Posts Tagged ‘organization’

I’ve wanted a pot rack for a long time.  I have limited cabinet space, and my pots and pans are stuffed in them and stacked on each other, which makes it difficult to easily grab what I need.  I love the look of a pot rack hanging over a big kitchen island, but I don’t have a kitchen island.  I briefly thought about hanging one over my peninsula, but I decided that would make the kitchen seem even more confined and block the view into the dining area.  What to do, what to do?

Then it hit me; I hate that friggin’ lazy susan in the corner cabinet.  It is an odd shape and not roomy enough for storing much of anything but especially not for storing large frying pans.  Before I put magnetic spice tins in my pantry, I used it to store bottles of spices.  Thus, I decided to repurpose it.  I removed the lazy susan and the cabinet door attached directly to it (annoying).  I installed some large hooks.  VOILA!  My useless corner cabinet is now a pot rack cabinet!

Corner Cabinet Turned Pot Rack

I can easily grab any pot or pan I need.  I even had some room for my super-large multi-pot on the bottom. I’ve ordered a brand new double-hinged door for the cabinet, so all of the cookware will soon be hidden from view.  However, I’m discovering I sort of like it open, too: convenient!  Plus, I now have a couple of other cabinets open for storing other things.  I consider this idea an all-around success.

I’m still working on a solution for the lids.  Right now I’m storing them on the bottom of the cabinet, but I would like to make them less of a jumbled mess.  I don’t have enough vertical clearance to store them in one of those lid racks on the bottom.  This problem will require some creativity and thought.

I just realized that as I finished installing the rest of the wonderful magnetic spice tins in my pantry.  I do not have room for one more tin in there; it’s completely full from top to bottom!

No More Room

It’s so full that I have to keep four tins on the side of my refrigerator.  I opted to store my salts and peppercorns there since I use those most often.   I honestly had no idea that I had this many spices, though I use all of them frequently.  I cook a lot of ethnic foods (especially Indian), so I have a wide variety: Mexican Oregano, Mediterranean Oregano, Turmeric, Saigon Cinnamon, Torero Saffron Threads, etc.  It was difficult to assess the situation with them jammed onto that lazy susan in the corner cabinet.  Now, I can see exactly what I have and how much I have left.  Yay!

Yes, this is what passes for excitement in my life right now: organizing spices.    I hope to shake things up a bit this weekend by adding some hanging baskets filled with herbs and flowers to my garden.  I’ve already got the shepherd hooks in place.  Now I just have to buy plants.  I’m thinking New Guinea Impatiens for the baskets since I have so much shade.  And, of course, there will be mint; it’s Mint Julep season!  I have to pick up some Kentucky Colonel mint at the farmer’s market.  I think I’ve got the bourbon covered.