Kitchen Storage Solutions

cabinet configurations, and in full circle, kidney and D-shaped forms. “These days everyone has a Lazy Susan somewhere.” Pull-out organizing systems exist for base cabinets, drawers, blind corners and even “filler” sections of the cabinet system where a decorative cabinet face from three to nine inches wide might be hiding valuable and unused storage space. “There’s about a hundred different ways you can configure the kitchen pantry,” says Steve Edling, founder and president of Shelves that Slide, a Phoenix, Ariz., company that began making pull-out shelves for the kitchen 18 years ago. In addition to their standard and bestselling pull-out sliding shelf organizers, Shelves that Slide manufacture and sell Lazy Susans, trash and recycling pull-out systems, drawer dividers and organizers, blind corner storage systems and custom-fit tip-out trays that can install just below the counter in front of the sink to store soak, sponges and scrubs. When it comes to accessorizing a kitchen with storage solution products, Edling advises homeowners to start small. “You can do a few products at a time,” he says. “If they work, you can install more.” Affordable pull-outs from Shelves that Slide. Kitchen storage products and kitchen organizing systems can range from the high-end adjustable storage systems like the “MulitMatic” by SieMatic—favored by designers like DesCombes—to the simple and more affordable options from companies like ClosetMaid, Lynk or simplehuman, available at big-box stores like Lowe’s and Target. By matching the inventory of items needing to be stored with the many storage solutions available, a homeowner will be taking a crucial next step toward a successful kitchen storage scenario. Measurements Properly measuring the available space is required for successful purchase and installation of any kitchen storage product or solution. “Customers tend to over-think the measuring part,” says Shelves that Slide’s Edling, whose company offers a handy measuring guide to help customers understand the process. The height and width of the cabinet as well as the cabinet depth opening must be taken. Mounting configurations for various slide-out or pull-out products will depend on the existing cabinet configuration—that is, if the existing cabinet contains a full-shelf, half-shelf or no shelf at all. The Rev-A-Shelf Web site features a handy “Storage Planner” feature that makes measuring and product matching a breeze. Customers can enter cabinet type and dimensions to determine which available Rev-A-Shelf products will fit that specific opening. Installation A majority of the kitchen storage products and systems available to homeowners can be installed without the help of a professional. “If you can use a cordless screwdriver and a tape measure, you can install it,” says Edling. Most manufacturers and distributors of pull-out shelves and organizers include installation guides with their products, which often require little more than the fastening of a few brackets and screws. “I’ve had guys in New York City who swore they would never learn how to change a tire able to put together a pull-out in minutes,” he adds. Lazy Susans can be the exception to the easy-DIY rule. These particular kitchen storage products come with templates and require a little more drilling, assembling and know-how to properly install. If a homeowner is in doubt about successfully installing a kitchen storage product, hiring a professional is the better way to go. A clean and tidy kitchen adds value to life in the home. “Most working people manage to use their kitchen only in the morning for breakfast or when they fix dinner in the evening,” says Katsioula-Beall. “That also happens to be the only time we have to spend with loved ones, which we share by cooking or enjoying a meal. This, then, is precisely the time to avoid any stress or frustration that derives from poorly thought [out] kitchen storage.” Whatever a kitchen’s storage needs, the solution is out there. Homeowners hiring a professional designer for a kitchen remodel should stay attentive to the storage aspect of the design process. “Form must always follow function,” insists DesCombes. Those looking for budget-friendly, self-install products would be wise to follow the planning process taken by the professionals before purchasing to ensure a functioning and organized kitchen space.

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