Kitchen – Susan Currie Interior Design

Tips for Organizing your Kitchen

February 22, 2021/in Featured, Kitchen, Susan /by Laura Lee

Clear Things Out

When it comes to organizing your kitchen, it can be hard to know where to begin. We suggest starting by clearing everything out of your cabinets, drawers, and refrigerator. Get rid of anything that is expired or items that you haven’t used in a while. Consider donating unwanted items like pots, pans, plates, glasses, and silverware.

Where to Place Most Used Items

Once you’ve cleared everything out, it’s important to think about what items you use most frequently. Then, consider what shelfs, cabinets, and drawers are most convenient to use when working in your kitchen. Some of your placement will naturally fall into place – spices, oils and vinegars near your range or cooktop along with pots and pans nearby. Remember the most convenient spaces should be reserved for the most often used items.

Add Organizers

You may need decide you want to add organizers to your cabinets or pantry so a measuring tape will come in handy. Measuring is especially important if you plan to purchase lazy susans or shelves to stack plates or glasses. These organizers will increase the functionality and might be the most economical way to organize things and make the most use of your space.

Tackle Your Kitchen Junk Drawer

We all have that pesky junk drawer. Clearing it out can be very satisfying! Again, clear it out, throw out what you don’t need or , want, even those dried up pens. After a little categorizing, add drawer dividers to create a home for everything. This helps keep each area in order. Tip – There might be other places in the house to store some of the things you’ve dumped in the junk drawer. We like to keep like items in one place in the house. It’s much easier to remember that you keep all your batteries in one place in the house rather than having to scavenge the house wondering where in the world did you put those darn batteries!

Electronics Charging Station Ideas

What should you do to get the charging cords off the counter? If you have a drawer that’s being underutilized, consider making it a charging drawer! We love this setup to keep your kitchen decluttered.

Cutting Utensils Need a Home

Keeping knives in a drawer is another easy way to clear counters. There are a ton of knife organizers on the market; we love this one because it also creates space to store cutting boards!

Perfectly Placed Pots and Pans

Pots and pans can be challenging to organize, with the variety of sizes and all of the accompanying lids. For smaller cabinets, an organizer like this is probably your best bet. If you have larger cabinets, try a pot rack. We love the hook for ladles or pot holders.

Easy to Find Spices

When it comes to storing spices, we all have different preferences. If you like to keep spices in a cabinet, this pull-out might be a big help! If you prefer your spices in a drawer, we love this organizer. If you don’t have much storage to spare, a counter spice rack might be the answer for you.

Out of Sight Appliances!

But what about those small appliances that we use every day? The coffee maker and toaster oven need a home, too. Have you considered an appliance garage? They are a great way to keep your counters looking clear and your appliances easily accessible but out of sight when they aren’t in use.

Susan Currie Designs - Modern Kitchen Remodel

Organizing your spaces shouldn’t be intimidating. Take it as slowly as you need!In the end, you’ll be happy you spent the time getting everything in order.

How to Make a Home Coffee Bar

December 15, 2020/in Featured, Interiors, Kitchen, Room Re-Dos /by Laura Lee

We’ve seen a significant uptick in clients’ requests for a home coffee bar, so we have put together a few of our favorite ways to create a grab-n-go coffee that will make you feel like you’re at your favorite coffee shop, instead of at home!

A fresh cup of coffee never goes out of style — but cluttered cabinets full of K-Cups and unopened coffee bags certainly do. These work-ready coffee bar ideas will help you streamline your morning routine, ultimately taking the chaos out of your daily caffeine boost.

Step One: Pick A Space

Our first step is straightforward: carve out space in your home (think empty kitchen cabinets, accessible countertops, or mobile bar carts) and fill it with everything you need to make a coffee shop-worthy drink. Work with what you’ve already got by transforming a slim cabinet into a makeshift coffee station. You can also clear out an old cabinet and load it with labeled organizers and baskets. If you prefer making your morning brew with a pourover and French press, then a mobile coffee cart is your best bet, especially because you don’t have to worry about keeping it near an outlet.

Step Two: Add Coffee Maker & Mugs

Making a cup of coffee now requires minimal effort, and many of us feel free to indulge in our favorite hot beverage throughout the day, as opposed to just in the morning. Keurigs have become a kitchen staple, but we also have clients that adore their home espresso machines. Stash all the basics, including your favorite travel mugs for grab-and-go days. We like to keep 8-12 simple white coffee mugs at our station. You can often find these very inexpensively at your local Crate & Barrel. We are big fans of these mugs from Burke Decor, which have a stylish modern twist on your basic white mug. You’ll want enough mugs in the coffee bar area for guests, too, rather than digging out mismatched mugs from other kitchen cabinets.

If you have limited counter space or drawers, it doesn’t mean you can’t have a coffee station in your kitchen. Instead, take advantage of vertical space! Hanging shelves of different shapes and sizes on the wall to house mugs, coffee spoons, and other accessories.

Step Three: Decorate

Make sure your coffee station aligns with the rest of your home’s aesthetic by incorporating coordinating geometric prints, faux greenery, and chic canisters. Cover any imperfections with baskets, jars, and an assortment of monochromatic mugs. Avoid a cluttered look by keeping everything — coffee maker, sugar bowl, creamer, and mugs — in the same color. You can then add in unique accent pieces to add a little personality. Your DIY coffee bar can be a great accent piece in homes of all styles, including farmhouse and modern interiors.

Pro Tip: If you’re inclined toward a midday or nighttime pick-me-up, opt for a bar cart that you can roll from one room to the next, or even take outdoors when the weather permits. That way, nothing will get in between you and your true love: coffee.

We’d love to know if you add a coffee bar space to your home. Curious about how we can help you update your home to be more functional? Email us at susan@susancurriedesigns.com.

7 Design Tips to Plan the Perfect Kitchen

October 15, 2020/in Featured, Interiors, Kitchen, Room Re-Dos /by Laura Lee

We’ve all been spending so much more time at home these days. One of the benefits of that extra time at home is the opportunity to focus on updating and renovating your most-used spaces. We think of the kitchen as the heart of the home at Susan Currie Design, and have put together a few tips and tricks to help you update your kitchen in a cost-friendly way!

Function is probably the most important aspect to think about when planning a new kitchen. It’s also very important to consider your family’s specific needs for the space. These days the kitchen is about more than just cooking; it is the heart of the home. We work, watch TV, read the mail, chat with the kids after school, help them with homework, chat with our partner, hang out with friends, sip on a glass (or two) of wine after a long day. Or you may have a whole other list of things you want to do in your kitchen, which is why it’s so important to narrow down exactly how you envision using this space, so that you can make it work for your family.

As you plan, here are a few points to consider:

How much use does your kitchen get? Is your everyday kitchen a busy place, where everyone hangs out? Or do you prefer it tucked away, only to be used when necessary, to warm up leftovers or wash out your empty wine glasses?
Besides cooking, what other daily activities do you like to do in the kitchen? If you have kids, do they work on homework while you are prepping dinner? Do you look up new recipes on Pinterest or food blogs while sipping your morning coffee? Do you like to catch up on the latest Bravo shows while baking cookies? You may want to consider adding a dedicated space for a small desk, TV, or dropzone.
Do you like to entertain? If you often find yourself hosting friends for wine and cheese or an afternoon cup of coffee, you may want to think about adding a beverage center that houses a wine fridge, wine glasses, or a coffee bar.
How much seating do you need? Most kitchens these days are eat-in kitchens with an area for a breakfast table, but if you like to entertain or want a more casual place to chat with your kids over an afternoon snack, you may want to consider adding additional seating around an island or peninsula.
What’s your cooking style? Are you an aspiring Ina Garten, or are you more inclined towards take out? Consider what appliances will best suit your needs. But, depending on your plans, you might also want to keep in mind what your kitchen renovation will do to the resale value of your home. Homes in expensive neighborhoods may call for professional level appliances. So, even if you aren’t a serious cook, it can be important to consider how the look and function of appliances can help with resale value. Peruse the internet for recently sold homes to see what’s selling best in your area.
How do you handle cleaning up? Every kitchen must accommodate easy clean-up. For those of us whose kitchens are used for everything from constant snacking (and the crumbs that come with!) to homework and science projects, having the right equipment to handle clean up is essential. Consider dishwashers’ unique features, and check the sound rating, too. If you have an open floor plan, you don’t want the dishwasher or garbage disposal to drown out movie night or disrupt a work call.
How does the kitchen design flow with the rest of the home? It’s essential to consider your kitchen’s flow with the rest of the house. Your kitchen should blend effortlessly with the rest of your space. It can be really beneficial to bring in a professional to choose the right countertops, backsplash, and finishes to create a harmonious and inviting kitchen.

A kitchen is the heart of the home, and when it comes to crafting a timeless design scheme, you can never go wrong with a white palette featuring pops of color — kitchen designed by Susan Currie Designs.

Kitchens and bathrooms are our specialties at Susan Currie Design, and we take each family’s different needs, as well as their style preferences, into consideration when designing their space. We love to take an area that will be used by the whole family and tailor it to become a client’s dream kitchen.

For more info or to schedule a consultation, email us at susan@susancurriedesign.com or call 504-862-5800.