by Fan Winston - January 6, 2021

In Plain English: 8 Storage Ideas to Steal from the Brit Kitchen Design Firm

Plain English Kitchen Coffee Pantry

If you are a regular visitor to Remodelista, chances are high that you’ve come upon a kitchen designed by Plain English, a bespoke kitchen design company based in the UK. In fact, Julie introduced readers to them back in 2009 and since then, the site has covered their projects a number of times, including here and here. And here and here, just to name a few.

The hallmark of Plain English design is the impressive craftsmanship that goes into their cabinetry—and their focus on the individual storage needs of clients. Here are 10 storage ideas to steal from one of the stalwarts of traditional European cabinetry design.

Photography courtesy of Plain English.

1. Store essentials out in the open.

Plain English Storage Hanging Pots — Above: We see a lot of open shelving above counters, but not so much below them. This Plain English kitchen makes a strong case for keeping the doors off the lower cabinets as well. And hanging pots within easy reach of your cooking station? Always a smart storage do.

2. Use drawers for plates and bowls.

Plain English Kitchen Drawer — Above: Clever drawers outfitted with adjustable pegs to keep plates and bowls in place are perfect if you decide to forgo upper cabinets.

3. Find space for a coffee station.

Plain English Kitchen Coffee Pantry — Above: Instead of keeping your small appliances on the counter, carve out space for them in a cabinet or pantry. Just be sure to outfit it with power outlets. Photography by Alexis Hamilton for Plain English Design.

4. Consider produce drawers.

Plain English Storage Vegetable Drawers — Above: Ventilated produce drawers, like the ones shown here in a kitchen by British Standard (a less expensive offshoot of Plain English), that are integrated into your kitchen cabinetry means you’ll have dedicated storage for your potatoes, onions, garlic, and fruit.

5. Place the pantry behind glass doors.

Nick Gilpin house Plain English pantry, Bath, England, Nicola Harding interior design. Paul Massey photo. — Above: This is a lovely way to have a larder that’s both separate from and open to the kitchen. Photograph by Paul Massey, courtesy of Howe, from ‘Mamma Mia’ Music Producer Nick Gilpin’s Stylishly Revived Georgian Manse.

6. Turn the kitchen island into a storage workhorse.

Home House Green Kitchen in Shropshire by Plain English — Above: While it can be helpful to have seating at your kitchen island, don’t forget that its original function was to add more work surface and storage space to your kitchen. See more of this kitchen: Kitchen of the Week: A Historic Kitchen in Shropshire, Recast in Monochrome Green.

7. Plan for a towel rack.

Plain English Mapesbury Estate Kitchen — Above: Such a simple thing to do, adding a towel rack in your kitchen is a considered touch. Try mounting a rod to the side of an island or row of cabinets. See more of this kitchen: Kitchen of the Week: A Subtly Splendid Kitchen in North London.

8. Put narrow “dead space” to work.

Plain English kitchen in a Brooklyn Heights townhouse remodel by Elizabeth Roberts Architecture & Design. — Above: A slim niche in this Elizabeth Roberts-designed kitchen is perfect for stowing a few books. See more of this space in Plain English in Brooklyn Heights: A Very Proper Elizabeth Roberts Townhouse Remodel. Photograph by Dustin Aksland, courtesy of Elizabeth Roberts Architecture & Design.

9. Give thought to the interiors of cabinets.

Plain English Storage Southwold Larder — Above: Sectioned drawers, door-mounted bins, and shallow shelves make the interior of this cabinet a breeze to organize.

10. Build them up and high.

Dorset Farmhouse Kitchen Plain English — Above: Got high ceilings? Take advantage of them and build a wall of cabinets that run up to the top. Adding a ladder means that top tier of cabinets is always within reach. See more of this kitchen: Kitchen of the Week: The Plain English Power in Numbers Kitchen.

N.B.: This post is an update; it was first published on March 9, 2018.

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