Kitchen Planning

When I was thinking about the layout of my kitchen, I wanted to try and incorporate as many features as I could that would make the most out of my space. (I like everything to be tucked away).

Magazines and kitchen design books were a really great way to get good ideas. I especially liked the idea of having a chopping block that sits over the garbage, so I can just scrape the unwanted scraps right in.

Colin even took part in the planning by making sure I could just press on the front of the drawer and it will pop right out, which is really handy if my hands are full. Then, when I'm done, I can just push the chopping block and garbage right back in, and out of the way.

The chopping block is great for chopping that involves skins or trimmings that need to be thrown out. And when I'm chopping things like nuts, I usually just do that right on the counters.

I'm really pleased with my counters, which are quartz (by Zodiaq). They truly seem to be bomb proof. They don't stain, scratch, etch, or scorch and that's such a relief for me because I don't want to be the mom who's constantly freaking out about that sort of thing.

Post Edits: Yes, I compost. There are two bins in that drawer. One for garbage and one for compost.

You can read more about the drawer here.

Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4 , Part 5 , Part 6.

You can read all the details about our farmhouse building process here.

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Between posts on my website, I document my life on Instagram. You can follow along with me there.

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Comments

[Heather]

That's a great concept Serena! I'm always dragging the trash can over when I'm chopping. Now to figure out how to incorporate it in my 100 year old kitchen without gutting it. :) (ok, gutting might be an option) Thanks for the snip-its into your new HOME!

[Jane]

Very cool idea!!!

[Joni]

Ingenious! What great planning you were able to do, and I'm sure, you are getting much enjoyment out of all the care you took in your kitchen!
xoxo
Joni

[Judy Grisley]

Excellent idea, "need" is always the mother of invention. Don't chop the nuts or veggies on the other counter, just slide a stainless bowl beneath the hole and go.
Judy

[carole]

I like the idea, though for me it would be a compost pail as opposed to the garbage.

[Chana]

What a GREAT idea. the only thing that might make it better is if that was a compost bucket under the hole !

[Colette]

You should definately be composting not throwing fruit/veggie waste in the garbage!

[Vicki K]

I love my quartz countertops too - a great choice for family living!!

[İşyeri Sigortası]

good work for best job thanx u for admin.

[Julie Harward]

That is a neat feature..I have quartz too and it is the best! :D

[Serena]

Colette, Of course I compost. There are two bins in that drawer. Rear one for garbage and front for compost. Serena

[Betsy Kunz]

I agree that a compost catcher would be great under the hole!

[Thecouch272]

Love this idea so much. I put it on my Pinterest page so that I won't forget. http://pinterest.com/thecouch272/home-ideas/
P.S.I'm taking a cake decorating class at Carolyn's. It starts tonight. Thanks for sharing that information, I'm so excited about it. I've been wanting to take one for a few years now.

[Betty van Os]

Hi, have you also thought of a larger surface?
I mean usually your work surface is as big (wide) as your cup board underneath is, but we've extended that by 2,5 inch (well actually 10 cm) and that is so cool!
Think about it!
By the way: how will you keep your chopping board (in a drawer) clean?
Have lots of pre-fun planning your perfect kitchen; we did!

[Rachel]

Such a brilliant idea!

[TexGirl]

I cant wait to see the rest of your new gorgeous home! I have a pull out cutting surface/drawer in our old farmhouse that we moved in a year ago but i am always afraid to use it. It is wood like yours and i keep reading that it is hard to disinfect. I would love to know what you will clean yours with. I guess you wouldnt cut up raw chicken on this....just fruits, veggies, nuts, etc? I know that is a dumb question on my part....

[Lisa Lebovitz]

Fantastic idea----I am going to save this idea and use it in my next house. Don't you love effeciency!

[pat]

Love that cutting board idea - garbage or compost!!!

[Laurie]

That is so cool! What a great idea =)

[Amy from Ohio]

Might I ask where you purchsed your drawer pulls? I'm in the midst of a kitchen renovation, and I'm totally stalling on making the hardware decision. The pulls you chose are fab! Love the cutting board too!

[Leanne]

Hahahahah - I was like GASP! This farm chick doesn't COMPOST?? What the.. Love your edit!

Moving to Castlegar BC next year, which puts me just over an hour from Spokane, which puts me nice and close for the Farm Chicks show 2012 version! Woo hooo!!!

Dying for pics of your new house! Congrats!

By the by... if PW can write a book about her adventures, then so can you. I find your childhood quite fascinating. Thanks for everything you share!

[Jackie Bales]

Please continue sharing your creativity! Love your new home and blog! You are truly blessed!

[Paula Parrish]

Hello Serena,
Now that is a wonderful idea to have a hole to throw the trimming inside; I am sure that will make preparing food quicker inside your new kitchen. Thanks for sharing.
Smiles, Paula

[Beth Berger]

so glad to see your post edit comment. I was wondering about the coposting! Great idea-

[Sandres6160]

Great feature.....did you ever mention who the maker of your beautiful kitchen cabinets was? Kudos to them for fabulous work. I'm looking forward to being at Farm Chicks in a month..:-)

[Serena]

The hardware is from Spokane Hardware, which also has a great website: http://www.thehardwarehut.com/

[Serena]

TexGirl, I only chop veggies and fruits on this pull-out board. I only clean it with a hot, wet clean dish cloth. Maple is actually a naturally disinfectant type of wood, meaning it is resistant to bacteria.

I also make sure to let it try before I slide it back in the drawer. :)

[jazz]

your ideas are great! --www.tonerrefillstore.com/blog

[Chase Conely]

I love the concept of your chopping block. It's space-saving and highly practical. That centralized garbage suit looks to be a great installation for a kitchen island, don't you think? Anyway, thanks for sharing this idea!

[martha garrett]

What a fantastic idea, I dragg my can when I'm making salads, and cook. This is great,
thank you,
martha

[Chris]

Good idea but not a complete win. You also lose a drawer to store utensils. You can't clean as throughly as a regular board - would you slice raw meat on this but only clean with a sponge? Would be a little dicey if you need to put downward pressure on this, ie. crushing garlic cloves or nuts would stress the drawer mechanism.

[bns]

Great idea but slightly unhygienic? When you close the compost drawer you're leaving it open, inches from your chopping board.

[dixie]

This is a great idea but I would want the hole towards the top corner so I'd have more room to chop.

[Coches Electricos Precios]

Nice ideas! so cool

[Tara]

We are in the middle of a kitchen remodel. I have planned for this concept, BUT.. I am wondering.. the drawer above my trash can feels slightly wobbly. Can it handle the pressure involved in cutting/chopping??

[Serena]

Tara,
You'll definitely want to stabilize your drawer first. :)
Serena

[Alannie]

Bonjour à toi

Mon husband est cuisiniste, il fabrique des kitchen de rêve, voir la mienne ici:
http://recettealannie.canalblog.com/albums/ma_cuisine/index.html
yes I now, je suis très très gâtée!
J'ai deux poubelles sur l'îlot central , une pour les épluchures qui vont au compost, the other for les déchets non compostables...l'avantage c'est qu'elles ont des couvercles en inox ainsi pas d'odeur and no flys!
I don't wright english very well but I love your blog
have a good WE Serena
Alannie

[Jillian]

Do you have information on the cutting board drawer? The link no longer works.
Thanks!!

[Serena]

Jillian,
The link is working now. Sorry about that. :)
Serena

[Cathy]

Jamie Oliver used to have a hole like this in the bench he used in one of his cooking shows. I thought then what a good idea it was - peel the vegies, then sweep the peels into the hole, dispose of the peelings into the compost.

[Mike]

I honesty like garbage cans that aren't hidden. As they say keep it simple silly.

[Teresa Wooten]

The kitchen design is good. Good is maybe an understatement, but that is what I can comment on the page. The web page and design are not that attractive to any readers. Instead, it drives us away.

[Teresa Wooten]

The kitchen design is good. Good is maybe an understatement, but that is what I can comment on the page. The web page and design are not that attractive to any readers. Instead, it drives us away.

[Kelly Robinson]

Thanks for the ideas. It makes it easier and much more convenient.

[EmmaCay]

I personally think this is a wonderful idea. I would love to have a cutting board over my garbage bin. I'd never have to think twice about cleaning up the mess. It would just be right there and easy to do. http://thefarmchicks.typepad.com/farmchicks/2011/05/kitchen-planning.html

[katie greg]

Very lovely and very convenient. i love it. i know what i'm doing in my next renovation. :)

[Ida]

The cutting board drawer links aren’t working....