I underestimated storage too, especially in the kitchen. Thought I’d planned for every gadget, but somehow there’s never enough space for the random stuff—holiday platters, bulk paper towels, you name it. Built-ins help, but I wish I’d added more deep drawers instead of lower cabinets. On the ceiling height thing, I get the appeal of tall ceilings, but honestly, I’d trade a bit of drama for lower heating bills any day. Curious—has anyone tried radiant floor heating in those big open rooms? Wondering if that actually helps balance out the heat loss.
- Deep drawers are a game changer—I swapped out two lower cabinets for drawers last year and can’t believe I waited so long. Way easier to access everything, especially those awkward mixing bowls and baking pans.
- Tall ceilings look great, but yeah, the heating bills are no joke. We have radiant floor heat in our main living area (about 18’ ceilings), and it definitely helps keep things comfortable. The floors stay warm, but the air up high is still cooler than I’d like in winter.
- If I did it again, I’d insulate the heck out of those exterior walls and maybe even consider a zoned heating system for the open space.
Curious—has anyone found a clever way to store those giant platters or roasting pans that never fit anywhere?
Those giant platters are always a pain. In one project, I actually had a vertical slot built into the end of an island—kind of like a bookshelf but sized for trays and roasting pans. It’s not the prettiest solution, but it keeps them upright and easy to grab. Beats stacking them in the back of a cabinet where they’re impossible to reach.
I’ve done something similar in a few kitchens—those vertical slots are lifesavers for awkward stuff like platters and baking sheets. I actually think they look fine if you use a nice wood or match the cabinetry, but maybe that’s just me. The alternative is that “avalanche” every time you try to pull one out from a pile in the back. Honestly, I’d rather have function over form in this case... nobody’s judging your tray storage, right?
Funny you mention the “avalanche”—I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve had to fish a runaway baking sheet out from behind a pile. In one of my first remodels, I skipped the vertical dividers because I thought they’d look too utilitarian. Regretted it almost immediately. Ended up retrofitting them in later, and honestly, it made a world of difference.
I get that some folks want everything to look seamless, but after you’ve spent enough time actually using a kitchen, you start to appreciate those little functional tweaks. Matching the wood or finish helps, sure, but at the end of the day, nobody’s coming over to critique your cookie sheet storage. They’re just happy you can find what you need without half the cabinet contents ending up on the floor.
If I had to start over with base structures, I’d probably go even further—maybe deeper slots or adjustable dividers. It’s one of those things where you don’t realize how much hassle it saves until you live with it for a while.