If cooking is a hassle for you, it may be time to do some reorganizing. Curtis Stone, star of the reality cooking show "Take Home Chef," thinks that a beautiful, well-organized kitchen can make a world of difference to home cooks. "When I was doing 'Take Home Chef' and cooking in all these different houses," says Stone, "I was thinking, why is it so difficult to cook in people's homes? It was so easy in a professional kitchen! Well, one of the main differences between a professional kitchen and residential kitchen is organization. But with the right organizational features, cooking can be fun and relaxing." Get in the Zone According to Paul Radoy, manager of design services for Merillat, the best way to approach kitchen organization and storage is to look at the room in sections. "All kitchens have a cooking zone and a cleanup zone," he says. "And some kitchens may have an island or pantry. Each of these areas lends themselves to various storage opportunities." The Cooking Zone Food preparation and cooking are the primary functions of a kitchen, which is why keeping cooking items organized and within easy reach is key. The National Association of Professional Organizers recommends observing the flow of activity in your kitchen and organizing around it. Stone agrees, saying, "I believe the kitchen should be designed for the way you live." Whether you're installing new cabinets or working with your existing units, try to optimize your space by creating specified storage areas. * Group objects by purpose and dedicate specific storage areas for them. Having all the bakeware together or all the pots and pans together lets you get to what you need quickly and efficiently. * Store pots and pans as close to the stove as possible. * Keep utensils where you can reach them easily while cooking. A utensil hanging system on the backsplash, or a pull-down knife rack under the wall cabinet next to the cooktop keeps you from digging through drawers. The Pantry Zone If you're tired of hunting through a dozen canned goods to find the one you really need, or if you end up buying items you didn't know you already had, then it's time to reorganize the pantry. Group similar food items together, the way you see them on grocery store shelves. Keep canned goods on one shelf, breakfast foods on another, baking ingredients on another. If you don't have a lot of built-in storage space, look for ways to maximize what you do have. * Individual turntables are great for organizing and storing spices and smaller pantry items. * Stacking platforms can go in taller shelf spaces to eliminate wasted space. * Pullout shelves or baskets can utilize even more space in a cupboard. "From a chef's perspective, and from a home cook's perspective," says Stone, "when you're working in a kitchen that makes sense, it makes the whole cooking experience much easier - and more fun." For more on the latest kitchen storage solutions, visit www.merillat.com. Caption: Peg dividers for drawers can be customized so you can fit your pots and pans however you like.