The kitchen tour is back, this time offering a clear look behind the cabinet doors and drawers to show where everything lives. Where’s the trash? Where are the knives? Where’s the blender for morning smoothies? Where did all the food go? All of that is about to be revealed. We even made a short video tour inspired by a kitchen organization walkthrough we loved last year. If you haven’t yet seen the full kitchen reveal, it’s worth checking out first for the big-picture changes.
A beautiful kitchen is great, but a functional kitchen is what really matters. After deciding on a completely new layout, we still had to choose cabinet styles, drawer arrangements, and how best to organize our belongings for daily use. To make organization easier, we divided the kitchen into functional “zones” and arranged things accordingly.
The video tour is the fastest way to see everything in action — Sherry walks through and opens drawers and doors while explaining what’s stored where and why.
In the video you’ll also catch a moment when Burger, our dog, makes his feelings known — he was convinced there was snack time happening without him. Aside from that little drama, you’ll notice that not every cabinet is packed. We intentionally left some space so the kitchen doesn’t feel crowded and so we’ll have room as the kids (and the number of gadgets) grow.
Below is a breakdown of how we use each zone. The video shows more detail if you want to see every drawer open.
The Island Zone
The island contains several deep drawers along the long side facing the window, with cabinets on each end. Instead of open shelving we chose closed cabinets to provide hidden storage for cookbooks, directories, and miscellaneous living-room items like a sewing box.
We placed the microwave under the island and added a stack of drawers nearby for everyday dishes and silverware. Storing plates and bowls in drawers is a revelation — it makes unloading the dishwasher effortless because you don’t have to reach up and down between a low dishwasher and upper cabinets.
We used spring-loaded dividers to section the deep drawers and an expandable silverware organizer for flatware. The dividers keep stacks from shifting and help everyone put things away on autopilot so the drawers stay neat.
The drawer group to the right of the microwave organizes lunch supplies like bags, reusable containers, napkins, and foil in the top drawer, with larger bowls and platters below. The bottom drawer houses a large griddle for easy access.
The Stove Zone
Drawer bases flank the stove, which we weren’t sure about at first for pots and pans. But they work perfectly: saucepans and pots fit in the bottom drawer with lids nested upside-down so handles fit inside the pots. The top drawer holds a knife tray designed for drawer storage plus bamboo boxes for small gadgets like a can opener and lemon juicer, keeping countertops clear.
The top drawer on the other side stores spices in angled organizers made for drawers, which are far easier to use than a tiered upper-cabinet shelf. The remaining drawers hold skillets, mixing bowls, bakeware, and other oven-related items. If our baking collection expands, we might add vertical dividers or move items to a larger cabinet.
Upper cabinets near the stove store cooking oils, vinegars, honey, and glass containers for leftovers. One upper cabinet serves as a small beverage center where mugs and teabags are kept near the kettle.
The Pantry Zone
The cabinets surrounding the fridge act as our pantry. A tall cabinet with deep roll-out shelves stores most of our dry food; the pull-out feature prevents items from getting lost at the back. Small baskets help group items for easy access.
Above the pantry are lesser-used items like cookie cutters and guest coffee packets, and the deep cabinet above the fridge stores coolers and travel mugs. The standout feature here is the appliance garage on the adjacent side: a low cabinet built to take advantage of an outlet so frequently used small appliances can stay accessible but hidden when not in use.
The appliance garage keeps the toaster and blender out of sight yet ready to use. We don’t leave them plugged in, but being able to open the doors and use them immediately makes mornings much easier. Above that is overflow pantry storage for snacks and extra paper towels.
The Mudroom
The hidden mudroom next to the door is a major functional upgrade. Having a dedicated spot for coats, shoes, purses, leashes, backpacks, keys, and hoodies keeps the entry organized. Each family member has a designated section so items don’t pile up on one another, and outlets inside cabinets let us charge devices out of sight.
The Buffet
The cabinets on the opposite wall function as a “buffet,” mostly storing decorative items like candles, planters, vases, and seasonal decor. These shallower cabinets prevent items from getting lost in the back and free up space in the living room built-ins for books and albums.
Miscellaneous
Other storage includes a few corner cabinets, the sink base with cleaning supplies, and the area to the right of the sink. The drawer nearest the sink holds dish towels, with roll-out trash and recycling bins below. We upgraded from our old setup, which didn’t allow recycling storage beside the trash, so this has been a helpful change.
One cabinet stores tools for quick repairs — yes, we keep drills and hammers in the kitchen — and another holds party supplies. And then there’s the mega junk drawer: divided with wood organizers and small boxes to contain tape, pens, stamps, and miscellaneous odds and ends. Velcro strips keep organizers from shifting when the drawer opens and closes.
That covers the main zones. The video provides the most thorough look if you want to see everything in motion. We’ll likely tweak storage as the kids grow and our habits change, but for now the kitchen feels more organized and functional than ever.
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