I Need HELP!!!
I’ve been in a mild state of panic ever since arriving at the new house. It’s huge and nice and everything I imagined BUT the kitchen has VERY little storage space. I’m freaking out and trying to figure out what to do. I came from a kitchen that had 26 cupboards and 9 drawers. This kitchen has 8 cupboards and 3 drawers. I know that if I lived in New York, this would be a ton of space. I don’t live in New York and I don’t know how anything is going to fit!
I thought I’d show you the space constraints and tell you my ideas and see if anyone has any clever ideas.
So remember my cute kitchen?
Well, it doesn’t have much space.
First there’s the open shelf…Lucy has claimed it as her own:
She put all of that there. I don’t foresee being able to use the shelf for anything.
Next up we have my one, yes one, large drawer:
There are 2 other small drawers in the entire kitchen:
I have this cupboard:
That thankfully rolls out:
Then there’s the cupboards on the other side of the stove.
Cupboard and drawer by the sink (sorry for the blur):
A little ledge above the sink:
A lazy susan (that I’d like to keep my kitchen appliances in-food gets lost):
And my last 3 cupboards:
Dishes will go here:
Interesting shelf that doesn’t fit many non-perishable items (unless they are in cans):
While I was doing the dishes tonight, I decided to record a video (on my phone) so that you could get a feel for how limited I am. (it’s about 4 minutes long)
And you get to hear my voice (and my bird scream).
Our thoughts are that we will put a pot rack/shelf, like this:
on the wall, in between the fridge and sink (above the awesome new trash can). I’ll then use the roll out cupboard for things like mixing bowls, glass storage containers, breakable things as I can get a non-damaging child lock (like the one on the kitchen sink) for this cupboard.
If you watched the video, you know that I’m planning on using my upstairs closet as a pantry which will free up the lazy susan for larger appliances.
Where do I put my spices? Where do I put my cooking utensils? Where do I put my kitchen towels and pot holders? ACK!
Thoughts? Ideas? HELP?
Category: Uncategorized | Tags: advice, help, kitchen, space constraints, storage 19 comments »
hmmm…do you have space in the garage to house some things that don’t get used much?
Can you buy hangable shelves for the walls? Maybe in the dining area?
Hi Chelsea! : ) You will figure it all out. But, I did have a couple of thoughts as I watched your video. I like the idea of putting shelves in that closet. I would put a rectangular basket type thing on one shelf (simulating a “drawer”) and make that your JUNK drawer. Also, I would use the cabinet above the fridge for seldom used small appliances. We have a whirlibird popcorn popper and some of our seldom used containers over our fridge. Also, they make space-saver type things that you can mount on the inside of your cabinet doors beneath your sink for all of your foils, baggies, plastic wrap, wax paper, etc). I would DEFINITELY go buy those at either Target or the Container Store! Do you think maybe you could find another spot for the garbage can … and put a small portable island in that spot? Something with upper shelves … drawers below the work surface …. and cabinets under the drawers. You could put your pot holders, rolling pin and such in the drawers, put your baking sheets, baking pans and casserole dishes in the lower cabinets, and your cookbooks or whatever on the upper shelves. You could designate that as your “baking center”. What else?? Oh! You could use one of the smaller little drawers in your kitchen for certain tools like meat thermometer, can opener, corkscrew, turkey baster … and all other food prep items that won’t fit well in a stoneware or pottery pitcher or vase of some sort (which is where you’ll put all of your wooden spoons, and other cooking utensils that lend themselves well (and are functional) in that type of presentation).
HTH!
~Patty
Chelsea, I miss you already! Love the video. One small suggestion… a step stool, we have a simple wood one from Ikea. Helps me reach the few cupboards that are too high for me, helps my kids wash hands at the sink, cook with us, etc.
Oh, poor Chels. Now I see what you mean!
A few thoughts for you:
– If it were my place, I’d be tempted to use that corner shelf (currently supplements) for spices, but I acknowledge that it isn’t great usability due to the distance from the range. If you go that route, maybe supplements can live in your bathroom/medicine cabinet?
– Alternative: you have a magnet-friend fridge now, so how about these for spices? http://www.amazon.com/Lipper-International-20-Piece-Magnetic-Stainless/dp/B000MM7DJM/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=home-garden&qid=1278479206&sr=1-1
– I like the closet/pantry idea, and maybe you can just utilize it for infrequent use items? Garbage bags, spare paper towels, stuff for baking, mixer, etc.?
– Hanging pot thing is perfect for this space, but will you clang it when you open the fridge? How about above the bar?
– On the coutertop next to the range, could you possibly get countertop shelving for half of it? It might partially obscure the bar, but not too much. http://www.hubert.com/store/products.asp?CAWELAID=130115350&A=RR%2E36812%2E18086&Dn=0&An=966+966&Au=Presentation+Id&Ntt=18086&N=966+966&src=chanadv&Ntx=mode+matchall&D=18086&Ntk=SKU
– On the topic of the bar, I know they’re pretty awesome and all… but if you’re on the verge of a nervous breakdown could you get a narrow cupboard to fit where the stools would go?
– What about the space next to Lucy’s shelf, on the side near the sliding glass door? If you get something not too wide, it shouldn’t obstruct the door.
– Last idea: tall corner bookshelf in the corner of the dining room near the opening to the adjacent room.
Good luck! It’s great to hear your voice. 🙂
The video was a great idea. For spaces in far corners that I can’t reach/see I use the spinning trays from BB&B or Fred Meyer. Definitely a step stool so you can utilize the higher spaces. My dad keeps all his spices in the fridge/freezer (he says they stay fresher), so I have dedicated a portion of my condiment section of the fridge door to the spices in a nifty little organizer from Winco, or you can always just get some little jars from the bulk section too. I too have a cupboard that I can’t reach above the fridge, so I put rarely used items there and then commission my freakishly tall husband when I need them. I think the idea of a hanging rack is super. I keep my napkins in the “linen closet” next to the bathroom because all my drawers are filled in the kitchen. It’s the smallest bit of a pain, but I’ve gotten used to it. You do have that gigantic closet in your bedroom for towels/storage if you need to. I don’t know if you usually put all your clothes in the closet, but Luke and I do a dresser/closet combo and it works. We’ll see how that works once we start planning space for the baby though. You could also try and find some sort of non-“built in” corner piece for the dining area to store goodies near the kitchen. The lack of drawer space totally sucks, could you store the Saran/foil in the same cabinet as some of Lucy’s things? I like the idea of counter top vases/jars for spoons and utensils, my parents use them very effectively. Good luck and I can’t wait to see how it all works out!
Megan
I laughed at the ‘I wanted to show you how small my kitchen is comment’.
I’m a Canadian living in Korea with my mother-in-law and husband in a room the size of your kitchen. I would love for a kitchen that size. My kitchen consits of a hallway. NO JOKE!
Anyways good luck storing everything 😉
Love the new kitchen!!
I declare you need a nice storage cabinet/shelf from IKEA or a similar modern store to put stuff in. And perhaps a few organizing baskets.
Lynn-the garage isn’t attached and is quite a ways away but I may be using my walk in closet in the bedroom just for that purpose.
Maria-I never even thought of that. I’ll need to look into it.
Patty-great ideas! I love the thought of the hanging foils, baggies, etc. I’m probably going to put my waffle iron and other appliances that I like but rarely use high up. I have a white jar for my spatulas, my stuff just needs to get here! Thanks again!
Andrea-I’ve got that one covered-the movers just need to get here!
Megan-I’m going to have to see your organizer from Winco!! My closet will definitely become a sort of linen closet-NO DOUBT.
Jennifer-Oh I realize how ridiculous it is! It’s just a shock for me coming from a kitchen with SO MUCH storage space. I commend you for cooking with your closet kitchen-that’s hard! I did it in college and it sucked!
Elaina-The bathroom has similarly dismal storage 🙁 I’m working on that too. They put in pretty but not functional items in this house. I forgot about magnet spices-GENIUS! The hanging pot thing won’t be exactly centered so that the fridge can open, it won’t fit above the bar with the lights and limited wall space. Those metal shelves are awesome! THANK YOU. I MISS YOU!!!!
Kath-I WISH I had an Ikea!!!! I’m looking into some storage and furniture places around here though. I think the countertops in here are the same that you had in your old kitchen 😉
I would put any plastic storage containers/bowls/etc that you don’t mind Lucy playing with on that open shelf. Then she can play with them and put them away and it won’t be a big deal. You could even place a little bin on the shelf and put any utensils/measuring cups/etc in there that you also don’t mind her playing with. That would free up some space in the “one large drawer” and you could put your silverware in there. I like the pot hanger idea. My first inclination would be to install a shelf on that back wall, but the pot hanger just seems like it would look nicer.
I love the idea of putting all of Lu’s stuff on that shelf!!!
Chelsea, my thoughts:
* Find a ladder – my brother’s is rustic) and get some of those S hooks from Lowes. You can hang that in the middle of the kitchen from the ceiling and have some space there without having to spend a TON of money on a hanging rack.
* Target has a ton of affordable rolling kitchen carts. Mine has three wire shelves and a natural wood top to match my kitchen. It cost about $70 if I remember correctly. You can spend as much as $1000 on some of the ones on their site, but they are really nice, and are more like rolling “islands” so you could use it as an island, and if you are entertaining, you could roll it off to the side or even to the dining room.
* if you don’t like the idea of a cart or island, why not get a small hutch to put in there? You can probably cruise craigslist for a cheap one that someone’s just trying to get rid of. Even if it needs some refinishing, if you get it fairly cheap, it’d be worth it.
Our kitchen has space under the sink, where we store all our cleaning stuff. We’ve got four drawers and six cabinets (not counting the two under the sink), so I feel your pain. I’ve learned to cook with a set of four pots/pans, and our bakeware goes under the oven in that drawer. We put glass mixing bowls, my beloved glass measuring cups/bowls, the quesadilla maker and our silicone bakeware on the three shelves on our cart. I use the top to throw randomosity on. Our glassware goes into one of our cabinets, dishes and bowls go into another, and the other three are reserved for baking items/spices, flour/kids snacks/popcorn/etc. and the third is used for canned goods. Our freezer and fridge are PACKED with other foods. We also use the top of our fridge, but I don’t know if that is an option for you. We use it for wine/drink/bottled water storage. I do have shelves over each of my windows. One is where I put liquor and my nice caraffes and wine glasses and the other is where I store my cookbooks.
Can you weed out some of the stuff you don’t use and donate it to a women’s shelter in the area? And some of the food you won’t be eating, donate it to the homeless shelter or food shelter. They always love getting food.
I weeded before we moved 🙁 We’ll see once it gets here if I can weed anymore 🙁
Just one other idea that came to mind, Chelsea … what is behind the wall that the trash can is on? You might be able to have a contractor move that wall back 2 or 2-1/2 feet and just install upper and lower cabinets to match the existing ones with a countertop to match the others. Seems kind of radical, but I’m used to those kinds of things happening around here. Kevin’s a contractor and it’s not unusual for him to suddenly get a bug up his butt to move a wall or some other big re-building project. Funny thing is, I’m kind of OCD and get pretty uptight when anything is moved or changed! LOL! But, that might be your solution : )
It’s the bathroom and unfortunately I rent right now so moving walls is not an option 🙁
Hi Chelsea!
Having just moved to a new apartment with a different kitchen layout than the old one (this one even has a stove, last one didn’t – long story) I feel your pain. I literally went to Bed Bath and Beyond with an open mind and walked up and down every isle to see what would work for me. They have tons of solutions for drawers, cabinets and shelves to stretch the space. My only issue was I wanted to buy it all! I even found a magnetic towel bar that goes on the fridge, although I don’t think that would work for you with Lucy! Erin has this really cool plastic tiered spice shelf/tower thing that organizes all the spices in one small area and you can actually see what you have. It looks like you have some space above the cabinets. I put some bag spices and other small appliances that I don’t use much in some wicker baskets and set them on top of the cabinets. I don’t ever tend to look up, so they are basically out of the way there.
Good luck organizing!
P.S. I’ve been loving the POM recipes. Conveniently POM juice is on sale at Whole Foods right now.
I’m going to do just that-wander BB&B armed with a list of ideas!!! I’m glad you like the recipes!
Some of my suggestions were already given, but I’ll second them anyway 🙂 Our first place was downtown and had a kitchen that was literally smaller than our bathroom, so I definitely had to get creative. We got some metal/black standing shelves (three or four tiers) and bed bath & beyond and stored them in a corner of the dining area (right next to the kitchen). I used it for all of my big appliances (crock pot, etc) as well as pyrex/casserole dishes, portable grill, etc. It actually wasn’t too distracting since it was tucked in a corner and it was convenient for me. I also recommend the magnetic spice containers — I have a friend that made her own with winco containers and a piece of metal from the hardware store and she uses it to hold her loose leaf teas too. We store things like wine glasses in the space above our fridge and I used to have a cute basket to hold some nonperishables on top of the fridge (breads, chips, crackers, etc). When we moved to this house we bought a small buffet table off of craigslist to hold our china, some linens, etc and that’s worked really well. I store all of my baking pans and tins in the drawer under the oven and I used to have a hook next to my oven that held two hotpads. I kept the others with my linens and just rotated as I needed them.
I may have more, but those are some of my initial thoughts. Good luck!
Oh, I was also going to say that I have a small stepstool that folds thin and fits perfectly in the space between my fridge and the wall/cupboards. I’m short too and it’s been great for being able to tuck away things I use infrequently but still need (like certain pyrex dishes or rare spices)