Make an inventory useful for design
Group dishes, cookware, groceries, small appliances and cleaning products. Note large or awkward items such as a mixer, tall pan or oven trays. You do not need to count every teaspoon; identify the items that influence space.
Review how much you buy and what currently stays outside the cupboards. A holiday home may need different storage from a family residence. Frequent cooking gives access to food and utensils a different priority.
Plan around working areas
| Group | Position to explore |
|---|---|
| Everyday dishes | Near dishwasher unloading or serving. |
| Preparation utensils | Beside the surface where you cut and mix. |
| Pots and pans | Within comfortable reach of cooking. |
| Groceries | Where purchases can be seen and removed easily. |
| Waste and cleaning | A location that supports clearing and washing. |
Use this as a starting point. Adapt the zones to your plan and avoid two tasks competing for access to one cabinet.
Drawers, doors and tall units
A drawer reveals its contents when pulled out, but needs suitable height and capacity. A cupboard with shelves may work well for occasional items or a particular group. One system does not need to replace all the others.
In tall units, review item heights and how you reach them. Advertised capacity does not show whether each level is comfortable to use. Keep heavy objects where you can handle them without an awkward movement.
Choose fittings that solve a need
Before adding a corner fitting, pull-out or organiser, name the item or task it will help. Measure the recycling containers and groceries you want to store. If an accessory has no clear purpose, compare a simpler arrangement.
Pay attention to small appliances. For storage, check the opening and access. To operate an appliance inside a cupboard, the design must respect its operating, ventilation and connection requirements; fitting inside is not enough.
Check the plan before agreeing it
Imagine taking out a pan, cooking and clearing without shifting several objects to reach what you need. Keep necessary maintenance access available too. With children in the home, plan secure positions for cleaning products and items that need to be kept out of reach.
Bring the inventory to your design discussion. COSTAHAUS can review how it fits the proposal and select accessories with a clear purpose instead of treating storage as a list of extras.