by Fan Winston - September 6, 2021

Sophisticated Storage: 7 Ideas to Steal from an Architect’s Elegant Kitchen

Reath Design Little Holmby house, LA, kitchen. Laure Joliet photo.

Margot wrote about architect Sherry McKuin’s lovely 1926 Mediterranean-style house in LA Autumnal: A 1920s House Makeover Composed in Jewel Tones. Of the many exquisite rooms in her home, our favorite may just be the kitchen, a total gut. With its considered details and well-planned built-ins, there’s nothing cookie-cutter about the space. Here, lessons we gleaned from her artfully well-ordered kitchen:

Photography by Laure Joliet, courtesy of Reath Design.

1. Find extra storage in the island.

Reath Design Little Holmby house, LA, kitchen. Laure Joliet photo. — Above: If you don’t want overhead cabinets but want more storage space, consider devoting your entire kitchen island to storage. Here, both sides of McKuin’s island offer storage opportunities.

2. Designate a step-down for mail.

Reath Design Little Holmby house, LA, kitchen. Laure Joliet photo. — Above: A brilliant solution to keep mail and other clutter from encroaching: a step-down shelf at the end of the counter.

3. Deploy pretty storage vessels.

Reath Design Little Holmby house, LA, kitchen. Laure Joliet photo. — Above: Spend some time sourcing pretty vessels to store fruits, root vegetables, or small items.

4. Streamline the mudroom.

Reath Design Little Holmby house, LA, kitchen. Laure Joliet photo. — Above: Don’t have a separate mudroom? Go for a “mud cabinet” instead. Here, a “mud cabinet” for coats, backpacks, schoolwork, and lunchboxes rests next to the refrigerator.

5. Create a beverage bar.

Reath Design Little Holmby house, LA, kitchen. Laure Joliet photo. — Above: Everything you need for a mocha or a martini in one place.

6. Use a sink skirt.

Reath Design Little Holmby house, LA, kitchen. Laure Joliet photo. — Above: An excellent way to artfully conceal clutter is to use a sink skirt. This one’s made of pleated plum handkerchief linen from Gray Line Linen of NYC, a notable affordable fabric source.

7. Add storage to your banquette.

Reath Design Little Holmby house, LA, kitchen banquette. Laure Joliet photo. — Above: Have a breakfast nook in mind? Consider building in storage.

N.B.: This post is an update; it was first published October 2019.

For more storage-friendly kitchens, see:

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