Life+Style Southwest
by Yvonne Pesquera
the kitchen, Old standbys are reimagined for ease of use
convenient
With one swipe, trash drops neatly into a waste bin hidden directly beneath the counter. Read more about this awardwinning kitchen on page 62.
Above and right: Silverware stays organized in this rounded-edge drawer designed by Marc Sowers Bespoke Woodwork.
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S U C A S A S U M M E R 2013
Left: Mark William Photography (2); Below: Elise Lampasi
“I
f I could have everything in my top kitchen drawer, I’d be the happiest person,” says Doreen Godwin, co-owner, with husband Mike, of Ernest Thompson Furniture. It is certainly appealing, the idea of having one’s kitchen knives, plates, serving dishes, and even appliances at waist height for easy grabbing. Thanks to hyper-functional kitchen cabinetry and organizational devices built directly into drawers and cabinets, homeowners can now make their kitchens work for them. Take, for example, the typical cabinet: the door is vertical and swings out. Manufacturers today are flipping cabinets, introducing long, horizontal units that aid fast-moving cooks because the door lifts up and out of the way during meal preparation. Using full-extension drawers tucked within cabinets is far easier (and kinder on the back) than reaching into the recesses of a narrow cabinet for a heavy cast iron skillet. The possibilities for creative cabinetry are both endless and really quite ingenious. Many come about when homeowners approach a cabinet designer with specific needs they want addressed—increasing counter space or hiding unsightly appliances, for example. “Homeowners are more informed today and come into the showroom with an idea of what they want. But then they see how many options exist from cabinet and shelf manufacturers,” says Scott Tregembo, sales manager at Albuquerque Cabinet Brokers. Other popular convenience features include rolling bottomshelf units for trash cans, pop-up trays for mixers, drawers that