Kitchen Makeover: Part 2

Today, I want to show you a pantry transformation for one of my recent clients. (If you missed Part 1 of the Makeover, which included the cabinets, countertops, and under the sink.....click here.)

 This pantry was a great space, but just not being utilized properly. In the upper shelves, there were odds & ends like rubbermaids, a mixer, and lots of cups not being used. The goal for this pantry was to ONLY house food & drinks, so we found those items a new home in the newly de-cluttered cabinets. (Well, some went into the "donate" pile :)

We were able to leave the upper shelf almost completely clear! Right now, it is storing a few (new) pyrex dishes that are not being used, but they wanted to keep. The 2nd shelf now holds all their cereals and breakfast items, while the 3rd shelf holds one of their daughter's medication, plus a turntable for their spices & oils.

 Let's take a close-up at this turntable! I love these for soooo many reasons....

 The biggest challenge for this pantry was to utilize the depth of it. (It is 18" deep!!) To do that, I used a "shelf helper" on the top shelf to hold some snack bars, and put other - larger - boxes of snacks at the back. Additionally, the kids now have a designated snack bin on the front of the shelf, and 2 small bins house miscellaneous items and sauces.

 The middle shelf now houses all of their baking items. A vacant jar now holds all of their baking chips, and we made a small bin for all of their sprinkles, toppings, etc.

Last but not least, on the bottom shelf, there is a designated bin for pastas & grains, and lots of overflow room on the right for baby items like formula, jugs of water, etc.

Stay tuned for Part 3 of the makeover!

Another Pantry Transformation!

By now, I think you guys know that organizing pantries is my most favorite thing to do. Ever.

So, I was giddy when my recent client asked for help with her pantry! :)

 

It was a great space to begin with, but just was not being used properly. We took everything out, categorized it, checked for expired food, and found a new home for a few items (ex. light bulbs and watering can!). We were pretty pleased with the results:

This client requested that we use clear bins, so she can see everything well. But she already have these white canvas bins that I was dying to use! Once I got the green light, I put them on the top shelf to store paper products, water bottles, and Tupperware.

What a difference a few bins & labels can make!

 In the bottom half of the pantry, there were a lot of appliances and a super heavy punch bowl. We decided to leave those on the bottom shelf for easy access. Then, recyclable bags were placed into an oversized basket, as were a few Game Day entertaining items. #rolltide

Another pantry transformation in the books!

Pantry: Before & After

Remember a few weeks ago when I referred to myself as the Pantry Queen?!

Well, here is one of my latest masterpieces....

 

I have helped transform multiple spaces in this client's home, but her pantry may be my favorite!! She had a really large space to work with (it even had a window on one wall!) and I adore the custom shelves. Possibilities for days! 

Ahhhh, how I love a "before & after!" (And I apologize for the crooked "After" picture....not sure what happened there!)

We created a few snack bins for her kids, on lower shelves so they can reach them easily!

On the right side of the pantry, we created a few bins for her husband. His snacks, drink mixes, and even a bin for his Big Green Egg utensils & supplies!

Like I mentioned earlier, this client's beautiful pantry had a window inside! She used the shelf as an office area, so her kitchen countertops would not be cluttered. (Brilliant!) We transformed it with a few paper sorters and some blue mason jars she already had on hand.

Close-up. Oh how I love organized office supplies!

The spices got an little help from a cabinet stair-step shelf. Now they are so much easier to see!

Another great before & after

Look at all of those paper products, now organized and much more accessible!

 

One more before & after.

 

 I've mentioned it before, but pantries are my *absolute favorite* spaces to help organized.

Please comment or email me if I can help transform yours!

 

Master Closet: Before & After

A recent client needed help organizing her master closet, and of course I jumped at the chance! She is one of the lucky ones that has a *separate* closet from her husband. (I think this should be a requirement in houses these days, just saying!)

As you can see, we had a great big space to work with (!), but I needed to find a way to use the space more efficiently. The main areas we needed solutions for were:

 

Shoes - Although the client did agree to get rid of some shoes, we were still left with quite a few pairs left. Using a "shelf helper" like this one really doubled the amount of shelves she had for shoes. (Plus we added a shoe rack to the floor on the opposite side of the closet!)

 

Purses - We purged a few, and then moved the bigger ones on the uppermost shelf. I used a lid rack (yes, as in...for pot & pan lids!) on the left upper shelf to store her smaller purses.

 

Sweaters - Piles are SO hard to keep neat & tidy! But these clip-on shelf dividers help those piles stay in place a bit better.

 

We didn't change the clothes any - though if we had more time, I would have categorized them a bit more. However, I was able to clean out the middle shelf and now it's completely clear!

 

Also, the new baskets on the upper shelf hold her purses & bags now:

Again, we purged a bit - pants on this side - and added shelf dividers to help keep the piles neat. The bottom basket is actually empty right now, because I wanted a place for my client to keep her shorts once they are in season. (Right now, they are being stored on the uppermost shelf in that very long/large Rubbermaid container.) And the new basket up top holds her backpacks.

I'd say that was quite a transformation! It took just a little over 4 hours from start to finish.