kitchen

r have a custom pan made to hold items like fresh herbs, wine, oil and vinegar in a kitchen island countertop. It's a great way to get things off of the counters, and even though they're in the counters, it creates a sense of calm through its intention. Organization is very psychological — it's about making things look as if they have a place or are meant to be there.

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No. 4: Pull Out Pantries. This is a great solution for taller spices, oils and vinegars. It's amazing that a small little cabinet like this can solve so many dilemmas and keep down clutter in that wall cabinet full of spices.

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This kitchen is almost like two galley kitchens and an L at the same time. The broken L with and island creates three distinct stations: prep, cooking and clean-up. Three or four cooks could work easily in this kitchen and never bump into each other.

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In its grandest expression, the L-shaped kitchen has a large island, main sink on one wall, range on the other, and prep sink in the island. This creates at least two overlapping work triangles, allowing for multiple cooks to work at the same time. Guest seating at the island creates a "kitchen as theater" feel.

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. Oils and sauces. Kitchens are all about function. I always try to put at least one pullout for frequently used oils and sauces next to the range. Although some worry that the heat from the range may turn the oils, most ranges have great insulation. That, coupled with the thickness of the cabinet’s sides, means sauces and oils rarely spoil.

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. Flush countertop. Not all countertops overhang the doors by a half-inch. Some clients prefer their counters flush with the doors and drawers for a modern, streamlined appearance.

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To improve organization even further, drawer divider systems can break the interior into perfectly sized compartments so everything has its place. Plus, they can be adjusted later if needs change. Deep drawers are an affordable upgrade too, because many companies provide deeper drawer units at the same cost as a more typical three-drawer model.

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uartz counters. Quartz is a designer’s dream to work with for many reasons. It’s made using actual stone, so it echoes the natural appeal of materials such as granite or marble. But it is also processed and manufactured in ways that make it strong, nonporous and color-customizable to create many different looks with good color predictability (as opposed to a stone slab, which can contain more unexpected surprises compared with the sample). This beauty and durability doesn’t come without a price: It is generally more expensive than stone or total synthetics, although the price will vary depending on composition and manufacturer. While granite counters get overexposed on real estate reality shows, quartz is definitely the new must-have for my dream home.

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Skylight

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