scarbowcow It's so dusty in the city where I live - open shelving is not an option; and shelves with dishes down on the floor?! (the dishes-in-the-island picture) No way. Look's pretty in the picture, but I wouldn't want to have to wash the dust balls off the dishes every time I used them. Do like the clever pull-down shelf top shelves, though.

Paul D'Amico - Period Design Kitchens need to be practical and therefore, one needs to analyse the actions one takes in order to determine whether the design is right. For instance to combine a cupboard door and a drawer adds up to 2 actions to access objects. Its simpler just to have a drawer. Open shelves certainly improve access but as the previous comment points out, they are not a practical option - I have tried and it increases housework. The swing out pantry is a great idea. Its practical and aesthetically pleasing.

Anisur Rahman wow! what a great photographs!

Fine Art & Portraits by Laurel I think we should all do away with lower cabinets, in favor of drawers. I love them for my pots and pans. Hadn't seen the pull down shelves for upper cabinets: brilliant.

Paul D'Amico - Period Design I agre with you Laurel, abolish lower cabinets in favour of drawers. Otherwise, one needs to bend down or even get on one's knees to reach that pot. Since I posted my last comment I have been aware that kitchens often have open shelves. It looks good in the photo and I wonder whether this is done to keep costs down. The fact remains that open shelves increase housework.

mom929 Design is meant to improve your enjoyment of your own space. If it doesn't work for you, don't do it and pick a different design. With kids who don't artfully arrange the dishes after they tear through them to find their favorite mug and cats who shed, open shelving is definitely not for me. But some of those behind the cabinet door add-ons are quick, inexpensive little helpers when you already have your cabinets installed. I agree that I'd do lower drawers if I was planning a major kitchen remodel. But as it stands I have the cabinets that I have.

embracegrace Thank you for writing about universal design. As someone who sustained a traumatic brain injury, I know how quickly one's health and abilities can change. We recently built a new custom home and even though I don't have mobility issues at this point, we still had a goal to have universally designed home that was more modern than nursing home. I like to think we succeeded! In addition to being a huge fan of cabinet drawers, we also include 36" aisles, raised dishwasher, double oven, pulls instead of knobs (easier for older hands), levers instead of knobs, rockers instead of switches, auto light in the pantry, and more. You can read about our kitchen here: http://dejongdreamhouse.blogspot.com/2012/04/introducingour-dream-kitchen.html

princessfirefly We recently had to remodel our kitchen due to a flood and I was able to incorporate many of the ideas mentioned here; however,we also added lazy Susans, a kid's cabinet, a spice rack, and a swing out with drawers to use "dead space." All of this helps me stay organized and enjoy being in the kitchen.

risswish our kids enjoy having 'the kid's cupboard', where they can put away and find their own bowls, cups etc.

Carolyn Zone9alady I have four of those Rev-A-Shelf pull downs...they are so convenient.

eldoctore1 Please tag the products in the photos. They are so innovative and useful that it would be great to know where to get them.