Those twin wine cabinets: You’d be forgiven if you were distracted by them, or by the wide swath of wenge wrapped around the quartzite countertop. Bells and whistles abound in this Chicago kitchen perched high above Lake Michigan, designed by one of America’s greatest kitchen gurus, Mick De Giulio.
Having worked for these homeowners twice before over the course of two decades, De Giulio was pretty sure of what they needed from their empty nest this third time. “I already knew how she used the kitchen, and that they entertain,” he says. “That allowed us to really hit the ground running.”
As part of the renovation, he knocked down walls to create a more open floor plan and lowered the ceiling to create coves that hid the air ducts. “It really gives a sense of more light and space overall,” he says. Wide-plank walnut in a Norwegian finish went down on the floor, and the cabinets were covered in a tranquil Magnolia-white gloss by SieMatic.
But it’s the details that really leave an impression: the faceted cabinet doors with their ultrathin pulls, for one, and serrated trim around the fridges that looks like the inside of a box of matchsticks. “The clients didn’t want it to be super-modern, with a hard feel,” the designer explains. “The faceted fronts give dimension. An edge detail gives more texture and takes it away from being so flat.”
From every vantage point in the kitchen, you can see Lake Michigan, and the room’s wide layout mirrors the view. “There is a horizontality that connects to the lake and the sky. It gives that sense of serenity,” De Giulio says. “You see that countertop? It looks like it’s floating.”
Warm Woods
Designer Mick De Giulio started with the floors. “We wanted it light, with a natural feel,” he says. Walnut planks were given what he calls a “Norwegian finish, so you have a stronger grain on the floor against the cabinetry. It provided a contrast, and also a mix of materials.” Custom barstools from Saint Dizier Home.
Lip Service
De Giulio pioneered the concept of “lips” along the sink edge, where cooking accessories like colanders and cutting boards can hang. “It’s all over the place now,” he says of the design he created for Kallista. “I wish I had a patent on it!”
Champagne Taste
Next to the tall Sub-Zero wine unit and main fridge is a cabinet for glassware and other accessories.
At Close Range
This sliding Taj Mahal quartzite door hides a pull-out toaster tray.
53 Clever Kitchen Organization Tips and Products for Spotless Storage Space
Your utensil holder doesn't have to be bland. Enhance your kitchen's overall charm with this simple organizer that's just as functional as it is stylish. The durable clay ensures that it will last for years to come.
YouCopia Expandable Cookware Organizer
Keep baking sheets, pots (and lids!), pans, and other cookware in check with this expandable organizer. You can even order extra wires to tailor it to your kitchen. The base is nonslip and set up will take one minute!
No more digging through your cabinets to find the blender in the back. This pull-out drawer makes it easy to get to your favorite small appliances in no time.
Container Store Magnetic Stainless Steel Paper Towel Rack
You may already own a paper towel holder that sits on the counter, but why not ditch it for this one that you can stick right to a magnetic fridge? It'll clear up even more counter space. Every little bit counts!
If you have particularly narrow drawers or are prone to clutter easily, this genius silverware organizer is a perfect fit. You can also choose to stack the trays side by side! The rows have item labels so you're not guessing which utensil is which.
Not sure where to put your cookbook collection? Invest in an expandable bookshelf that can hold a few of your favorites and set it in the middle of your kitchen table to keep on display and within reach. If you have more than you can count, box them up and store them in the bottom of your pantry closet.
Reminder: your bills and important documents should be stored in your office or safe, not your kitchen drawer. It not only makes it hard to keep your information in order, but it is pretty stressful to remove a soy sauce stain from a document. This hanging file holder is perfect for magazines, coupons, and flyers.
Gain back a bit of shelving space with these drawers that you can easily attach to any refrigerator. The clear design will ensure you always know what's inside when you place other items on top.
Overflowing with freezer dinners? Instead of slamming your hip into the door to keep it shut, clean up your freezer with a few of these bins. Not only will it be pleasant to look at, but you'll actually be able to locate the food you want quicker.
Don’t have room for both a trash can and a recycling bin? Consider this totem separation bin that includes both but takes up the same amount of floor space as one.
Keep your family recipes safe and stain-free in a recipe box! It includes 24 recipe cards and 12 recipe dividers so you can cook your family's favorite recipes and keep a tradition your kids will cherish as they grow older.
An expandable shelf, like this one, allows you to really take advantage of the vertical space in your cabinets. You can stack things without making them harder to retrieve.
To avoid tripping over the broom you have tucked away in the corner of your kitchen, clip it into this wall mount organizer. You can hang your duster, mop, lint roller, and other cleaning accessories so they are in reach at all times.
Say goodbye to messy drawers with loose K-cups! Ensure you can easily access and refill your stash of pods with this carousel that holds up to 36 K-cups.
Step one: get rid of the half-used cleaning products under your sink that you don't use. This renter-friendly option hangs over the inside of your cabinet door, giving you extra space to store necessities.
Revamp your pantry with these airtight bins—they're stackable, so you'll save space, they look a lot sleeker, and you can label them and see exactly what you need to refill at a glance.
The random sticky notes scattered around your kitchen can accumulate in the blink of an eye. Stick your grocery list next to the adorable artwork of your little ones! This set includes a holder for your pen to add to your list throughout the week.
No matter how you stack them, a rogue pile of napkins will always end up getting messy. The solution? A sleek holder, like this acrylic one that's perfect for storing decorative cocktail napkins.
YouCopia Adjustable Kitchen Wrap Organizer
Here is the ultimate kitchen lifesaver! Keeping your saran wrap and aluminum foil on display is a bit of an eyesore. Instead, store them in this adjustable organizer to keep things neat and tidy.
Instead of hiding and misplacing products as your counter gets cluttered, use a corner shelf to keep spices, cooking utensils, and oven mittens ready for use. You can even keep it in the corner of your kitchen that receives sunlight so your plants can flourish.
Low on pantry shelving space? Add a little more space with this over-the-door pantry rack. Fill it with anything from canned goods to spices.
This caddy comes with everything you need to easily carry out plates, utensils, and napkins for your next dinner party all in one trip—and you can conveniently store them like that, too.
If you hold your breath preparing to hear your pots and pans clanging whenever you open your pantry, it's time to get creative. Plus, if your pots are pretty, get a hanging rack to display them on. It'll serve as storage and double as decor!
Placing your items on a turntable in the pantry or a cabinet means all you have to do to find what you're looking for is give it a little spin. It is the perfect addition to your kitchen or dining room table when you are setting up to enjoy a meal with your family.
simplehuman Wall Mount Grocery Bag Dispenser
This dispenser stashes bags in a convenient, easy-to-access spot that looks much cleaner than having a bag full of bags in a cabinet under the sink. Plus, it can mount to the wall or the inside of a cabinet, if you want it hidden.
If your home is always stocked with bananas, consider freeing up some counter space with one or two of these hooks. They can even flip up so that they're hidden when not in use.
Need more space? A tiered turntable like this is exactly what you need to get your pantry organized, and it makes finding what you need a cinch.
If you want to hang more than just your paper towels on your fridge, consider this rack for storing spices, measuring spoons, and hand towels.
If you need a drying rack that doesn't take up space when not in use, this expandable option is perfect. It can sit over your sink when you need it to and can also expand to fit all your dishes (or stay small for just a few items).
But if you don't have a ton of space for a dish-drying rack and you wash a lot dishes, go vertical. This over-sink rack has tons of room for plates, utensils, bowls, soap, and more.
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