Organizing Kitchen - Ugggh!

My friend just started this blog recently (not selling anything, just for fun and to share her projects and ideas.) She uses a lot of Container Store products, but also features clever space ideas. She's just starting out, but she's done spices and a pantry already. http://ajonesfororganizing.typepad.com

There are two things I find helpful when I'm organizing. One is to pay attention to how my family already uses the room. You naturally look for the glasses near the sink, or you naturally put grocery bags down on the counter near the fridge. That type of thing. If clutter always goes to the same spot, I try to figure out why that is - maybe it's a good place for a basket.

The other tip is to make sure you use the most accessible cupboards for the stuff you use every day. Things you use once in a while are the things that should be stored in the inconvenient basement pantry.

I also try not to buy anything more for the kitchen unless I can get rid of something. We went without a stand mixer for 10 years, until I got one as a gift. Love it, but really don't have a place to store it. There are a lot of little appliances I just don't have because I don't want to keep them. I don't have a full-sized food processor because it would be another space-hog. And a lot of cute little pans have gone to goodwill when I've realized I just don't use them more than once a decade.

Have fun organizing!

If you have a space to hang it, you could try a pot rack for your pots and pans. I also have bought little stand alone shelves (at Bed Bath and Beyond or Container Store) to put in cabinets -- basically turning on shelf into two shelves.

I have the same problem... If you have any wall space in your kitchen, I bought a white "garage" storage cabinet for my kitchen. It added counter space and storage for gadgets and stuff (and since my cabinets are white people don't notice that is doesn't belong). It cost about $70 at home depot and was worth the cost just to watch my husband put it together.

YOu have som egood suggestions.
I have all my bakeware and Christmas ware in the space/tiny closet storage under my stairs. My hubby made me shelves and my mixer deep fryer electric skillet etc go under there. My pans go in my warner drawer under the stove.
All my speces are in a basket on top of the fridge, so are my large bowls.

Try IKEA, they have a ton of solutions for small spaces. They're not very expensive, but most of their stuff needs to be assembled. If you've never been, go check out the store in Schaumburg or Bolingbrook. They have example rooms set up so you can get ideas.

I think you're supposed to start with the dishwashing area and put frequently used/washed dishes and glasses in the upper cupboards directly above or as close to the dishwashing area as possible. Every day dishes and glasses go on the lowest shelves of these upper cabinets so they can be reached easily. Taller glasses go in back, shorter in front. Store glasses right side up and double up by storing juice glasses inside wider glasses. (Double old fashioneds are great for this.) Heavier equipment, i.e., food processor, stand mixer, toaster, toaster oven? should go in bottom cupboards. (If you don't use them frequently, maybe there's room in the pantry.) My microwave is pushed back diagonally in a corner to save space. Another way to save space is to have mixing bowls, casserole dishes, pots/pans, etc., that neatly nest together.

Now on to the stove area ... Pot, pans go in lower cupboards under or next to the stove. The small drawer next to the stove always holds pot holders for easy reach in case of an emergency.
Personally, I like a decorative utensil holder on my counter next to the stove so I can quickly find my various slotted spoons, wooden spoons, whisks, mashers, etc. Could your husband or a carpenter add a full or even half-deep shelf to the lower cupboards? My lower cupboards are pretty narrow but the shelf really helps. I keep large frying and saute pans in the stove drawer.

In any other lower cupboards, cookie sheets and wire racks can be stored on their sides rather than laying down flat if that helps. I also stack my muffin tins together, stack nested pie and cake pans on top of that, then bread/meatloaf pans on top of that.

Keep cookbooks in the kitchen or pantry ... mine are in the bookshelves in the room right next to the kitchen. If nowhere else, large platters could go on top of the fridge. Don't forget a place for dish towels. When the kids were younger, I made up a first aid kit in a covered plastic box and kept it on top of the fridge so babysitters and my husband could find everything they needed quickly. Keep a box of baking soda and a fire extinguisher near the stove in case of a fire.

If you could, I'd keep all food items in the food pantry except herbs and spices. Or put just frequently used foods on the turn-style...peanut butter, sugar bowl, hot cocoa mix, coffee, snacks.

You could buy attractive mugs and add cup hooks along the wall under the upper cupboards to free up cupboard space.

Phew! Hope this helps!

Here's a link:
http://www.marthastewart.com/portal/site/mslo/menuitem.e2...

Good luck,
Susan