Kitchen reno

wine storage to the left of the door to the pantry

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A suspended swing set creates island seating in this San Francisco kitchen, which also stuns with a heavy dose of blonde wood that covers part of the ceiling and island.

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backsplash

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Swap doggie bags for something clearer. Leftover food should be kept in clear glass containers or resealable plastic bags so you can see what condition they’re in without having to open the container and expose the leftovers to air. It’s a good idea to always store your leftovers in the same area in your fridge so you don’t forget about them. As a general rule of thumb, you should purge your leftovers every three days.

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Keep those meat juices locked up. Raw meat juices can cross-contaminate all the exposed food in your refrigerator. Therefore, store raw meat in a glass container so liquid doesn’t spill onto the shelves.

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Go easy on those eggs. Eggs should be kept in their original container and placed on the middle shelf with nothing too heavy stored directly on top that could crack your eggs.

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So what should you keep on your refrigerator doors? Store sodas and non-perishable condiments on door shelves. These are items that aren’t that affected by slight temperature changes.

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Keep that cheese and butter sealed. Many refrigerators have a dedicated storage space for cheese and butter, most often located at the top of the door. This is a fine area to store your cheese and butter, but it’s still important to keep them sealed in an airtight container so they don’t spoil.

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Move the milk to the back. Milk needs to be stored where the temperature stays consistently the coolest. In general, the best spot is in the rear of the fridge. Milk and creamer should not be stored on the door, since that area is regularly exposed to warmer air when the refrigerator door is opened.

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Dry and humid zones. Vegetables prefer a humid storage climate while fruits prefer dry. Check to see if your refrigerator has controls for each bin and store them separately. If you don’t have this option, you can wrap veggies with a wet paper towel to maintain humidity.

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Bath time. Before putting fruits and vegetables in the fridge, wash them first in a vinegar and water bath. Do this by filling up your sink with water and adding 1 cup of distilled white vinegar. Add your fruit and veggies to the bath and let them soak for 10 minutes. The natural acid in the vinegar will kill bacteria that causes mold and rot.

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Ceiling, walls, cabinets and trim all painted in the same cream shade give this Charleston, South Carolina, butler’s pantry a cohesive feel. The space was built by the team at Byrd Builders.

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A library ladder to reach the uppermost cabinets is a stylish and functional touch in this Seattle butler’s pantry built by the team at Schultz Miller.

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The white farmhouse-style main sink pairs with a more contemporary faucet. A stainless steel dishwasher sits to the left of the sink; a double trash pullout is located to the right.

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A breakfast center to the right of the range includes a built-in coffee and espresso machine, beverage fridge and microwave drawer. A bifold, lift-up cabinet door hides a stand mixer.

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The backsplash is 8½-by-1½-inch white ceramic tile laid in a chevron pattern with white grout. “The chevron pattern was primarily done to have tone-on-tone but add an element of texture there,” Jordan says.

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This style of cabinet can make a great use of skinny spaces left over in your cabinet plans, such as the small spaces next to a range or sink.

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ceiling matching dining room ceiling

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ceiling--ship lap painted sky blue

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look at ceiling

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vegetable sink

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Save: Classic Tile I won’t pretend that I haven’t designed homes with high-end tile. This can be a splurge area at times, with gorgeous results. But it’s also possible to get incredible looks with humble, classic subway tile, leaving plenty of your budget left over to put into other areas. Whether in a kitchen or a bathroom, timeless porcelain tile can cost as little $1 per square foot to buy and install if you’re a handy DIYer. A classic brick layout like the one shown here always works, but you can also change up the installation pattern or the hue at little to no extra cost to make a personal statement.

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