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MarilynW
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| Posted: April 18 2009 at 8:28pm | IP Logged
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This is the last item on my nesting list!! I have a small kitchen and limited storage space. I devoted this afternoon to trying out how to figure out how to organize things but have not had much success. A lot of the space is taller than me and I have to stand on a chair to get stuff. It is so disorganized that I spend ages trying to find a particular herb or spice.
I went to Bed Bath and Beyond for inspiration - all the organizers etc were way too expensive. So I went to Walmart (which I find very stressful and crowded ) BUT I found some plastic bins and canisters. Nothing for drawers. I figure I can arrange my bottles etc in little bins and label them. I have one nice mesh stainless steel cutlery organizer for my main cutlery. It is all those other items - pizza cutter, sharp knives, pastry brushes, measuring cups and spoons etc - don't know what to do with them.
I don't want to have a lot on my counters - my MIL got me a cute spice rack with bottles which take up very little space. I thought I would keep my eye open for some stainless steel canisters for tea, coffee, sugar etc - I have granite and so ceramic may get chipped. But generally I like to keep my counters clutter free. No wall space either for shelves or hanging things.
Sorry for rambling - any help (and frugal ideas in particular) would be appreciated.
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Marilyn
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 18 2009 at 8:38pm | IP Logged
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Oooooohh!!!  An organizing thread for the kitchen cupboards!!!! I'm overjoyed at the thought...but I promised Rob a movie tonight...and he has cake waiting and the movie set up. I can't wait to check in and see the bouquet of ideas on Monday morning.
Where's the rubbing your hands together with delight emoticon? 
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Jen Mackintosh
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MarilynW
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| Posted: April 18 2009 at 8:44pm | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
Oooooohh!!! An organizing thread for the kitchen cupboards!!!! I'm overjoyed at the thought...but I promised Rob a movie tonight...and he has cake waiting and the movie set up. I can't wait to check in and see the bouquet of ideas on Monday morning.
Where's the rubbing your hands together with delight emoticon? |
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OK Jen - that's it! You have to come up to No Va soon - hubbies and kids can go out and you and I can stay home while you beautify my home!!!
Enjoy your movie - I am also about to watch one with Steve, my MIL and FIL - the wine looks so tempting - I figure in about 4 weeks I will be able to have a glass!
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Marilyn
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Loren
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 7:48am | IP Logged
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If you're looking for organizing products, try looking at the home improvement stores like Lowe's or Home Depot. They're not usually as crowded as Wal-Mart and are possibly cheaper than the specialty stores.
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 8:15am | IP Logged
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Marilyn,
Do you already have it all designated to the proper place, just need some organizers?
If you got ideas from Bed, Bath, and Beyond, start accumulating those coupons. My store allows 6 or 8 at a time, it doesn't matter if it is expired. I think you're allowed one $$ off, and then the % off ones you can use more than one. Just talk to the customer service (I have called).
Also, I just attended an organizational talk with homeschool group. It was really good, but some of her tips really got me thinking.
One, when you buy organizers, make them all match. This would be the ones that are visible, especially on shelves. Mismatched ones look cluttered.
Two, for the kitchen drawer organizers, buy the mesh kind. Her reasons were the food particles can drop down and not accumulate inside the plastic or wood things, and her main reason is the wood and plastic really show grunge and dirt and more germy. This was her personal opinion, of course.
But what do I have? An old plastic silverware organizer for the odd kitchen tools. And it doesn't work well, but I haven't tackled reorganizing my kitchen drawers because I'm still working on the mess on the counters!
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Jennifer G. Miller
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 8:17am | IP Logged
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Oh, and I dislike things on my counters, but you are not exaggerating on your tiny kitchen and counter space. I relegate all my canisters into the pantry. I can't stand having them out. When my kitchen is clean, I have the coffee pot, toaster oven, electric kettle, and bananas.
My problem isn't the kitchen stuff, it's the stuff that migrates.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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MarilynW
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 8:29am | IP Logged
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thanks everyone. I have done my kitchen! I will hopefully do a blog post later - though it has totally exhausted me! And I will ask dd to take some photos. It is not perfect but it is organized. Just a couple of drawer organizers to get.
Jenn - I too dislike things on my counter - the only things I have are my Vitamix, electric kettle, toaster, paper towel holder and very neat against the wall spice/herb rack.
My MIL who is visiting bleached my sink for me - and it looks awesome ( I am allergic to bleach - so dh usually does it once in a while when I am out of the house)
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Marilyn
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 9:45am | IP Logged
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I love cleared countertops. I have a shortage of them myself. Out on my counters:
**vitamix
**coffeemaker
**knife block
I put most of the appliances away in my pantry.
I do have a few drawers and find that I really need to address some clutter in those. Jenn's tips above are interesting. I'm going to keep those in mind as I really need to address the drawers in my kitchen and tidy them/reorganize them.
I read an article of Marilyn Shannon's years ago about setting up a bake center in your kitchen and I have found that to be an unfailing help for me. I never thought about it, but Jenn's suggestions above made me think about how I enjoy looking at all glass canisters and storage jars when they are displayed with flours, brown sugars, nuts, seeds, etc., in my bake center.
And, I love a bleached sink! Mine is a white enamel sink (not what I would have chosen, but I'm learning to be content) and it is so pretty and sparkly for the 10 minutes after I bleach it. Then someone leaves a ring of spaghetti sauce to stain it. 
JennGM wrote:
| My problem isn't the kitchen stuff, it's the stuff that migrates. |
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Here too! I must be constantly vigilant about removing the **stuff** that is dropped off on every horizontal surface (which is in short supply and prized real estate in my kitchen!)
Let us know what kind of drawer organizers you get, Marilyn! Purging and re-organizing my drawers is on my kitchen tasks list next!
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Jen Mackintosh
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JennGM
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 11:43am | IP Logged
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Mackfam wrote:
JennGM wrote:
| My problem isn't the kitchen stuff, it's the stuff that migrates. |
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Here too! I must be constantly vigilant about removing the **stuff** that is dropped off on every horizontal surface (which is in short supply and prized real estate in my kitchen!) |
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That was another hint that I plan to implement. She suggested three magazine holders (Matching, of course) for all the mail stuff to get it off the counters in the kitchen. Her categories were Bills, I can't remember the second category, and then Misc (magazines and catalogs, invitations). I think my categories would be Dave, Jenn, and Misc.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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Elizabeth
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What about lining cupboards? I've never done this, but I need to reorganize and clean out mine, too and I think the first thing to go in after thoroughly vacuuming and wiping is some pretty shelf paper. Any tips, hints, resources?
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Elizabeth Foss is no longer a member of this forum. Discussions now reflect the current management & are not necessarily expressions of her book, *Real Learning*, her current work, or her philosophy. (posted by E. Foss, Jan 2011)
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MarilynW
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JennGM wrote:
That was another hint that I plan to implement. She suggested three magazine holders (Matching, of course) for all the mail stuff to get it off the counters in the kitchen. Her categories were Bills, I can't remember the second category, and then Misc (magazines and catalogs, invitations). I think my categories would be Dave, Jenn, and Misc.
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Jenn - it's funny you mentioned this. Today I am brainstorming how to create a "family command center" - for mail and correspondence - right now it all takes over my dining room table and recently I have been losing things and wasting time misplacing things. I am using Organizing Junkiefor ideas.
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Marilyn
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MarilynW
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Elizabeth wrote:
| What about lining cupboards? I've never done this, but I need to reorganize and clean out mine, too and I think the first thing to go in after thoroughly vacuuming and wiping is some pretty shelf paper. Any tips, hints, resources? |
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I lined my cupboards and drawers with vintage rose shelf liner when I moved in 8 years ago. I cannot remember where I got it from and I have had no luck searching online. But we had our drawers and cupboard repainted/refaced a few years ago and I had to replace it - I just used standard contact paper (a marbled grey blue) which is wipeable. I think it was just from Target. Yesterday I emptied everything out and sprayed and wiped all the contact paper in all cabinet. Dried it properly and it was good to go.
Some vintage stores do sell lovely shelf liners but they are not washable - I use them in bedroom chests etc - but for the kithen I find it really useful to have a wipeable surface as with all the little hands they get yukky quickly.
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Mackfam
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| Posted: April 20 2009 at 12:39pm | IP Logged
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MarilynW wrote:
| Today I am brainstorming how to create a "family command center" - for mail and correspondence - right now it all takes over my dining room table and recently I have been losing things and wasting time misplacing things. |
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I organize in folders in drawers because I don't have the space on the counter. Each person gets a folder as well as incoming bills and receipts.
Elizabeth wrote:
| What about lining cupboards? |
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Mine are lined in plain white contact paper. Some of it still looks nice, but some is peeling at the edges and I think it is very unattractive now. I need to address it at the same time I address my drawers. Having the drawers and cupboards lined is very nice for clean-up. I've always been tempted to use pretty shelf papers, but they just aren't practical for us...so I opt for nice sachets of lavender tucked here and there in the cupboards.
If you go with contact paper...the cabinet needs to be completely clean and dry before you apply it, and the first stick needs to be the last one - if you peel and re-peel it won't stick well. I haven't done it in a long time though...
What fun we're all having re-thinking our kitchens these days! I'm definitely paring down the amount of utensils I have stored in my drawers - just a few, very good quality items will remain. Somehow, I have 2 egg yolk separators, and a million hot pads...
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Jen Mackintosh
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Kristie 4
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I live in an old house with only one closet (conveniently located in my little boys' room  ) and no kitchen drawers. I have a small wire basket that keeps all the bills etc. upright on top of the fridge(I can fit a whole years worth in there- just did my taxes and was amazed) and then I have a clipboard on the printer in the dining room that the other needed papers go in. The rest is ruthlessly recycled!!
I need to organize my cupboards as well, my kitchen is tiny! Just need hubby home a little more to do it.....
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JennGM
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I'm the same way, Marilyn. I like the wipeable plastic, although I suggest sniffing the package, as some have lingering odors that I just don't like. I got some "padded" linings that are nice for the breakable glasses, less chipping.
I just bought whatever is on sale or cheapest. Since things are in the cabinets, and covered, I don't worry about pretty.
But a very cheap option I used when I moved in was leftover wallpaper. I had rolls and rolls of leftover from previous owner. I don't like it, so I used it for my drawers and cabinets in the bathrooms. I cut to fit, and it's wipeable. Sometimes it's even pretty.
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Jennifer G. Miller
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I'll add that there is a kind of shelf paper (wipeable) that has some adhesive, but not as sticky as Contact paper. That works out nicely. But I don't always use an adhesive backing. All that I've ever used (including Wallpaper) usually stays where I put it. Only paper drawer liners haven't for me.
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CrunchyMom
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I know you already did the spice rack, but I always thought these containers from Ikea would be great for a small kitchen.
Also, I do have some stainless steel canisters I use, but we've been buying more beans, rice, etc..., and we've been getting gallon sized glass jars from local friends who own a restaurant. I really like them for pourable things (not a wide enough mouth for sugar or flour, imo), and since I have shelves in my kitchen, I think the whole grains and legumes look pretty, too.
Also, if you have a window, you can put a little shelf above or a pot rack in front where you can't use traditional shelving. Though, your height might make this a less attractive option. The little shelf could just hold a few mason jars of something you don't use daily (like split peas) but it would free up space elsewhere.
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MarilynW
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I think there a thread started on spice racks - I will visit it later. But - I did get a new spice rack from Costco - black and stainless steel matches my kitchen. I swapped some of the items out - and have out the things I use a lot. My other herbs and spices are arranged in labelled plastic baskets - that I can just lift down.
Check out Aussie Annie's blog for her beautiful herb storage - I would LOVE to find something like that - would not mind it taking up my very scarce counter space.
I like the Ikea storage canisters - but Ikea is just so far away - and I think I would go into labor if i go there and do all that walking. My dh really really hates the store - he is dropping off his parents in Maryland this week and passes the Ikea - but it would be such penance for him to go there.
Love these threads - but off for a rest - my toddler needs me to get him down for a nap - and it is such a great excuse for me to take a rest!!
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CrunchyMom
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I think you can order those containers online
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Lindsay
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Matilda
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I started this thread on spice racks and spice storage. I didn't want to hijack this one!  I really love the idea of a baking center and a family command center! Thanks for sharing these ideas.
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Charlotte (Matilda)
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Topic: Organizing kitchen cupboards and drawers
