"The trend is now more about built-in and less about having hundreds of DVDs or CDs on display. In this age of wireless broadband and MP3 players connected to the home audio system, there is no need for a display of your CD collection in an unsightly rack that takes up floor space, " he says.

"The laptop with your playlist is in a cabinet behind a hidden door within the wall panelling in the dining room, pumping out the tunes to speakers that are wireless or wired in the ceiling."

With kitchens and living rooms often morphing into one zone and many homes scarce of space, there's huge emphasis on streamlined stowaway style, utilising redundant areas such as alcoves and underneath stairs.

In some open-plan living areas, such as Landmark Development's penthouse at Beacon South Quarter in Dublin, the working zone is cleverly and stylishly concealed behind closed doors. Not only does this bank of storage hide appliances and stash kitchen essentials, it also stores other items. This is a growing trend, says McKenna. "People might want to have a wall of tall storage that caters for the functions of the kitchen which also contains a desk, " he says.

The secret of successful storage comes down to three words: "design, design, design.

"Design is personal to the client. You are designing a house to suit your storage needs whether you are a bachelor, a couple, or a family, " says McKenna. His advice is to assess individual requirements and then seek the advice of professionals, starting with an architect, to ensure your storage reflects the way you live.

A typical trap, according to McKenna, is not to budget for storage. "Even if you cannot afford to install all the storage when refurbishing your house, have drawings done to plan where your storage will go to meet your needs. This can be done at a secondary stage of the build. Don't fall into the trap of leaving undesigned space because junk expands to fill the space available.

"Then you must reconcile the your functional needs with the aesthetic of the space. This is often achieved by using the same materials throughout the house and same joinery details."

For those planning on staying in their homes for the foreseeable future, concealed builtin is the way to go. This makes the most of limited and awkward space. "The current trend is for floor to ceiling doors with push click catches, " he says. Panelling is one way of concealing cabinetry and can work particularly well behind a stairwell.

The hallway is often overlooked when it comes to storage. "Everyone has an entrance and if you can create an alcove space, you could go for hidden fixed shelves, " suggests McKenna. "We attach timber pieces to the wall and fit them to the shelving but you don't see them when you look at the shelves which appear to be floating."

Even narrow spaces can be put to work. "Most things we own are small. People often have a wall in the hallway or the kitchen where they could build storage floor to ceiling that is only 300mm deep. The doors can be flush, timber veneered, or even painted to blend in with other walls. Open the narrow doors to reveal a kitchen larder space or a hall storage space with everything very accessible."

Contemporary kitchens are cooking up a storm, incorporating sleek storage behind highly sophisticated finishes.

"Kitchens are more on display now. People want to downplay the fact that they are kitchens. They are becoming more bar/entertaining zones than service areas, " McKenna says.

With the lines blurring between kitchen, dining and living spaces, storage is overlapping. "You can downplay a kitchen with built-in appliances; an under-mounted sink with drainer routed out of worktop and flush glass hob, so both areas can become useful as workspaces. You can also opt for a small appliance station in a tambour unit . . . roll-up door . . . so appliances such as kettles or toasters don't clutter the worktop space."

Combi ovens, which incorporate a microwave and an oven, are perfect for compact kitchens. Keeping cookware and other constantly used items to hand will ensure convenient kitchen storage. Dangerous stretching should be avoided. Wine storage is becoming a stronger feature of Irish kitchens, McKenna notes.

This can take the form of a cooler in the kitchen or storage underneath stairs.

In bathrooms, smart stashing is a must to keep the mood serene and soft. Wall-hung sanitaryware and units are the answer. "Rather than taking up floor space, furnishings and fittings should be elevated.

Cabinets can be concealed behind mirrored doors."

The move towards greener living is also having an impact, he says. "Many householders are embracing the Gaia philosophy of energy in, recycling out. In design stage, many forget to design-in recycling.

Think through the work flow of food coming into the house, from where it will be stored, then cooked and waste sorted, then removed from house."

The future, he believes, is electronic. "It's all about handleless doors, push click catches and electronic drawers that open by the touch of your hand or your knee, if your hands are full." He also sees rooms dedicated to storage becoming more common, with Californian-style walk-in wardrobes taking off. "There will also be more hidden storage behind panelling, under benches and under eves after converting the attic."

Delgrey Kitchens 01-287 1072; www. delgrey. com

STORAGE TIPS
>> Access all areas Ensure regularly used items are either on view or are readily accessible. This could take the form of a shelf running over the main countertop holding a few glasses or whatever you usually require daily
>> Go against the grain Make your storage a feature. Alternating vertical and horizontal grains in a cupboard can make a feature of a built-in drinks cabinet
>> Get clever with cubby holes A bank of built-in storage cubicles can organise different types of objects from a three-quarter-sized fridge to keys and calendars, important documents and the vacuum cleaner. After designing to reflect your space, buy to suit it.