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Clever Ideas: Steal These Smart Design Moves For Your Hardest Working Spaces

By Talia Hart On

The best kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms don’t just look beautiful — they make everyday life easier, too.

From clever storage solutions to smart built-ins, these thoughtful design moves prove that great design is all about function as much as style.

Find space inside walls — and perhaps line it with marble — to create a handy niche for everyday oils and vinegars.

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  • Photographer Patrick Biller
  • Designer Tiffany Leigh

Add a second hidden drawer inside a deeper one to maximize storage space in larger cabinets.

  • Photographer Alex Lukey  
  • Designer Gillian Gillies

Install an open shelf in front of a window to display accessories, tools or cookbooks.

  • Photographer Lauren Miller
  • Designer Jaime Polan Zimmerman.

Break up a wall of closed storage with bookshelves for a hit of interest and colour.

  • Photographer Virginia Macdonald
  • Designer Colette van den Thillart

For oft-used items like cutting boards, build in open vertical cubbies.

  • Photographer Donna Griffith
  • Designer Jeffrey Forrest

Install the washer and dryer at eye level for easier access.

  • Photographer Alex Lukey
  • Designer Brian Gluckstein

Divide large drawers into small sections so everything stays tidy in its place.

  • Photographer Virginia Macdonald
  • Designer Katherine Newman

Equip a coffee station with a pullout surface to add extra prep space.

  • Photographer Alex Lukey
  • Designer Karen Cole
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