The Minimalist Look: Appliance Garages and Hiding Appliances
Creating a Modern Minimalist Look with an Appliance Garage
From traditional to modern, one primary characteristic that many of today's kitchen styles share is an organized, clutter-free countertop. Organizing really is the key to optimizing the space you have and transforming your kitchen from a work zone to a minimalist clutter-free zone when it’s not in use.
When you're planning your kitchen design, you want to make sure everything has a home. While some elements like plates, silverware, and spices are easy to organize, many people forget about their small appliances. The truth is, in every kitchen, some small appliances typically end up living on the counter, like coffeemakers, toasters, and mixers. Fortunately, today you have options available that can keep your countertops free from the clutter of small appliances!
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An appliance garage makes it easy to store kitchen essentials behind closed doors, plugged in and ready to use at a moment's notice. That not only means that your countertop will be free of clutter, but your kitchen will look more organized. Plus, an appliance garage will give your kitchen the illusion of increased space.
Dedicated Space Behind Closed Doors
Storage in the kitchen is great, but dedicated storage in the kitchen is better. Appliance garages are designed to fit small appliances keeping them out of sight until they're needed. Typically located in a convenient location with power, an appliance garage can keep you from digging around in the pantry at that crucial moment during meal prep when you need the blender.
When it comes to your appliance garage, depending on where it's located, you have several options in terms of doors. If, for example, the garage is directly on the countertop, you might want to consider a roll-up door. This door style rolls into itself at the top of the cabinet to open and pulls down to close. They take up no counter space but might not be ideal if you're seeking a truly contemporary look.
Moving from the countertop, standard doors can be used, just like they are used for a recycling bin pull-out. Place your KitchenAid mixer in the ideal spot behind a cabinet door, ready to pull out in mere seconds. This is the beauty and convenience of the appliance garage.
Swing-out doors are a great option for appliances in taller cabinets. The door swings up and out of the way, giving you access to what you need. This is a great option if you're seeking a more traditional look in the kitchen.
Include an Appliance Garage in Your Planning
If you're planning on including an appliance garage in your kitchen design, you'll want to consider a few things before you start construction. Remember, all appliances will need access to electricity. Make sure you have outlets where needed.
Another consideration is potential heat issues. Some appliances produce significant heat. For those that do, you want to make sure you can pull them out of the cabinet. For example, putting your coffeemaker or toaster in a counter-level appliance garage with a roll-up door allows you to pull them out when in use.
When creating your kitchen map, try to think about organizing your kitchen as much as possible. For example, if you love to bake and want a cabinet dedicated to baking, your appliance garage can be designed to accommodate your large mixer. You may want to include a couple of drawers or doors for utensils and ingredients. A well-thought-out and mapped kitchen can improve your efficiency and enjoyment!
Now You See It... Now You Don't!
Today, many homeowners are looking for a clean, uncluttered, modern design. One example we've discussed is incorporating one or more appliance garages into your design. However, if you're seeking a truly seamless look, there are some ways to hide larger appliances.
Integrating larger appliances like your refrigerator and dishwasher takes a bit of planning, but it can be easily accomplished. In recent years, designers are using cabinetry panels to hide the larger appliances like the refrigerator. This creates the modern minimalist look that's popular with today's homeowners. You can also use this technique to hide the stove, dishwasher, and more.
If you consider adding a dishwasher, warming, or beverage drawers, you can place them behind a panel designed to match the cabinetry. If you have space, you can even include a large, deep pantry cabinet to hide the washer and dryer behind a closed door.
Your island can also be used to effectively “hide” your microwave and is a perfect spot for installing pull-out shelves or hiding the dishwasher. If you want to create a sleek, seamless look, you can even create a range hood vent fronted to match your other cabinetry.
The Takeaway On Appliance Garages
Your kitchen appliances, both large and small, are useful and necessary tools. Still, they can take up valuable counter space and visually break the clean lines of a modern kitchen design. With a little planning, you can take advantage of your cabinetry and hide many of your tools in a convenient appliance garage or two.
For larger appliances like your refrigerator, stove, or dishwasher, hiding them with cabinetry panels can keep your kitchen lines clean and organized for a sleek, modern aesthetic. Hiding the clutter and blending the larger appliances visually into your design can create the illusion of a bigger kitchen, which is always welcome.
If you have questions about creating an efficient kitchen design to meet your needs now and into the future, give the experts at Om Design a call at (831) 607-8772. We're always happy to discuss your project, answer your questions, and explain all of your options!