After months of hard work and renovation ‘The Merillat House’, Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley’s 100th House, is complete! When designing in any space, it’s important to find design choices homeowners will love. Habitat for Humanity of Huron Valley’s 100th House in Ypsilanti was no different. In this smaller home, Senior Manager of Design Services for Merillat Paul Radoy used his design expertise to optimize space using built-in storage, organized pull outs and adjustable shelves, to create spaces that can evolve over time.
“Designing in small spaces requires functional innovation and the maximum in storage solutions,” said Radoy. “Merillat cabinets were the perfect solution for this small home to make the best use of the space in all areas of the home, including the kitchen and bath.”
In the Habitat “Merillat House,” Radoy brings this concept to life. Taking full advantage of the space, Radoy added additional cabinetry above the refrigerator in the kitchen, a place many homeowners forget about. To maximize pantry space, Radoy included roll out trays in all the base cabinets as well as drawer dividers, letting homeowners get exactly what they need quickly and efficiently. Finally, Radoy included a trash and recycling area close to where mess will occur, keeping the countertops as clean as possible, maximizing countertop space.
You too can design in small spaces! Sarah Reep, director of designer relations and education for Masco Cabinetry, offered the following tips for designing in a small space in any home, primarily in the kitchen and bath.
The Kitchen
- Placing the kitchen sink at a window view allows for the kitchen to feel more spacious, giving the illusion that the kitchen is larger.
- Provide landing space on both sides of the main cooking source to make preparing meals more effective and to offer the greatest use of the appliance.
- The refrigerator should be placed closest to the dining area, making drink serving easier and preparation near the main cooking source.
- Angled front cabinets present a nice transition in to the room, giving added depth to the small kitchen.
- The inclusion of crown-molding in a small kitchen allows for a great design look, something small kitchens often leave out.
The Bath
- Selecting a light or white vanity will ensure the room will stay as open and large as visually possible.
- A vanity base drawer offers additional drawers and a door storage area – giving more function and compartmental storage in a small space solution.
- Adding a vanity shelf over the water closet allows for additional storage that matches the vanity – giving a more cohesive look to the space, once again making sure it looks visually larger overall.
Tags: Bath, cabinets, Habitat For Humanity, Huron Valley, kitchen, Masco Cabinetry, merillat, small spaces, The Merillat House