When You Know What You Want for Your 2nd Kitchen + Pro Tips YOU NEED!

686

Modern Organic
HDB (Maisonette)
≥1,500 sqft
4 br
Living with Family

Hello, Communa Fam! This week, we’re diving into some kitchen know-how! If you’ve been following along, we hope you’ve already checked out our earlier posts where we shared our kitchen planning journey and some handy kitchen organisation tips. This time, we’re zooming in on a key part of the process: our carpentry discussion with our interior designer, and the thought process behind how we allocated different storage areas in the kitchen based on what we actually own, use, and need on a daily basis, as well as what we plan to keep behind each door...something you might want to think about before your own carpentry discussions begin! From pots and pantry items to plates and appliances, we made sure every item had a home, and we’re sharing the tips and strategies that helped us get there. If you’re heading into your own kitchen carpentry discussions, these insights might be just what you need to help you plan smarter storage with your ID! So. Before we met with our ID, we spent some time to really assess our current kitchen setup (we were still staying at our previous home then) and we took stock of what worked, what didn’t, and what could use improvement in terms of flow, ergonomics, and storage. We listed where things were stored, how much space they took up, what we needed more of, and also ideas we found and want to incorporate. Once we received the 2D drawings of our future kitchen, we took our list and started allocating items to each cabinet and drawer, shifting things around where needed to make sure everything had a proper home. By the time we sat down with our ID, decisions were easy to make, and we could confidently say: this space is for plates, this pull-out is for pantry items, this drawer will hold our spice jars… and so on. Even though it was a loooooong discussion (we took over 3 hours!), it made the discussion so much smoother and it really helped in creating a kitchen that’s not only functional but also well-planned to suit our needs. The image we’re sharing below is a visualisation of all that listing, allocating, planning, and organisation we did over sooooo many hours, using the 2D carpentry layout our ID created, with labels showing what goes where, down to the measurements. It is so satisfying! Everything has its space and our countertop can truly be kept clear and clutter-free!
Of course, once we actually moved in, a few things shifted here and there. Some storage plans changed, and certain items ended up in slightly different spots. But having that initial plan gave us a lot of peace of mind. We knew that everything we already owned (plus the things we expected to add along the way) has their dedicated storage space. So when it came time to unpack, there were no “uh-oh, where does this go?” moments. 😜 ⭐️ 𝗣𝗥𝗢 𝗧𝗜𝗣! ⭐️ One tip we found really helpful (and we’d definitely recommend!) is putting together a simple reference doc once you've confirmed your big-ticket items. After we locked in our main appliances (like the fridge, stove, and cooker hood) and key fittings like the kitchen sink, we created a PDF that listed each item along with its measurements and a photo. We shared this with our ID via our WhatsApp group chat so he could easily refer to it anytime. We did the same for other parts of the house too, like for our bathroom sinks, mirrors, and other fittings. It might sound like a small thing, but it saved us so much back-and-forth later on. Our ID didn’t have to chase us for measurements when he was on site, and there was less room for any mix-ups. Just a straightforward way to keep everyone on the same page! ⭐️ 𝗣𝗥𝗢 𝗧𝗜𝗣 - 𝗞𝗜𝗧𝗖𝗛𝗘𝗡 𝗢𝗥𝗚𝗔𝗡𝗜𝗦𝗔𝗧𝗜𝗢𝗡! ⭐️ If you’ve read one of our earlier posts on kitchen organisation, you might already know that the MRS takes neatness in the kitchen very seriously, especially when it comes to the fridge. One thoughtful thing we did was to get 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙨𝙖𝙢𝙚 𝙛𝙧𝙞𝙙𝙜𝙚 𝙢𝙤𝙙𝙚𝙡 we used in our previous home (just in a different finish), which meant we could reuse all our existing organisation bins and boxes. But back when we were first figuring out how to organise the fridge, it took 𝘢 𝘭𝘰𝘵 of measuring and scrolling through websites to find storage boxes that would fit each shelf just right. Luckily, it turned out way less stressful than we feared, and in the end, everything slotted in beautifully, from packet drinks to Yakult bottles, all lined up in nice, tidy rows. The fridge door, though? That was another story...and kind of a hilarious one! We actually detached each shelf from the fridge door, 𝙗𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙞𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙪𝙨 𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙖𝙞𝙨𝙤, and spent what felt like forever walking up and down the aisles trying to find containers that fit 𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘭𝘺. It was slightly ridiculous… but also wildly satisfying when we found the right ones! 🤭
And since we’re on the topic of shopping with measurements, here’s another little tip we swear by: before going out to buy organisers for drawers and cabinets, we cut pieces of mahjong paper to match the exact dimensions of each drawer and shelf. Super easy to transport, and all we had to do was lay them out in-store and play a little real-life Tetris to test which boxes and trays fit best, until we found a combination that worked! Oddly fun, hahha, and saves you a lot of guesswork (and returns) later on! At the end of the day, a well-organised kitchen doesn’t just come down to fancy fittings or clever carpentry. It’s also about building a system that works for your daily habits, lifestyle, and the people you live with. We’re lucky that everyone in our household is already an adult and generally on board with keeping things where they belong. That definitely makes it easier to maintain the systems we’ve set up. But if you’ve got young kids, or you’re living with others who have a more “free-spirited” approach to tidying, just know that it might take a bit more flexibility and patience to find what works. 🙃
Some tips we’d gently recommend: start by planning for zones based on how you actually use your kitchen, be realistic about what you need access to most often, and give yourself room to adjust along the way. Keep your surfaces clear when you can — it really helps make the space feel calmer. And if something’s not working, don’t be afraid to change it up. Also, talk openly with your ID during the carpentry phase so your storage matches your actual storage needs. It truly will make a huge difference! We’re lucky to say that after five months of actually living with and using this kitchen, we don’t have any major regrets. Phew! It’s been functioning well, and we feel that really comes down to the planning and discussions we had early on. If you haven’t already, do check out our earlier posts where we shared some of the small details and little personal touches we added. They’re not just for aesthetics, but have made the space so much more practical! We love them so much and are so glad we included them in our second kitchen…and we would be so honoured to be able to inspire other homeowners to consider adding them to theirs too! 😊 Thanks for indulging us with this week’s post ♡ We’d love to hear your thoughts, or if you’ve got your own kitchen tips and lessons to share, drop them in the comments! It would be so awesome to learn from one another! Till the next one!