Tackling the Pantry

Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta that I'll describe as "collected." I got into design via Landscape Architecture, which I studied at the University of Virginia. I've been writing about design online for quite a few years over at Hatch: The Design Public Blog.
Houzz Contributor. Hi There! I currently live in a 1920s cottage in Atlanta... More »
We're just a little over halfway through 2010. How are your Get Organized! new year's resolutions going? If you're like me, you started strong and slowly tapered off. It's a great time to get a feeling of accomplishment from tackling a do-able sized project for a few hours and be able to stand back and admire your work.

Organizing the pantry is a great way to do this. I use the term "pantry" loosely, as many of us are not lucky enough to have a walk-in. For the purposes of this project, tackle the area where you store your food. For me it's one tall, deep cabinet. For you it might be those open shelves that have been getting cluttered. These are some of my favorite organized kitchen storage spaces on houzz. I hope they will inspire you!
Don't we all wish we had a wonderful space like this? A state of the art refrigerator with glass doors, utility sink, room for all of our cookbooks...one thing we can all take from this is those great baskets on the top shelf. They hide a mulititude of sins.
You can even find a muse, like this homeowner found Andy Warhol.
This is a very well-organized, beautiful but tight kitchen space. Simple mason jars full of pasta, beans, and tomato sauce make up a perfect but casual arrangement.
Still not convinced on the jars? Check out how good these look.
Again glass canisters keep open shelves looking neat.
Another great use of a basket.
Great baskets? Check. This pantry space leaves enough space for a small workstation for working out recipes and planning meals. This is great motivation for keeping it neat and spare.
A slide-out deep cabinet is an ingenious way to maximize space for your canned goods, snacks and spices.
More hardworking doors open up to great hidden space.
If you don't have the right shelving inside your food cabinets, make a trip to The Container Store. Bring measurements and they will help you find the perfect solution.
If you're lucky enough to have a laundry room, the same principles can apply. These old-fashioned candy shop containers looks great. In your pantry they are perfect for sugar packets, snack packs, candy, crackers, whatever will fit through the large opening at the top.

Comments

Susan Serra, CKD You make it look easy - love these ideas! Spices are definitely my current organizational challenge!
3 years ago ·
Becky Harris Susan, it's scary how old some of my spices are. I recently had to toss most of them!
3 years ago · ·
gopg8r Oh ... that laundry space is just lovely! Can't believe I'm saying that about a place to do laundry!! :o)
3 years ago ·
eyeseepretty The key to a great looking pantry is matching containers and consistent labeling - makes even the most common items look great!
3 years ago ·
suminj This beautiful .This is perfect accent for dining room
Thanks/-
Jason Webb
http://diningroomsideboardsblog.co.uk
http://www.denelli.co.uk/dining/sideboards-cupboards/cat_47.html
3 years ago ·
Ella Johnson is it ok to keep the potatoes and onions like this? I'm always afraid of the onions stinking up my pantry and finding the potatoes with alot of sprouts. Very cute ideas.
3 years ago ·
Becky Harris McDowell, one time in our house in Cincy my mom had put some taters in the back corner of the pantry and forgotten them. They were discovered via the big vine crawling up the back wall!
3 years ago ·
Roberta Philbrick Another option for those who do not want to use glass jars are Tupperware Modular Mates. I have used mine for OVER 30 years now and they have adapted to EVERY kitchen that I've lived in...there have been over 19 moves in 30 years ;) Here's a few photos of the last two kitchens. Also I always install epoxy coated wire shelves that are made to mount on the wall or doors to complete my "pantry" to hold all my can goods. Hope this helps, Fondly, Roberta
http://con-tain-it.typepad.com
3 years ago ·
decorlover susanserrackd- I recently moved to a new home with the stove located in the island, so putting my spices in a cupboard wouldn't have been very handy. I ordered a spice organizer from the container store online that fits into a drawer. It expands and it is perfect for me! There are also some other spice organizers for shelves, too. Good luck!
3 years ago ·
Peggi Worth They all look nice but, get real... none of these pictures look like real pantries. Who buys only food whose cans or boxes match the decor of the pantry? Who takes all of their food out of the container they come in & put them in matching jars?
3 years ago ·
Becky Harris Um, Jeff Lewis? :)
3 years ago ·
beccaross I love containerizing my pantry. I'm lucky enough to have a walk-in pantry. It's tought to keep clean with kids running around, but the containers really help.

Here's the blog post I wrote on my pantry.

http://becca-homeiswheremystorybegins.blogspot.com/2010/06/containerizing-pantry.html
3 years ago ·
Becky Harris becca, you are so lucky! I only have cabinets for food and china storage. I especially love the floor in there!
3 years ago ·
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