Every small-space dweller knows the feeling. You tidy up, and twenty minutes later the counter is covered again. In a New York City apartment, storage and surface space both disappear fast, and when there's nowhere for things to go, they end up everywhere.

That was the starting point for Carlos and Mariel Juarez in their Crown Heights kitchen. To kick off Small Space Organization Month, they shared their own Yamazaki Home before and after: what wasn't working, what changed, and what they'd tell anyone about to start their own small-space overhaul.

The Before: Everything in Sight, Nothing in Place

The Juarez’s kitchen relied on open storage and exposed counter space. A cozy kitchen often sounds charming, but in practice it means everything you own is on display all the time.

“Having just open storage and counter space meant you saw everything and it easily looked messy.”

The biggest challenge was simple math. As they put it, storage and surface space are both essential, and both vanish quickly. Their clutter built up in a few predictable places:

• The counters, where open storage meant every item was visible
  
• The sink area, where dishes piled up without a good system
  
• The front door, where bags, keys, and shoes tend to pile up
  
  

The After: Smarter Storage That Works as Hard as They Do

The Juarez’s New Favorite: Countertop Drawer with Pull-Out Shelf

Asked which Yamazaki Home piece surprised them most, the Juarezes were quick to answer: Countertop Drawer with Pull-Out Shelf won them over with its sturdiness.

They like that the countertop drawer holds their espresso machine, and the shelf stays stable even while tamping coffee. They now get to have their favorite morning beverage without giving up their entire countertop to the machine.

For a couple who wants good coffee without giving up half their counter, that stability means they can now have the best of both worlds.

Cleanup that Finally Sticks

Adding the Two-Tier Dish Rack, the Over-the-Sink Dish Drainer, and the Collapsible Bottle Dryer changed how the Juarezes handle the end of the day.

Clean-up is now more intentional and more consistent. It's still a small kitchen, and they wanted their dishes to stop piling up. Now their extra storage and drying space gives them somewhere to put their clean dishes and even organize the dirty ones.

The racks also helped settle a household debate. "[Carlos] hates the way I stack dishes," Mariel said. With the dish and sink racks, organizing is simple, convenient, and neat, so nobody has to do a sink-side re-stack.

Easy Front Door Organization

Not every upgrade happened at their counter. The Magnetic Key Cabinet now keeps their keys neatly stored by the door.

It sounds small, but having a designated spot beats dropping keys wherever there's a free surface, and it's one less thing to hunt for on the way out.

Why It Matters: A Kitchen That Can Handle Real Life

The Juarezes cook a lot. They've been leaning into homemade dishes from scratch, like pasta, which is a fun project to do with the kids and, in their words, incredibly messy. A made-from-scratch pasta night needs room to roll, cut, and spread out, and that's where the extra counter space pays off.

An organized kitchen isn't about looking perfect. It's about having space for the cooking, the kids, and the mess that comes with them.

The Juarezes' Advice for Your Small-Space Overhaul

Their number one tip: focus on the things you actually use.

Single-use gadgets just take up space, and New York apartments aren't known for generous cabinets. So be selective about what you bring in, and favor quality and purpose over single-use items.

A few ways to put that into practice:

Consider your space before you buy. Look at what's crowding your counters and ask whether you use it daily, weekly, or monthly. If you have bigger machines, consider placing a storage rack underneath.
Give everyday items a designated home, like keys by the door, shoes in a shoe rack, or clean dishes in a designated drying rack.
Choose sturdy, multi-use pieces that earn their footprint.

Start Your Own Before and After: 15% Off All Month

From October 7-28, Yamazaki Home's Small Space Organization Collection is 15% OFF. Whether you're after a drawer that can handle housing an espresso machine on top, a dish rack that keeps cleanup tidy, or a key cabinet that gives the entryway some order, now is the perfect time to start your own Before/After journey.

Shop the Small Space Organization Collection →