4/17/19

The Organized Kitchen – Making it personal

6 Min.

If you have visited the Jewett Farms + Co. Boston showroom then you have probably met Paula Accioly. Originally from Brazil, Paula has been part of the JF team since we opened our doors in Boston, she now manages our showroom. Paula’s design ideology is centered around making the functional more beautiful, and she has a tool box full of tricks to make this happen. Paula has a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Interior Design and a Bachelor in Business Management and has worked in the design industry in Boston, and around the world for the last 15 years. Paula lives in East Boston with her husband and 5 year old daughter where she enjoys the city’s history and culture.

Paula gave us some tips on how to really dial in your kitchen design so that it make the most sense for you. A beautiful kitchen has little value if you have no where to put your things, and a highly organized kitchen is less useful if it’s not set up for the way you live.

Know Your Needs

Think about how you use the space and what your needs are. If you love to bake then work with your designer to factor in a space for your mixer, easily accessible tools and basic ingredients, maybe even a baking specific nook so you don’t have to put everything away after each time you use it. Perhaps you prepare all your meals for the week in advance and need ample fridge and freezer space, as well as reusable Tupperware. Knowing what you need will inform your design.

Make Interiors Work Hard

The key to keeping your kitchen clean and tidy is having a home for everything. Utilize cabinetry interiors and keep exteriors clean and simple. Think about vertical storage dividers for boards and cookie sheets, silverware dividers and knife blocks inside drawers (safer and tidier). Pull outs next to your range for your cooking oils, and a drawer under your sink for cleaning supplies. Think about removing every item you currently have on your counters and creating a spot for them inside a cabinet or drawer.

Outsmart your chores

Paulas favorite trick is to install plate pegs inside drawers. These allow you to safely store your plates and bowls in drawers without them moving around as you open and close the drawers. And here’s where you get tricky – locate those drawers right next to your dishwasher! Unloading your dishwasher becomes a simple and easy task, you don’t even need to move your feet

Know yourself

OK – time to get honest. Are you a clutter keeper? Drooling over photos of open shelving in magazines does not mean that they should be in your kitchen. If you (or your family) are not going to keep those shelves clear and well laid out, they will become a depository for all kinds of kitchen knick knacks and your beautiful kitchen design will be hidden by all that junk. Take an honest look at the way you use you kitchen – no judgement – everyone is different, thats why custom design is so important, then figure out if you need doors to close everything away, or you love to display your beautiful things.

Talk to Paula

Speaking with a designer in the early stages of your project planning can help you to figure out the answers to these questions before you fall in love with a specific design. Give us a call to set up a complementary design consultation.