While everyone else was in the comments section of Jenna Lyons’s recent Instagram video debating if Brooklyn is “the city” or not, we were zeroed in on another detail. No, it’s not how close the RHONY star’s red fingernails were to her microplane, or any other unexpected touch Lyons is a fan of, but a little nook off to the left of her shiny brass countertops.

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Tucked away in its own neatly sized home is a roll of paper towels, flush on both sides (we applaud the contractor here). If you’re planning a kitchen renovation or have the room to incorporate built-in storage without a full gut, it’s a smart way to save precious countertop or cabinet space. We like to think you could even remove the roll when guests are over and display knickknacks there instead; they wouldn’t even know it was meant for the latter. 

The petite pocket got us thinking of all the discreet ways we’ve seen paper towels dealt with, whether that’s incorporated into cabinetry, nestled under a shelf, or installed beneath a shelf. Or you can go the opposite route entirely and just proudly put it on display.

Pretty Paper Towel Holders

NewMade LA Paper Towel Holder, West Elm ($68)

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Spool Paper Towel Holder by Sam Stewart, Areaware ($50)

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Undershelf Paper Towel Holder, Yamazaki Home ($14 was $20)

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Perkins Paper Towel Rail, Schoolhouse ($149)

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Alessi Mattina Paper Towel Roll Holder, Nordstrom ($76)

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East to West Magnetic Paper Towel Holder, Stainless Steel, Amazon ($10)

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The post Jenna Lyons Shows Us That Nooks Are for More Than Reading appeared first on domino.

When John McDonald, the founder of Semihandmade, called up Leanne Ford and asked her if she’d want to design a line of semi-custom cabinets for the brand, she had one request: “We have to tackle white oak.” Countless times, the designer has had white oak door fronts show up to a project only for them to have a yellowy orange tint to them (a result of the protective sealant). “One time, 10 of us spent the night with hand-sanders trying to get the veneer off,” recalls Ford. Her goal? To be left with an unfinished, natural look. “I was like, why doesn’t anybody have this ready for us as is?” she adds.

And so, with Semihandmade backing the exclusive collaboration—out today!—Ford drove over to Ohio and worked with some of the makers to concoct the perfect stain formula. Naturally, the designer had to weave in a warm white painted front option, too, using one of her favorite shades: Shoji by Sherwin-Williams. “I wanted this collection to be for anyone, any style, anywhere,” shares Ford. Her edit for the doors was equally tight, sticking to a classic Shaker, a flat slab, and another called Frame, which is basically a skinny version of the Shaker profile. While Semihandmade has been prized as a resource for IKEA kitchen hacks, this collection technically falls under the brand’s own semi-custom line, meaning you get all of the actual cabinet boxes when you place your order. 

Want to put Ford’s cabinet collection to use just as she would? Look no further than her latest project: a historic home on Church Lane in Pittsburgh that the designer bought, renovated, and recently put up for sale. Ahead, in her own words, she shares seven tips for nailing a designer-grade kitchen all on your own.

Don’t Feel Confined by the Kitchen Work Triangle

Before getting on [Semihandmade’s] website, think about the layout of your kitchen. Are you someone who wants your stove to be in the middle of the party? Or do you never even turn it on? Think about all of that. People always talk about “the work triangle.” I have gone away from that many times in my life because I personally don’t mind getting the extra steps in. 

Hack Your Way to a Bespoke Island 

This is another fun hack: In the closet, we put the cabinetry line into a vintage island. I literally just threw it in there. And it’s beautiful on all sides. 

Confused About Door Styles? Start With the Knobs and Pulls

If you’re questioning your door style, think about your hardware first. Do you want it to be big? Do you want it to be small? Do you want it to be hidden? That will help you decide. Like this über-simple slab: It can take any hardware, anything. You can have the weirdest, wildest stuff. Or you can do what I did and powder coat the hardware so it goes away. The Frame is similar; it can carry more options. The Shaker is super-traditional, classic, and for that I’d keep to simpler, smaller hardware. 

Hide Appliances at All Costs

My nonnegotiable is panel-ready appliances. I never want to see the dishwasher. I never want to see the refrigerator. I want that to go away and be involved in the cabinetry.

Get Artsy With Your Countertop

I always do honed marble, not glossy. Let it get stained, let it get beat up. At Church Lane, we did tons of salvaged marble. We just overgrouted it and did wide grout lines—it’s a beautiful, artistic expression. Don’t worry about trying to be perfect; perfect can get very boring. 

Stock Shallow Closets With S-Hooks

We want to live this minimalist life, but we all have junk. This bedroom didn’t allow for deep cabinets, so we layered floor-to-ceiling boxes, and inside, we installed bars with S-hooks for hanging items like denim jeans. 

Know When to Stop Your Millwork

You don’t have to fill a kitchen with cabinetry, left to right. Semihandmade provides these side slabs that let you close it up so you can have space for a beautiful vintage table or a butcher block island. 

The post Leanne Ford Just Debuted Semihandmade Cabinets and Hacked Them Immediately appeared first on domino.

Even though our closets hold some of our most important possessions, we inevitably end up neglecting them. So we’re asking clever homeowners and renters to share their time-tested organizing methods that really (really!) work in our new series, Reclaim Your Closet.

Interior stylists like Benjamin Reynaert don’t have a choice but to bring their work home with them. All the things they lug to photo shoots—trays, table linens, taper candleholders—have to go somewhere in the off-hours, and that somewhere is usually their house. For Reynaert, it’s a sunny corner of his Wilmington, Delaware, kitchen. “I don’t have a giant Martha Stewart–like warehouse where I can just keep everything, so I have to store pieces throughout my house,” he says.

Reynaert’s freestanding prop closet isn’t the giant IKEA Pax unit you might expect. Actually, it’s a large antique wood cabinet—and the inside is fully customized. “It’s easier to find an old piece that you love and fit it to your needs,” says Reynaert. Below, the tabletop-obsessed creative breaks down how he made the freestanding furniture work for him. 

Start With an Old Canvas

I got this antique solid wood cupboard from my partner Luis’s mom. It was once in his childhood home in Tijuana, Mexico. I’ve always wanted a freestanding piece of furniture to go in this space. It’s about 6.5 feet tall, 4 feet wide, and hollow on the inside. I am accepting it for what it is, and I think that’s part of the charm. 

Personalize the Interior

I went to Home Depot and asked them to cut a piece of pinewood to make a shelf (the cupboard already had two little supports for it on the sides). Then we asked a friend of ours who has a lathe to cut rails with half circles in them so we could slot in 3-inch-thick wood dowels, which I also bought at the hardware store. I loved the idea of having all of my tablecloths in one place, ready to go, so I could easily pull them out and throw them down on the table without having to go through a folded stack. Plus, when they’re hanging, it’s a little less work to have to steam them or iron out any creases. 

They’re organized by pattern and then color: The right side is for solids; the left is for patterns. The blues are in the front—I love the cornflower Matouk with the whipstitch on the edge—warmer reds are in the middle, and earthy hues like browns, yellows, and greens are in the back. I think it’s nice to have a couple of go-to graphics like a check and a simple stripe, too, and then something more organic such as an allover floral. There is also a piece of French ticking mattress in the front that I use all the time.

Stack Dishes From the Outside In

I have a lot of white ironstone I’ve collected from the U.K., which I use a lot for photo shoots; they’re not distracting and look pretty when stacked. I put the pedestals and footed things up top and dishes and teacups on the shelf inside, situating the lidded casserole dishes to the left and plates to the right. When like objects are together, you know where to grab things from.

Change It Up

I’ll sometimes utilize the cabinet for miscellaneous items I’ve collected for upcoming photo shoots like wood cutlery, pour-over coffee beakers, or spools of twine. I stack the higher things (or the pieces I know I won’t use as much) in the back so I can see them. To me, a vintage solution is nicer than building custom cabinetry. When you’re at an estate sale or antiques store, always look for cabinets—don’t be afraid to open the doors and peek inside.

Set the Table Like a Stylist

VIETRI Albero Italian Flatware, Food52 ($94)

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Heirloom Stoneware Salad Plates, Pottery Barn ($32)

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Green on Yellow Splatterware Bowl, March ($150)

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Rubia Tablecloth, Matouk ($214)

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The post How I Retrofitted an Antique Cabinet to Be the Ultimate Tableware Storage appeared first on domino.

Even though our closets hold some of our most important possessions, we inevitably end up neglecting them. So we’re asking clever homeowners and renters to share their time-tested organizing methods that really (really!) work in our new series, Reclaim Your Closet.

When Toronto-based designer Gabriella Borg ripped out a section of floor-to-ceiling cabinets in her kitchen to make a wider walkway, she was left with a problem: She no longer had a pantry. The nearby stairwell, which never got much use, became her saving grace. “It’s a bit of a weird space, but I thought, how can we make this more functional?” recalls Borg, who, with the help of her partner and a $170 IKEA shelving unit, turned the once-purposeless nook into her dream walk-in pantry. 

The Kungsfors shelving system’s price tag was a major draw for Borg, but so was its modular design. The couple personalized the piece by adding more wood shelves to the stainless steel frame, as well as a grated pot rack with produce baskets. “You can ultimately reach everything you need,” says the designer. 

Level to the T

Knowing that the unit would end up bearing a lot of weight, the pair took their time with the installation. “It’s easy to put together, but that doesn’t mean you can be loose with it,” says Borg, who used a leveling cross-line laser to make sure the vertical and horizontal brackets were perfectly aligned, double-checked for studs, and used deep anchors to secure the mounted pieces. “We didn’t want it to tear the wall down.”

Experiment Before Making Any Big Decisions

Borg measured her tallest cans to figure out the exact spacing and placement of the shelves. “Before I had the opportunity to make my own pantry, I never realized how annoying it is to lift big, heavy jars from the top shelf,” she says. She strategically placed the bulkiest items on the lowest surfaces. Then she put cans and labeled jars at eye level so no one ever has to guess what they’re grabbing. Decanting baking staples into clear containers makes it easy to keep track of which ingredients she’s running low on.

Don’t Forget Your Tools

Right next to the stair landing is the grated rack that houses all of the couple’s pots, pans, and strainers. Borg opted for two different types of hooks: standard S-shaped ones with a low profile and deep ones that are more suitable for stacking. She also mounted four IKEA spice racks, which can be easily accessed from the next step.

“Not everything’s perfectly lined up, which is on theme for our pantry,” says Brog. “It’s organized chaos.”

The post How a Designer Turned a Wasted Room Into a Walk-In Pantry for $170 appeared first on domino.

Most kitchens amass clutter naturally and quickly. But in this San Francisco home, it’s actually hard to make a mess, all thanks to the cabinet layout Allie Allen and Sasha White, the cofounders and designers behind Shiny Shed Collective, devised for a family of four. Their motto for the project was to essentially find a hiding place for any little thing you might happen to leave out on the countertop—a knife block, toaster, salt and pepper, the usual culprits. The space is loaded with unique drawers and cupboards that keep spices tidy, spatulas standing upright, and blenders out of view. In other words, it’s incredibly organized. 

“When we first walked into the space, I immediately saw this back wall with the stove and arch and thought: We could do a lot of clever cabinetry there,” says White. “It was not being used in the best possible way.” The kitchen was previously clad in linoleum, and the upper cabinets were so low that when you were chopping something at the countertop, you feared smacking your head against them. While the room’s L-shaped footprint wasn’t ideal, changing it would mean giving up the home’s central patio, so the designers chose to work with the square footage they had, bringing Classic Mill & Cabinet onto the project to construct cabinets that would take full advantage of the space. Here are five of the genius solutions they came up with. 

Stove-Side Spice Racks

Tug on the knobs on either side of the cooktop and you’ll find shelves stocked with decanted spices. The idea was to provide some structure around the tiled backsplash, but it’s also incredibly functional—the homeowners don’t have to rifle through an upper cabinet or spin a lazy Susan to locate the ingredients they’re looking for. Psst: The set of matching doors above these are actually faux cabinets. “They didn’t need that extra storage, so we stuck with the two on the bottom,” notes White. 

A Pullout Knife-and-Spatula Holder

If you’re not yet familiar with Rev-a-Shelf, it’s time you are. The brand makes savvy pullout systems that can go inside standard-size pantries and cabinets. Rather than sit a heavy block on the counter or dedicate two separate drawers to utensils and knives, the designers’ cabinetmaker installed this all-in-one bin right next to the oven.  

A Skinny Stool Cubby

This one was a happy accident. At first, the clients requested a trash pullout underneath the sink and a separate compost bin just to the left of it. In shifting things around and getting everything centered, the designers realized they would have a small sliver of space to the right of the sink unaccounted for. “And that’s when we decided to make it a mini closet for this stool,” says White. Although the clients are both around 6 feet tall, their upper cabinets stretch all the way to the ceiling (plus they have two kids), so having quick and easy access to a step stool is game-changing.

Double Dishwasher Drawers

At the end of the stretch of green cabinets (painted in Benjamin Moore’s Backwoods), the designers installed a dual dishwasher drawer system. “It takes up the same amount of space as a standard dishwasher, but instead of being one, it’s two,” says White. The addition has been one of the happiest surprises for the clients, who can fill one while running the other, or unload one while filling the other. 

A Three-Door Appliance Garage

After carving out a large arch across from the banquette, they made way for not a one-, not a two-, but a three-door appliance garage. “Making sure it was the correct height and depth played a huge role,” says White.

The designers worked with the clients during the planning process to measure all of their countertop appliances (the blender, the coffee maker, the air fryer, etc.) to ensure they would fit behind the flip-up retractable doors. What’s behind door number 1, 2, and 3? It only takes a second to find out.

The post This San Francisco Kitchen’s Clever Cabinets Hide It All, From Knives to a Step Stool appeared first on domino.

Before food personality Molly Baz gets to the recipes in her new book, More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen, she serves up some serious kitchen organizing inspiration. In a section called “Cook Smarter, Not Harder,” Baz goes drawer-by-drawer in her butter yellow kitchen to explain her reasoning behind keeping her tongs near her stove and her knives next to her cutting board. In this excerpt, we let Baz do the explaining.

Kitchen organization is as important as a well-stocked pantry, and knowing how and where to store your gear will make your cooking a lot more graceful in the long run. Storing your tools right where they need to be when you need them the most reduces the fumble factor tremendously. And nothing makes a home cook feel less swaggy than a fumble.

A. Prep Drawers

Within grabbing distance of wherever you’re choppin’ and mixin’: mixing bowls, measuring cups and spoons, cutting boards (plastic for alliums and meat, wood for the rest!), storage containers, frequently used prep tools (veg peeler, citrus press, etc.).

B. Cookware

Separated by type (nonstick, cast iron, stainless), stacked biggest to smallest for visibility and as close to the oven as possible.

C. Every-So-Often Drawer

Stuff you use often but not quite often enough: mandoline, can opener, bench scraper, peelers.

D. Caddy

Daily-use pantry staples: olive oil, two or three vinegars, pepper grinder, hot sauce, soy sauce, sesame oil, etc. (Everyone’s caddy looks a lil’ diff!)

E. Knife Drawer

As close to your cutting board as poss!

F. Crock

Most frequently used tools live here: tongs, wooden spoons, whisks, spatulas, Microplane, ladle.

G. Veg Basket

For room-temp-storage veg only! Sweet pots, pots, garlic, onions, shallots, avocados.

H. Fruit Bowl

For room-temp-storage fruit only! Stone fruit, tomatoes, bananas, melons, pineapple, citrus (three or four days max).

I. Salt Cellars

One for kosher, one for flaky sea salt—don’t get it twisted.

J. Wacky Drawer

For things that have no other home: phone chargers, labeling tape, pens, candy, Chapstick, birthday candles, lighters, hair ties.

K. Baking Sheets…

…of all sizes, close to your oven or cutting board, where you’ll use them the most.

More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen by Molly Baz, Amazon ($25)

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More Is More: Get Loose in the Kitchen. Copyright © 2023 by Molly Baz. Photographs copyright © 2023 by Peden + Munk. Illustrations copyright © 2023 Claire McCracken. Published by Clarkson Potter, an imprint of Random House.

The post We Got a Drawer-by-Drawer Look at How Molly Baz Organizes Her Kitchen appeared first on domino.

In our series Shopping Buddy, we ask our favorite in-the-know authors, actors, musicians, and tastemakers to share their most coveted home purchases, from kitchen essentials to entertaining must-haves, so that you can shop along with confidence. 

In her new book, For the Culture, magazine editor and author Klancy Miller researched the many Black women and femmes who’ve made the food landscape what it is today. But one story stands out in particular: “I was amazed to learn about Lena Richard. She was born in the 19th century and worked as a domestic from a young age and then built an empire. She was a chef, cookbook author, restaurant owner, entrepreneur with a line of frozen foods, and proprietor of a culinary school. Plus she had her own cooking show—15 years before Julia Child!”

And there’s a certain woman, who, if Miller saw her book on her shelf, the author would lose all her cool: “Oprah Winfrey,” she says.

For The Culture: Phenomenal Black Women and Femmes in Food by Klancy Miller ($35)

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The anthology also includes recipes, a nod to Miller’s previous work as a pastry chef and recipe developer, which we think makes her the ideal person to ask about her favorite kitchen tools. Here, she shares how she fills her cooking space at home in New York. 

The Most Reached-For Item in My Kitchen

Five Two Essential Kitchen Knife 8″, Food52 ($30 was $49)

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My knife. It’s the tool I use most often in the kitchen.

The Spice I Rebuy Constantly

I love Burlap and Barrel’s Silk Chili Flakes, and I put them on or in almost everything. I like Jamaican curry powder at Kalustyan’s, too. 

The Only Pans I’ll Ever Use

Deep Cut, Great Jones ($85)

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Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, Lodge ($50)

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I use several pans. I use my Great Jones pan a lot, and I use Le Creuset, too. I also love Lodge cast-iron pans.

The Single-Purpose Item That’s Worth It

Five Two Silicone Oven Mitts, Food52 ($35)

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The Five Two silicone oven mitts are pretty perfect! 

Display-Worthy Serving Item

I love the vibrant ceramic bowls from Lebanon at Suraya restaurant in Philadelphia, and I enjoy using the big red one I bought there when I’m serving a lot of guests.

My Favorite Mug (Everyone Has One)

Cornishware Mug, Labour and Wait ($17)

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I have a red-and-white–striped mug by Labour and Wait that I love. I bought it at Dover Street Market.

Linens I Use Every Day

Dusen Dusen Stripe Cotton Napkins, Set of 4, MoMA Design Store ($44)

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I use Dusen Dusen products every day. I use the striped napkins as kitchen towels and as napkins.

The Best Kitchen Organizing Tool

Large Expandable Utensil Organizer, Oxo ($29)

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I’m pretty disorganized in the kitchen. My organizing tools include a silverware organizer and a pitcher to hold big spoons, spatulas, whisks, and sieves.

The Silverware on My Table

Justera Silverware, 20 Pieces, IKEA ($30)

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I haven’t fallen in love with any particular brand of silverware. I bought my flatware at IKEA for the bargain price and because the style is neutral.

My Current Plate Obsession

Round Platter, Rusty, Fefo Studio ($100)

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I have a collection of different plates that I rotate. At the moment, I love the plates by chef and artist Fernando Aciar of O Studio. I was so happy when I went to the studio and learned you can buy his ceramics there.

The post This $30 Silverware Organizer Keeps Author Klancy Miller’s Kitchen Clutter in Check appeared first on domino.

There is one thing everyone wants out of a kitchen lately, and it’s not a butter board. According to Houzz’s 2023 Emerging Trends report, searches for walk-in pantries have spiked 2,636 percent since roughly this same time last year. Blame it on professional organizers like The Home Edit or just the never-ending need for more storage. If you’re lucky enough to have a walk-in pantry, you’re aware of the benefits: room for Costco-size snacks, entertaining necessities, and that bread machine you pull out twice a year. Then there are the downfalls: lots of space for cluttered chaos, stacks of dusty cookbooks, and “Where did I put the food processor again?” To make the most of yours, we gathered 11 spaces with admirable walk-in pantry organization ideas, often masquerading as simple design details. Steal them all, below.

Disguise Under-Counter Storage With a Skirt

A sliver of fabric and a rod go a long way in a pantry. While you’ve probably seen similar setups underneath bathroom or laundry room sinks, designers Charlotte and Angus Buchanan prove it’s a worthy arrangement for a walk-in pantry. Think of this as the cottagecore answer to hiding extra crates of wine, rolls of paper towels, and other bulk goods.

Make It a One-Stop Shop

Sarah Sherman Samuel worked with Leslie Conneely from California Closets to outfit her walk-in pantry, which used to be a bathroom, if you can believe it. One of the most surprising things you’ll find inside? Her refrigerator. It turns out, it’s pretty convenient to have all the food located in one place. When the designer is up in the morning making a cup of tea, everything from the hot water (the appliance features a special dispenser) to the sugar is within arm’s reach. 

Put Heavy Things Down Below

Emily Henderson decked out her moody farmhouse pantry with big drawers that hold most of her family’s snacks, broths, and starchy vegetables. Notice how she only did a half-drawer front, which gives air to any perishable items. Next to it, in fully closed lower cabinets, she corralled water bottles and countertop appliances—things she used to keep up top but moved once she realized getting them down was a lot harder than putting them up. 

Put Baskets and Bins to Work

“Things often get buried in pantries,” says designer Marie Flanigan, “so I wanted to keep this space light and bright, allowing our clients to quickly find what they are looking for.” To do that, she used every shelf organization trick in the book: risers so you can see each can label, lazy Susans for condiments, and baskets to store snacks. Shallow cubbies under the counter also ensure nothing, not even a single jar of tomato sauce, can get shoved to the back and lost forever. 

Prepare for the Party (and the Dishes Afterward)

An associate designer at Maggie Griffin Design dreamed up this butler’s pantry for a family that loves to throw a good get-together. To accommodate parties of all sizes, she included a large farm sink and second dishwasher for the inevitable overflow of dirty dishes, as well as custom cabinetry to house serving platters, specialty glassware, and table linens.

Make Your Walk-In Pantry a Happy Zone

It’s simple: If you enjoy your walk-in pantry, you’re more likely to keep it organized. Take it from Tash Webb of The Colour Tribe, whose cheerful spot, outfitted in hunter green Kaboodle cabinets, is more like a mini art gallery. “I promise there are plates, glassware, and food in there somewhere,” she says, laughing.

Opt for Open Shelves

“Nothing is hiding,” says Interior Impressions’s Amy Leferink of open shelving in walk-in pantries, and that’s the point—you get function and a focal point in one go. The key to streamlined ledges lies within the items perched there. Leferink keeps it cohesive by displaying only glass and white ceramic dishware up top. Any not-so-pretty plates go in the closed cabinets underneath.

Don’t Forget the Doors

When you were a kid, did you ever dream of stumbling across a secret room tucked behind a bookcase? Meet the grown-up version. This walk-in pantry by Humphrey Munson is concealed behind what looks like tall cupboards. Open the doors, though, and you’ll find this storage-packed walk-in pantry with spice racks built into the doors, shelves for decanted dry goods, and even a mini ladder so you can reach the tea at the very top. 

Tailor Your Walk-In Pantry to Your Lifestyle

Carmel Phillips’s walk-in pantry is not only an extension of her kitchen but an extension of her day-to-day life. First, there’s the coffee station, where she fills up her mug each morning, which is next to the petite sink, where she arranges flowers and soaks vegetables. Within arm’s reach is a custom-built wine rack for when five o’clock rolls around. 

Create an Optical Illusion

Just because you have a walk-in pantry doesn’t necessarily mean it’s cavernous—Studio Laloc founder Lauren Lothrop Caron’s space is a mere 50 square feet. To stash cleaning supplies, she created a hidden closet in the wall, barely distinguishable when covered in wood paneling. 

Turn Your Walk-In Pantry Into a Baking Hub

This Jaimee Rose Interiors–designed walk-in pantry is a baker’s paradise. Wall-to-wall (and in some areas, floor-to-ceiling!) cabinetry is home to bulky mixers and food processors, while the double ovens allow the homeowner to bake twice as many chocolate chip cookies at once. Even the marble countertops are intentional—they offer a cold base when rolling out temperature-sensitive pastry. Perhaps most important, though, a built-in SubZero fridge means there’s always chilled vino at the ready while you wait for your dough to rise.

The post The Best Walk-In Pantry Organization Ideas Are Hiding in Plain Sight appeared first on domino.

We know what it looks like when Tan France, one of the stars of Queer Eye, transforms the inside of someone’s closet. Now we’re getting a taste of how he’d dress up the inside of kitchen cabinets with his new collection of cookware for Caraway. The Tan France x Caraway Home Monochrome collection just launched with three limited-edition sets in moss, a deep shade of green that France says was influenced by the way he uses this “neutral” in his wardrobe; blush, a soft “of the moment” pink; and créme, for those who prefer more of a classic option. Each piece comes in a striking single shade with hardware to match, but the general makeup of the pots and pans is the same: You can still count on the nonstick, nontoxic ceramic coatings and magnetic lid organizers that make them one of our go-to brands. 

We spoke with France to get the scoop on how he puts these pieces (and other kitchen staples) to use while entertaining. He also shares his favorite hack for making cleanup quicker.

People are coming over for dinner tonight—I’m making:

I just made this for my castmate Anthony: a baked cod dish that I first tried in Iceland. In a pan, you’ve got the likes of soy sauce, chili, onion, and garlic, and then you add a bunch of parsley to create the bed for your fish. The combination is absolutely dynamite. It took maybe 20 minutes max, and Anthony said it’s one of the best meals he’s ever had.

My favorite organizing hack:

If you’ve got one of those utensil stands in your dishwasher, they’re compartmentalized for a reason and it’s not just so you can separate them out a bit. I group everything. So for example, all the knives go together, all the dessert forks go together. It makes it so much easier to put your cutlery away. I thought this was common knowledge, and whenever my friends come over they call me Monica [from Friends], but it just makes sense to me.

The appliance that gets the most use on my countertop: 

KitchenAid® Artisan Stand Mixer, 5-Qt., Williams-Sonoma Home ($450)

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Definitely my Kitchen-Aid stand mixer. It gets more use than most other things in my kitchen because I bake a lot. Any opportunity to fill my face, even if I have to put in the work, I’ll take it.

My biggest kitchen splurge:

Cookware Set, Caraway Home ($395 was $545)

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This Caraway collaboration came about after someone sent me a pan while I was shooting Queer Eye. I fell in love with it straightaway and purchased the complete set in the sage color.

My best cheap thrill:

Primula Stewart Whistling Stovetop Tea Kettle, Amazon ($9)

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My kettle. I use it almost every day, and I’ve had it for probably five years. I got it for maybe $30 from the grocery store.

My go-to glassware for guests:

Modern Optic Double Old-Fashioned Glasses, Williams-Sonoma Home ($70)

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Modern Optic Highball Glasses, Williams-Sonoma Home ($80)

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My everyday glasses are simple IKEA pint glasses, but when I have company over, I bring out these gorgeous fluted ones from Williams Sonoma. I have both the small and the tall tumblers.

My quick-and-easy centerpiece tip:

Whenever I go to somebody’s house and they’ve got a large centerpiece, I can’t talk to the person across from me, so I don’t do big fancy tablescapes. I have this long, rectangular vessel that holds moss that’s usually my centerpiece, and I put a couple of tall and short candles around it to add depth. I also often serve in Pakistani or family style, and I like a sleek and simple setting so the table is as clear as possible.

The post The Genius Kitchen Organization Hack That Earned Tan France the Nickname Monica appeared first on domino.

If you thought organizing the cupboard underneath your sink was a challenge, then you haven’t had a space with an upper-corner kitchen cabinet. With its often narrow doors and deep, awkwardly shaped space within, it’s a storage nook that stumps the best of us. This is why many renovators tend to knock them out and replace them with open shelving or a chic vintage pie cupboard. But not all is lost if you decide to stick with your quirky uppers. Here, we share how to organize a corner cabinet to take full advantage of the tricky spot. Plus Jamie Hord, founder of Horderly Professional Organizing, shares the tool she can’t live without. 

Create Your Own Shelves

If you need an upper-corner cabinet organizer with some height, look no further than this adaptable game changer. The customizable carousel-inspired concept instantly transforms this tricky space into a functional and easily accessible cupboard that puts all your essentials within arm’s reach.

Utrusta Corner Cabinet Carousel, IKEA ($80)

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Turn It Into a Good Time

Architect Idan Naor tackled the cavelike feel of this New York kitchen by designing walnut uppers and shelving that seamlessly transition from a sharp corner into a smooth bend. To fully utilize the extra-deep storage, the owners installed curved doors to hide their cocktail-making essentials in the corner cabinet.

Live by Lazy Susans and Labels

Turntables make the world go round—er, okay, just your nuts and olive oils, but their handiness can’t be overlooked. “We love using multiple lazy Susans on shelves in corner cabinets, or you can mix and match products and use a combination of them and clear bins on hard-to-reach shelves,” says Hord. Invest in a label maker so you never have to play a guessing game from the ground. 

Tier Lazy Susan by The Home Edit, The Container Store ($27)

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French Kitchen Marble Lazy Susan, Crate & Barrel ($100)

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Put the Tallest Things Up Top

All those decorative glass pitchers you’ve collected should go way up top (just adjust your shelves to fit things accordingly). This is especially key if your corner cabinet features a see-through glass panel; it’s an opportunity to put pretty cake stands and pitchers on display. “That can be include stemware or other aesthetically pleasing items like matching china,” says Hord. 

Improvise Shelving

Raise the roof for risers. Vertical space is often underutilized, which is where these simple wire supports come in. They’re a favorite of Gilat Tunit, the founder of Project Neat, because they keep everything accessible and not in danger of falling out. She also recommends hanging shelves, which can be affixed to the bottom of upper cabinets. “It’s all about creating space,” she says.

Shelf Risers, Open Spaces ($46)

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Under-shelf sliding wire basket by Nate Home, mDesign ($40)

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Keep Your Spices Separate

Meet the other type of corner cabinet: the straight-on version. This nook is less awkward and not as deep, but you still need to be strategic about what you store there. Designate the highest shelf for occasional entertaining-ware, and carve out a small drawer for things you use every day, like spices, below. “We call this cabinet ‘not-prime real estate,’” Hord points out. Use it wisely, and don’t forget the lazy Susan, of course. 

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