With the kitchen coming under increasing demand to perform a variety of roles within the home, such as family dining, relaxing, working and entertaining, room layout and storage solutions have become more important than ever before. However, period room design, classically structured with irregular angles and shapes, requires expert knowledge and planning to create modern storage solutions whilst maintaining the rich charm and history of a period home.
Bespoke joinery is a great solution to utilise space in a period kitchen without compromising on the home’s beauty and history. To help you get inspired, we have curated a range of smart storage solutions for a period kitchen, from built-in hidden appliances to small bespoke storage ideas. Read on to discover our best storage recommendations to suit a period kitchen.
Integrated drawers
One way in which space can be maximised is by creating stylish drawers in keeping with the architectural style of your home, perhaps complete with a custom detail unique to your needs. A 1290mm-wide drawer is an effective solution to storing large pans and heavy oven equipment in one readily accessible space, making it much easier to retrieve than housing items in deep wall cupboards.
In fact, deep drawers do not always need to be recessed into walls but can be incorporated into other pieces of kitchen furniture. If space allows, consider integrating deep draws into a traditional kitchen island for a multipurpose storage solution. More modern appliances can also be installed into the kitchen island, including wine fridges and dishwashers, beautifully concealed behind wooden doors.
When planning how to organise your period kitchen, use hand-crafted drawer dividers to store cutlery and utensils, plates and bowls and pans. Some bespoke drawer solutions might include magnetic knife drawers, phone charging stations, cloth-lined drawers for the finest silverware, sloping shelves to house a medley of spice jars, and espresso racks to organise coffee pod refills.
Alternatively, fitted cupboards can be detailed to suit the needs of modern families living in period homes. Bespoke joinery experts can create curved cabinetry to offer practical storage that takes up less floor space than square-cornered pieces.
Bespoke shelving
Unlike its new-build equivalents, what a period home might lack in floor space, is likely to be made up for with high ceilings. With this, it is best to use the height to its advantage by creating bespoke custom made wall cupboards that extend to the ceiling. Bespoke shelving can be handcrafted with traditionally designed open shelving or glazed doors to best suit your period home and preferred style.
To break up a large wall of kitchen cupboards, utilise a combination of closed and open solutions. Personal items such as collectable ceramics or decorative kitchenware can be placed on open recessed shelving to be enjoyed when not in use, while delicate glassware or extra table linens are best placed in closed cupboards to protect them from dust.
While drawers make great use of lower spaces, you may also want to take advantage of the ceiling height with a range of tall cabinets to house and conceal an integrated fridge, freezer, an eye-level oven and a coffee machine, as well as dry food larder storage. Even the back of the door can be utilised for storage by including a full-length spice and condiment rack to provide easy access to everyday essentials. A creative way to maximise ceiling space is to add a traditional sliding ladder, also making a great decorative feature.
Plate racks
Another elegant option for storage essentials in a period kitchen is installing a traditional plate rack. Both pleasing to the eye and practical, a Victorian plate rack offers ample space for dinner plates while also introducing a charming classical feel to the kitchen. To do this, enlist a kitchen cabinet maker to custom build one to fit your period home room specifications so that it marries seamlessly with your existing kitchen cabinetry.
Utilise all spaces
Irregular features typical of period properties can be designed around to create extra storage space. In fact, there may be extra space that could be borrowed, hiding behind splash backs or furniture. With a stone, marble or granite splash back, if space allows, a niche can be created to store hand soap or washing up liquids.
It may be that to achieve symmetry in a design, fitted furniture is created to balance out original features, in turn creating opportunities for extra storage.
Walk-in pantry
A large walk-in pantry offers the ideal storage solution in a period home if space allows. Today, the pantry has evolved into a multi-functional space used to keep not just food but also large appliances, table linens and extra crockery. The advantage of a pantry is that everything you do not want on display can be easily accessible and stored away in the pantry.
If you plan on building a walk-in pantry, then opt for easy-access open shelving. The shelves should decrease in depth the higher you go, with the most used items on display within easy reach and the least used hidden at the bottom . The pantry should also have plenty of countertop space for lesser-used appliances to free up surface space in the kitchen. The pantry is also a good place to house integrated appliances such as wine fridges and microwaves so that the central kitchen remains in keeping with the period of the home.
Pantry alternatives
Smaller than a walk-in pantry, a double pantry is a great space to conceal modern appliances, as well as affording more space on the counter. Bi-folding cabinet doors offer sleeker, more practical access to the contents of the cupboards without blocking other cabinets. The space inside is large, often with surface space for smaller, less aesthetically pleasing appliances, such as a kettle and toaster.
Alternatively, if you are working with a much smaller space, you may opt for a traditional free-standing pantry. Wooden dressers and painted cabinets can display decorative china and glassware, instilling character in your period kitchen.
If you are thinking of creating a period kitchen, complete with smart storage solutions that are both practical and beautiful in design, then consider working with an architectural joinery expert to build your dream space.
