For people who enjoy cooking, using small kitchen appliances (coffee makers, toasters, blenders, stand mixers, etc.) can help make their lives a lot easier. The only drawback to this convenience is that these appliances can take a lot of countertop space.
There's a solution to this dilemma: an appliance garage.
What is an Appliance Garage
An appliance garage is a built-in cabinet unit designed to store and access your small kitchen appliances. As opposed to typical cabinetry units, appliances stored within a garage will remain hidden until you wish to access them. With an appliance garage, you will be able to place your commonly used appliances directly on the countertop, behind doors.
With the garage door closed, your appliances are concealed. To utilize the appliance located behind the garage door, you just need to open the garage door. You'll end up with a kitchen that seems much more organized, yet it won't be difficult to get to the appliances that you've come to rely upon daily.
Why Would You Want One?
Space on counters quickly disappears in active kitchens. You may find that even a large kitchen begins to appear cramped when a coffee maker, toaster, blender, and additional appliances sit on the countertops all the time. Having an appliance garage offers those items a home.
In addition to offering a convenient location for appliances that are too cumbersome to be stored in lower cabinets, an appliance garage can also provide a location for heavier appliances that become a burden each time you move them into a storage location. For instance, a stand mixer is so heavy (sometimes up to 20-30 lbs) that constantly taking it in and out of a storage location can become arduous. Having a stand mixer in an appliance garage means it will always be available when you require it. You will be able to conceal the appliance by closing the garage door, therefore maintaining a clean appearance on your countertops.
Similarly, a coffee station would benefit greatly from having its own appliance garage. There is little point in constantly removing and replacing your coffee maker if you consistently make yourself coffee every morning. Using an appliance garage will allow you to leave your coffee maker set up all the time while keeping it visually contained.
Think About How You Use Your Kitchen
One of the greatest benefits of utilizing an appliance garage is that it can be customized to fit your personal routine. Before purchasing or installing an appliance garage into your new kitchen layout, consider what types of appliances you use most frequently and where you typically position them. The optimal location for a coffee maker would likely be next to your refrigerator or pantry. A blender or mixer may work best in proximity to your primary food preparation area.
Additionally, an appliance garage should be large enough to hold the actual appliances you intend to keep inside it, along with enough extra room for comfortable operation. Most appliance garages are built about 14-16 inches deep to match standard countertop depth, though yours may need to be deeper depending on the appliances you're storing. If you desire electrical outlets in your cabinet, this factor should also be taken into consideration when designing your appliance garage.
While an appliance garage is certainly a beneficial feature to include in a kitchen redesign for someone who enjoys cooking and utilizes several small appliances on a regular basis, it is definitely not required. An appliance garage provides you with another option to simplify your daily tasks and create a cleaner-looking kitchen.
Not sure if an appliance garage makes sense for your kitchen? Reach out to the BiiLT team - we're happy to walk through your layout and appliances with you.
0 Comments