler.  

INTRODUCING INTUITIVE KITCHEN DESIGN

So I'm writing another book.  Never thought I would go there but I have an idea whose time has come.

Make no mistake.  A new kitchen can be a daunting task, but the good news is it can also be an adventure in learning a little more about who you are and discovering a bit more efficiency and beauty in your home everyday.  You know they say it’s all about attitude and that is how this book is different.  I will show you how to consider, plan and implement  the creation of your new kitchen from a new perspective.  That’s right, your intuition.  As you may know, I have been a professional kitchen designer for 16 years but my whole life I have been drawn to what lies deep inside, that potential and ability we all have.  Some call it Spirit, some God and for some it is simply innate intuition.  It’s about carefully listening to your gut to make the right choices for you. When you are done you will know it’s right because it contains your heart and soul.  Whether you work with a professional, are a do-it-yourselfer or, like most of us, are somewhere in between you can apply these principles.  Over the next however-long-it-takes to produce this book I will be sharing tidbits and previews with you here.  There will be a tremendous amount of research going and I'm going to share that with you. You'll get a behind the scenes look at how this book comes together.  So stay tuned, come back often and for heaven's sake if you have anything to contribute, let's hear it!

This fab photo is by photographer/artist Martha Rosler.