3 Ways to Add Storage and Prep Area In Your Kitchen

Would you LOVE to Add Storage and Prep Area In Your Kitchen? I have found 3 Ways to Add Storage and Prep Area In Your Kitchen.

1: Add Upper/Lower Cabinets

2: Extend or Add Countertops

3: Install Floating Shelves

We were in desperate need of more counter space for our prep area. When we bought this home, the kitchen had one wall with No cabinetry or countertops.  I wanted to Extend Kitchen Cabinet and Countertop.  We thought it was a waste of space and really needed more storage.  We had to Install Kitchen cabinets and Laminate Countertops to get more storage. This kitchen has gone through a huge transformation.  The kitchen had white paneling and white counter tops.  There is a separate post to see how we textured our paneling. Click this link to see the complete Foreclosure Kitchen Reveal.

Types of Counter Material

Cabinets and counters have become so easy to install. Whether you are getting laminate, quartz, granite, or a solid surface, the only tricky part is measuring it. Most home remodeling or counter stores will do the cutting for you. If you are not sure how to measure, the exact angles, you can also have them do it for you. Then if they mess up, it’s on them and they have to fix the problem free of charge. I highly recommend this. Once you pick out your material and it has been measured, the next part is to install it. If you are using a laminate like we did, it will save you a lot of money and it has a great sleek look to it. We ordered our counters from Lowes.  They have counters that are already cut to standard measurements. Therefore, you just have to pick up the size you want and drive away, no cutting or detailed measuring involved.

3 Ways to Add Storage and Prep Area In Your Kitchen

BEFORE and AFTER

We added upper and lower cabinets in this picture.

SUPPLIES:

1. Laminate counter top build up
2. cabinets
3. Wood stain
4. Liquid Nails to glue under the counter top
5. Weldwood contact cement to glue the laminate edging
6. Sealant and adhesive caulk-exact color match, to seal the seam on top of counter top
7. Shims

TOOLS:

1. Clamps 4 per counter top
2. Angle Grinder w/ 220 grit grinder blade
3. 4-6 foot Level
4. 25 ft Measuring Tape
5. 1 ½ inch interior screws
6. Table Saw with very fine blade

TUTORIAL: 

In order to install the counter top, you will need 2 people because it can be very cumbersome to lift. If you are replacing counter tops than you have already removed the old ones and you should have noticed there are pieces of wood that frame out the top of the counter top, this is where your counter top will lay. A frame is built so the counter top lip will be slightly higher and therefore you can still pull your drawers in and out.

First, Use shims to get the right width in between cabinets and to the get the right level of your cabinets against your wall.

Second, Lay the counter top on top of the frame you will want to clamp and glue the 2 pieces of counter top together if you have an adjoining piece, before you screw the counter tops to the underneath framing. We used Liquid Nails, Interior projects Construction.

Third, Add ‘build outs’.  Buy or make your own.  Build outs give the counter more support and less wobble.

Fourth, Glue your end caps to the edge of your New Countertop.  Use clamps to secure the end cap to the side of the counter top.  We added a piece of wood so the end caps would lay flat.  End Caps come in a package at Lowes. Use the Weldwood Contact cement and clamps for these as well.  Note: the instructions, say that you can iron them on, but I found the contact cement to be a stronger adhesive.

Fifth, Apply the matching end cap kit, trim the pieces of your counter top.  We used a grinder and a ‘Cut Off’ wheel.

AFTER

In closing, the kitchen is the busiest part of the home and it needs as much storage as possible, to help create a happy, cohesive prep area. 3 Ways to Add Storage and Prep Area in Your Kitchen, is with cabinets, counters, and shelves.  If you have a bare wall in your kitchen, try to add or extend your upper and lower cabinets along with with a new counter.  Also, you can add some floating shelves in your kitchen, which can be used for dishes or decor.