Cool Kitchen Ideas for a Simple Refresh or a Total Remodel
From innovative storage solutions to unique design elements, these cool kitchen ideas will transform your culinary area into a pretty spot to cook with practical areas tailored to your needs and personal style.
Whether you’re contemplating a complete overhaul or just making a few updates, these inspiring ideas are perfect for making your kitchen more functional and liveable.
Don’t be fooled into thinking these ideas are only meant for a large kitchen. You’ll find some great ideas no matter how large or small your kitchen is.
Some of these photos were taken with an old point and shoot camera way back in 2011, when I was a very, very new blogger and had no clue how to take a good quality photo, so forgive the quality of them.
Why am I even including the “bad” ones in this post? Well, there are two reasons – #1: they are genius kitchen solutions that I want to make sure you know about and #2: these images get pinned over and over again, so I know there’s a ton of interest in these ideas.
Pot lid storage
I don’t know about you, but I don’t have a good spot for storing my pot lids. In my kitchen, they wind up in the bottom of a cabinet or a drawer where they slide around and generally stay in a state of disarray.
This super idea takes advantage of the back of a door! In this case, it’s the back of a pantry door. This kitchen happened to have space for two corner pantries. When it was remodeled, a pot lid rack was added to the pantry door on the right.
This just might be my favorite cool kitchen idea of all and is definitely something I need to add to back of my pantry door! You can pretty much just look at the photo and figure out how to diy this project yourself.
Utilize space above the refrigerator
It’s common to see cabinetry between the top of the fridge and the ceiling, but having to get a ladder every time you want to access it can be a pain in the neck.
Instead of cabinet, why not leave it open and use it for pretty display space?
By the way, I love how her stainless steel appliances blend into the gray kitchen cabinets.
Kitchen command center
Talk about taking advantage of every square inch of kitchen space! I’m willing to bet if you had a little snippet of a wall that was only three feet wide and just a few inches deep, you probably wouldn’t do anything with it.
Not so for my friend when she wanted extra storage space in her kitchen! She added a shallow and narrow cabinet to turn this little tiny spot into a handy organized command center.
Open the cabinet doors and you have a spot just large enough for storing essentials, such as keys, mail and other small items that could easily get lost.
Adding a piece of metal to the wall in the back, turns it into a great spot for magnets!
Knife and Utensil Storage
Here’s a great idea for keeping knives and cooking utensils handy. Plus it’s something that you can add to any existing drawer that you already have.
There are SO many types of kitchen drawer organizers available that can be customized to fit your drawer space.
Awkward Corner Cabinet Solution
Do you have one of those awkwardly placed corner cabinets? Most of the time such a cabinet will contain a lazy susan, but those can be hard to get to and waste a lot of the space.
Install a pull-out corner cabinet organizer instead. Not only does it make things easier to access, it gives you more storage space.
Make a statement
Make a statement with a fabulous hood above your stove or cooktop.
All things considered, a gorgeous hood will not only make your kitchen look amazing, it can be a relatively inexpensive way to make the entire space look more expensive.
The kitchen layout in my friend Nancy’s home was such that the stove is on a short wall and is almost tucked into a corner where it might visually disappear.
Instead, Nancy turned it into a focal point with a fabulous hood, complete with chunky corbels.
Oh, and how about those fabulous backsplash tiles???
Dish or pots and pans storage
I create lots of tablescapes and our home is the host for family gatherings for both Thanksgiving and Christmas.
All of that adds up to needing a lot a dishes! Many of those dishes are really pretty ones, that I display in a plate rack, but the majority of them wind up being stuck in a cabinet and dish closet.
Here’s a terrific idea for keeping dishes organized if you have deep drawers instead of lower cabinets. Use a peg system in one of your drawers to keep everything in place.
A cabinet with glass doors above and closed doors below, allows you to both show off your favorites offers a place below for storage.
This photo isn’t the greatest perspective, but notice that this kitchen has a pair of the cabinets to give a balanced look to this wall.
The top portion of the cabinet has beautiful glass doors and includes a light for displaying your favorite pieces and the bottom has tons of storage!
Double dishwashers
This is a feature that I would love to have in my kitchen – double dishwashers!
What a difference it would make when entertaining or on a day to day basis when you have a large family.
I hope that you found some cool ideas that you’d like to incorporate into your own kitchen! Do you have any clever things that you’ve added to your kitchen? Let me know in the comments!
Great ideas Suzy! I love your kitchen!
Fantastic ideas!
Beautiful kitchens! Is the top picture your kitchen? I’m looking for the arch piece over the stove. Where did you find it? Thanks.
Hi Debbie. No, the top kitchen isn’t mine. I don’t believe the arched piece is something you can purchase though – I think it’s a custom hood design.
Where did you find the super shallow cabinets?
The shallow cabinet was built by the cabinet maker that did the rest of the cabinets in the kitchen. 😀
I took the style quiz and I am hopeless. Pretty much love every color and style except modern or industrial. Rustic yes, feminine chic? yes, traditional symmetry, yes. And that is why my house is schizophrenic!
Haha – I can relate! I love SO many things it’s hard to narrow it down. Maybe your style is eclectic! 😀
I am always pleased to see your beautiful home! The outside picture of it shows such curb appeal. What a wonderful setting you have!
Thank you! I love being surrounded by trees, but it does have its challenges. Seems like our yard is always full of sticks and leaves – no matter the time of year.