Crafting a kid-friendly kitchen requires precision and expertise, areas where we at The Simplified Island excels. Being a team of moms, we love creating spaces that support life with kids. 

Embarking on our latest project, we embraced the opportunity to transform a small kitchen into a vibrant and functional space. The goal? A kitchen tailored for family life in the heart of historic Beaufort, NC.

This client contacted us because she and her family were moving into their second home permanently. They were selling their primary home in another town.

The Beaufort home was always perfect as a second home. However, it would be a bit of a squeeze with limited storage and fewer rooms.  She wanted help making the most of her space with as much functional organization as possible.

Assessing the Current Kitchen Space

Assessing the current kitchen space to come up with functional design ideas is always a priority. This step comes after understanding the vision and needs of the client. The available space was better than we initially thought, but like most spaces, it needed structure and containment.

Her children were under the age of five. There were still sippy cups, kid plates, and even a few bottles that needed to be coraled. She wanted her kids to be able to reach certain items (approved snacks and water cups). While keeping other things out of reach (medicine and treats).

The Kid-Friendly Kitchen Project Begins

With a focus on creating a kid-friendly space that seamlessly blends functionality and style, our team eagerly dove into the project. From the initial consultation to the final reveal, every step was guided by our commitment to crafting a kitchen that not only meets the family’s needs but also reflects the charm of its surroundings.

Kid-Friendly Kitchen Food Storage

This client knew she didn’t have time to refill canisters and spice jars. She most definitely had a clear vision of what she would be able to do. (We love it when clients are realistic about what they can maintain.) 

She had awesome pull-out drawers in a cabinet, so we used bins and drawer dividers to contain different food categories.  The kids even have their own drawer of mom-approved snacks that they can get themselves.

Easily Accessible (for mom) Canisters

We used a few canisters to store sugar and flour. Instead of pouring the product into the canister, which requires maintenance, we put the bag directly into the canister.  Using canisters to hold product bags does a few things for you: 1) gives you a flat surface for labeling, 2) helps avoid piles of bags that inevitably get lost, and 3) keeps the product fresh.

Spicing Things Up

For the spices, we kept everything in their original jars. We lined them up neatly in a drawer using spice strips.  Don’t let Pinterest tell you that spices must be in fancy jars to look neat.  They simply need to be lined up to look orderly!

Most kitchens need at least one turntable, and this one has two. We used one near the cooktop for oils and vinegar. Another high cabinet was used for various medicines and supplements.

Cookware/Serving Piece Storage

This client did a fabulous job of limiting her dishes, serving pieces, and cookware to what she enjoyed using. As we often tell clients, there generally aren’t organization or storage issues when you have fewer things.

We used two vertical sheet pan organizers. One for pans and baking sheets and one for serving trays.

The client’s food storage containers were all the same style (which we love). We were able to stack them easily in a drawer and use a bin to contain all of the lids.

Sink Baths

This historic Beaufort home has no bathtub, so the large kitchen sink is also the kids’ bathtub! Using drawers and bins under the sink, we ensured supplies were close at hand. This way, our client had everything she needed, from washcloths and baby soap to a couple of bath toys.

Transformed: A Vibrant Kid-Friendly Kitchen in Historic Beaufort, NC

The client had low hopes for her kitchen, but we were able to show her that she has great space!  They thought they might start looking for a different house. Fortunately, after this project, they decided this adorable historic home might work for them after all.

Let Us Help You Simplify Your Space

You might be inspired to revamp your own space. At The Simplified Island, we’re here to help you maximize the potential of the space you already have and love.

Whether it’s reimagining your kitchen, organizing your closets, or refreshing your living areas, let us know how we can make your space more simplified. We want you to love your home, and love how accessible and functional it is. 

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