10 Ideas On How To Make Life Easier In The Kitchen
A well-designed kitchen is the heart of any home, but it’s also a space that should be functional and practical.
At The Maker Designer Kitchens, our expert team specialises in creating bespoke kitchen designs that not only look beautiful, but also make everyday tasks easier.
When you work with us, we bring a wealth of ideas to the table, ensuring your kitchen remodel meets your aesthetic desires and improves your cooking experience.
Below, we share 10 helpful ideas straight from our designers to help streamline your kitchen and enhance its functionality. These are great to keep in mind if you are considering a kitchen renovation or are about to embark on one.
1. Custom drawers for maximum storage
While traditional cabinets are essential, we highly recommend incorporating custom drawers into your kitchen design. Drawers offer an exceptional way to maximise storage and ensure everything has its place. We’re not just talking about standard drawers, but custom soft-closing options that are specifically built to suit your needs.
Wide banks of drawers, perfectly tailored to the heights of your cookware, serveware, and utensils, offer a level of organisation that makes cooking more enjoyable. Imagine how easy it is to find your spices in a dedicated drawer, laid out side by side, or to locate kitchen tools in an extra-wide, tidy utensil drawer.
Additionally, wider drawers in your lower cabinetry reduce the number of panels, enhancing the overall luxury feel of your kitchen design.
In our Duncraig kitchen renovation shown below, the island storage is expertly designed with custom drawer heights for maximum efficiency. Despite the varying drawer sizes, the symmetrical drawer fronts create a cohesive, luxurious aesthetic, allowing the cabinetry’s profiling and details to shine on a larger scale for an elevated look and feel.
2. Custom pantry design
Your food storage requirements are unique to your household, so why settle for a one-size-fits-all pantry? A custom pantry design allows you to organise your ingredients and supplies based on how you cook.
In one of our recent kitchen renovations shown below, we combined the Hafele Tandem Pantry Unit with custom shelves and drawers to meet the client’s exact needs.
Integrated LED lighting that turns on when the pantry doors open not only adds convenience but also elevates the visual appeal of your space. We even extend the colour scheme of your kitchen into the pantry, ensuring it’s as stylish as it is functional.
Whether you have minimal pantry needs or require extensive storage, our designers will craft a bespoke layout that works for you.
3. Hafele Le Mans II Corner Storage
One of the most challenging areas in any kitchen is the corner cabinet. That’s where the Hafele Le Mans II Corner Storage Unit comes in.
This innovative solution features two independent trays that swing items in and out of those hard-to-reach spots with ease. Whether you’re storing heavy pots or bulky small appliances, this clever system ensures you never have to awkwardly reach into a corner cabinet again.
The Le Mans II is an ideal addition for every kitchen, and we recommend incorporating it during the design process as it’s integrated into your cabinetry and cannot be retrofitted later.
4. Integrated waste bins
No modern kitchen is complete without integrated waste bins. We often recommend the Hailo Euro Cargo ST45, which includes two 76-litre bins that can be used for rubbish and recycling.
For larger kitchens or those who prioritise sustainable living practices, the Hailo Euro Cargo ST60 provides even more options, including a removable bin bucket for organic waste.
These integrated solutions keep waste hidden while providing easy access and enhanced organisation.
When you work with our team, we’ll help you select the right waste solution based on your kitchen size and waste management needs.
5. Oven stacks for convenience
If you’re looking to make life easier in the kitchen, consider an oven stack. Raising the oven to a convenient height makes it easier to retrieve heavy, hot dishes without bending over. In addition to being practical, stacked wall ovens add a high-end aesthetic to your kitchen.
Many of our clients opt for two matching 600mm ovens, combined with an integrated microwave or coffee machine. This arrangement not only streamlines your cooking process but also creates a sleek, modern focal point in your kitchen.
6. Easy to clean induction cooktops
For a seamless cooking experience, an induction cooktop is a must-have. These sleek, modern cooktops are incredibly easy to clean—just spray and wipe after cooking, and you’re done!
Induction technology has advanced significantly, making it an excellent option for kitchens of all styles, particularly contemporary and minimalist designs.
If you prefer a combination of cooking methods, you can pair an induction cooktop with a single Pitt burner for a wok station, offering the best of both worlds in your culinary space.
7. Appliance cupboards for a clutter-free countertop
If you’re tired of looking at your toaster or kettle sitting on the bench, an appliance cupboard could be the perfect solution.
These custom cabinets are designed to store everyday appliances out of sight while keeping them easily accessible. With options like roller or bi-fold doors, your appliance cupboard can blend seamlessly into your kitchen design, creating a cleaner, more organised look.
Not only does this give you more counter space, but it also enhances the overall aesthetic by keeping clutter hidden away.
8. Custom storage for baking trays and boards
A common frustration in many kitchens is the lack of practical storage for baking trays, chopping boards, and serving platters. Instead of stacking them awkwardly inside cabinets, why not have a dedicated space designed specifically for these items?
With custom cabinetry, you can enjoy vertical storage slots that make accessing these everyday items simple and efficient. It’s a small detail, but it can make a huge difference in how your kitchen functions day-to-day.
9. Smart taps for effortless water access
Looking ahead to 2025, we’re excited to include more smart taps in our designs. Imagine getting filtered, boiling, chilled, or even sparkling water at the touch of a button with an integrated Zip water tap.
Not only does this feature make daily tasks easier, but it also eliminates the need for a benchtop kettle, freeing up valuable counter space.
These taps are becoming increasingly popular in modern kitchens, and we look forward to incorporating them into more of our luxury designs.
10. Sink workstations for multi-tasking
A sink is no longer just a place to wash dishes—it can also be used as a workstation.
Modern sink designs can come with integrated cutting boards, drying racks, and colanders that can transform your sink area into a multi-functional prep space.
Whether you’re rinsing vegetables, chopping, or drying dishes, a well-designed sink workstation helps create more space, helps you multitask and keeps your kitchen organised.
The workstation sink pictured below is by The Galley, and is available through Winning Appliances. It features an upper-tier utensil caddy, lower-tier wash caddy, upper-tier drying rack and a lower-tier wash bowl. This sink is the ultimate luxury addition to a high-end kitchen renovation, delivering both bold style and exceptional functionality for your space.
Experts in designing kitchens that make life easier
At The Maker Designer Kitchens, we believe a well-designed kitchen should do more than just look beautiful—it should also make your life easier.
Our team is committed to creating custom kitchens that are both functional and tailored to your unique needs, incorporating innovative storage solutions, cutting-edge technology, and practical layouts designed to enhance your everyday living experience.
If you are feeling inspired by these ideas, you can actually see some of them on display in our Perth showroom. Our showroom is the ideal place to start visualising your kitchen renovation, helping you explore the features and inclusions that will bring your kitchen design to life.
Alternatively, you can contact us to book a consultation with one of our kitchen designers. Let’s start your journey to a beautifully crafted kitchen that’s designed with you in mind.
