November 1, 2019

The theme of KBB’s next issue is health and wellness. There are countless ways a design can positively impact a homeowner’s well-being – from more natural light to safer showers and better ventilation – but there is one often overlooked aspect we already highlighted in our October issue: organization and storage. With the proper cabinetry, a client can have the baseline for a well-ordered home with less clutter and easier access, resulting in less stress and a more healthful vibe overall. KBB spoke to the experts to find out the keys to better storage that does just that.

Lift-Ups & Pullouts for Ease of Use.
“Trashcan pullouts are a must-have organizer in the kitchen, and appliance lifts are also very popular due to the trend of decluttering counters. Spice pullouts allow for quick home meal prep with all your clients’ spices easily viewable and at their fingertips. In the bath, grooming organizers keep hair styling tools tame, and drawer inserts help manage the makeup drawer.” – Marisa Sanchez, senior product manager, organizers, for Richelieu

Robern Uplift Tech has a no-swing door that allows for unobstructed installations with the ability for behind-faucet installation because of the vertical opening of the cabinet. This position-hold, door-opening mechanism lets the user open the door as low or as high as needed.

Bring on the Colors.
“The introduction of color into homes continues to remain strong. Blues are top hues, but we also see green tones picking up the pace. This new confidence and happiness in homeowners to truly make their space their own rather than being overly concerned with neutrality has trailblazers utilizing wonderful design trends.” – Stephanie Pierce, director of design and trends at MasterBrand Cabinets

The Solace Vanity from Native Trails features solid, FSC-certified oak paired with cool NativeStone counters for a transitional bathroom centerpiece. The vanity is available in Midnight Oak and Sunrise Oak (shown here), as well as a 30-in. size for smaller spaces or 48 inches for a bigger statement.

Interior Lighting to See Everything.
“Before people relied on dreadful, large lights that only fit under the cabinet and still only covered just sections of the counter. Now with access to LED lighting, consumers can purchase customized fixtures that light the entire countertop and inside the cabinet, as well as use panel lights to place behind backsplashes and countertops.” – Shari McPeek, advertising and public relations manager for Rev-A-Shelf

Tresco’s Flush Infinex Lighting was engineered to pressure-fit into a channel with no mounting hardware necessary. The flat extrusion installs evenly with the surface for an inconspicuous yet dramatic lighting effect, so the homeowner can enjoy seamless integration to shelves, panels and other common casework.

Easy-to-Use Drawers & Doors.
“Automation or systems geared toward reducing effort have been growing in this industry. These range from push-to-open cabinet doors and drawers to assisted pullout and soft-close features, and we now have hands-free motion or sensor-activated systems allowing the consumer to access cabinet contents effortlessly.” – a Richelieu representative

Wellborn Cabinet Inc. introduces the Ninka Qanto, which solves the inaccessible space in the corners of kitchens by providing a vertically rising tray for maximum space usage. The tray moves up and down at the push of a button, providing easy, ergonomic access to stored items at the level of the countertop.

Thoughtful Storage.
“Clever, concealed cabinetry is essential. Consumers continue to gravitate toward concealed and clean integration in kitchen design, with maximized storage solutions. Coffee lovers rejoice with the variety of K-cup storage solutions. Pots and pans now have a unique spot in the kitchen, as well as pots and pans in pullout and deep drawers. – Angela O’Neill, director of advertising and marketing, Wellborn Cabinets

The BPO II frame from Richelieu allows the user to transform any base cabinet into a functional storage system tailored to specific needs with the right accessories. Each YOUBOX set of multi-use white plastic storage bins can be installed on either side of the pullout frame to keep ingredients and small kitchen tools close at hand. Non-slip wire baskets, which keep various container sizes neatly ordered, and the spice tray, which comes with six spice containers, keep all spices aligned.