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ty3114

Kitchen Cabinet Organization help?

5 years ago

Just moved into a new home with tons more kitchen storage - want to start off on the right foot and organize it efficiently and intelligently; also want to avoid overcrowding shelves like i i did in my old house because we didn't have enough room, so i've been good about purging redundant and unused items. At some point, i plan to add an island with additional storage


Here's a few pano shots of my kitchen:





Having some trouble deciding where things should go, and will elaborate on particular areas below...


there are a couple spots i think i've got figured, but am open to alternative suggestions:


i think the uppers to the left of the sink should definitely be dishes; the 3 lower drawers below that are: hand towels, thrn ziplocs, then foil + parchment paper, etc;


The uppers to the immediate left of the stove are spices and oils; the lower pull outs to the left of the stove are: silverware far left, then potholders and oven mits.


the lowers to the left of the stove are pots and pans


the uppers to the right of the stove are glasses and coffee mugs. i am not liking that configuration much, and want to get at least the drinking glasses over with the dishes.


-the first trouble spot is the skinny upper to the far right on the glasses. right now i've got coffee, tea etc in there; i'd rather move the coffee machine and toaster over by the large full height cabinet, but i'm not sure theres room for the drinking glasses and mugs in the dishes cabinet so they're together.


-my second trouble spot is the full height cabinet - it's narrow, but deep. seems like it should be pantry items, but i'm afraid things will get lost in the back and never seen again - how can i make use of the depth without making it overcrowded?


-the final one is the upper angled corner cabinet - it's deep and has weird "dead" corners on each side because of the trapezoid shape, where things could get lost. Right now i just have baking supplies up there, but it's hard to reach things in the back. thought maybe it would be better for gadgets like the food processor?




Comments (11)

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Hello Ty, this is Marcie from MAE Day. What a wonderful kitchen you have. Yes, kitchens can be daunting. You have a lot of storage and that is wonderful. Can you take some pictures that are facing the opening of your kitchen while standing with your back to the stove? That would help a lot. Also, please tell me how many people are living in the house. This can help me as far as where to put each thing. You have a good start. Marcie

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Hello Ty, here are some pictures of what I have done with my kitchen. I used one of my tall thin cabinets for cleaning supplies and gadgets. Then as you can see I organized my pantry in sections. Greens on one shelf, canned goods on another and so on. I know it’s unusual but I put my dishes in the lower cabinet on the pull out shelves. I find it so much easier to get to my plates and bowls. I also sectioned off my kitchen to suit my needs. For example I have my coffee section, tea section, Baking section and so on.
    So here are a couple of suggestions some of what you’ve already done. I am moving from the left of the refrigerator going left around the kitchen ending in your tall cabinet.

    1. Coffee maker next to the refrigerator
    2. Coffee cups in the cabinet above and your coffee to the right or left of the cups On one side or the other in the cupboard.
    3. Silverware in the drawer just to the left of the refrigerator
    4. Dishes in the cupboards below on the pull outs as shown in my pictures.
    5. Breakfast food, cereals etc. in the next upper cupboard to the left of the cups cupboard
    6. Lower any heavy items that you use for breakfast such as bullets waffle makers etc.
      I like to put the heavy items in the lower cabinets whenever possible because it’s just easier to get to them.
    7. Next area, baking. Upper cupboard for all baking goods such as flour, baking powder, etc. this is the third set of cabinets to the left of the refrigerator.
    8. Lower cabinets under the baking goods, all baking pans such as cake pans
    9. Drawer above, for all utensils you would use for baking
    10. Corner cupboard with Lazy Susan for things like vitamins and so on.
    11. Small thin lower cabinet grocery bags
    12. Next small thin lower cabinet cookie sheets & serving trays
    13. Next upper cabinet, grains and pastas
    14. Lower cabinet under that anything you would want to cook pasta in and colanders, steamers
    15. Drawer to the right of the stove, knives and anything you would use to cook with.
    16. Lower cabinet to the right of the stove. Pots and pans on one shelf and lids on the other.
    17. Drawer to the left of the stove hot pads

  • 5 years ago

    Hi Marcie,

    here are shots looking the opposite direction-it just opens to the dining area:





    We are a family of 3: me, my wife, and our 1 year old. 1 upper cabinet is dedicated to our daughter's dry food and utensils.


    I am leaning toward appliances (instant pot, food processor, etc) at the bottom of the full height cabinet. the only trouble I am having with that is that they are so tall, I may have to sacrifice some shelves.

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Well hello Ty,


    Nice to hear from you. I agree anything that is tall and heavy should go on the bottom shelves. I wish we could video conference or talk on the phone. It is just so much easier. I am in California. Where are you located? I am open to talking on the phone if you like. Let me know what you want to do. Marcie

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Hi Ty, With the crockpots, food processor and things like that sit in the lower cabinet to the left of the stove? Sometimes you can lower the slide outs so they can fit larger appliances like that . What do you think?

  • 5 years ago

    It isn't clear to me whether you have roll out shelving in any of the cupboards. If not, I highly recommend getting them into every one of the lowers and the pantry. There are various designs for pots & pans, cleaning supplies, trash bins, basket style, or just plain rimmed, and at various pricing - some brands are more economical than others.

    These really solve the problem of deep cabinets and organization. I got my wire ones at Target, and also actually bought drawers at Ikea and installed them inside the pantry (I could do this easily because the cabinets are frameless - to do that in framed cabinets you would have to sacrifice the inch+ behind the frame on each side).

    If you can easily get to an Ikea it is worthwhile to tour their model kitchens and browse all their organization items. If you can't get there, check them out online. Their gadgets and ideas were very inspirational to me even when I didn't use their products.

    Congratulations on your new home! That is a nice kitchen!

  • 5 years ago
    last modified: 5 years ago

    Hi Marcie,

    I am in AZ, so I am in the same time zone as you are now.

    a phone call would be great - thanks for the offer. a little slammed today though with work and still moving in. what's your schedule like the next few days?


    raee: I am definitely considering getting some slide outs from the local container store - just want to be more certain that things are where i want them before i install

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Good morning Ty,

    Sorry just got this late last night. Our Internet has been spotty lately. You can find my phone number on my Houzz website. It’s easy to get there from this post. All you have to do is double click on the icon with the two little girls and it will take you to my website with my contact information. You can either select my website or double click on one of my pictures and it will give you my phone number. I will be available play 9 o’clock. Marcie

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Hello Ty, so strange the way it changes what someone is saying. I was saying I am available at 9 AM this morning. Let me know if you still want to talk and if there’s a better time for you. Marcie

  • PRO
    5 years ago

    Hello Ty, looks like you got this one. Hope you’re enjoying your kitchen for many years to come. Best wishes. Marcie

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