Just as families get larger and eventually outgrow starter homes, burgeoning home chefs often get to the point where a standard home kitchen doesn’t accommodate their needs anymore. Where buying a new house might be an option for an expanded family, you might be able to upgrade your current kitchen to accommodate your culinary needs.

Here are a few appliances, items and improvements to consider if you are serious about expanding the capacity of your kitchen:

* Increase storage space. Finding that your refrigerator can’t hold all the fresh items you need on hand to prepare feasts for your family or frequent visitors? Instead of buying an extra refrigerator for the garage or basement, consider a commercial refrigerator that will accommodate all your storage needs in one place. If you go this route, you may want to consider that commercial refrigerators generally are louder and produce more heat than home refrigerators. Therefore, it might be a good idea to look into models that take special steps to mitigate these factors.

* Ventilation. If you’re cooking for the masses, chances are it’s going to be more than your refrigerator producing a lot of heat in your kitchen. Adding a hood over your stove with a fan to reduce heat and vapors – and prevent odors from lingering – can make your kitchen a much more comfortable place.

* Think beyond just your cupboards for storage. Adding a hanging rack for your pots, pans and other utensils won’t take up valuable real estate while freeing up valuable cupboard and counter space. Plus, it will give your kitchen a professional look.

* Add functional prep space. Adding a center island to your kitchen can dramatically increase available prep space, while also providing a gathering place for pre-dinner hors d’oeuvres and post-dinner drinks. Depending on how serious you are about redesigning your kitchen, you could choose to add an extra sink or an electric range to this space. Or if building a center island might not be in your budget, consider a movable kitchen work table.

One of the best places to look if you are serious about cooking at home is a restaurant supply store. These stores offer items that meet the needs of professional cooks that often can’t be found in stores that sell items for home use. Some restaurant supply stores also offer deals on used items, which can be perfect for home chefs on a budget.