Next Up

Smart Storage in a Kitchen Remodel

By: Lydia Somerville
November 25, 2014
Browse pictures of a kitchen remodel designed for family entertaining that features an open floor plan and smart storage solutions.
Price and stock could change after publish date, and we may make money off these affiliate links. Learn more.
1 / 10

Cramped Beginnings

When Thomasene and husband Stephen Collins bought their ranch house they recognized the house's urgent need for renovation to suit their lifestyle. The original kitchen and dining areas suffered from a chopped-up floor plan, which, although large, still managed to be inefficient.

More photos after this Ad

2 / 10
Photo: Jean Allsopp

A Floor Plan Fix

Opening walls at both ends of the kitchen brightened the entire space. It also allowed convenient access to utility areas that had previously been closed off.

More photos after this Ad

3 / 10

A Need for Easy Cleanup

Thomasene likes to maintain a "10-minute tidy-up" rule for her house, so she can get things company-ready in a flash. "I wanted everything to have a place," she says. "We entertain a lot and often spur of the moment, so I wanted to be able to clean it up quickly."

More photos after this Ad

4 / 10

Smart Storage

Plentiful storage was a priority for their renovation, but it needed to be right at hand. A new square island, which is table-height, provides a spot for homework, projects and dining, with storage built in to the cabinet base. Bookshelves hold cookbooks, textbooks and homework. Drawers hold table linens. An extra trash built into the table speeds Thomasene's cleanup and eliminates multiple trips back and forth to the kitchen trash.

More photos after this Ad