The Storage You Need In your New Kitchen
By Zephyr and Stone
There’s nowhere in your home where storage is more important than in your kitchen. So how do you maximise the space you have in a way that’s both beautiful and functional? Let’s find out…
Zephyr and Stone • Coral House Kitchen
The King of Storage
When it comes to kitchen storage, nothing compares to drawers. Unlike cupboards where items tend to get lost and forgotten at the back, the simple mechanism of sliding a drawer open makes all items accessible every time. Drawers hands down take first place when it comes to storage, ease of use and functionality in the kitchen, so they should definitely be high on the list as an essential element in your kitchen design.
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Butler’s Pantry
Smooth Operator
Opting for soft-close drawers provides the ultimate in functionality and ease of use - and not installing them will leave you with regrets. Soft-close drawers result in less wear and tear on your cabinetry, no annoying slamming and mean little fingers are less likely to get jammed.
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Butler’s Pantry
On the Shelf
If you’re like us, you want to keep all surfaces clutter-free except for a curated display of your favourite pieces. But there are some places where open shelving is worth its weight in gold, and a Butler’s Pantry is on that list! Open shelving is cost-effective and super practical - all of the items you need are front and centre, and you can access them all without having to open a door or drawer. And don’t think that open shelves can’t be beautiful - using a timber laminate is a fabulous way to turn your shelving into a feature.
Zephyr and Stone • Contemporary Coastal Butler’s Pantry
Know when to fold ‘em
Need the practicality of open shelves, but can’t bear the thought of laying it out for your guests to see? We hear you! That’s when adding a bi-fold door can be the perfect solution. It simply slides open and voila! Storage at your fingertips. Here we used the Hettich ‘Wingline L’.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Kitchen
The only way is up
If you want to maximise the storage space in your kitchen, you simply can’t go past overhead cupboards. They’re the perfect place to store glasses and breakables dust-free and out of reach of little hands, and result in a sleek and streamlined look. Using a push-to-open system means you can go handle free for the ultimate in minimal design. Bye-bye clutter, hello storage.
Zephyr and Stone • Classic Coastal Kitchen
On display
The Shelfie - it’s the no-brainer way to create that designer look in your home. An integrated or floating shelf can be installed just above eye level in kitchens to store high-use items within hand reach, or if you’re like us, it’s all about aesthetics and housing a curated display.
Z + S Tip • There’s no one size fits all when it comes to shelving, so consider what items you might be storing, measure them, and design your new shelf dimensions to suit. Try to avoid shelf heights that are a lot taller than you need as this results in empty space above items, which is generally not as aesthetically pleasing or well proportioned.
Zephyr and Stone • Retreat House Kitchen
Sneaky storage
We like our cabinetry to work hard while still looking minimal, so we always sneak in clever hidden storage whenever we can. Our favourite space is beneath the breakfast overhang on the island bench. By designing the island 1200mm deep, you can incorporate 300mm deep cupboards along the back length of the island bench.
• Z + S Tip • Don’t install push-to-open latches where bar stools will sit up against them, as the doors will open whenever someone sits down and presses against them with their knee. Opt for traditional doors instead with small pull handles or similar.
• Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Kitchen
Now you see it…
If you’re like us, you love the clever design and well thought out spaces that just work. Enter the pocket door! This ingenious door allows you to discreetly hide away all manner of sins when closed - and when open the doors tuck away neatly out of sight, within pockets on either side of your cabinetry. It’s the perfect solution for a Micro Butler’s Pantry, as seen in our Scandi Project below.
Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Micro Butler’s Pantry
Zephyr and Stone • Scandi Micro Butler’s Pantry
Internal Integration
So now you’ve considered what kinds of doors, drawers and shelves you need to make sure your kitchen is functional and fuss-free at all times. Here at Z+S, we like to take things one step further, with internal integration features to make organisation in the kitchen an absolute breeze. We’re talking solutions like slide-out rubbish bins that make cleaning up after a meal super simple, and cutlery trays that will make sure your kitchen utensils are easy to find and store at all times. These integrated kitchen storage ideas are also seamless and hidden out of view which is perfect for anyone wanting an organised, neat kitchen.
Zephyr and Stone • Coral House Kitchen
Quality hardware is crucial to the longevity of your cabinetry, and you can tell when quality mechanisms are installed, every time you open and close a drawer or door. After investing so much into your new kitchen, it just makes sense to install hardware that goes the distance. We use Hettich hardware for all our cabinetry and have done so for over 10 years - because tried and tested, they work without fail.