About a year ago, I visited the State Fair with my mom and we had a blast walking through the “House of Tomorrow.” The model home was outfitted with the latest energy-efficient and just plain cool devices. My personal favorite was the microwave drawer oven, mostly because I love hiding stuff in the kitchen.

Surprise pull-out drawers and cabinets that hold more than meets the eye keep a big kitchen looking clean, fresh and uncluttered even if there are dirty dishes in the sink. Not to mention the space-saving possibilities – I still have a big, stand-up trash can in my kitchen and I can’t wait for the day I can install pull-out garbage bins and avoid taking extra steps around my oversized one. Until then, I’ll just have to settle for drooling over all the “hidden” possibilities! Those possibilities don’t stop at microwaves and garbage, either. Check out some of Kitchen Design Concepts’ space-saving secrets, including surprising spice racks and pull-out dishware drawers.

Our intern is Desiree Johnson, a recent journalism graduate and Texas native. The 26-year-old loves painting, her dachshund Munchie and learning to use what she calls her “real, adult-sized kitchen.”