What to Do About Dinner When Your Kitchen Is Being Remodeled!

February 24, 2017

By: Amy Howell Hirt

Tips for a temporary kitchen to keep mealtime a happy time.

Five months of bending over the bathtub to wash dishes during her kitchen remodel was no fun for homeowner and chef Christina Chavez. But her kids, on the other hand, delighted in the novelty of it all, turning dish drying into a game.

Sometimes, kids just have a better view of the world, seeing the adventure in everything. But when you’re the adult facing weeks, even months, of microwaveable meals and lame takeout that’ll bust your food budget (and probably add 10 pounds to your middle!), how do you find the fun in that?

These tips will keep the joy of cooking at home alive while your dream kitchen is under construction.

Scout the Perfect Location:

Like a perfect campsite, the spot for your temporary kitchen should be:

• In a low-traffic area
• As far from construction as possible
• Near a source of water

Places that may work include that barely used guest suite (especially if it has its own bathroom), the dining room, and even outdoors if you have a grill.

But think about electric outlets, Chavez warns, especially for a fridge. If you want to use your full-size fridge, make sure there’s an outlet that can handle it. And you may have to give up your icemaker.

If you hope to use the garage, check with your contractor first. This space often ends up becoming a workshop and break room for your remodeling crew.

If You Lack a Water Source:

If you don’t have a suitable water source inside your home, and you’re remodeling during warmer months, you can set up a sink/wash area outside, which works nicely if you decide to use your grill a lot.

For less than $100, you can pick up a folding table outfitted with a faucet and sink that connects to your garden hose.

But wherever you locate your temporary wash area, keep a utility bin (like the kind you see in restaurants for bussing tables) handy to load up and lug dishes.

Here’s a cool hack: Use a cooler with a drain plug. It can function as a utility bin and wash basin; use a hose outside or placing it in a tub or shower.

Ask Your Contractor for Help:

Check with your pro before you buy any supplies or break your back moving your refrigerator. Most contractors are happy to move and reconnect your fridge, and may be able to hook up a temporary utility sink for you to use in another room or outside.

Many remodelers also will loan clients amenities like a two-burner countertop stove, and some even include a temporary kitchen setup as part of their remodeling services.

Make a Plan for Countertops and Drawers:

For countertops: A folding table or well-protected dining table functions just fine for prepping meals and holding small appliances that don’t generate too much heat (think blender, microwave). With a little forethought, you can even relocate your existing countertop and cabinets after demolition begins, which is what Chavez did. But watch for rough spots that can damage your floor or give you a nasty splinter.

For drawers: Plastic storage bins or portable drawers on wheels that you can stash under the table, or a rolling cart with drawers provide a dust-free home for dishes, cooking utensils, ready-to-eat snacks, non-perishables, and basic cooking supplies.

Mallory Danks and her husband, who took on a three-month DIY kitchen remodel, made sure every cooking item had a place in rolling plastic drawers, making it easier to transition their living room back to its intended purpose after meals.

“You don’t want to feel like you’re living in your temporary kitchen,” she says. Wheels make it easy to roll the clutter away.

Stock It With Double-Duty Items:

Without a full-size stove or oven, you’ll have to MacGyver your meals, Danks says, and recommends thinking beyond your trusty microwave. Think multi-purpose (which will also make cleanup easier). For example:

• An electric kettle heats water for tea, oatmeal, soups, and even coffee if you use a French press (no need for a clunky coffee machine!).
• A newer electric pressure cooker does everything a range can — saute, roast, simmer, and warm. It also works as a slow cooker.
• A blender does both smoothies and sauces.
• An electric skillet makes everything from pancakes to pot roast.
• Microwave-safe dishes to store, reheat, and serve.
• Long-handled tongs flip burgers and serve salads.
• A glass measuring cup to also heat water in the microwave or scoop up sauces and soups.

The key is to be able to do the most common cooking tasks that make meal preparation easy for you (and to do that without over-packing your makeshift cooking zone). Otherwise, you might feel overwhelmed.

But if the idea of living without your pour-over coffeemaker makes you cry a little inside, then include it. Life is going to be disruptive enough without giving up the little joys.

Protect Furnishings in the Temporary Location:

There’s a reason wall-to-wall carpeting isn’t standard kitchen fare. Cooking and cleanup are hard on flooring and furnishings, so relocate or cover anything of value in your temporary kitchen, recommends Chavez.

“I learned the hard way that you should cover your dining room table,” she says, recalling a hot pot that left a mark.

Don’t forget to remove area rugs to keep them free of stains and make cleanup a little easier. Or, use an older rug that you plan to replace after the remodel.

Make Cleanup Easy (Without Hurting the Earth):

Stock a minimal supply of dining and cooking supplies. Allot each family member just two plates, bowls, cups, drinking glasses, and sets of utensils. That way, doing the dishes becomes a necessity after a meal or two, and there’s never too many dishes to be daunting.

But, still, there’s something to be said for using disposable gear when you’re living sans-dishwasher. For those times, buy disposable plates and utensils that are biodegradable, made from sustainable materials, or even compostable. Plus you’ll be using a whole lot less water.

Let the adventure begin!

Are you getting the home tax deductions your’re entitled to?

February 22, 2017

By: Dona Dezube

Here are the tax tips you need to get a jump on your returns.

Owning a home can pay off at tax time.

Take advantage of these home ownership-related tax deductions and strategies to lower your tax bill:

Mortgage Interest Deduction:

One of the neatest deductions itemizing homeowners can take advantage of is the mortgage interest deduction, which you claim on Schedule A. To get the mortgage interest deduction, your mortgage must be secured by your home — and your home can be a house, trailer, or boat, as long as you can sleep in it, cook in it, and it has a toilet.

Interest you pay on a mortgage of up to $1 million — or $500,000 if you’re married filing separately — is deductible when you use the loan to buy, build, or improve your home.

If you take on another mortgage (including a second mortgage, home equity loan, or home equity line of credit) to improve your home or to buy or build a second home, that counts towards the $1 million limit.

If you use loans secured by your home for other things — like sending your kid to college — you can still deduct the interest on loans up $100,000 ($50,000 for married filing separately) because your home secures the loan.

Prepaid Interest Deduction:

Prepaid interest (or points) you paid when you took out your mortgage is generally 100% deductible in the year you paid it along with other mortgage interest.

If you refinance your mortgage and use that money for home improvements, any points you pay are also deductible in the same year.

But if you refinance to get a better rate or shorten the length of your mortgage, or to use the money for something other than home improvements, such as college tuition, you’ll need to deduct the points over the life of your mortgage. Say you refi into a 10-year mortgage and pay $3,000 in points. You can deduct $300 per year for 10 years.

So what happens if you refi again down the road?

Example: Three years after your first refi, you refinance again. Using the $3,000 in points scenario above, you’ll have deducted $900 ($300 x 3 years) so far. That leaves $2,400, which you can deduct in full the year you complete your second refi. If you paid points for the new loan, the process starts again; you can deduct the points over the life of the loan.

Home mortgage interest and points are reported on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040.

Your lender will send you a Form 1098 that lists the points you paid. If not, you should be able to find the amount listed on the HUD-1 settlement sheet you got when you closed the purchase of your home or your refinance closing.

Property Tax Deduction:

You can deduct on Schedule A the real estate property taxes you pay. If you have a mortgage with an escrow account, the amount of real estate property taxes you paid shows up on your annual escrow statement.

If you bought a house this year, check your HUD-1 settlement statement to see if you paid any property taxes when you closed the purchase of your house. Those taxes are deductible on Schedule A, too.

PMI and FHA Mortgage Insurance Premiums:

You can deduct the cost of private mortgage insurance (PMI) as mortgage interest on Schedule A if you itemize your return. The change only applies to loans taken out in 2007 or later.

What’s PMI? If you have a mortgage but didn’t put down a fairly good-sized down payment (usually 20%), the lender requires the mortgage be insured. The premium on that insurance can be deducted, so long as your income is less than $100,000 (or $50,000 for married filing separately).

If your adjusted gross income is more than $100,000, your deduction is reduced by 10% for each $1,000 ($500 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return) that your adjusted gross income exceeds $100,000 ($50,000 in the case of a married individual filing a separate return). So, if you make $110,000 or more, you can’t claim the deduction (10% x 10 = 100%).

Besides private mortgage insurance, there’s government insurance from FHA, VA, and the Rural Housing Service. Some of those premiums are paid at closing, and deducting them is complicated. A tax adviser or tax software program can help you calculate this deduction. Also, the rules vary between the agencies.

Vacation Home Tax Deductions:

The rules on tax deductions for vacation homes are complicated. Do yourself a favor and keep good records about how and when you use your vacation home.

If you’re the only one using your vacation home (you don’t rent it out for more than 14 days a year), you deduct mortgage interest and real estate taxes on Schedule A.

Rent your vacation home out for more than 14 days and use it yourself fewer than 15 days (or 10% of total rental days, whichever is greater), and it’s treated like a rental property. Your expenses are deducted on Schedule E.

Rent your home for part of the year and use it yourself for more than the greater of 14 days or 10% of the days you rent it and you have to keep track of income, expenses, and allocate them based on how often you used and how often you rented the house.

Homebuyer Tax Credit:

This isn’t a deduction, but it’s important to keep track of if you claimed it in 2008.

There were federal first-time homebuyer tax credits in 2008, 2009, and 2010.

If you claimed the homebuyer tax credit for a purchase made after April 8, 2008, and before Jan. 1, 2009, you must repay 1/15th of the credit over 15 years, with no interest.

The IRS has a tool you can use to help figure out what you owe each year until it’s paid off. Or if the home stops being your main home, you may need to add the remaining unpaid credit amount to your income tax on your next tax return.

Generally, you don’t have to pay back the credit if you bought your home in 2009, 2010, or early 2011. The exception: You have to repay the full credit amount if you sold your house or stopped using it as primary residence within 36 months of the purchase date. Then you must repay it with your tax return for the year the home stopped being your principal residence.

The repayment rules are less rigorous for uniformed service members, Foreign Service workers, and intelligence community workers who got sent on extended duty at least 50 miles from their principal residence.

Energy-Efficiency Upgrades:

The Nonbusiness Energy Tax Credit lets you claim a credit for installing energy-efficient home systems. Tax credits are especially valuable because they let you offset what you owe the IRS dollar for dollar, in this case, for up to 10% of the amount you spent on certain upgrades.

The credit carries a lifetime cap of $500 (less for some products), so if you’ve used it in years past, you’ll have to subtract prior tax credits from that $500 limit. Lucky for you, there’s no cap on how much you’ll save on utility bills thanks to your energy-efficiency upgrades.

Among the upgrades that might qualify for the credit:

• Biomass stoves
• Heating, ventilation, and air conditioning
• Insulation
• Roofs (metal and asphalt)
• Water heaters (non-solar)
• Windows, doors, and skylights

File IRS Form 5695 with your return.

When it’s time to get an accountant to do your taxes!

February 18, 2017

By: Alaina Tweddale

Do you need a CPA? Or will a regular accountant do?

You are soooo dreading doing your taxes this year. Gone are the days when you used to sit down with a glass of wine and fill out your 1040 EZ. Remember that time you finished and hit the “submit” button just as you swallowed the last sip?

Not this year. Unless you want to pay a ton in taxes, you’re going to have to itemize. You did it last year, and it wasn’t too bad. But this year, you did some freelancing. And you moved. And it’s going to take a whole lot more time than one glass of wine.

Maybe it’s time to hire a pro. But do you really need a certified public accountant? And can you justify the expense?

The Differences Between CPAs and Other Tax Experts:

First you need to know there are different types of tax experts. And not all accountants are CPAs. So if you’re thinking that an independent CPA and someone at H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt (or your buddy who studied accounting in college) are pretty much the same, don’t count on it. Basically,

• An accountant is someone who studied accounting.
• CPAs are accountants who pass rigorous testing from their state board on a regular basis. The designation usually requires a degree. Not every CPA specializes in taxes.
• An “enrolled agent,” or EA, is an accountant who has received certification from the IRS. Being an EA doesn’t require a degree like CPA. But it does verify they know tax law.
• A tax preparer at pop-ups like H&R Block or Jackson Hewitt is trained on tax software to help taxpayers file their returns. They aren’t required to be CPAs or EAs.
• Only CPAs and EAs can legally represent you if the IRS challenges your return.

There’s nothing wrong with visiting a pop-up preparer like H&R Block if your return isn’t all that complicated, says Cathy Derus, CPA and founder of Brightwater Accounting in Illinois.

“It’s when you start generating other income — perhaps you launch a business or own rental property — [or experience a big financial change] when it makes sense to ask for a little extra help,” she said.

When It’s A Good Idea to Hire a Tax Pro:

When you buy your first house — Many of the expenses related to buying a home and having a mortgage are deductible. But only if you itemize. And that’s what the experts are best at.

When you move to a new state — There’s a good chance you’ll have to file two state returns for the year you move. And each state is a little bit different in terms of state tax owed — zero in some states, a flat amount in others, and graded by income bracket in most.

When you become a landlord — “When you own investment property, you become a small business owner,” says Tai Stewart, accountant and owner of Saidia Financial Solutions in Houston. That means new records to keep and a new tax form, Schedule E, to complete.

When you buy a vacation property — Especially if you rent it. And especially if it’s in a different state.

When you work from home — There’s a lot of potential money-saving deductions that can vary widely depending on the type of business and how much space it takes up in your home. “If you have a Tax TipAvoid the onerous record keeping for the regular home office deduction with the simplified method — $5 per sq. ft. up to 300 sq. ft., capped at $1,500. Trade-off: Much less paperwork, but possibly a smaller deduction, too.home office, you can deduct for the square footage you use for work as well as a portion of your utilities, mortgage interest, and property taxes,” says Stewart.

When you make home improvements — Energy-efficient upgrades like installing a new heating and cooling system, water heater, or insulation may qualify for tax credits. But that can change depending on the year. Same goes for medically necessary home improvements that aren’t paid by your employer or insurance.

When your home’s value is reassessed — The tax man doesn’t always get it right, and sometimes your home may be valued at more than it should be. An expert will be able to pull the data together to appeal it.

So, How Much Do Accountants Cost?

H&R Block will do your taxes for about $150, while a CPA or EA may add $100 or more to that fee ($260 on average last year).

You can definitely DIY all these tax scenarios and save the fees, but with CPAs and EAs, the extra cost may be worth it. Especially if you run your own business. Or you own more than one home. “An accountant can help you analyze your spending choices and even act as a consultant,” says Stewart. Best of all, they’ll be by your side if the tax man ever comes after you. That alone could be priceless if the time comes.

Oh, and one last tip: If you decide you want to hire a CPA or EA, best not to wait until the last minute. You may not find one.

How to DIY your taxes!

February 9, 2017

By: Alaina Tweddale

Tips on choosing tax preparation software to help get all the homeowner benefits.

Ready or not, the tax man’s coming. Filing your taxes yourself may not be your idea of a fun night at home, but even so, it doesn’t really have to be that bad. Yes, even if you own a home. Even if you itemize your deductions. Even if you’re scared of making a mistake.

We turned to the tax pros and nailed down their top tips to make DIY tax filing as easy and painless as possible — as well as how to ensure you don’t miss any possible deductions. Here’s what they said:

Pick the Right Software:

Unless you qualify for a free version (more about this below), software prices are all over the place. Still, you get what you pay for. TurboTax is pricey at almost $60 for the Deluxe version, but both our tax experts agree: If you’re going the DIY route, it’s their favorite option.

“It’s user-friendly,” says Cathy Derus, founder of Brightwater Accounting, who, despite being a CPA, admits she’s used the program herself in the past. “It offers an online questionnaire. Then, it walks you through exactly what you need to do.” That questionnaire does a good job of helping you identify possible deductions.

But it’s not fail-safe, she added. It’s only as good as the information you feed into it.

To really make sure you’re aware of all possible deductions, get a copy of Form 1040, Schedule A, (and Schedule C if you’re a sole proprietor for your own business), says Derus. Then, “scan the forms and take note of any items you think you might be eligible to take.”

If you’re a homeowner, here are some examples of deductions you can take:

• Mortgage interest
• Property taxes
• Some costs of buying a new home
• Some costs of selling a home

Free Software Can Be Ok, Too:

If your adjusted gross income is below a certain threshold — typically $62,000 — you may qualify to use one of about a dozen free software options. TurboTax has a free option, but its income threshold is lower at $31,000. H&R Block, Jackson Hewitt, and TaxACT also have free versions.

Some companies also impose other restrictions, such as age and state of residence, to qualify for a free version. That’s because for some firms, the free offering is a way to find clients who might be willing to pay for other services.

Watch for extra costs:Some companies will file your federal return for free, but then charge you for the state return, to e-file, or ask questions of a live person.

Filing for an Extension Can Be a Smart Thing to Do:

If you find yourself butting up against the tax filing deadline, you can always request an extension, “so you’re not stressed out,” says Derus.

Most people don’t fully understand how extensions work, and often make mistakes that cost a bundle. Here’s what you need to know:

How to file a tax extension:

1. File an extension anytime before or on April 15. You’ll avoid the late filing penalty, which is a whopping 5% of your outstanding balance, due for every month you’ve failed to file.
2. If you owe money, pay as much as you can by April 15 to avoid the late payment penalty of 0.05% interest. (A whole lot less than the late filing penalty, though!)
3. Make arrangements to complete your tax filing by the October 15 deadline to avoid adding extra interest payments.

Get the Benefits of E-Filing:

You’ve probably already been e-filing your taxes, but are you aware of the benefits?

Why it’s better to e-file:

• 24 hours after you e-file, you can start checking on your return via the IRS’s “Where’s My Refund” online tool or IRS2Go app.
• You’ll get any refund due to you faster.

You’re also more likely to know if you filed your forms correctly, avoiding a scary encounter with the tax man. Because if you e-file, you’ve got to use software. And these programs “run a check for questions that need to be answered, numbers that don’t add up, and missing Social Security numbers,” says Tai Stewart, accountant and owner of Saidia Financial Solutions in Houston. Those mistakes tend to flag your return for a close-up review.

You’ll also wait up to six weeks for your return if you use snail mail.

So, what are you waiting for? “Fill a pot of coffee, and get to work,” encourages Derus.

Drawers overfloweth? 7 ideas to solve the problem once and for all!

January 25, 2017

By: Jamie Wiebe

If your home lacks storage, these drawer solutions can help.

Messy junk drawers. Unorganized spices. Your overflowing dresser. Drawers and cabinets are supposed to keep you organized, not hide what you need.

Don’t despair.

Whether you choose a DIY solution, an inexpensive store-bought fix, or even a custom-made splurge, solving your organizing disaster is totally doable. Here’s how.

#1 Boxes for Your Bathroom Drawers:

You might have pristine quartz countertops, a shiny rain showerhead, gorgeous oak cabinetry, but if opening the drawers in your newly remodeled bathroom destroys the illusion you carefully crafted, you need some help to restore your dream of neat and tidy.

These makeup and toiletry drawer organizers can do that. The one in the top drawer costs around $80, and the one in the bottom drawer is just over $50 at Kohler. You can get a similar solution with inexpensive bamboo boxes that cost as little as $4 each.

Spend Oh-So-Wisely on a Kitchen Remodel:

1. 6 Materials to Never Use in Your Kitchen
2. How to Shop for a Retro Kitchen — and Not Get Stuck with Junk
3. Refacing Your Kitchen Cabinets: The Options and Costs

#2 Honeycomb Dividers for Socks and Underwear:

Some glorious souls are so organized they even fold their underwear. Not quite capable of that level of dedication — but still desperate to make sense of your undies? Honeycomb drawer dividers (like this set from Whitmor for $9) might save your sanity.

These dividers snap together, making for a perfect fit no matter the size of your drawer. (You can even trim the set to fit short, squat drawers.) Create an organizer’s dream drawer by giving each tie, pair of socks, or lingerie their own honeycomb.

#3 Old CD Holders for Plastic Lids:

CDs are practically as ancient as your grandparents’ cassette tapes, but for some reason, CD holders are still around. That’s probably because those slots are the perfect size for all your wandering plastic lids. If you don’t happen to have one hanging around, you can find them at thrift stores for practically pennies, or pick up a new one for about $13.

#4 A Flexible Dock for Knives:

If your knives are a jumble in a drawer, you’re not only risking your skin, your knives will get duller faster. Save your skin — literally — by picking up a knife dock, such as the one pictured (Deluxe Bamboo Knife Dock, about $50) that you can store in a drawer. Plus it’s customizable to accommodate a variety of knives, everything from your biggest chopper to your tiniest steak knife.

#5 Pull-Out Drawers for Deep Cabinets:

Your knees just can’t take it anymore. Every time you make your famous chili, they scream in agony as you dig waaay in the back to extricate your beans.

Pull-out drawers to the rescue! You can retro-fit yours by buying the hardware for about $300, or if you’re remodeling, you can get cabinets with pull-outs already in them — like the MasterBrand Cabinets one pictured here.

#6 A Drawer for Spices:

Stuffing your spices into a cabinet makes cooking even more complicated. Your chicken curry needs paprika, and you know it’s in here somewhere. Beside the black pepper? No. Hiding behind the thyme? Gah…

Like the pull-out solution above, you can retrofit a drawer with a spice drawer insert (starting around $15) or go for custom, like this spice drawer from Western Custom Cabinetry. Never lose your lemongrass again.

#7 Custom Drawer Organizers That Change With Your Needs:

Getting that perfect in-drawer fit for your clothing can be an impossible task — especially when you’re squeezing your favorite Christmas sweater and your collection of silk chemises into the same space. And as your lifestyle changes (maternity clothes on the horizon?), your needs change.

If you can afford custom organizers that let you adjust your drawers as needed (like the ones pictured above from Wood-Mode) you’ll be set for life.

It’s a splurge (when we asked about cost, the people at Wood-Mode said they couldn’t really give one because everything is custom-built; they’ll even custom-build a solution for your existing drawers!). But if you’re customizing a closet because you want a peaceful, organized feeling, this solution could be priceless.

5 inspired storage ideas!

January 13, 2017

By: Stacey Freed

A little shelf here, a big shelf there. You’d be surprised where they can fit.

Finally, you get to take that beach vacation in the dead of winter. But where is your beach towel?!? You know it’s somewhere in that linen closet, but (sigh) it’s so crammed you can’t find it.

One of these days, you’re going to have to figure out how to get more storage space so you can find this seasonal stuff faster. But the last thing you want to do is go out and buy more stuff to put more stuff in.

There’s a better way — shelves. Not the bookshelf kind (they only take up floor space), but shelves you can incorporate into your home’s architecture for an interesting, personalized look that also solves nagging storage issues.

Here are five unexpected places shelves can boost your home’s storage and personality:

#1 Over the Bathroom Door:

Seems like your bathroom can never have enough storage, especially for that recurring avalanche of towels in your itty-bitty linen closet. But if your ceiling is high enough, you’ve got enough space to tuck those extra towels you only need for overnight guests.

Opt for larger items that are easy to see and grab, such as towels, bedding, or bath tissue. “If this were filled with tiny boxes or soaps, it would look like you needed more storage and had to start building down from the rafters to hold stuff,” says Lorraine Bohonos, professional organizer and owner of HomeFree, in Rochester, N.Y. says. Plus, it’s impractical to store tiny things up high where you can’t see them.

#2 On Windows:

Gasp! Who would put shelves in windows and block the light?!

You would, if they’re glass shelves. Adding glass shelves in a sunny window for indoor plants is a great way to allow light and nature to filter into your home. Plus, glass shelves have such clean lines, Bohonos says, so they don’t overwhelm the room.

As with those pictured, keep the bottom shelves and floor space relatively open to let in plenty of light. “It gives an airiness and it’s inviting,” Bohonos says. You get some storage without having to give up privacy or natural light.

#3 Underneath Stairs:

The space under stairways has been used to stash everything from vacuum cleaners to boy wizards, but you can open up that space to be visually appealing as well as functional. “Doing this adds interest to a space that would be pretty boring without anything there,” Bohonos says, and makes a room feel larger.

“Shelves like this make a nice horizontal balance to the shape of the space. For storage, you can put containers on the floor underneath,” Bohonos says. But you don’t want to overdo it or you’ll ruin the spacious effect.

#4 In-Between Your Walls’ Studs:

There are all kinds of storage space around us if we just look. In most walls, especially in newer construction, studs are 16 inches apart. Knock out the drywall between those studs, and you’ve got a spot for built-in storage that gives your home that something special.

“These kinds of shelves have clean lines and add a bit of interest,” Bohonos says. But she cautions that things should be neatly placed and in good condition.

“If it’s well set up, it can look like a piece of art,” she says.

#5 All Over Your Kitchen Walls:

Now that you know about the secret spaces in your home’s walls, opening up your kitchen walls (especially all the way up to the ceiling) is a very doable idea to maximize every inch of a small space.

“This is functional beauty. It has to be pleasing to the eye — and look as if every item has a mindful spot,” Bohonos says.

She suggests that before committing to open shelves in your kitchen, ask yourself if you’re okay with what people will see there. If not, get back to your regularly scheduled weekend. Otherwise, curate what will live on your new open shelves (and, remember, you’ll have to dust more often than usual).

Focus on function and form. If you entertain often, don’t put your favorite serving plate on the top shelf — no matter how good it looks there. Put rarely used attractive items (that Le Creuset roaster you only use on Thanksgiving) up there instead.