Insider Solutions from Nashville’s Hantel Kitchens & Baths
Does your kitchen feel cramped when you’re trying to prepare dinner? Two people working in the space can become a recipe for frustration. Cabinet doors swing into walkways. Valuable storage sits unused in corners. And simple tasks become complicated.
Design solutions fix these struggles. The right changes create kitchens where families cook together easily, storage works intuitively, and space serves multiple purposes. All while keeping the polished look Nashville homeowners expect.
From East Nashville bungalows to Brentwood estates, proven design principles make your
kitchen both hardworking and beautiful.
Cabinet Designs That Reclaim Lost Space
Extend Cabinets to the Ceiling for Instant Storage Gains
Most kitchens waste substantial space above upper cabinets. That decorative gap to the ceiling represents missed storage potential.
Taking cabinets to the ceiling delivers multiple wins:
- Doubles upper storage in most layouts
- Creates cleaner sight lines throughout the room
- Eliminates dust traps on cabinet tops
- Maximizes Nashville’s generous ceiling heights in older homes
When soffits contain wiring or pipes, contractors can often rewire or build a smaller soffit to reclaim most of this vertical space. View Hantel’s Portfolio to help you imagine the possibilities for your space.
Why Custom Cabinets Beat Stock Size Every Time
Stock cabinets come in rigid increments—24, 30, 36 inches—while kitchen sizes vary from home to home. This mismatch forces filler strips to consume valuable storage width, creating visual breaks in clean cabinet runs.
Customized cabinetry addresses both problems by using precise measurements to maximize storage. Every inch becomes functional, and seamless cabinet runs improve their appearance. Careful planning ensures that you can swap appliances in the future without needing to remodel the space.
Pull-Out Systems End Cabinet Crawl
Deep cabinets turn storage into an archaeological expedition, hiding contents in unreachable back corners where items are often forgotten and eventually expire. Modern pull-out systems solve this by bringing everything forward at the touch of a handle.
Spice rack solutions turn narrow spaces next to appliances into organized systems, where pull-out racks make every bottle visible and accessible. These systems fit into areas where traditional cabinets can’t, turning dead space into efficient storage.
Corner cabinet solutions include:
- Lazy susans that rotate contents into easy reach
- Drawer systems that access deep storage areas
- Blind corner units that use previously forgotten space
Kitchen Layout Designs for Better Traffic Flow
The 42-Inch Clearance Rule
Misplaced appliances disrupt kitchen workflow. When dishwashers sit next to corner sinks, opening the dishwasher door blocks sink access entirely. Refrigerators in walkways force people to constantly navigate around them. Professional designers solve this by maintaining 42 inches of walking space around all work areas.
This distance allows cabinet doors to open without blocking traffic and enables multiple people to move easily. Islands require special attention here. Beautiful on paper means nothing if inadequate clearance creates daily bottlenecks.
Position Your Work Triangle for Efficiency
Your range, sink, and refrigerator form the heart of the kitchen’s activity. The triangle connecting these points should minimize steps and eliminate obstacles. Problems arise when open cabinet doors collide, and appliance doors block access to storage.
Effective triangles keep the three points reasonably close, avoid interrupting traffic flow, and don’t require equal distances. Nashville’s older homes often present structural challenges, requiring creative solutions that do not compromise workflow.
For more information about the impact of the work triangle, visit the University of Missouri’s extension website.
Kitchen Islands and Peninsulas That Serve Double Duty
Thoughtful kitchen design uses single-purpose elements to serve multiple functions. A well-positioned peninsula creates extra counter space while housing storage underneath for daily-use items. It also provides casual seating without requiring additional floor space and naturally divides the kitchen from adjacent rooms in open floor plans.
Well-placed islands offer even more possibilities:
- Dedicated prep areas with built-in electrical access
- Storage for large items like stand mixers and serving platters
- Appliance housing that frees up valuable wall space
- Additional seating that keeps guests close to the cooking action
Appliance Solutions That Save Space and Money
One Appliance, Multiple Functions: Clear Equipment Clutter
Today’s combination ovens handle traditional baking, microwave reheating, steam cooking, and air frying all in one unit. This frees substantial counter and storage space, helpful in older Nashville homes with a smaller footprint.
Flexible Refrigeration Solutions
An option among modern refrigerator models is convertible drawers that switch between freezer and refrigerator temperatures as needed. More refrigeration for party season, extra freezer space during holiday baking, and zones that adjust to family shopping patterns.
Built-ins create a streamlined look but require precise planning. Expensive cabinet modifications become necessary when you replace a smaller appliance with a larger one. Consider leaving more space than your current appliances require and choose standard sizing whenever possible for easier, and less expensive, replacements in the future.
Design Mistakes That Waste Kitchen Space
Ignoring Your Appliance’s Measurements
Manufacturers confuse buyers with sizing. One brand’s “30-inch” cooktop measures 29⅞ inches while another’s measures exactly 30 inches. Minor differences cause headaches during installation and force pricey cabinet modifications.
Professional remodelers take and confirm precise measurements before finalizing plans, preventing costly surprises during construction.
Prioritizing the Latest Trends Over Function
Social media presents images of stunning kitchens that may not work in real life. Consider practical factors first:
- How many people are usually cooking at the same time?
- Do you prefer elaborate prep or quick assembly?
- What are your storage needs for entertaining versus daily use?
- How can you match maintenance requirements to your lifestyle?
Functional design provides lasting enjoyment and better home value than trendy features.
Backward Planning Sequence
A common mistake is falling in love with a kitchen layout before choosing appliances. When the 36-inch refrigerator you want doesn’t fit the 33-inch space you planned, you’re forced into expensive changes or settling for less.
The better approach:
- Select appliances based on your day-to-day needs and available space
- Plan electrical and plumbing locations
- Design cabinets around these anchor points
- Add storage and organizational systems
Discover Your Nashville Kitchen’s Potential
Nashville kitchens hold possibilities regardless of size or age. Minor layout adjustments, improved storage systems, and better appliance placement often yield dramatic improvements in functionality.
Professional designers consider immediate needs plus long-term changes. Whether adjusting for empty-nest years, growing families, or aging-in-place modifications, thoughtful design creates kitchens that evolve with your lifestyle.
At Hantel Kitchens and Baths, our four decades of local renovation experience reveal opportunities homeowners typically miss. Our team’s expertise transforms common kitchen frustrations into stress-free cooking experiences.
Schedule your complimentary kitchen assessment with our designer to explore how proven principles can unlock the potential of your home’s most important room.