Not Everybody Loves Raymond's Kitchen

(ARA) – American families are alarmingly at home in TV star Ray Romano's chaotic on-screen kitchen. In a recent homeowner poll, one in four families say the famous TV kitchen, with its cluttered, outdated look, is all too familiar -- and that they need help.

Not everyone can afford the time or money to remodel or add to their kitchen, but some simple steps can help any household curb the chaos and bring its kitchen up-to-date without breaking the bank.

Hollywood Gets it Right, Says Expert in Organization

"Hollywood hit the nail right on the head when it designed the kitchen set for 'Everybody Loves Raymond,'" says Andy Wells, design director for Diamond Cabinets, the kitchen organization experts behind the homeowner survey. "Unfortunately way too many homeowners identify with Ray's past-its-best décor, disorganized look and older cabinetry."

But it's not only looks that matter. In the survey of 1,000 families, 85 percent identified better storage as critical, and more than half said storage and updating would come first in any remodel.

"The role of the kitchen has changed, but most of them just haven't kept up," says Andy Wells. "We now buy bulk groceries with longer shelf lives and expect them to fit into cabinets designed for a different way of life in the '70s and '80s."

With a typical remodel costing anywhere from $10,000 to $20,000, adding space can be expensive. But it's not always needed. These four simple steps can help homeowners update the space they have.

Plan Ahead

Sounds obvious, but in their enthusiasm to get started many homeowners skip planning. This can be a costly mistake. Before you do anything, look at your family's needs, both immediate and long-term. Preschoolers will soon be preteens -- would a breakfast bar or nook be a smart addition? Also consider older family members, who may need more space or have difficulty reaching taller cabinets or shelving.

"Design with flexibility for the future," says Wells. "Remodeling without proper planning too often leads to starting all over in five years. Cabinets with adjustable or modular shelving can change with your needs, and can help eliminate this worry.

Cut Where You Can

"There are easy ways to save money. For example, relocating windows is a huge investment and can add upwards of $5,000. But often it's simply how you use the room rather than the layout that needs altering."

Designers always look to put everything in easy reach through a triangular configuration of range, sink and worktop. If you have this already, don't move things around for the sake of change. Working with your existing floor plan can save a fortune.

Needing new appliances will cost you; there's no way around that. But the expense can be offset by cutting costs in other areas where it's easy to still get great results. Demolition and tear-down is a perfect example. Remove paint, wall coatings and plaster yourself -- all you'll need is some patience and a few basic tools from your hardware store. A couple hundred dollars to rent a belt floor sander is a smart investment when hiring a professional to finish your floor can cost close to a thousand. Sand three times with 100-, 80- and 50-grit paper, and use a penetrating stain and water-based varnish for best results. When tiling a floor or wall, choose standard tiles without intricate borders or patterns -- it'll make locating and buying replacements much easier and cheaper.

Think Inside the Box: Solving the Biggest Kitchen Problem

The biggest problem in most kitchens is storage. And smart cabinetry is the solution. The right selection can add a new dynamic to the look of a kitchen, but more important, it can double your storage space.

The trend in cabinetry is to think inside the box. Wells suggests looking for cabinets that offer flexibility in storing items. The Logix line from Diamond Cabinetry, for instance, is designed specifically to increase interior storage space. Doors hold mounted wire baskets for stashing up to 45 pounds of food, and units come with adjustable shelving and pull-out roll trays for easy accessibility.

"Measure around your appliances and fixtures and calculate just how much cabinet space you have to play with. Don't forget about corners, odd shapes and tight spaces. These days, cabinets come in all sizes and configurations to maximize every available inch," says Wells.

The Base Pots & Pans Pullout cabinet offers separate storage areas for pots and pans and their accompanying lids. And the Logix Segmented Super Susan, the up-to-the-minute granddaughter of the original Lazy Susan, puts everything at your fingertips with separate, fully extendable storage sections that maximize tight corner spaces.

Everything in Its Place

Restaurant kitchens run like clockwork thanks to the same basic setup of ingredients, seasonings and utensils at every food prep station. For professional chefs, it's all about the art of mise en place, or "everything in its place."

"Our own homes should be like this too, and they can be with a little effort and some simple storage principles," says Wells.

Every item in a kitchen should be stored as close as possible to where it's used. Wall cabinetry close to a range or cooktop should be used for spices, oils, seasonings and small cooking utensils. Store infrequently used appliances and kitchen gadgets in base cupboards -- save the stooping and bending for them. Kitchen knives may look great in a butcher block, but a cutlery cabinet designed specifically for knives near the cooktop will keep them in easy reach while clearing clutter.