5 Tips to solve 5 problem areas in the kitchen

March 26KitchenStorage space, Ergonomics
A woman crouches down to remove ingredients from the bottom shelf of a base cabinet.
Too little storage space, chaos in cabinets and constantly bumping into open cabinet doors: outdated kitchens leave a lot to be desired in terms of functionality. Alexandra Becker is dissatisfied with her outdated kitchen, so it's time for a renovation! Follow along to see how she redesigned her kitchen and learn our best tips for how to eliminate the five most frustrating problem areas in the kitchen.

When a kitchen is making life difficult

When a kitchen becomes outdated, it isn't just noticeable from the cabinet fronts — poor functionality is also a hallmark of outdated kitchens. Alexandra Becker, HR rep from Vienna, Austria, notices it more and more every day in her own kitchen. "I'm always hitting my head on the cabinet door when I empty the dishwasher," she explains. But that's not the only problem area that she notices. With so many inefficiencies, she needs a kitchen renovation.

A woman's hands rummaging through a cluttered kitchen utensil drawer
The five most frequent problem areas in the kitchenFrom cluttered food storage and hard-to-reach ingredients to intrusive wall cabinet doors – these are things that slow Alexandra down in the kitchen.
A woman crouching to remove ingredients from the bottom shelf of a base cabinet
A woman selecting a spice jar from an opened spice cabinet
1
Intrusive wall cabinet doors

Open cabinet doors protrude into the small space. Alexandra always has to pay careful attention to not bump into them.

2
Chaos in drawers

Knives and cooking utensils slide all over the place in the drawers. Every day she has to search for items.

3
Hard-to-reach items

To reach ingredients at the very back, Alexandra has to empty the entire cabinet. This means she also doesn't have a clear view of what she has in stock.

4
Cluttered ingredients

Alexandra has to rummage around in the cabinet to find the right spice or bottle of vinegar and oil. This wastes time.

5
Untidy sink cabinet

Trash cans, cleaning products and more are in a messy pile under the sink, wasting valuable storage space.

In a detailed conversation with her cabinetmaker, Alexandra describes her frustrations in the outdated kitchen. It quickly becomes clear that replacing the countertops and cabinet fronts is not enough. They work on a plan to completely renovate the kitchen.

In my new kitchen, I need efficient workflows, an ergonomic setup and a contemporary design.Alexandra Becker
Eine Küche in weiß, eine Arbeitsfläche in schwarz und einem Obstkorb auf der Arbeitsfläche

Goodbye problem areas, hello new kitchen

Alexandra is delighted with the final result: the kitchen renovation is a complete success! The U-shaped kitchen design combined with dark fronts looks elegant and modern in the small space. Clever organization means that Alexandra can now work efficiently, and the most important part is that the frustrating problem areas are finally history.

Eine Frau mit kurzen, blonden Haaren, einem beigen T-Shirt und einer hellblauen Jeanshose steht in einer Küche und entnimmt aus einem Oberschrank Geschirr

Wall cabinets with lift systems maximize freedom of movement: the front of the AVENTOS bi-fold lift system opens with a single touch. It moves up and out of the way, giving Alexandra easy access to her dishes. The front can be closed by hand or using the SERVO-DRIVE button.

Eine Besteckschublade mit verschiedene Küchenutensilien

In LEGRABOX drawers with matching AMBIA-LINE organizers, her cutting boards, bowls and utensils are always within easy reach. The AMBIA-LINE knife holder can hold up to nine knives, but most importantly, Alexandra can now find what she is looking for right away.

Eine Frau mit blonden Haaren, einem beigen Oberteil entnimmt aus einem Schrank eine Konservendose während sie in der Küche steht

Alexandra can now reach pantry items easily from all sides. The SPACE TOWER pantry unit impresses with its full extension drawers that can be opened individually and can hold up to 125 lbs. The width, height and depth of the unit can be tailored to the space available and personal needs.

Eine aufgeräumte Schublade mit verschiedenen Gewürzen

The AMBIA-LINE spice holder provides clarity and organization in the drawer. Alexandra has everything within reach when cooking – herbs and spices, vinegar and oil are stored near the stove and main work area exactly where they're needed.

Eine Frauenhand öffnet einen u-förmigen, schwarzen Spülenauszug

The sink cabinet has been given a makeover: sponges, brushes, dishwasher tablets and dish washing liquid finally have the space they need. The U-shaped sink drawer from Blum makes full use of the areas under the left and right side of the sink and creates useful storage space.

Turn old...

...into new

Five tips for renovating a kitchen

  • Modern lift systems that move cabinet fronts up and out of the way are ideal in small kitchens.

  • Organization systems in drawers ensure clear visibility and easy access to utensils.

  • In a pantry unit with individual drawers, all items are within easy reach.

  • A drawer equipped with a spice holder near the stove is ideal for herbs, spices and bottles.

  • A special U-shaped drawer under the sink adds valuable storage to an otherwise wasted space.

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Karen Smith
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5 Tips to solve 5 problem areas in the kitchen | Blum Inspirations