Frisbees, pizza pans, tortillas—for some reason human beings have a fixation with simple round discs. Perhaps since the invention of the wheel we keep trying to make something as revolutionary. Well, with one such strangely-named disc, we might come close. Deceptively simple, lazy Susans are a helpful addition to any kitchen. 

“Lazy Susan” is the name given to a round tray that spins in place. They can live on tables or counters and are helpful for display or for serving food. They can also hide inside cabinets and provide organization for storage. While these are their most common uses, as time progresses, people become increasingly creative with how to use them.

What’s in a Name?

With such a striking name, it is only natural to wonder how the moniker came to be. Unfortunately, the etymology is riddled with confusion, and pinning down a definite history for the name presents a challenge.

Even deciding where the invention came from is a bit of a head-scratcher. Some suggest it is of German origin, while others cite 18th century England. A popular theory is that the device was the brainchild of President Thomas Jefferson himself, but while these are plausible sources for the name, we have to agree with the Smithsonian when they suggest that the simple rotating tray itself was first used in 13th century China.

So why “lazy Susan?” The name certainly doesn’t seem to have roots in Cantonese. Evidence suggests that the unflattering designation has likely roots in the years just before the turn of the 20th century when a household staff was gradually giving way to new and in-vogue labor-saving devices. The umbrella term for these was actually “dumbwaiter,” and since Susan was sort of a catch-all name for the female help, both names seem to be unflattering references to domestic servants.

The Many Uses of a Lazy Susan

A lazy Susan is a usually round tray (often made of wood, glass, or plastic) that can rotate 360 degrees. A non-slip rubber base is a worthy addition that makes sure the disc doesn’t slip around during use. Though they are simple, they can be used in a multitude of ways. Lazy susans offer a level of convenience and accessibility that simply cannot be matched. 

Serving Food

Perhaps the original purpose of the invention, serving food doesn’t get any easier than with a lazy Susan. That is also the reason the simple device regained popularity in the 1950s. AmeriChinese restaurants started using them as a staple, and that use filtered into households all across the country.

When you use a lazy Susan to serve food, multiple diners have equal access to food, condiments, and seasoning without awkwardly having to interrupt the conversation to ask their neighbor to pass anything. 

Storage

The sky’s the limit with what you can store on a lazy Susan. They come in a wide variety of sizes, so find the right one to fit your space and what you plan to store. Some lazy Susans even break the round mold, designed specifically to fit inside oddly-shaped closets and cabinets.

If you want to better utilize the space inside your bathroom mirror cabinet, store cosmetics or medicines on a smaller lazy Susan. Spices are also commonly stored on smaller devices in kitchen pantries or cabinets. While the invention is commonly associated with food, their storage use doesn’t have to be limited to the edible. Store your shoes or craft supplies on one for accessibility.

Organization

Using a lazy Susan in a space minimizes clutter. Create order wherever you choose to use it: under the sink, in the fridge, on the counter, or even hanging from the underside of hanging cabinets. Lazy Susans can be used to suit your needs. If you decide to hang one upside down, instead of setting things on the disc space, attach hooks to it and hang pots or utensils from it. Some lazy Susans come  in multiple tiers which offers another level of organization.

Coffee/Hot Cocoa Station

Looking for a cozy fuel-up station in the morning? Keep all your coffee or hot cocoa fixin’s stored in one place and on display. It adds to a charming atmosphere in any kitchen, you don’t have to stick to hot drinks. You can use a lazy Susan to create a serving station for anything you want readily at hand: cereal, fruit, condiments or even nonedibles like silverware.

Decorating Cakes

Sure, they’re great for serving food, but lazy Susans can also be helpful in the preparation stage as well. Any cake decorator worth her salts knows that a lazy Susan makes for a more even application of frosting or fondant.

Gameplay For the Whole Family

Playing Life with the littles? Don’t let adolescent arm length get in the way of your fun. If you place the game board on a lazy Susan, any space is easily reached, be it “Buy a Home” or “Payday.”

When you design your home or undertake a remodel, it’s important that you find the right elements to fit your space. This means you have a lot of choices to make. The choice between framed vs. frameless cabinets offers another level of customization. When making this decision, it can come down to a question of functional need vs. design, but it doesn’t have to. Both choices, framed vs. frameless, offer different structural and functional benefits, and both have a distinct look. Let’s delve in and discover which best fits your vision.

Framed Cabinets

Also called face-framed cabinetry, framed cabinets are more traditional in the United States. In fact, they are sometimes referred to as “traditional” or “American style” cabinetry. The biggest pull framed cabinets bring to the framed vs. frameless contest is that they are sturdier by design. The biggest drawback is slightly obstructed access to the interior of the cabinet, along with a fractionally reduced amount of storage space

The Build

As the name implies, framed cabinets have a face frame that mounts to the front of the cabinet box. This reinforces the sidewalls and keeps the cabinet from warping or “racking” over time. Double cabinets also have a stile down the center, reinforcing the shape of the cabinet further. The cabinet doors are secured to the face frame, not the box itself. 

The width of the face frame is a matter of choice, and where the doors sit in relation to it is also customizable. Most face frames and center styles are about 1.5 inches on all sides of the cabinet’s opening, but that will vary with your preference and manufacturer. “Inset” is a type of framed cabinet that appears frameless. The cabinet doors are mounted inside the frame to create a flush appearance. There is also a full overlay option that leaves a fourth of an inch of the frame visible, and a partial overlay option which reveals a larger part of the frame, perhaps an inch or so.

Pros and Cons

If you want to maximize every inch of your cabinets, framed cabinets suffer in the framed vs. frameless debate. While they are stronger and sturdier, the storage in framed cabinets is slightly reduced because the frame takes up part of the space. Drawers especially are smaller on framed cabinets. It is also important to note that it is more difficult to access the things stored in framed cabinets because of the interior lip the frame provides.

That being said, framed cabinets are overall more customizable because you can choose where the doors sit on the frame, even giving the appearance of a frameless cabinet while maintaining stability. If you really like the look of the frame, you can display more of it, choosing to keep it unadorned or embellishing it, perhaps with a pattern or a different color of paint.

Frameless Cabinets

Frameless cabinets are a newer style, sleeker, and more common in Europe, though the trend is certainly crossing the pond more and more often. That doesn’t stop them from being called “European style,” “full access”, or “modern” cabinetry. In the battle of framed vs. frameless, they offer less stability but more accessibility.

The Build

There is no face frame to be found here. Without it, the options on how to mount the doors are limited to exactly one: cabinet doors are attached directly to the cabinet box itself. It is possible to leave the hinges of the cabinet exposed, though, so there is some variability. Frameless cabinets do not have a stile down the center, so they trade the stability of a stile for better access to the cabinet. 

Pros and Cons

A frameless style offers unobstructed access to the interior of the cabinets, hence the “full access” mnemonic. This means you get the most of your storage space and it is much easier to wipe down or dust the corners and shelves inside. The little extra space may also make all the difference when it comes to pulling out bulky appliances. Without a frame taking up space, frameless cabinets are also more accommodating for drawers, allowing them to be wider, sitting right up against the cabinet frame.

Though they offer less stability, frameless cabinets have a sleeker look with seamless lines, and if that is the style you want to incorporate, they may be the right choice. If you’re still not sure who wins in your book, if you’re still stuck on framed vs. frameless cabinets, give us a call at Lloyd’s Remodeling and Cabinetry. We can help you find the perfect choice for your home.

Whether it’s a half-bath or a double-vanity wonder, we know that maximizing the space in your bathroom can pose a challenge. We’ve compiled a list of nine ways to organize your bathroom.

Declutter

The first step you should take to organize your bathroom is to remove what does not need to be there. It seems a bit self-explanatory, but the challenge we present is to really consider what things truly need to be in your bathroom and what things are taking up space unnecessarily. If you have toilet paper stored in bulk or back up shampoo bottles, consider removing them to a different location if your bathroom does not have the space to accommodate them. 

Keep the Counters Free

This one can be a bit tricky to stomach because counters present so much storage space, but if you want your bathroom to look tiny and not cluttered, keep the counters cleared off. Keeping the counters free gives the eyes less things to focus on, creating last visual noise. 

Capitalize on Cabinetry 

Another important step to take as you organize your bathroom is to take advantage of the storage space already present. If you have a cabinet behind the mirror, use it. A Lazy Susan is a great addition, especially if you have deep cabinets. 

Don’t limit yourself to just the actual shelving part of the cabinet. Utilize the inside of cabinet doors. You can mount hooks on the inside of doors for hanging hair dryers, spray bottles, and other things that need storing.

Caddies! 

If they can keep things on the ninth hole orderly, they can help to organize your bathroom. Of course the caddies in this sense mean containers that are segmented to facilitate organization. They come in all shapes and sizes, some acting as bins and others more as little drawers. In fact, you may find a desk organizer in the office section of the store that fits the needs of your space. Even cups or mason jars can fit the bill.

The versatility of caddies does not stop at their shape. Caddies can also be placed in a number of locations around the bathroom depending on which space you want to utilize. It’s common to see them in vanity cabinetry, attached to the walls or in the shower, or on existing shelves.

Use a Laundry Basket as a Display Piece

Find a container or basket that fits with the theme of the room. If it has a lid, all the better. You know what they say about airing dirty laundry, plus removing it from sight will give your eye fewer things to focus on and make the room feel less cluttered as mentioned above. Having a laundry bin in the bathroom makes a morning or evening shower routine more convenient.

When done correctly, adding a laundry basket to a compact space can usually free it up, but if doing so leaves too little walking room, remember that not all of our suggestions here will be right for everybody. You may find that your laundry falls under the first category mentioned and belongs better in a different room.

Hook, Line, and Sinker

If you need to hang towels for a handful of people, opt for hooks instead of a towel rod. Too many towels crammed on a rod make for a messy appearance and inadequate drying, making hooks the healthier option as well as the organized one.

Toilet Shelving

Utilize the space over the toilet—either with wall shelving or a rack that sits above the toilet tank. As most toilets are of a standard size, there are many options out there for different varieties of shelving racks that sit just behind them. 

To Each His Own 

As you organize your bathroom, make sure everything has a place. Have designated spots where you always keep your necessities like your toothbrush and hair brush. If you recently got a label maker and want to try it out, or if you just think labels would benefit the organization of your space, mark the drawers in which everything goes.

Add a Tiered Organizer

If you have the floor space, create more shelving and maximize storage in a more unorthodox way. Right now it is trendy to drape or hang things on a decorative wooden ladder propped against a wall. This can double as a drying rack, but don’t overdo it on the volume and busyness of things displayed. 

The challenge to organize your bathroom in a way that is both functional and visually appealing shouldn’t be daunting but fun. If you need help in using your space to its full potential, give us a call at Lloyd’s Cabinetry today.