This weekend, we had just one goal:
Set up the new place.
…with the aid of a couple beverages. =)
First up, in today’s post: the kitchen pictures. If you recall, it looked like this last week:
Saturday morning, I got my organization on after a trip to Solutions – a huge home organization store similar to The Container Store in the US.
Eric took one look at my loot and laughed.
“Since when did you turn into an organizer?”
I tried to tell him with a straight face that I’ve always been organized, but I just couldn’t.
People can change!
I also couldn’t bring myself to take our old, gross plastic cutlery tray with us, so I took this opportunity to start fresh with a bamboo cutlery tray.
So easy…so rewarding…
Ugly, bagged spices now hide on the side of the fridge to free up a drawer:
What do we have here? St Patrick’s Day stickers, Valentine’s Day cupcake liners, candy molds, and onion goggles.
Sounds about right.
After:
Ok, I could probably do better than that…but I won’t.
Spice cabinet before:
and After…with mini turn tables for easier locating spices:
Thanks for the ideas on the turntables, by the way. Love them!
I put a shelf extender in the dish cabinet to fit an extra row of dishes. Now there is just enough space.
I also picked up this container to store my measuring cups and small kitchen things.
Yes, that’s a lot of measuring cups! You’d be surprised though…some days I easily dirty all of them.
Eric also had this great idea to store my “rarely used” dishes on top of the cabinets, saving me a ton of cabinet space. In addition to my casserole dishes, I put a wok, huge salad bowl, and empty mason jars on top.
You can see the storage in this photo below:
We also set up Grundtal Ikea shelves for my mason jar storage, so they didn’t have to be crammed in the cupboard anymore (thanks to Emily for the idea!!).
They come in 120 cm and 80 cm lengths and we opted for the 80cm. I grabbed matching hooks for the bottom so I could hang my apron and other things. Apparently, Eric is using it for his sunglasses and keys too….you’re on my turf, Liddon. ;)
I was so nervous that the shelves were going to break, but they are very sturdy. I just hope Sketchie doesn’t try to jump up…
Top shelf (left to right): Rolled oats, millet, walnuts, pecans, raw buckwheat groats, speltberries
Bottom shelf: Pearled barley, dried chickpeas, raw almonds, short grain brown rice, red lentils, raw cashews, and hemp seed.
I have a few more jars stored in the cupboard, but it has opened up a lot of cupboard space. Two thumbs up!
You know, initially I was worried about transitioning into a smaller kitchen (I was spoiled with the size and storage space in our old house), but with a few adjustments I’ve cozied right into this space and love it more each day.
I ended Day #1 with Sketchie cuddles on his favourite “blankie” (Eric’s sweater), and he was a happy cat once again.
Coming up: Living/dining area, laundry, and hallways.
Wow, such great and simple solutions. Looks wonderful. I am such a sucker for around the house before and after posts. I always love watching HGTV (Home & Garden Television) for the makeover-type shows. Love everything you did, esp. the spice organizers, such a great idea! It’s funny how a little organization can go such a long way. Love the cozy feel of your place and look forward to seeing more before and afters! :)
Where did you get those little spice turn tables??? Try little penguin for a delicious yet inexpensive white wine!
(ps, this post does not indicate it but I follow your blog daily, drink a green monster everyday, and talk about you and your recipes to everyone I meet!)
GOOD LUCK WITH THE MOVE AND UNPACKING! There is no rush, savour it and make it just the way you want it! XO
Great job organizing the kitchen, Angela! It looks great, can’t wait to see the rest of the place xo
I love displaying my jars of dry goods. They really do make for pleasant eye candy and it’s a great way to remember what you have! I easily shove jars around in my pantry only finding I have 2-3 jars of lentils or rice hiding in the back…
Love the new place, Angela! Thank you for sharing!
Ok, I give in. In your cupboard you have a blue flask, I can read the heart and at the end ‘ga’ – whats the rest of the word lol. The reason I ask is Im kinda a fantatic with them some of my own are a Jason Vale, A Little Miss Sunshine, a keep calm and carry on one etc.
It looks like your new place is coming along really well. Congrats on getting organized, I know that can be tricky!
I just started following your blog after finding it through StumbleUpon and I really have been enjoying browsing through all your great recipes. I finally tried the carrot cake oatmeal tonight after having it bookmarked for a week and it was absolutely incredible. I’m looking forward to continue trying more of your recipes as I transition to a more healthy and plant-based diet :) Thanks for the inspiration and opening my eyes up to all kinds of interesting ingredients I’ve never even heard of before…like chia seeds, wheat berries, carob powder, and nutritional yeast to name a few. I am really excited to try ’em all out! Keep up your great work, and I can’t wait for the cookbook to come out – you have one definite buyer here in Phoenix, Arizona!
Jen
Thank you Jen, so glad you are enjoying the blog!
It feels great to be organised, doesn’t it? Oh, and I see you like to drink our Aussie wines! :-)
Your cat is a Bengal cat isn’t it? I’ve got one too! They’re awesome cats. So playfull and sweet. Mine talks all day long. Wherever I am, I here the cat: ‘miauw miauw!
Your kitchen looks awesome. Good job! And Good luck unpacking and store the rest of your stuff.
I love the jars on the shelves as a little “display” in the kitchen. It looks cute and frees up space. I might need to “borrow” that plan. :)
Your organized all nice! Love the magnets on the fridge!!
Great job, Angela – it looks wonderful!
You have accomplished a lot! I love organizing tools. They make the work so much more fun.
I love your post. Good job with the organizing! I always feel great when I go clutter free and organize my cabinets.
The kitchen looks amazing! I love love love the spice magnets on the fridge. What a great idea and how convenient.
Wow! Hurry up with that cookbook and then get started on a organizing/decorating book! Great job…makes me want to re-arrange my furniture and throw out my cuttlery holder!!!
haha thanks for the chuckle! Glad you enjoy it
Great job on organizing!! I’m still working on getting my kitchen in order… every time someone comes over they gawk at all the space and cabinetry, and I stand there going “I just don’t see it…” – ha! Never enough room. I should invest in some of those turn tables – those might help my situation! :)
Your organization is inspiring!! It makes me want to make over my whole kitchen!
I love little things like trays and lazy Susans to help store stuff. And I really like the idea of putting the rarely used stuff on top of the cabinets- i would have never thought of that- and it’s totally unused space in my kitchen!
I’m so glad to learn I’m not the only one with “onion goggles”. I have to tell my family. : )
haha aren’t they great? Eric always dies laughing when he sees me with them on. I’m like WHAT? forgetting I even have them on.
So very gorgeous! I feel silly – I haven’t been keeping up with your posts as often as I’d like – when did you guys move? And after installing that gorgeous deck last fall? (I still missed the final photos from that adventure!) The place looks positively wonderful!
heh you aren’t behind, we just moved last week :) Thanks for your kind words!
Me Love Organization.