Pantry Pride

 

Food Gift Tags.

In my old kitchen, I had what I referred to as the “open concept pantry”, which is really a fancy way of saying “everything is out in the open.”

Tired of open concept, I insisted on closed door storage for the pantry.  As luck would have it, I had an old hutch I had purchased on Ebay several years ago.  I liked the look of it and the price was right, so I bought it even though I didn’t have a place for it at the time.

Some cleaning up and a few coats of paint later, tah dah…it is a righteous pantry!  Right after the remodel, I pretty much just threw everything in there.  I knew I wanted to reorganize it, but wasn’t sure exactly how at that point.

Like most things with me, if I live with something for a while, I eventually figure out how to make it fit the way I do things.  The pantry was no exception.

Here are a couple of highlights:

  • Chalkboard Contact Paper.  Found on Amazon, it comes in a roll and can be cut into any shape.  I used my die cutter and cut labels in a vintage shape for the bail wire jars that hold various staples.  I also sourced chalk pens and keep them handy for when I change the contents.  A simple wet cloth wipes the old chalk off so I can write something new.  For the pasta jars, I also have a chalkboard label on top of the jar that has a number in it to remind me how long to cook each kind of pasta.
  • Bail Wire Jars.  I love these gems.  Found at IKEA, they are extremely reasonably priced and because the seal so tightly, they keep things fresh longer.
  • Plastic Air Sealed Bins.  In order to get maximum storage efficiency, no shelf space was tall enough to handle a common cereal box; this allowed me to have more shelves.  The alternative was to use Better Homes & Gardens air sealed containers (found at Walmart) that were short and squatty, but large enough to handle the contents of a box of cereal.  Actually these are much easier to access and close than a normal cereal box.  And it keeps cereal fresh for alot longer than just a regular cereal box.
  • Canvas Bins. For the lower cabinet, I  purchased (from Walmart), the white canvas bins, (3.99 ea). They help me access condiments, bread, extra baking items much easier.  Instead of mining shelves and moving things around to see what is in the back, I just pull the bin and I see everything I have….without disturbing the rest of the pantry.
  • Vintage Enamel Trays and Basins.  As you  may know by now, there is a little bit (or a lot) of vintage in everything I do.  I used what I believe to be old medical instrument trays to organize the drawers in the hutch to keep things in place and I have an old enamel basin to hold fresh lavender that I use through out the house.  As a second benefit, the Lavender always makes the pantry smell lovely every time I open the doors.

The before and after pics are posted.  Remember to click on the pictures twice to increase the size.  Let me know what you think!

Love Always,

Cindy

Architectural Elements

 

Lovely details.

Lamps. Lamps. Lamps.  I have always been challenged to find mass produced lamps that satisfy my cottage sensibilities.  So I am always on the hunt at flea markets, antique stores and antique shows for architectural elements that I can turn into lamps.  .

Here are two that I have found, both for under $20 each.  Some inexpensive hardware and two Pottery Barn lamp shades and the net result are some wonderful pieces that have loads of character and charm.

I hope you like them.

Love Always,

Cindy

Lovely architectural element painted in crisp white.

Everything looks so much crisper against a white backdrop.

Vintage glass knobs for lamp feet.

Lamp made from re-claimed baluster section

 

Loads of character and cottage charm.

 

Lovely first hydrangea blooms of the year.

Some of the Best Solutions are Very Simple.

My inspiration from Swedish Interiors.

 

I fell in love with this book.

 

Same house from the kitchen photo above.

 

Some of the best solutions are very simple.  Part of the mandate of my kitchen remodel was to keep the existing lower cabinets.  However, they were construction grade, big box, off the floor cabinets that possessed neither quality or style…but I had to make them work on a budget.  One idea that crossed my mind was to mine the Internet looking for door and drawer fronts and while there were some at reasonable prices, there wasn’t anything that would fit my very modest budget.

The solution was to clad the existing door and drawer fronts with a simple bead board fascia and paint the cabinets.  A leak under the sink had bowed out the two lower cabinet doors so the budget conscious solution was to use a fabric curtain.  For continuity, the same fabric that was used for the roman blinds was also used for the sink curtains.  It took very little time and helped salvage drab cabinets and give them some character.  The cherry on the sundae were the over-sized, vintage, reproduction glass knobs.  Total cost for bead board and new knobs/pulls: $43. I couldn’t be happier with the results.

Love Always,

Cindy

Before.

After.

Result.

 

 

Antique Find: The Delicate Workhorse

 

I found this lovely gem several weeks ago in Downtown McKinney and it has quickly become treasured and useful.  Engenius in its’ own way with telescoping supports that allow you to straddle it over a sink so it can do the work it was intended for, yet it stays out of the way when you want to use the sink otherwise.  My new found favorite.

The Vintage Food Strainer.

Delicious Loveliness.

The Almost Delicate Work Horse.

Let me know what you think!

Love Always,

Cindy

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Spice and Extract Storage

 

Nature's Colors.

All the Spices in a Row.

I am a creature of convenience.  So when I remodeled my kitchen, I needed to store my collection of spices and extracts in a way that was easily accessible.  For years I have used tins for spice storage and kept extracts in their original packaging.

I intuitively wanted glass containers for the spices and new lab bottles in amber color for extracts and put the oft used salt and pepper in vintage squat Kerr jelly jars.  The spices themselves are in what are generally used for…wait for it…specimen jars.  Just typing that makes me chuckle.

But seriously, the jars have a certain heft and elegance about them and I like their weight and feel.  Being able to see the spices in glass jars (versus opaque tins) has a practical application, too: I know when I am running low by simply looking.

I store my measuring spoons separated by measurement because I find I use them that way.  Tucked near the spices and extract, their placement is perfect for the way I cook and bake and navigate in the kitchen.

I made the shelves to keep things neat and organized and made the labels using Kraft paper labels.

Hope you like it.

Love Always,

Cindy, Lillie and Samantha

As a post script, I am submitting this article for consideration for a feature in Cottages & Bungalos.  Stop by the blog when you have some time, there are some terrific entries already:

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It’s New to Me: www.fishseddy.com

American Glassware fishseddy.com

 

I really love this online shop.  Some whimsy mixed in with straightforward home smallwares.  I am particularly in love with their glassware section and the mixture of uniquely american styles of cakestands, bowls and serving pieces.  It’s now a bookmarked store and a new favorite.  Check it out here.

Hope you think so, too.

xoxo,

Cindy, Lillie and Samantha

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