Hidden Gems
The “less is more” aesthetic is reflected in most of my work. I wouldn’t go so far as deeming myself a minimalist, after all I have a husband and three small kids. Yet I have always loved to hide the components of life that are not frequently used or not visually appealing. In most all my design projects it becomes a challenge to design cabinetry, space and corners that can hide away some of those technological components, kitchen appliances, or toys/games/books that don’t always appeal to the eye.
In the kitchen I will frequently consider space to utilize for hidden cabinet doors and appliance cabinets. There are many conveniences that coincide with hidden design as well. For instance, if you are a coffee snob a small coffee cabinet can provide storage and electrical to allow for your coffee machine and supplies to be used when needed but concealed when not in use. Similarly, in the kitchen the “working pantry” is ever more popular. Consider those hidden walk-in pantry spaces or halls that offer any appliances a home, from dishwasher to microwave. There are even times in wet-bar and kitchen design where integrated appliances allow for such a concealed look that it can be difficult to find.
There are many times in the ever-evolving world of technology that appliances still lead to endless cords, boxes, screens and speakers. When in the early design stages I always try to consider what technology components a client would like to include in the space and then dive into how best can we make it visually appealing and functional. I envision where can we hide all the messy technology pieces. In some most recent projects, we expanded built-ins to conceal upholstered touch to open doors that hide away nearly all electronics. There is no shortage of creativity when it comes to hiding away some of life’s most complex systems.
Never underestimate the hidden doors in a home or the cabinets that purposefully hold the ever important “things” that fill our home and our lives. I love when a home looks lived in but there is also such a reward and appeal to well used space that tucks away some of life’s least pretty but ever important workings.
