How HGTV's Property Brothers Put A Modern Spin On An Appliance Garage

The kitchen is a place for nourishment and connection, and one of the most-used areas in your home. In design, the details and styling choices you make can evoke a sense of warmth and coziness, but they can also affect the functionality. One of the challenges of interior design is finding a way to make aesthetics and function intersect, whether it's employing charming built-in cabinets for storage or transforming your home by adding a kitchen island as a focal point. 

If you're the type who prefers uncluttered kitchen countertops and is turned off by the unsightly views of blenders, coffee makers, or toasters, then you might consider installing an appliance garage in your kitchen, where you can stylishly store and easily access your most frequently used devices. That's the route that Jonathan and Drew Scott, better known as the Property Brothers, took when designing their client's kitchen. On an episode of their HGTV show, "Celebrity IOU", the twin brothers took a more modern approach by installing built-in walnut cabinets with hidden storage. Behind one of the doors was a charming appliance garage.

An appliance garage is one of those smart, custom-built-in storage solutions that keeps your kitchen devices out of sight but still in reach when you need them. They can either blend seamlessly with your architecture, like underneath overhead cabinets, or be detached as a free-standing addition. However, because they tend to take up a considerable amount of counter space, they can often look bulky. The Property Brothers made use of the space of the built-in cabinet wall by integrating a garage underneath, leaving the countertops free of clutter, while still delivering a modern look.

Before you start establishing the design of your appliance garage, it's worth noting a few things. You want to make the garage useful, in that it's not just a place to store and access your kitchen devices, but a fully functional space, too. For that reason, where you add the space is essential, and it should be in a practical area where you can properly install electrical outlets.

From there, you can decide how to best integrate your functional garage into your unique contemporary style. Appliance garages with cabinet doors that open up can look stylish and modern while still being functional.

If you want to free up space on your kitchen countertops, consider the Property Brothers' advice of installing a cabinet wall in your kitchen with doors that open out to reveal your appliance garage. This can provide sleek and functional storage that works well with minimalist and contemporary styles. Alternatively, you can reserve an open space between cabinetry on your countertops for your appliances, which can break monotony and create a contemporary feel. You can also add a modern touch to your kitchen with contrasting details, like layering a wood appliance garage with bright neutral cabinetry.