Thursday, October 16, 2003

By Jane Miller

If you're lucky enough to be planning a kitchen renovation, there are a multitude of products, but don't be enamored with every kitchen cabinetry accessory.

That's the word from Steven Erenrich, owner and certified kitchen designer at Patete Kitchen and Bath Design Center in Carnegie.

Apothecary drawers may look lovely in a showroom, he says, but most often they are dust catchers that are positioned too high to be accessible. Appliance garages are another example.

"Many people want these for their KitchenAid. But they won't fit," says Erenrich. "And if you have a regular mixer, it will only go in the back, and you'll have to move your toaster and blender to get to it."

When it comes to specialty items, most designers say you can't go wrong with cabinets that have drawers on wheels. A sampling of kitchen designers and store owners share their favorite kitchen innovations to make work simpler and better organized.

Roll-out shelf, $60 to $140

"Roll-out shelving for pots and pans is something I would put in every kitchen. It's a royal pain to get down on your hands and knees. You can get these for 18-inch- to 36-inch- wide [cabinets]."

-- Don Czaplicki, designer

Tri County Kitchens, Trafford

Tote trays, $90 to $150 per drawer

"These are baskets that you can [use to] store potatoes, onions or other vegetables kept at a cool room temperature. You can pull out the basket, set it on the counter and then put it back in the drawer."

-- Denny Masuga, owner

Kitchen Distributors, McCandless

Super Susans in corner cabinets, $125 to $175

"These are nice and big and fit the entire cabinet. Years ago, the lazy Susans were smaller and had a lot of wasted space."

-- Cookie Pongracz, owner

Penn Hills Kitchen Center, Penn Hills

Utility cabinet, $450 to $1,000

"These are the floor-to-ceiling cabinets with roll-out shelves. They're our biggest seller. It's usable in every kitchen, even if you are not changing your other cabinetry."

-- Denny Pfeifer, designer

Kitchen Fair Discount Center, Shaler

Warming drawer, $600 to $1,000

"A lot of people don't eat meals all at the same time.

"These are great to hold food warm for up to an hour."

-- Frank Mollick, designer

Manor House Kitchens, Green Tree

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