5 Kitchen Design Hacks You Shouldn’t Live Without

[@Musicianswifealways-sv6tq]

Mark, I love these “quick tips” you’ve been providing. I really like the extended videos, but sometimes I’m looking for consolidated points of information. Keep it up - so helpful!

[@marylut6077]

I am 5’8”, I have fridge depth cab over fridge and have vertical dividers and store cookie sheets, baking sheets, and cooling racks, etc, up there.

[@Barryalejandro_288]

Hi there

[@ruthannguenther8353]

My OTF cabinet gives me joy! All I did was install a cupboard depth cabinet during my kitchen renovation and installed pan separators. Now I can easily access all my baking pans. It’s amazing.

[@lazygardens]

If the thought of "wasting" that bit of space behind the pull down shelf bothers you, you could use to to store the seldom-used thanksgiving turkey platter and other things. Once a year you drag it down. My OTF space has dividers and stores cutting mats, cookie sheets and other flat skinny things. But t6his video did inspire me to look for a place to hang a step stool, and buy a thin cute one

[@Diana_Breaks_a_Nail]

I love my work station sink. The draining rack is the MVP! It’s in place at all times and acts as a great surface for doing anything that would otherwise cause a spill on the counter. Fill a pot? Draining rack. Sugar jar is empty? Draining rack. Squeezing lemon for a cocktail? Draining rack. Just toss into the dishwasher when it needs a deep clean. The sink is huge (33"), so it doesn't get in the way of any other sink activities.

[@eorzeanECM]

We just renovated our kitchen 100% reno (walls were moved). Your videos helped me have a functional, bougie kitchen of my dreams. My husband thanks you because, I LOVE to cook now. Great video by the way. We will be moving soon and I saved this video for my next kitchen must haves.

[@rachelduke1580]

Love the built in step stool but vertical shelves over the fridge is the real mvp! All the cutting boards, baking sheets, cooling racks etc neatly slide in and out and you only need to reach the bottom of it. It's amazing

[@dorotheakool]

I live in Europe. My kitchen has no cupboards until the ceiling but are so high I can reach everyting without using some kind of staircase. I declutterd so much that everything fits in the remaining space. My fridge has the same width as the countertops and is as high as the rest of my kitchen. I live in a condo with open concept. There is no space for an island. My oak dining table with black leather chairs matches with my black kitchen with oak backsplases the same colour as my dining table. I love it

[@kvcooks814]

We used our OTF for the sheet pans, cooling racks, and trays-works perfectly for all those large flattish things.

[@trinaroe5132]

I think I’d prefer vertical dividers and to store large platter, serving trays, baking sheets, etc OTF. I like the idea of the filler space step stool, but expensive and only useful where it’s installed. I have flat storing small step stools on all floors that don’t take up hardly any space and can be moved anywhere and were under $20. I don’t understand how anyone can only reach just one wall shelf?! I’m only 5’ 0” and can reach all three shelves in my wall cabinets and the cabinets are installed at standard height off counter. Just adjust the shelves and use organizing bins or baskets! Love the idea of a workstation sink with a drain board that drains directly into the sink and not having a rack for hand washed dishes on the counter. I like the idea of the sweep vac, but that bag looked way smaller than a standard vacuum canister and probably harder to clean. I saw a hack where someone hung a shop vac canister from the rafters in the basement beneath something like this instead of a bag. Held a lot more and could just lift off the canister to dump it easily.

[@ToddHamer-uk4sr]

As a dentist, I appreciate the shout out in the video. Also, as a dentist, I'm all about clean and sterile environments. I feel like the sink area in a kitchen will probably have the most bacteria at any given time. I just don't think I could bring myself to food prep in a work station sink. Most raw food that accidentally falls in or touches my sink gets trashed, unless it will be fully cooked......

[@MK-zm8vl]

the countertop on left side of sink for me is the "dirty" side, with right countertop side the "clean side" and the sink itself serves one purpose only, to aid in cleaning. I call BS on these gadgets that make your sink a workstation.. and I suspect many find them cumbersome after a short while.

[@Hogwarts-Dropout]

That rev-a-shelf pull out above the refrigerator is $800 for one side! For both, the left and the right, it's $1600!!! I mean why? It's just a freakin' basket screwed to a door. Why does it cost that much???

[@Ardiane1]

There are cheaper solutions

[@mariahscott315]

I had the doors OTD open opposite, like from each side instead of the middle and that automatically made those cabinets easier to get into

[@elisemeola6375]

Wow!!! Love them all!!!

[@Trenchant468]

I suggest you do a comprehensive review of the Fotile combo sink/dishwasher for small spaces or bar areas. I’m thinking of installing one instead of an 18” DW.

[@brandonyoung7760]

I think I'll go buy a $20 step stool and pass on the $600 pull out stool

[@jobond3317]

I agree. I used a step ladder to access my high cupboards. It's got three steps. My cupboards are ceiling-height, and the small pull-out ladder would not be functional for me

[@jennifer9528]

The concept is great, but the price is way off-base.

[@carlam6669]

When we remodeled our kitchen we included an electrical outlet and coax cable run to the crawl space under the house inside the cupboard above the fridge. The internet modem & WiFi access point now lives there. The cupboard also contains a Tablo DVR tuner connected to a TV antenna in the attic.

[@kg4lod]

If you pull the OTF (over the fridge; ha!) cabinet forward, you should connect the air space left behind it to the air space behind the fridge. Then open (or duct) that plenum space to the return air system of the house (either outside or into the rest of the living space). This will allow you to improve the energy efficiency of your fridge when using a tight enclosure around the fridge perimeter.

[@oyahancramin5159]

What do you think about placing both the range and the sink on the same countertop while keeping the island completely free?

[@davidhalley9795]

Love the content. I bought a spec house so everything was picked out already. I have 9 ceiling cabinets that are just for show. I’m okay with my one step stool. In the long run those look like they’ll break. What I did was install soft closing shelves in the lower cabinets. I’m older and bending over to get to the back could cost me a chiropractor visit. I also put vertical dividers above my wall oven for pans. I’d love to have that sink but not in the cards at this time.

[@bluedrummajor2876]

I have a very small galley kitchen with linoleum flooring. I use Swifter dry clothes for my sweeping and wet clothes for my mopping.

[@brookssnozek4153]

EXCELLENT LIST! I love that step stool idea combined with the the over the fridge area! And the trash bin push--I have an garbage can with a sensor but my big dog is smart and it really doesn't protect the trash from noses that wander 😅

[@matthewfuller1129]

Mark, I really miss your Wednesday live streams. But I certainly got that dopamine hit you’re talking about in this video; all of our new cabinets arrived earlier this week. The renovation starts early next month.

[@luckylibbet1]

I miss the Wednesday live streams. Do one with your new partner!

[@Snarge22]

6:20, Yeah, I love the high shelf space and do not like the low cabinet drawers. At 6'7" I'm planning a kitchen with the counter tops raised from the standard 36" (crotch level to me) to 41 inches. Stooping over into the sink to wash pots and items is getting to me these days.

[@MV-nn4yo]

awesome tips!! thanks for sharing!

[@SilentlyContinue]

YES-OTF! 🤩 Don't forget OTS and OTI lights 😁

[@Savi1926]

Wall pull out snd down unit above fridge from Amazon Vacuum bag under counter for sweeping

[@janeseymour1781]

I will add a similar cabinet on the opposite side of the wall which is the back of the counter dept refrigerator.

[@marylut6077]

My wall cab shelves are adjustable, i am 5’8” and easily reach bottom and middle shelf, I store light-weight or seldom used items on top shelf, but still within reach

[@winstonelston5743]

6:13 immediately after the theatrical shrug I got a Subaru ad. My layout doesn't have space for an appliance garage, let alone a drive-in.

[@karunaji2000]

What's the mega hack video you refer to at the end?

[@jobond3317]

I thought the workstation sink was a great idea until I saw them. Now, I'm not so keen. I want a big stainless steel sink

[@mypointofview1111]

I love the new kitchen sinks but when i remodel my kitchen it'll have to be a smaller size as i haven't got the room for a full sized sink plus i want a dishwasher which would make that kind of sink almost redundant

[@arevee9429]

love to sweep? not me - I'll take the Dyson and the robot any day.

[@pinkiewinkie1548]

Hi sweetie, great tips again!! Hope to use them one day! Maybe. Love to you and the family from an old (rebel) Pinkie BTW: because I'm older and unstable I do not wanna clime on stepstools, ladders or others, never! Cause I will get dizzy & fall, for sure, so, not gonna do that. I want pull out & down ;-)

[@tealkerberus748]

I don't want a step stool in regular use in my kitchen, but if somebody could make a full-depth pull-down for over the fridge that would be great. I don't see why half that space should go to waste when it's just a matter of angles and dimensions to make the pull-down the full depth of the available space. They could even make two pieces at half the width each to have the access dynamics of a pull-out pantry unit.

[@applesauceandhoney2407]

I heard from a kitchen company that those touch cabinets break very quickly? Would love to know what you think?

[@deborahrombouts9958]

I installed my own touch drawers in the laundry room (IKEA, so not high end). They are a dream & I have never had a problem in the years I’ve had them.

[@bosonhiggs1724]

1. Invest in smart robots, you will never sweep again, except when accidents happen. 2. Workstation sink only makes sense if you lack countertop space.

[@kw7966]

Wrong - I have a huge, beautiful granite-topped island, and recently remodeled with a big Ruvati workstation. The drainage rack, especially, is priceless - avoids all that water on the counter.

[@msBatFink]

was that a microwave above the stove i just saw 🤔🤔😁🤔🤔

[@error-xn7hn]

I don't like when the dish drainer is in the sink. When you're washing your hands the clean dishes get splashed by yuck water.

[@winstonelston5743]

1:23 Is that an OTR?

[@daniellel256]

Over the range microwave

[@tealkerberus748]

The little vacuum in the kickboard would be better if it were part of a whole-house ducted vacuum system. Instead of keeping the crumbs and rubbish in the kitchen where they'll attract ants and roaches into your food prep space, the waste could be stored in a well-sealed bin outside your house.

[@luckylibbet1]

I have a whole house vacuum that has not been used for over 2 decades. Why. Because it is not bagless. Manufacturer went out of business, bags became unobtainable. Useless. And I LOVED it. It made vacuuming a breeze. Super strong motor, so suction was excellent, and no canister with motor to drag around.

[@Linda-w5h]

Oh, my townhome kitchen needs so much work! It is small. I swear the person who designed it never cooked a meal in their life! Corner cabinets? An absolutely huge waste of precious space. I would love to find a way to economically convert those corners into lazy Susans or something. Is it even possible? I need a carpenter…

[@lauriesmith7517]

My cats would figure out out to open the trash bin in about ten minutes! Pass. Work station sink? Bah! Corners and ledges everywhere that will need constant cleaning!

[@darlene19668]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@bawillard2578]

Sweep a vac ?? Looks,like gadgets that. Were out in 50s for the modern kitchen. . More to clean , when one must clean that too .

[@DebraStoute-y7n]

The under counter vent for range ! I seriously detest hood vents sticking out in the space in the kitchen.😮😮😮😮

[@DramaCritic-f6u]

Agree. I use gas cooktop with downdraft to avoid the dreaded hood vents. No matter how expensive and trendy, they suck! I also dislike the microwave over the range concept.

[@cshop1862]

I can honestly say I would not want any of hacks in my kitchen.

[@devinflint5554]

No steering wheel? I've seen that Depeche Mode video.

[@VEE727]

Meal prep on the sink? That breaks the triangle completely. I'll look into it though

[@vickikidd8524]

I have one! I have "The Galley sink" research it. Its a life changer! You put the stove right next to the sink, Its amazing! Building a second home, I will be doing the exact same layout, its that functional!!!

[@kingduck3192]

$569 I think I’ll pass n the rev a shelf

[@roxanneherrman2107]

How bout this idea... Place a dishwasher 12" higher so it's easier on your back, and wheelchair friendly

[@SusannaJoan-i2z]

Paucek Pine

[@Scdoo100]

These seem like ways of adding expense to your remodel but not much value.

[@clivehutchinson3584]

Wow, that you could hire someone to do these things for you for half an hour or so the price...!

[@gregdoyle829]

Not seeing the hands free trash options.

[@MTKDofficial]

Any trash pullout should work. Just replace the rails with push to open slides. The piston pumps can work also, but the slides are actually better.

[@marylut6077]

My colander fits inside my sink.

[@electrical.banana]

Why put food scraps in their cupboard trash receptacle? It will rot and stink in no time.

[@ronald3921]

I bet you can re-post this video in 10 years time and call it 5 useless kitchen hacks 😅

[@jennifer9528]

Doubt it. These things are not aesthetic design trends; they improve the efficiency of the kitchen. Unless and until something better comes along, these things will be in demand decades from now.