How To Fix The Biggest Problems In Every Kitchen

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Every kitchen has these problem areas that need to be dealt with. If you want to reclaim the maximum function of your kitchen, this is for you.
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[@bv226]

Putting wine above a heat producing appliance is a bad idea.

[@MTKDofficial]

Is that for both red and white wines? I know nothing about wine.

[@DooWopThatThing]

Yes, wine should be stored at cellar temperature

[@2chipped]

Well said! Library ladder kits for super high cabinets are not super expensive. If you have faceframes, if you can diy it yourself. It provides a design element,and can be stored on the end of a full height cabinet. Like a fridge,pantry etc. Or store catnip above or use a laser for the cat to retrieve aunt Betty's porcelain bowl😅.

[@signalfire6]

7:22 - the fire extinguisher way in the back of the under sink cabinet is a very good way to forget where you put it when you need it (and make it harder to get to in an emergency).

[@MTKDofficial]

Good point. Should be easily grab-able!

[@user-uf6je3jd5s]

"You can also store your cats in your refrigerator cabinet. Just in case... you have extra cats. Heh, heh, heh." That is hilarious! 😆

[@melodireyes9687]

You don't have to have a cabinet - they like sitting on top of the refrigerator too!

[@MTKDofficial]

😁

[@5610winston]

4:45 I have that Kitchenaid bowl lift stand mixer (in Empire Red) and that thing is a Clydesdale stallion, not something to be lifting over your head on a regular basis. Pull-down is the way to go.

[@valeriehowden471]

When I first read the title, I thought decluttering! And it's free! Over the fridge is nasty, and this comes from a family of individuals 5'9" and up. In time, we will get a pull down. I never store heavy items above my head after a coworker got attacked by a falling 2kg peanut butter container - broken jaw + missing teeth. Much caution needed for cats above fridges. My cat used to open my fridge top freezer when I was at work. Stopped with a velcro child proofing tab. Not a wine aficionado by any means, but above the fridge may be too warm.

[@5610winston]

2:08 The space above the fridge is generally inaccessable. Fridges put out heat as a byproduct of the refrigeration cycle and containing it in a cabinet makes the space above the fridge a bad place to store anything heat-sensitive. Proofing your bread, maybe, but not wine.

[@valeriehowden471]

@@5610winston I usually proof on the counter above my dishwasher when it's running. Never thought of above the fridge. Thanks!

[@5610winston]

@@valeriehowden471 I don't know how well it might work. I picked up two used Bosch warming drawers (what I'll do with two I have no idea) and a Bosch stainless steel storage drawer that I plan to work into my new kitchen design.

[@dahut3614]

9:46 Yeah, Mark, I definitely want to store my spices at ankle height. I just hadn't realized until now!! 🤣

[@barbaraeaton9266]

😂

[@teri-joscott8279]

You always make me smile! Thanks for the great video Mark!

[@user-if7uj6ls2r]

I’m 58.5” tall…yeah, most upper cabinets don’t work well for me. I get so frustrated having to wait for my husband or kids to get down anything above then first shelf.

[@trinaroe5132]

In older homes especially, cabinets with a chimney running through them! I know I’m not the only one because I’ve seen examples in kitchen magazines featuring older homes with them. The problem is that in a two story home, even if the chimney is no longer being used, it’s a budget buster to remove it. I live in a neighborhood with homes from 1880’s-1920’s and values between $100,000 - $200,000. The cost to remove the chimney only was $8,000-$10,000 pre-Covid. That did not include the fact I would have needed to change to a water heater that didn’t use it. One of the main things I had to work out in any remodel is how to work around that so the space available is usable and functional.

[@kdockrey]

In my less than ideal kitchen in my primary home, there is custom 8 ft long vent hood that extends over the range and refrigerator that sit side by side. So, there is no way to put storage above the refrigerator. Of course, there is no space on either side of the range. The refrigerator door hits the stove.

[@colleesu555]

Recycling! Where I live, we put out paper one week, containers the next.

[@5610winston]

6:36 Corrugated flexible drain pipe doesn't meet code anywhere in the US or Canada. Note the kinked pinch point to the left.

[@andreabaer9178]

As you said, the under the sink is probably the biggest issue for storage in most kitchens, mine is no exception. The issue I have is that my sink & under storage is a corner. 18 years, and I still haven't found any good solutions.

[@trinaroe5132]

Mine too. I did manage to get some wire pull outs, but lots of wasted space and area that are hard to get to if something falls back there.

[@MTKDofficial]

Yikes. Yeah a corner sink can be a real issue. That might be a video all on its own

[@Caliabra]

Great video to show options. How do you recommend storing large appliances (that you don’t use much) for us it would be a blender, pasta maker, crockpot). Is it just deep base cupboards? Or is there a better idea?

[@trinaroe5132]

I have a base cabinet with a fixed half shelf. I did an IKEA hack to add a pull out using IKEA interior drawers. The taller items fit in front of the fixed shelf and my slow cooker/instant pot fit in back under it, but it’s a breeze to get out with the full extension. I also added an IKEA 15” deep interior drawer to the top of the fixed shelf. With full extension it just pulls even with the front of the cabinet, but I put my electric knife sharpener and a few other shallow seldom used items there. I used 2x2 to attach the drawer glides to, then screw down the 2x2 to the base/shelf.

[@MTKDofficial]

A base cabinet can work fine. If they were on a shallow depth pullout, even better. Deep drawers can work for this as well. They take up so much room, so the pullouts seem to be the best solution.

[@barbaraeaton9266]

I have 2 appliance garages. I have my crockpot in one and popcorn popper and blender in the other. 😊

[@JeffCrawfordInTokyo]

Love your ideas. But, If you put your wine rack above the refrigerator, the heat thrown off will spoil your wine.

[@MTKDofficial]

I wonder how much heat is above a fridge? Makes sense, just don't know how much actual heat there is. hmm

[@bv226]

My biggest pet peeve is putting a fridge at the end with a wall on one side. Do designers not realize that the doors on a side by side, or French door unit need to swing well past 90 degrees to allow the drawers to come out?

[@MTKDofficial]

Great point. A designer should always check the manufacturer's specs and allow proper clearance.

[@peetabrown5813]

Above the refrigerator is not a great place to store wine…. Frankly shocked he said that

[@MTKDofficial]

I didn't say it was a great place, only that it was an option. Put your Peligrino there or something. Plus I know nothing about wine. lol

[@roropepe1848]

speaking of high upper cabinets, i'm still waiting for counter depth upper cabinets video🙂

[@PJ4Code]

Everyone seems to be all about making cabinets under the counter. I've always hated it. But I can't find any article nor video that talks about keeping empty spaces under sinks and kitchen counters and making them look decent.

[@barbaraeaton9266]

I have a plastic two shelf expandable piece. I think I may have gotten it online or a catalog. I also have another smaller one in the back of the cabinet. It's so hard to find what you can use. I shop Amazon quite a bit too. Google it and I'm sure other companies will Pop up. I've had the front one for years. They are holding up pretty well. They are easy to clean too. It's rare that i do that. 😅

[@keradee8742]

I would like to put pull outs in my lower cabinets. The problem is that base cabinets are built with a shallow upper shelf. (for easier access to the back of the lower one I'm guessing) What do you think would be the best way to put a pull out on the too shelf? Jimmy rig a half shelf Infront of the existing half shelf?

[@trinaroe5132]

I used a 15” deep IKEA interior drawer on mine. Used 2x2 to attach to drawer slides then screwed down 2x2 to shelf. Only shallow things fit. But I use the front of the bottom full extension pull out for taller items. If you don’t need to store taller items in front you could just add full depth shelf or pullout.

[@MTKDofficial]

If you can't remove the shelf, just mount the rail system above and leave the shelf.

[@barbaraeaton9266]

I bought a 2 shelf wire pull-out. The half shelf was easy to remove. They are a Rev-a-shelf brand. These screw into the bottom of the cabinet. I have them in 3 base cabinets. They are easy to use and I don't know what I would do without them. Also I haven't had any problems with weight either. I hope this helps. Oh and I had my son put It in. He didn't have any issues putting them in.

[@creativemindshomeschooling1576]

How about a corner pantry cabinet?

[@MTKDofficial]

Challenging to design right. But it could be a good solution in the appropriate space.

[@barbaraeaton9266]

Mark has a pretty recent video about corner cabinet pantries. I don't know which one because it had other things in it too. Ask Mark which video it is in. I don't think it was very long ago. I have to watch replays. It's rare that I can catch a live video on Wednesdays. Good luck to you.

[@lesleyhoban6559]

Tu for showing that pull down unit ... I'm only 4 foot 10 my whole kitchen is a waste of space

[@joannavelazquez3761]

Same. I'm short too and I consider all the top shelves in cabinets useless for me. I told my 6ft tall husband that I wouldn't care if he stored his video games there. He doesn't, but that's how useless I feel those shelves are. I'd rather keep things on the counter that use a stool to use the top shelves.

[@user-if7uj6ls2r]

My giant canning pot sits on the top of my fridge.

[@trinaroe5132]

I have my picnic basket there that I use to store paper plates and plastic silverware and cups.

[@5610winston]

2:30 Open shelving isn't a good idea when you canget to it because it cathes dust and grime, has to be cleaned constantly. You really want to move that cleaning headache where you can't reach it? Okay, so you can't see it, either. Extra points for the open-air wicker grease traps!

[@MTKDofficial]

Gotta love wicker!

[@5610winston]

@@MTKDofficial About as much as you love OTRs

[@barbaraeaton9266]

I love the idea of a place to have my cookie sheets etc. this is a smarter way. Now I have to get a full cabinet and refrigerator panel for it to look nice. Thanks for the idea Mark !

[@peter2327]

I put the TV for my GF over the fridge

[@ivancho5854]

Putting wine above your fridge is a real dumb idea. That space is probably the hottest place in your entire house because the fridge constantly moves heat into there, which is utterly unavoidable. High heat degrades the wine quickly. Don't do it. 👎👎

[@evasraley2109]

You are talking too much and not showing how to fix. Show more and talk as your showing.

[@MTKDofficial]

Thanks for the input!

[@ElsaHailu-id3ub]

You give a lot of your knowledge. But why is the people not subscribe your channel. Please remind people to like and subscribe your channel