Zoning the workspace in the kitchen
To arrange your kitchen correctly, you need to plan in advance where the main areas will be located. There are several zoning options. Here is one of them:
- Cooking;
- Crockery and cutlery;
- Pans and pots;
- Product storage;
- Garbage and household chemicals.
The first zone includes a cooktop/stove, a large sink and work space on a wide countertop. The remaining four are functional structures hidden by kitchen facades.
Vertical pull-out shelves and systems for spices, products and detergents in the kitchen
Perhaps this is the most interesting item on our list. Firstly, narrow drawers and shelves for the kitchen are not the most common fixtures in our region, although they have long been popular in the West. Secondly, they are distinguished by their amazing capacity, despite the fact that the vertical retractable systems themselves take up very little space in the kitchen.
Spices, cereals, tea, coffee and many other products, as well as detergents and various kitchen tools - all these small and always lost items can be conveniently stored only in such pull-out shelves and kitchen cabinets!
Also read: Storing spices in the kitchen (30 ideas)
Features and types of drawer guides
The highest rate of free access to things belongs to drawer systems. Forget about regular hinged doors with shelves, drawers are much more convenient. Not a single item, even a small one, will definitely be lost in them.
You can store pots, pans, cutlery and much more in them, thanks to internal divider flags or special trays on non-slip mats.
Today, there are several types of guides, on the basis of which drawer systems for the kitchen are made. The simplest ones are roller guides, they have a small load (on average up to 25 kg) and a short period of operation. The principle of operation is that the roller of one part moves along the groove of the other part. Very simple design.
The second type is ball bearing (ball, telescopic) guides, they come in standard and reinforced types. The latter are characterized by greater height and can withstand a significant load (on average more than 30 kg) without any problems. They can be presented in different opening/closing options: with or without a closer, from pressing on the facade (push-to-open).
The next type is hidden type guides. A distinctive feature is that when installing the box, the bar that provides movement is hidden under the bottom of the box.
About drawer systems
Furniture underneath and wall cabinets provide additional storage space. They are needed to store food and kitchen utensils.
Each owner selects the dimensions independently depending on the following indicators:
- Number of items.
- Approximate weight.
- Volume.
The use of drawers of this class facilitates the economical use of all available space. This also applies to the rear parts. Characteristic is the complete rolling out of drawers from their niches. Existing fasteners remain open.
The boxes are arranged according to the simplest possible principle. You need a minimum of unnecessary movements around the kitchen with maximum free movement.
The following rules must be used:
- The dishes are placed next to the sink.
- Place pots and pans next to stoves.
- Close to work surfaces, sections with cutlery and cutting boards are required.
If we are talking about storing products that do not spoil for a long time, the use of narrow pencil cases, complemented by pull-out shelves, would be relevant.
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Transparent plastic or mesh are the main manufacturing materials. This is a mini pantry that also saves space and space.
Extension mechanisms for lower cabinets
Based on hidden-mounted guides, there are ready-made extension systems, the so-called tandem boxes. They were first released in 1977 by an Austrian company. By the mid-2000s, more advanced versions became widespread in Russia.
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The tandembox is a disassembled set of hidden guides with a built-in shock absorption system and double-type metal side walls.
This type of drawers has the longest service life (10 years), can withstand heavy loads (on average 50 kg), ensures smooth movement without distortions, easy and silent sliding and has a huge number of different additions: designer extensions on the walls, internal storage organizations and accessories.
Show me at least one housewife who doesn’t dream of convenience in the kitchen and additional work space. An interesting solution that can solve the problem of lack of space in the kitchen is a retractable table. This mechanism will allow you to seat the whole family at the dining table.
Another option is an additional work surface, which is installed behind the folding door of the facade, and when the mechanism is disassembled, it becomes flush with the table top.
About retractable mesh with facade fastening
This is a modern analogue and replacement for standard pull-out shelves, which in large quantities also clutter up the space.
For storage, plastic or metal mesh is used, attached to one common facade. 30-45 centimeters in width is optimal for pull-out shelves, despite the presence of other options.
The advantages of such designs are obvious and are described as follows:
- A certain style for appearance.
- The dimensions of the items inside affect what the package will be.
- One movement is enough for the retractable module, after which the entire contents are revealed to the eye.
Organization of space under the sink
There are several types of systems that will allow you to fill the cabinet under the sink not only with a trash can, but also with a large number of pull-out baskets for household chemicals and small items.
Functional use of corner cabinets
Very often corner space is neglected, but a lot of useful things can be placed there too. It can be optimized thanks to the retractable corner system for the kitchen - the “magic corner” and the rotating swivel carousel. Such systems are able to use every centimeter of free space.
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The rotating carousel, also known as “Lazy Susan,” according to one version, came to us from America, where it was originally represented by a rotating tray, with which you don’t need to get up from the table to get a dish.
And according to the second - from the East, where not a single feast is complete without a rotating central dish with dishes. Be that as it may, “Lazy Sue” has been repeatedly modernized by different manufacturers and presented in different variations.
“Magic Corner” is a unique design consisting of two parts. One part is attached to the facade, and the second moves along guides inside the corner cabinet. Using such a “smart mechanism” it is easy to gain access to the most inaccessible place in the cabinet.
Options in different styles
Examples of design in popular style directions.
Scandinavian style kitchen
Nordic style primarily involves models made from predominantly natural materials. Here, semi-closed combined shelves with drawers or open shelves with decorative items that emphasize this direction, such as paintings with animals, black and white photographs or green plants, look very impressive.
The photo shows wooden open shelves located above the sink in a Scandinavian-style kitchen.
Shelves in Provence style
In this interior, they prefer vintage wooden structures with an aged appearance or choose the most simple products in white, beige and other natural colors. A particularly relevant decor for closed shelves in the Provence style will be curtains with a floral pattern.
Loft style
The loft-style kitchen space is complemented by more massive shelves made of wooden boards or metal, which have an unfinished appearance. Constructions made of concrete or brick are quite a bold design solution. In the design of these products, rusty pipes, various taps, bolts, screws and metal rods are used.
Country style kitchen
For rustic design, it is appropriate to use antique structures, characterized by simple design and decor in the form of forged and openwork elements. Most often, there are a large number of accessories and kitchen utensils on the shelves.
High tech
High-tech hi-tech is characterized by models made from more modern materials, such as glossy plastic, glass or metal, combined with chrome elements or lighting equipment. The content should be minimal and include only items with a direct functional purpose.
Classical
For classics or neoclassics, glass showcases or racks and shelves made of natural wood, which are decorated in the form of carvings or forged metal plates stylized as gold, bronze or brass, are especially often chosen.
Where to get inspiration for ideas?
Given the variety of systems available on today's market, you can save space with great ease. Of course, it is better to use the services of professional designers who will take into account all your wishes when drawing up your dream kitchen project.
To understand what exactly you want, look online at photos of pull-out systems for kitchens, look through design magazines, and you will understand how easy it is to find the ideal storage option for kitchen utensils and food for any space.
Other kitchen fittings
When installing retractable systems in cabinets and cabinets, it is necessary to provide the necessary hinges for the cabinets. They come in these types:
- Hidden - after installation, all parts are attached hidden from view and almost do not protrude from the surfaces. Opening angle up to 90 degrees.
- Overhead – suitable for doors that are mounted on the end walls, but they themselves are massive and can prevent the drawer or cargo system from moving out.
- Transformer hinges – opening angle up to 165 degrees. They are perfect for a cabinet with a pull-out design.
- Gas lift - doors open from bottom to top. If you want to install a pull-out element or a mesh in the upper cabinets of your kitchen unit, then this type of mount will work best.
Hidden pullout storage in the kitchen.
This way you can make your kitchen functional and practical in all directions.
See also: TV in the kitchen: how to choose, placement options, tips.
