Beautiful kitchen design ideas with floor cabinets

Kitchen pencil cases, popular in the past, disappeared from our kitchens for some time, a boring narrow cabinet did not add variety to the kitchen set, people began to give preference to wall cabinets and floor cabinets. But everything is changing, design ideas do not stand still, the modern pencil case for the kitchen has undergone some modifications, obeying the requirements of fashion trends, it looks much more interesting than its predecessor, and its contents are different in functionality. The kitchen is far from the largest room in the house; you need somewhere to store various kitchen utensils, and you need to allocate a place for gatherings with friends. Pencil cabinets do an excellent job of saving space and allow you to store dishes and all kinds of kitchen utensils.

Purpose and features

Traditionally, a pencil case is a narrow piece of furniture in the form of a high column; it can be made as a separate module or be part of a common kitchen set. Despite its small dimensions and quite compact placement in the kitchen, its purpose is quite extensive; the pencil case copes with its standard functions perfectly. Its possibilities are unlimited, you can easily place here:

• dishes, kitchen utensils - a large number of shelves allow them to store tableware, tea sets, which the owners rarely use in everyday life;
• household supplies, textiles (plumbing cleaners, detergents, tablecloths, napkins, towels);
• large appliances (dishwasher, washing machine) - in the lower section of the cabinet, which is covered with an outer panel;
• an oven built into a niche at a level of 1-1.5 m from the floor, while using it for cooking is very comfortable;
• Microwave oven - in an open niche (there are models of pencil cases designed for a built-in microwave);
• small household appliances – toaster, multicooker, coffee maker, etc.;
• jars with spices and bulk products will find a place on the upper shelves, and bottles of preserved food are conveniently placed in the lower compartment; owners often prefer to equip a pencil case with roll-out niches for storing bottles of wine;
• if you partially remove the back wall of the cabinet, you can hide pipes, counters, the tall size of the pencil case, its sufficient depth allows you to hide unsightly elements of the kitchen.

Sometimes in pencil cases a couple of upper compartments are left free for decorative items, the rest of the internal space is intended for a refrigerator, thus hiding it from prying eyes, maintaining the overall concept of the kitchen interior. Taking up little space, pencil cases fit favorably into the interior of any kitchen space, and due to their spaciousness, functionality and ergonomics they remain popular pieces of furniture.

A custom-made pencil case made to order can occupy any empty niche in the room, complement the existing set, and with its help easily divide the space into zones (working and resting areas). If the pencil case is purchased separately from the kitchen set, it should match as much as possible the style and color scheme in which the rest of the furniture is designed.

Industrially produced furniture

Persons wishing to update the interior of their kitchen should pay attention to the products of the Borovichi-Furniture factory. As an example, we can cite the Lotus model line, which includes:

• a - a blank cabinet;
• b – sectional specimen with drawers;
• c – combined display cabinet;
• d – a copy with a shelving section for placing household appliances.

When reviewing kitchen furniture, one cannot help but dwell on products developed by Dutch designers (IKEA). Of particular interest to owners of small apartments is the METOD model line from the IKEA of Sweden design studio, which includes the Maximera and Förvara floor cabinet series of different designs.

The features of all products included in these series from IKEA include:

• the presence of built-in drawer, adjustable shock absorbers, thanks to which the drawers open smoothly and to the desired amount;
• folding, fully swinging doors, equipped with closers, opening a full view of any compartment;
• the ability to reinstall the sash for “right” and “left” opening;
• facades are made of MDF panels covered with melamine film;
• The body parts are painted with acrylic heat- and water-resistant paint.

Varieties

So that housewives do not have problems with storing a large amount of dishes and kitchen utensils, the designers have developed a variety of pencil cases that make it possible to compactly place the dishes and utensils available in the house, plus, in addition, find a place to store equipment, without which it is no longer possible to imagine a modern kitchen. It is enough to choose one of the proposed models from photos in catalogs in accordance with the needs and wishes of the owners, the house will immediately be filled with new colors and flavor. There are several types of pencil cases:

• narrow cabinet “column”;
• angular;
• retractable;
• for built-in equipment.

Retractable

Angular

For built-in appliances

Column
The most popular and in demand kitchen pencil case is the column. Advantages - it is very roomy due to the small width of the product and the presence of many shelves inside, which allows you to store necessary and useful things. The pencil case can be open, closed, depending on the number of doors - single-leaf, double-leaf, it can be equipped with lower sliding shelves or with drawers, which greatly simplifies the storage of non-perishable products. A classic floor-standing pencil case with a blank front allows you to fill the closet to the maximum, while at the same time hiding its contents.

Furniture manufacturers offer the buyer speakers with fully or partially glazed facades, stained glass doors, sliding doors, and decorative inserts, which adds elegance and lightness to an ordinary piece of furniture.

Models with open shelves at the top or in the middle, where decorative items can be placed, and closed at the bottom, so that the items located there are not exposed, are popular. There are completely open structures; they can be called shelving rather than cabinets. It is convenient to decorate such furniture with vases, figurines, textiles; jars with spices and bulk products, designed in the same style, look very nice; beautiful dishes will also please the eyes of guests and owners.

A super idea for a small kitchen would be a corner pencil case. This modular design helps create a beautiful, comfortable interior, and it has its advantages:

• harmoniously smooths out sharp corners, freeing up the space of the room;
• has greater depth than a regular pencil case;
• may consist of several modules (for storage, built-in appliances, refrigerator) - in this case, filling the corner area allows you to use every centimeter of the kitchen space to your advantage.

You need to adhere to the golden rule of a harmonious combination of all furniture elements, connecting a narrow cabinet with other items so that the entire set looks like a single set. A retractable (roll-out) pencil case is a kind of storage system that moves out of the general furniture row thanks to special devices and mechanisms. In such cases, baskets and shelves are attached, where it is convenient to store:

• dry and liquid seasonings in special containers;
• small kitchen utensils;
• means for cleaning and disinfecting surfaces.

You will definitely like the idea with a retractable module if, after designing a kitchen unit, there is a narrow opening left, and no other cabinet fits there. Another type of pencil case cabinets is for built-in appliances. You can place an oven, microwave, food processor or coffee machine in a high module, and install a hob next to it, so all food preparation will be concentrated in one place. In modern kitchen sets, the refrigerator is also discreetly hidden behind the façade of a tall pencil case. The kitchen can be equipped with a whole block of several tall cabinets.

Storage systems for pencil cases

The most popular storage systems are:

• Carousels are a combination of semicircular shelves fixed on a vertical support. The system is equipped with rotating mechanisms that allow it to rotate around its axis. The doors close tightly thanks to the corner cutout. To prevent anything from falling from the shelves during the torsion process, a special thin metal side is provided;

• Hinged shelves - allow you to rotate and synchronize several sections at the same time. To make the mechanism work, you need to pull one shelf. Shelves can be metal or plastic in the shape of a figure eight. One shelf can support weight up to 15 kg;

• Smartcorners are a retractable device. The inside of the doors is equipped with a mesh metal shelf with pull-out drawers. The mesh shelves support weight up to 8 kg, and the internal ones support up to 25 kg. The shelves are fixed in such a way that they move out gradually, like carriages on a train;

• Shelves – used for storing dishes, kitchen accessories or other small items;

• Drawers provide easy access to items, saving kitchen space. Typically, retractable structures are installed in small-sized kitchens, since vegetables, fruits, small household appliances, and other accessories can be stored in one drawer at the same time;

• Baskets or nets - used for storing bulk goods - grain, sugar, tea, coffee;

• Dividers - help to conveniently store seasonings, kitchen appliances, food;

• Bottle holders - stands for wine bottles, gravy boats or vegetable oil.

Materials for production

As for any kitchen furniture, the materials used in the manufacture of pencil cases must be of high quality, resistant to moisture and mechanical damage. Experts strongly recommend that when purchasing or ordering furniture, pay close attention to the materials from which it is made, door opening mechanisms, and the choice of fittings; usually stores always have catalogs with the necessary photos. In production they use:

• natural wood is an expensive, reliable material, excellent quality, but it requires constant care;
• MDF - the quality is almost as good as wooden models, much cheaper and easier to use, with good care it will last a long time, looks great on front surfaces;
• Chipboard – almost no different from the previous option, also budget-friendly in terms of costs;
• plastic is not the best material for the kitchen, it is not durable;
• metal - used to decorate furniture in a certain style.

Wood

Metal

Chipboard

MDF
For finishing facades, painting, polishing, and lamination with thermal film are used, which adds strength to the product. Modern designers have increasingly recently begun to use glass doors in the decoration of cabinets; they look aesthetically pleasing, original and very beautiful. Especially the upper parts of pencil cases where dishes are displayed. To create a bold, unusual interior, glass of different shades is used. Various slats and handles are used for decoration; the “retro” style involves “artificial aging” - a special technology for processing facades.

When choosing furniture, pay attention to the quality of materials and fittings; there should be no chips or scratches on the items, doors should open easily, and drawers and shelves should slide out without effort.

Decor options

You can transform your pencil case in several ways:

• Decorative tableware. Collectible sets, cups, saucers, glasses;
• Painted items. Decorative trays, cutting boards, carved wood salt and pepper shakers, samovar;
• Decorations. Figurines, containers with multi-colored salt, vases, candles;
• Themed decor. Seasonal decoration of shelves, for example, in the summer they are decorated with meadow flowers, in the fall - with clusters of rowan berries.

A pencil case that plays a decorative role

Design option for half-open pencil cases

Form

The classic pencil case for the kitchen looks tall and narrow, but there are no clear size requirements. The size and layout of everyone's kitchen is different, so choosing a cabinet as a separate module is quite difficult. It is either already included in the kitchen set, or is made to order according to individual parameters. When choosing an item based on the proposed photos in magazines, you need to clearly, down to the centimeter, know all the dimensions and parameters of your kitchen and the existing furniture; the height and depth of the pencil case must match the dimensions of the rest of the furniture.

The shape of the cabinets is quite monotonous (rectangular), although there are very original and creative models. For example, a corner pencil case with a semicircular shape is quite unusual and unusual for the average person (in our vision, a narrow and long closet with many shelves has long been rooted). Therefore, bold forms cause mistrust and admiration among different people. Beveled edges on column cabinets smooth out their rough shapes. The interior should be as spacious as possible; the number of things and objects that can fit there depends on this. An excellent option would be to install two identical modules for installing appliances: one for the built-in oven, the other for the refrigerator and spacious shelves covered with fronts.

The option of making custom-made kitchen furniture is the most popular among consumers. Here there is room for your imagination to run wild, to determine the required dimensions, shape of each item, where to install them, additional elements, you can even specify and order decorative items. In this case, your kitchen with a pencil case will look exclusive and will be the envy of your friends and acquaintances.

The pencil case should not be installed in the middle between wall cabinets, as the geometry of the set will be disrupted. It is best to place it on both or one side along the edges, since the top edge of the remaining pendant modules will be aligned with them.

Types of facades

A corner kitchen with a pencil case can have a very original design; for this you need to choose the right façade. First they look at the materials.

• Natural wood.
• MDF.
• Aluminum profile.
• Glass.
• Chipboard.

You also need to take into account that the sashes can be different in shape. The following varieties are usually distinguished.

• Direct. This shape is most often found on trapezoidal cabinets.
• Radial. They are used on almost all types of pencil cases. The shape can be convex or concave.

In order for the furniture to fit optimally into the interior, you should select the external finish. The simplest option is varnishes and paints. Some types of facades are covered with plastic or PVC film; photo printing is quite popular.

If the pencil case model has a glass or mirror facade, sandblasting, laser engraving or stained glass can be used.

Selection rules

When ordering or purchasing cabinets, you must take into account their intended purpose, whether household appliances will be installed in them or only a lightweight version is intended - for storing dishes and various household small items. Photos of kitchen cabinets and pencil cases of various designs, types, and designs can be seen in the catalogs of furniture stores. A few selection rules:

• the height of the cabinet must correspond to the height of the entire set of furniture as a whole;
• the depth of the column is not less than the depth of the other cabinets (preferably the same);
• high-quality material will guarantee a long service life of the product.

Manufacturers have recently been delighting customers with interesting design developments. In production, glass door elements on the facades of kitchen units are increasingly being used. Choose the most ergonomic option, with a niche for installing, if not large, then at least small household appliances, because progress does not stand still, more and more various kitchen appliances are being offered to help housewives, and in our small-sized kitchens it is difficult to place all this .

An interesting new idea is the rational organization of the workspace, when tall pencil cases are not offered in the form of separate modules, but are boldly integrated into the entire kitchen wall. All the insides of the cabinets are hidden behind a blank facade, which looks like a single wall, and the internal compartments are quite spacious: there is room to put household appliances, place all the available utensils and household items. The design is spacious and unnoticeable; you can decorate this “wall” at your discretion, in different colors. The kitchen cabinet pencil case is a very convenient, useful piece of furniture in any kitchen, even a very small one, when the space does not allow increasing the number of furniture modules, the pencil case is quite capable of solving this problem.

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