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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 5:50pm | IP Logged
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What have you found is the best way to deal with small appliances? I am having new kitchen cabinets (lowers only) installed in a week or so, and I'd like to think about organization. Our kitchen is small, and there will not be much storage space, so I need to be efficient. Storing small appliances has always been a problem for me. I only have a toaster, blender, bread machine, crock pot, and rice cooker to deal with. I use the rice cooker and toaster very frequently and the others probably weekly. I do not have a pantry or other place to keep them. Counter space is very limited and taken up by microwave and coffee maker.
Any tips?
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Bella
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 6:13pm | IP Logged
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Hi Theresa,
First, I have to say that my dd *loves* your galloping(sp?) horse, and I love your homeschool reference! 
I too have limited cupboard/counter space! So very frustrating at times. I live in a 1920's two-story bungalow, and our kitchen isn't that small as we have a breakfast nook-just tiny in storage space.One thing that has helped me, is learning to live without very many dishes ,cups, and glasses. That has freed up some cupboard space. The small appliances that we don't use too often I store in the basement which is right off the kitchen. Though I am a self labeled tree hugger with no microwave or dishwasher, I am actually considering getting a mobile dishwasher(which would free up the space our dish-drainer is taking) just to have a counter space next to our stove, and a place to set our food-processor.
Sorry, not too much help, but I can relate and will enjoy reading others advice.
Oh! If I can ever talk my dh into it, I would love to turn our nook into a walk-in pantry!
Good-luck!
Warmly,
Christy
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knowloveserve
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 6:28pm | IP Logged
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I have a hallway kitchen w/ almost NO counter space. I keep my rice cooker, electric grill (pancakes), food processor (peanut butter)and blender (smoothies) tucked away. The toaster oven takes up one whole counter but it's in daily use. My husband made and installed a little wall shelf above this for the microwave... it's been a life saver to save counter space. I'm getting a hanging fruit basket and am considering having him make another wall shelf for the stoneware dishes that get banged around in the cupboard. It looks like this but it's wooden:
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Ellie
The Bleeding Pelican
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 8:38pm | IP Logged
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Thanks, ladies. I forgot to add that with the new cabinets comes a dishwasher(I am SOO excited!!!!!) which will help with counter space, but take up alot of underneath space. Ellie, the shelf is a great idea. I do have a spot that might work for that.
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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Mary G
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 10:06pm | IP Logged
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Theresa,
We put our small "weekly use" appliances up above the cabinets as the tops don't go all the way to the ceiling. It keeps them accessible but out of the way....I also have doored shelves in my dining room where I can tuck platters, teapots, etc....
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MaryG
3 boys (22, 12, 8)2 girls (20, 11)
my website that combines my schooling, hand-knits work, writing and everything else in one spot!
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Dawnie
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 11:53pm | IP Logged
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Theresa,
We got an over-the-range microwave. The microwave is right over the range, which is very convenient and it's not taking up any counter space.
Dawn
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Tina P.
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| Posted: March 06 2007 at 11:57pm | IP Logged
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We have an appliance garage (never heard of that before we moved into this house) in the corner of the counter. It fits my mixer, toaster, chopper, and blender in it all at once. I'm not thrilled with my over-expensive rice cooker. My husband and I like the rice I make in a pot better. So that gets tucked away and will probably soon disappear. Anyone in the market for one?  The other thing you mentioned, the slow cooker, gets tucked inside a lower cabinet, though I use it quite often.
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Tina, wife to one and mom to 9 + 3 in heaven
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 1:17am | IP Logged
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take back the space in your kitchen.. use the under sink space for large things.. one side dh put up some vertical dividers and my cookie sheets and cake pans and such set up on end in there.. and the other side holds my big roasting pans (which being oval I can tuck bread pans on one front corner and my scale on the other front corner)
the dishsoap goes on the windowsill and the rest of the cleaners and such go in a locked cupboard over the washing machine.
in the lower cupboard put things that don't get used much behind the ones that do.. and if you don't pack too much into a space you can shift things around and be able to get to several applicances. I have a shelf just outside the kitchen door in the garage that holds things like the crock pots.. and the toaster oven lives on the counter.. but it has several things that can go on top of it (salt and pepper shaker and a tin of child sized kitchen utensils and the little pans for use in the toaster oven) I have a crock that sits on the counter for my wood spoons and all spatulas and ladles etc that are used in cooking
Get rid of things.. I know that doens't always work.. but if you get rid of the casserole dishes that rarely get used because they're just too small that frees up a bit of space and things like that.. things that you might use because you have but could get along fine without them. (which reminds me.. I have a chopper thing in my cupboard that should leave.. I can't recall the last time I got it out)
oh and when I need a bit more countertop.. I've found I can pull out a top drawer and lay a large cutting board over it.. and voila extra counter.
hanging baskets are my friend.. sippy cups go in one over my sink, and varioud and sundry other things that wind up in the kitchen go in the other two (one's full of kids sunglasses.. and the top little baskets keep things out of reach.. my keys have a little carabiner and they clip to one of the baskets so they don't walk off. The top of the fridge is another possiblity.. even if you use the cupboard above the fridge.. if you only fill the space on top of the fridge halfway.. you can easily shift things from side to side as you need to get into the cupboard.
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JodieLyn
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 1:19am | IP Logged
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oh yeah.. I have a coat rack that hangs over the back of the door that goes to the garage (one end of my kitchen) and I hang aprons and bottle brushes and bbq utensils (the real long ones) and dish towels on the back of the door.. and I use the dishtowels to set dishes on to drip dry.. the towels are much easier to get out of the way by hanging up.. than a dish drainer would be.
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Jodie, wife to Dave
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All men who have turned out worth anything have had the chief hand in their own education.
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Paula in MN
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 2:12am | IP Logged
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I agree with alot of Jodie's ideas. I moved all my cleaning supplies from under the kitchen sink to the bathroom where I have a lot of storage space. I now keep all the cookie sheets, pizza pans, cooling racks, bread maker, and 3 huge stockpots under the kitchen sink. We don't use a microwave -- I just have a *thing* about empty countertops. The rarely used cabinet above the refrigerator holds the blender and the rice cooker.
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 Paula
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lapazfarm
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| Posted: March 07 2007 at 7:38am | IP Logged
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GREAT IDEAS, LADIES!
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Theresa
us-schooling in beautiful Fairbanks, Alaska.
LaPaz Home Learning
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4Real Forums : Tea and Conversation
Topic: for those with tiny kitchens
