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David Sacks

The question

Which appliances should I keep on display, and which should I hide away when not in use?

The answer

I am stuff-free countertop person. Use it, then lose it, I always say. I keep my Jura coffee machine in another room on a desk along with coffee cups, saucers and spoons. The toaster, panini machine and blender come out only when I need them. I don't want to look at anything that is just sitting around waiting to be used – and that includes a partner hanging out on the sofa while you are cooking. If you find that your appliances are almost always in play and you want them within reach, get good-looking ones, keep them clean and line them up in a row; or have a custom appliance garage built between the upper and lower cabinets and tuck all of your machines inside it. When it comes to larger appliances like the dishwasher and fridge, I'm not into fully integrated kitchens where the cabinetry hides them. I prefer stainless steel because it makes it easier to find them! Hide-and-seek isn't any fun to play with appliances. After all, what kind of a big reveal is dirty dishes?

Follow architect and interior designer Dee Dee Taylor Eustace on Twitter: @ddtaylordd. Have a design dilemma? E-mail style@globeandmail.com.

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