Kitchen Redesign Adventure: Worth the Hype or Not?

- Measured everything down to the weird oval roasting pan - still ended up with the colander stuck at a diagonal.
- Deep drawers are awesome for hiding chaos, but if you don’t plan, they turn into black holes for spatulas and lids.
- I actually taped out spots on the floor to “pretend” load the drawers before we ordered anything. My partner thought I was nuts, but hey, now our Dutch oven fits without scraping the sides.
- Funny thing, though - no matter how well you plan, there’s always that one mystery kitchen gadget that refuses to fit anywhere.
- Worth the hype? For me, yes, but only because I like a little drama with my storage solutions.

Taped spots on the floor - now that’s dedication. I once tried to map out my cabinet space using cardboard cutouts, but the 1920s built-ins had other ideas. Ended up with my stand mixer living in the coat closet for a year. Deep drawers are a blessing and a curse, especially when you’re fishing for a potato masher and come up with a gravy boat instead. I’d say the hype is real, but only if you’re prepared for a little chaos to sneak in no matter how much you plan.

I hear you on the deep drawer chaos, but honestly, I think a little planning can go a long way - even with those unpredictable old cabinets. One trick I swear by: drawer dividers and tiered organizers. It sounds fussy, but it’s saved me from digging past the tangle of whisks and ladles every time. And about the stand mixer - sometimes it’s worth sacrificing some “prime real estate” for the stuff you use daily, even if it means less symmetry. Kitchens rarely end up as tidy as the plans, but I do think you can keep the chaos mostly in check with a few tweaks.

“sometimes it’s worth sacrificing some ‘prime real estate’ for the stuff you use daily, even if it means less symmetry.”

Couldn’t agree more on that one - function over form, every time. Here’s what I’ve seen work (and what I tell clients who are tired of the “utensil avalanche”):

- Drawer dividers are a lifesaver, but don’t forget about vertical storage. Pegboards or wall rails can get those awkward tools out of the drawer entirely.
- For deep drawers, try stacking shallow bins inside. It’s not fancy, but it keeps the potato masher from hiding under the rolling pin.
- Stand mixer? If you use it all the time, give it a home on the counter. I know, it messes with the “magazine look,” but honestly, nobody’s kitchen stays photo-ready for long.

I’ve seen people stress over matching everything and then end up frustrated when they can’t find the garlic press. A little chaos is normal - embrace it, just corral it where you can. And hey, if your kitchen looks “lived in,” that’s a good sign you’re actually using it.

“nobody’s kitchen stays photo-ready for long.”

That’s the truth. I tried to keep my old farmhouse kitchen “magazine perfect” for about a week - gave up after tripping over the bread box twice and realizing I’d hidden the coffee grinder behind a stack of vintage tins. At some point, practicality wins out over aesthetics, especially in a space that gets as much use as the kitchen. Symmetry is nice, but being able to grab the spatula without a treasure hunt? Much nicer.