SquareRooms | Issue 180 • April 2020

59 Go without upper cabinets Ask yourself if you really need that much storage. Forgoing top cabinets will help trim down renovation costs, but budget aside, we love how diminutive kitchens are able to look more spacious and feel airier sans the top-heavy units. If going “topless” seems to be too far of a leap, consider the open-shelving option. S A V E Open shelves allow occupants to display their favourite serve ware. Be critical of the items that you put on show lest you invite visual clutter in. IMAGE COURTESY OF IKEA DESIGN BY KDOT ASSOCIATES Small tools The little things make a difference to your tasks. Here’s where to spend and save. COOKWARE Superior cookware can make a difference between a dish that’s charred or one that’s a culinary delight. Allocate your expenses for a set of pots and pans with a bit of heft to make both cooking and cleaning up a cinch. Fleischer and Wolf London Tri-Ply Stainless Steel/Gold 10-Piece Set, $779.95 from Crate & Barrel Crafted from grey-veined marble, this showpiece holds an enviable set of Japanese stainless steel knives. We say it certainly deserves to take pride of place on your countertop. Fleischer and Wolf Marble 7-Piece Knife Block Set, $669.95 from Crate & Barrel Our essentials are spoons, ladles, spatulas, tongs and strainers. Do inspect them for quality before buying so they don’t have to be replaced too frequently. Tasty+ Spatula & Cutting Edge, $11.80 from HipVan A well-made cutting board provides a stable and safe surface for cutting food. Some boards are priced steeply because of the thickness and material. Nonetheless, years of wear eventually take a toll so just go for a decently priced one. Dakka Cutting Board, $59 from HipVan A simple design does the job, but do note the bottle’s capacity. Anything too small requires constant topping up and may tip over when you press down. Joey Pump/Scrubby Combo, $19.90 from HipVan KNIFE SET COOKING UTENSILS CUTTING BOARD SOAP DISPENSER