Eat, organize, love ... your kitchen

(ARA) - The days are getting shorter and seemingly busier with kids back in school, fall activities kicking off and - although it seems hard to believe - the holidays on the horizon. The long, carefree laissez-faire days of summer have turned a bit more regimented with the change of seasons. Now is the time to get organized and back into a routine that is tailored to your lifestyle. Begin with an organized start to your day in the hub of all home activity: the kitchen.

A kitchen fix-up - striking a balance

With kids constantly searching for snacks, adults on the go, lunches to pack and meals to prepare, a workable routine needs an efficient kitchen with great organization and a superior utilization of space. If you're going to spend significant amounts of time in the kitchen, then it's got to be both functional and pleasing to the eye.

"With so much time spent in kitchens, there is a dichotomy that pulls at people when thinking about a kitchen fix-up," says Cathy Hitz, brand manager for Diamond Cabinets. "Is it style over function or function over style? The truth is you don't have to favor one over the other. Great kitchens can perform this balancing act when they are designed using innovative products and accessories that give you both."

A kitchen fix-up does not have to be bothersome or too costly. The best place to start is probably with what you have the most of, use the most, and spend the most time looking at: your cabinets.

Cabinetry manufacturers, like Diamond, have an assortment of door styles, expanded wood choices and finishes, decorative glass options and an array of architectural elements and customization products that fit all kitchens, tastes and budgets. The cherry on top is that inside the cabinets for every room in your home, you can find smart and useful organization features.

A place for everything and everything in its place

In a cluttered kitchen, valuable time can be lost looking for car keys, important mail or even measuring cups. When choosing products to fit your kitchen fix-up, it is as important to understand the utility and unique needs of the people who use the kitchen every day. Do you do a lot of cooking or baking? Or is your kitchen the repository for all things? And not just typical kitchen items, but things such as coats, backpacks, keys and phones?

Diamond's Logix line has plenty of organization elements and flexibility. One time-saver is the "drop-zone" cabinet, which features a pullout charging station for small electronics that can clutter up a kitchen table. In addition, it has other essential organizational features for the family kitchen, such as key and coat hooks, a white board for messages and a spot for backpacks, briefcases or purses.

As the season unfolds and you work your life into an organized routine, don't let panic set in as you get back into the swing of things. With an eye on your lifestyle and a few smart kitchen cabinet fix-ups, your kitchen will be ready.