When it comes to kitchen remodels, people are often wrapped up in the aesthetics: designer cabinetry, glossy backsplashes, maybe custom countertops. A kitchen is an investment, and it's no surprise that they want their new space to be beautiful.

With 20 years of experience, Ferris Home Improvements can certainly revamp a kitchen with beauty in mind. But what the Ferris team also knows is that the functionality and order of a kitchen is just as important as the look—and they're ready to guide clients in that realm, too.

"How your space is going to operate and work so it's going to fit you the best? A lot of times a kitchen might look great, but if it doesn't work, then you're frustrated. And that's very individual for each and every client," says Robin Murphy, a certified kitchen designer with more than three decades of experience and who has been with Ferris for the past six years.

Because Ferris Home Improvements is a full-service remodeling company for kitchens and baths, clients can expect to be walked through the entire process of their home project, from start to finish. And when it comes to kitchens, this includes organization.

"Even a client who doesn't cook in their kitchen can benefit from organizational features, just from an ergonomic standpoint," Murphy says.

Trending organization
Popular kitchen cabinet storage features, according to Murphy, include deep drawers, roll-out shelves, pantry storage and tray storage. Interior drawer storage for utensils and cutlery is high priority, too.

"A kitchen filled with deep drawers is awesome," Murphy says. "And they're easy to get to. It's not a two-step process. Everything is self-contained—pull the drawer out, close the drawer, things stay neat and tidy.

"People don't realize the functionality of things unless you explain the ways you can use them," she continues, mentioning deep drawers are perfect for pots and pans, casserole dishes, snacks and more.

Spice storage has also grown in popularity, but Murphy cautions clients against some of the designs that pop up on Pinterest and design magazines.

"Those skinny pull-outs—they're not actually my favorite. They look cool, but you have to bend over. You have to have labels facing the right way," Murphy explains. "I like to store spices in a drawer in a spice tray, tilted up on an angle so it's easy to see what you need."

Another big change, at least from a tech standpoint, is that today's kitchen remodels incorporate a lot of technology.

"We have so much tech today and everything has a charger, so then you've got this counter with a sea of cords," she says. "I'm doing a lot of electronic drawers. You can put the outlet in the back of the drawer and keep all those unsightly cords out of the way."

Outlets are important to consider, too, and Murphy says they're installing a lot of quad outlets for those customers who plan to plug in a lot of appliances. Today's outlets often come equipped with USB ports as well, which is a nice bonus.

Another newer organizational feature Murphy sees are beverage stations.

"It's a place for coffee, tea, wine—kind of a mini version of it in their kitchen area. It organizes and centralizes those items," she says.

Catering to the client
When working with a new client, Murphy likes to discuss their past kitchens. What did they love in that space? What's something they didn't like?

"Everybody has a unique way about how they like to organize their stuff," she says. "We like to show what's popular and what you can do."

Some clients come in with well-defined ideas behind their new kitchen remodel. Others know they want a beautiful new space, but aren't quite sure where to start. Murphy and her colleagues at Ferris are there to guide every client to a finished kitchen they will love for years to come.

"We talk about what they're looking for. We tackle design and materials: cabinets, countertops, tile, faucet, appliances—everything they would need to pull their whole kitchen together," Murphy says.

Ferris also includes renderings of the space in its design process, which give clients a clear picture of what their new kitchen is going to look like and "really brings it to life." In the customers' final packet there are pictures of every material and fixture being used, not just model numbers, and every step of the process is carefully outlined.

And customers can rest assured the Ferris team will manage the job from start to finish.

"We're very big on communication throughout the entire process," Murphy says. "We have great vendor partnerships, too. We're a full service team as opposed to feeling like you're taking on this big project on your own."

Ferris Home Improvements
Newark, Del.
(302) 998-4500
FerrisHomeImprovements.com

Published (and copyrighted) in House & Home, Volume 24, Issue 11 (October 2024)
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