By Liberty Hill Cabinets
Modern kitchens are all about balance—balancing function with style, efficiency with elegance, and storage with space. One smart solution that’s winning over homeowners across Central Texas is the appliance garage.
At Liberty Hill Cabinets, we specialize in creating cabinetry that solves real problems without sacrificing style. An appliance garage is one of the simplest and most impactful ways to keep your kitchen organized and beautiful. Whether you’re building a new home or remodeling a dated kitchen, this custom cabinet feature can dramatically change how you use and enjoy your space.
What Is an Appliance Garage?
If you’re unfamiliar with the term, an appliance garage is essentially a dedicated cabinet—often placed on or just above the countertop—designed to house small kitchen appliances. Think coffee makers, toasters, blenders, stand mixers, and even microwaves.
Unlike traditional upper or lower cabinets, appliance garages offer quick and easy access to frequently used items, while also allowing you to keep them out of sight when they’re not in use. It’s one of those features that, once you have it, you’ll wonder how you ever lived without it.
Why Are Appliance Garages Becoming So Popular?
The answer is simple: People want clean, organized spaces that are still highly functional. And in the kitchen—the heart of the home—that matters more than ever. With the rise of minimalist design and open-concept layouts, clutter is a major visual distraction.
A recent survey of homeowners found that the top complaints about kitchen design include:
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Not enough counter space
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Too much clutter
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Difficult-to-reach appliances
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A lack of dedicated zones for coffee, baking, or meal prep
Appliance garages solve all of these issues in one elegant move.
A Look at the Most Common Countertop Appliances
To understand why appliance garages make so much sense, let’s look at the appliances most people use daily. The chart below shows just how common certain items are in American kitchens:
As you can see:
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80% of households use a coffee maker daily
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70% use a microwave
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65% use a toaster
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40% use a blender regularly
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And even though only 25% use a stand mixer frequently, it still takes up considerable space
These are essential tools—but they’re not necessarily attractive to look at, and they clutter up valuable work surfaces.
Key Benefits of Appliance Garages
Let’s go beyond the obvious and dig into the real-life benefits:
1. Maintain Clean, Open Countertops
No matter how gorgeous your new quartz countertop is, it won’t shine if it’s buried under wires, gadgets, and machines. Appliance garages allow you to reclaim your work space, giving you room to cook, serve, and entertain in a clutter-free environment.
2. Protect Your Appliances
When left out, small appliances collect dust, grease, and even moisture from cooking. An enclosed cabinet keeps them clean, dry, and protected, extending their lifespan.
3. Create Purposeful Zones
Appliance garages are a great way to create dedicated kitchen zones. Want a baking area? Tuck your stand mixer and measuring cups in a custom cabinet. Love your morning coffee ritual? Create a hidden coffee bar with mugs, beans, and syrups all in one tidy spot.
4. Seamless Style
By blending your appliance garage into the overall cabinetry design, your kitchen gets a more consistent, streamlined look. No visual noise, no interruptions—just a beautiful space that works hard behind the scenes.
Types of Appliance Garages We Build
At Liberty Hill Cabinets, every project is custom-built, which means we tailor your appliance garage to your appliances, your space, and your style. Here are some of the most popular design options:
Traditional Cabinet Doors
Perfect for a classic kitchen aesthetic. These sit on the counter or just above and open outward like a regular cabinet.
Pocket Doors
These doors slide back into the cabinet itself—ideal for people who want to leave the appliance set up and ready without any doors getting in the way.
Tambour Doors (Roll-Up)
A favorite for modern kitchens, tambour doors roll vertically into the upper portion of the cabinet and take up no external space. They’re sleek, functional, and great for tight areas.
Lift-Up Doors
A convenient solution for upper appliance garages. These doors lift up and stay open, giving you full access to your appliances without blocking the surrounding space.
Pull-Out Shelves
For heavier appliances like mixers or air fryers, we often add pull-out shelves or trays. These allow you to use the appliance in place, then slide it back out of sight with ease.
Where Should You Put an Appliance Garage?
This depends on your kitchen layout and the appliances you use most often. Common locations include:
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In a corner on the countertop, especially near an outlet
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Near your prep zone, for quick access to blenders or food processors
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As part of a built-in coffee station or breakfast nook
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Within a tall pantry cabinet, ideal for storing multiple small appliances together
We’ll help you decide the best placement for your needs during our design consultation.
Tips for Planning Your Own Appliance Garage
Here’s what to think about before designing yours:
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Measure your appliances—height, width, depth, and clearance when lids open
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Include outlets inside or directly behind the cabinet
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Leave space for air circulation, especially if you’ll use appliances inside the cabinet
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Choose a finish and hardware that matches or complements your other cabinetry
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Plan for door clearance—especially with outward-swinging or pocket door designs
Real-World Examples from Our Clients
We’ve installed appliance garages in homes across Liberty Hill, Leander, Cedar Park, Georgetown, and the surrounding area. Here are just a few popular requests:
“The Hidden Coffee Bar”
One homeowner wanted a coffee station that didn’t interfere with the rest of the kitchen. We created a corner cabinet with tambour doors that hid their espresso machine, mugs, and syrups—completely invisible when not in use.
“The Baking Garage”
A custom pull-out drawer with a pop-up stand mixer and hidden drawer storage for baking tools helped one avid baker reclaim her counter space and organize her hobby into one easy-to-use zone.
Why Choose Liberty Hill Cabinets?
We’re more than just cabinetmakers—we’re problem solvers, designers, and passionate craftsmen. Every appliance garage we build is:
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Made right here in Central Texas
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Built from high-quality materials that last
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Designed to blend seamlessly into your kitchen
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Installed with care by professionals who value your home like their own
We don’t just build kitchens. We build spaces that make your daily life easier and more beautiful.
Ready to Reclaim Your Countertops?
An appliance garage is a small addition that can make a huge difference in your kitchen’s look and function. Whether you’re planning a full remodel or just want to add smarter storage, we’d love to help.
Contact Liberty Hill Cabinets today to schedule your free consultation.
Let’s build a kitchen that’s as hardworking as you are—without sacrificing style.
