An organization junkie's dream - Not to miss home organization sale

Spring cleaning is upon us and Beyond the Rack is having an awesome sale on essentials you'll wonder how you ever lived without. Beyond the Rack is one of those sites where you need a membership to shop - and if you click on this link - http://www.beyondtherack.com/member/invite/B3CBBBA8 you can sign up to be a member free and fast.

Enjoy!

$54.99 for this hamper cart
$18.99 for this bamboo shoe rack

$99.99 baker's rack

$11.99 storage set

$8.99 drawer organizer - (I have one of these and it's a life saver)
$19.99 for a 24 pack of wooden hanger

lots of garment racks on sale - $29.99 for this one

rolling cart for $89.99

$34.99 for this entire laundry organization system

They also have lots of nice bedding, decor, and rugs on sale.

A month by month plan to get your home storage organized: February is for kitchen organization

So month two of BHG's month-by-month storage plan is to conquer your kitchen. Here's the strategy. If you missed month one - January, you can see the home office storage plan in my previous post.

Sort and Label. Evaluate all pantry items. Toss everything that's expired and give away everything you didn't use in the last year. (Write today's date on every item so you'll know next year if you actually used each item.) Put items back in pantry and label shelves.
oh...an organized pantry is a BEAUTIFUL thing
via Real Simple


via GharExpert


One cannot have too many jars and canisters. Looks better and keeps food fresher than boxes and bags. I will cut off the label on the box and tape it to the lid of a jar if it's something I might have trouble identifying later.
via PrettyShabby on Flickr

Keep a clipboard in your pantry to jot down any staples you are running low on.
via Martha Stewart

Outfit a Drawer. Double the storage capacity inside a cabinet by adding freestanding wire shelves. Measure your cabinet interiors before heading to the home center or choose expandable shelves. Include riser-style inserts for small items such as spices or glassware.

Utilize Cabinet Doors. Evaluate the interior of every cabinet door and determine whether you can use the space to store spices, loose recipes, paper towels, or utensils. Add shallow shelves, racks, wall-mount pouches, and magnetic or cork boards.

Living in small NYC kitchens I learned early on to utilize the inside of cabinet doors, closet doors, etc. to store things.

Genius! Use tension rods to separate and divide lids, trays, and baking sheets.
2 above via BHG

Add Hooks. Install a utensil bar or metal grid above or beside your stove. Dangle five to eight frequently used utensils from S-hooks. Include a small wire basket to hold salt, pepper, cooking spray, and oil.

via Martha Stewart

I love the nook for the mixer and toaster!

great use of island space - installing bookshelves on the side. I don't know what the TV is doing their though.

2 above via BHG

Go to BHG to see the upcoming/past months' storage plans.

Earthy but refined - dreamy dining rooms and kitchens

No other room will serve you like a well designed kitchen, pantry, and dining room. Undoubtedly these serve there purpose - and look gorgeous!

A pot rack is a functional and attractive solution for too little cupboard space. Check out the gorgeous tile backsplash
via House Beautiful

I've never seen mirrored cabinets before - what do you think?
via House Beautiful

This is a dining room for late nights sipping wine and lazy mornings drinking coffee and reading. How couldn't you with the fireplace and settee!
via Elle Decor


via Elle Decor

A great example of how vertical space can be utilized if horizontal space is lacking
via Loft Life Magazine

This pantry is TO DIE FOR!

via Marie Claire Maison

I always like dining areas in or connected to the kitchen - it's so cozy and intimate.
NikreationS

Sneaky - but pretty ways to organize your kitchen

Need I go into a lot of explanation? Very few people have enough kitchen space and we can all use a few new tricks to put up our sleeve.

I like this cabinet door that drops down and hides the mixer and/or toaster. Once those things (small kitchen appliances) go in a cupboard or in a drawer they aren't coming back...



I like these floor to ceiling cabinets. They're sleek with frosted glass - and the u-shaped shelves create even more space


organization is beautiful - beautiful is organization

If you are thinking or re-modeling - consider this sweet little coffee nook..

images above via BHG
tupperware is a nightmare - if you have a deep enough drawer, partition it if you can and create a "filing system" if you can. Put super small lids in their own little baskets.

Small kitchens cannot have enough hooks, bars, shelves - any device which lets you hang things or take items off the counter will not go unused.

Keep like items grouped - oils in their own container/basket, small bagged dry goods in another container/basket, etc.

An organizers dream cupboard...ahhh
via Real Simple

A very cool new kitchen product - especially for tiny kitchens

I got the privilege of testing out a new kitchen product, which I can attest is very cool and would be very beneficial in an apartment like those in NYC where one only has 1-2 cabinets. You can check out the site here, but I've also copied a synopsis:


"An Innovative Product"

FoldTuk is actually the first and only collapsible bakeware that can be used in conventional, convection, infrared, and microwave ovens due to its Green and petroleum free Ceramber material. It is airtight, stackable, dishwasher safe, and naturally nonstick (No non-stick coating applied), making it your most functional bakeware and cold storage container.

Ceramber heats up and cools down faster than silicone bakeware products. Unlike Corningware containers, the FoldTuk can collapse to a one-inch in height, saving valuable shelf space in your kitchen cabinet. The FoldTuk is very durable yet sturdy and has all the function benefits of Pyrex or Corningware. FoldTuks Ceramber construction allows it to transfer from deep freeze directly into a hot baking oven eliminating any risk of thermal impact...and it is 100% shatter proof. If the FoldTuk slips out of your hands as you empty the dishwasher, not to worry, FoldTuk is unbreakable and no damage will be done to you or your kitchen investments!

Want to be Green and have a giant savings on your utility costs? You can bake a meal, serve it directly to the mealtime table and save your leftovers all in the very same FoldTuk! In one meal preparation alone, you have contributed to the protection of our environment by reducing your use of electricity, soap and water."


The cranberry apple crisp ready for the oven

Fresh out of the oven - and yes, it tasted delicious

I sealed up the leftovers (what little there were), and saved them in the fridge for the next night.

It cleaned up pretty easy, and as you can see, collapses for easy storage.

Again, you can see their other products and read more about it here - foldtukbakeware.com

Is this something you could use in your kitchen?

Got a small kitchen in which to prepare Thanksgiving? Here are some really great ideas!

I found this gallery on Better Homes and Gardens, and I wanted to share with you my favorite ideas! Hope you see something inspiring!


I always have lots of hooks on hand because they are a life saver in kitchens. NYC apartments have maybe 4 cabinets on average, though I've dealt with less, and having items hanging from the walls is VERY handy, and makes for a nice cottage look.


Flea market finds like the section of iron fence, or the grate as a pot rack, make for inexpensive DIY projects.

Instructions for the image above - I'm a huge fan of using jars (after all - you buy the spaghetti sauce, eat-it, and then your left with a handy organizational system)

-"Adapt an idea from the garage workbench, but instead of storing nails, nuts, and bolts, store coffee beans or other goodies. Collect identical glass jars with screw-top lids (spaghetti sauce jars, for example) and screw the lids to the underside of a wood shelf. Allow enough space between the jars for easy access.

To keep track of a variety of coffee beans, use your computer to print labels on white paper and have them laminated at a print shop. Or use purchased tags and write the variety names by hand. Tie the tags to the jars with twine."


A great solution to a common problem, (too many cookbooks, not enough book shelves in the kitchen). Bring in a small bookshelf and top with stone (this you may need to make a trip to the hardware store to purchase and cut) - so now you have storage and more work surface.

Making a caddy (this one was a tool box given a new paint job), keeps things you use everyday handy and portable while cooking.

So, could any of these ideas work for you? Any ideas on how to adapt them for other uses around the house?