February 9, 2025
Design

Cluttered to Curated: Essential Storage Upgrades for an Organized and Luxurious Kitchen.

House of Maevie | Residential Interior Design Raleigh, NC

Kitchen with exposed wood ceiling beams, a marble island and black spindle counter stools — Ali Henry Design

The kitchen is the heart of every home. Whether you love cooking, entertaining, or simply gathering with family, an efficient, well-organized kitchen makes all the difference. At House of Maevie, the first step in designing a kitchen is to understand how our clients live. How do they use the room? What do they store? What do they struggle with day to day? Those answers let us build a fully customized plan around their needs. Maybe you are planning a kitchen remodel with House of Maevie here in the Raleigh area. Maybe you just want tips for planning your own kitchen remodel. Either way, here are five essential upgrades that will improve both the style and the function of your space.

Built-In Trash and Recycling Bins

A built-in trash can is a game-changer for a clean, clutter-free kitchen. Put a pull-out trash and recycling bin into your cabinetry and the standalone can disappears. No more eyesore in the corner, and taking out the trash gets easier. If you want a polished, modern kitchen design, this one is a must-have.

Freestanding kitchen bin next to a pull-out double waste drawer in a cabinet — No matter how fancy you garbage can is, it will always contribute to a cluttered look and look dirty. A built-in trash can feels much more integrated and doesn’t need to be moved when you clean your floors.

Pull-out double waste bin unit for a base kitchen cabinet — Our favorite product for this is the 50 Qt Rev-A-Shelf Pullout Trash Can. Soft undermount glides and a dovetailed wood interior make this a workhorse kitchen item worth the price.

Deep Drawer Cabinets Instead of Doors

Traditional cabinets with doors make it hard to reach anything stored in the back. If you have door cabinets and aren’t replacing them, add drawer pull-outs to reach your cookware easily. It’s a simple upgrade, and you get much more out of the cabinetry you already have. If you are doing a full remodel, choose deep drawer cabinets over traditional door cabinets. Deep drawers are far easier to work with, especially for pots, pans and heavy kitchenware. Add smooth gliding mechanisms and inserts you can size yourself, and everything has a home. No more digging through a cluttered shelf to find the one pan you want.

Kitchen with a plaster hood beside a deep drawer organized for pots and pans — Large drawers are a much more versatile storage solution for cookware. Opening a drawer allows you to see all the content at once and so you can grab what you need without rummaging through a cabinet. Choosing a corresponding drawer insert then allows for good organization within the drawer.

Wooden drawer divider insert for organizing utensils and spices — A great product to organize a deep drawer is this Rev-A-Shelf Deep Drawer Divider System

Spice Drawer for Easy Access

No more rummaging through a cluttered spice rack! A dedicated spice drawer keeps every seasoning neatly arranged and within arm’s reach. The trick is to lay it out so you can read all the labels at once. Then you can find the right jar in a second. A tiered organizer works, and so does a custom insert. Either way, it’s a small change that makes cooking a lot more enjoyable.

Spice drawer before and after, with jars decanted and labelled in a tiered insert — All you need is a tiered drawer insert, some glass spice jars and spice labels ( a funnel helps too). An organized spice drawer makes quickly finding the right spices for the amazing meal you are cooking up super easy and an organized experience. Its also easier to spot when you’re low on one. No fun in realizing you don’t have an important ingredient while youre cooking.

Tiered wooden drawer insert for storing spice jars at an angle — This Rev-A-Shelf 3 Tiered Seasoning Organizer is a simple and easy to cut insert for creating a spice drawer.

Hidden Paper Towel Storage for a Cleaner Look

I try to use reusable cleaning products, but some messes just call for a paper towel. A paper towel storage cabinet keeps your countertops clear and the roll close at hand. Put a built-in holder inside a drawer or under the cabinetry. The kitchen keeps its sleek, streamlined look, and cleanup gets a lot easier. Nothing about the design has to give for it.

Paper towel holder mounted under a shelf beside a pull-out storage cabinet — Kitchens can look messy and cluttered real fast. Appliances, dishes, food, cookware and cleaning supplies just overwhelm the space. For a kitchen to look clean and fun to cook in, we love to hide as much as possible but make it super easy to access it. A paper towel is not pretty so why leave it out?

Pull-out cabinet organiser sized for paper towels and cleaning supplies — A Rev-A-Shelf Wood Base Cabinet Paper Towel Pull Out Organizer makes getting that paper towel in the middle of a mess a real luxurious experience. We love the idea of elevating the everyday experiences

Technology Drawer for Storing Devices

Consider a technology drawer for storing iPads, headphones, or any other tech gear that needs charging. It makes a family rule of no phones on the dinner table much easier to keep. Everything stays organized and charged, out of sight. One planning note: you’ll need an outlet behind the cabinet, so talk to your contractor or electrician early.

Countertop tangled with charger cords beside a drawer with a built-in outlet — We love this organizing trick, no more visible charging cables on the counter and it just encourages you to put the phones down and enjoy cooking together.

In-drawer power unit with outlets and USB ports for a kitchen drawer — Docking Drawer Blade Duo in-Drawer Outlet requires 2″ behind a drawer and comes with cable management arms to control and protect the cord, ensuring no loss of drawer functionality or frayed wires.

I hope this post has given you a few storage ideas for your kitchen. Maybe you’re working with House of Maevie here in Raleigh. Maybe you’re tackling a DIY remodel. Either way, these smart storage solutions will make your kitchen both stylish and functional. If you’re looking for expert guidance, or need help bringing your vision to life, reach out to us. We’re happy to help!