Wednesday, November 17, 2010

10 Reader Space: A Pretty and Practical Pantry

Have you heard?  Pantries are all the rage.  I can't check out a blog lately without someone showing off yet another fabulous pantry update.  And while some are fancy, some are decorative, some boast more storage than The Container Store, some were done for hundreds and some were done for free, there is endless inspiration to be found!

Where am I going with this?

Well, although I have featured a couple of great pantries here already, I still can't resist showing you another.  Because when it comes to pantries my friends, too much IS a good thing!

Jess wrote:

Hi Jen,
I just found your site, and I love it!  I love to decorate but I've been trying to tap into my organizational side lately.  We recently downsized into a tiny apartment until we find a house in our new town.  I lived with the clutter for a few months, but I've recently decided to take charge.  My most recent organizational project was my pantry.  Here's a link to the post I did about the project: http://ourlifeinhisgrace.tumblr.com/post/1115838904/a-before-and-after-and-17-off-the-to-do-list

I simply taped the posters to the wire shelves to prevent small items from falling through. And I secured them to the shelves with masking tape.

And I collected spaghetti sauce jars and spray painted the lids to store pastas, sugar, flour, etc in a more uniformed way!

I also painted a plain cardboard box in a chevron pattern and placed it on the bottom shelf to hold all the items I use daily to pack lunches!

The total project cost me $2.50!
 
Here's the breakdown:
Small poster boards- $0.50 {on clearance at Target}
Masking Tape- Already owned
Box and paint- Already owned
Spaghetti Jars- Recycled, so free!
Spray paint for jar lids- $2

Thanks for reading!
Jess

Seriously guys, take a look at what $2.50 can get you.  Be ready to be astonished!

Jess blogged:

This is the pitiful BEFORE.  Don’t Judge.



**Note*** The Light & Fit Yogurt container is NOT filled with Yogurt. I use it to store small boxes of raisins and packs of fruit snacks.

I hate those wire shelves. Most snacks fall through the spaces between.   So, this was my solution.  It was simple and most important, it was cheap!  I just taped two pieces of small poster board together, and placed them on the shelf.  I used two pieces of masking tape to secure the posters once they were on the shelves.  Like I said, simple!


The rest was just organizing and throwing away useless items.
 
And here is the much less embarrassing AFTER:


Genius right?  I mean, who would have though, poster board for shelf liner.  I can't get over how thrifty and smart that is.  I am gaga over that idea!

And as always, I really adore how Jess repurposed things she already had to create great storage.  Painting a box to make it pantry pretty?  Check.  Using spaghetti jars to store pasta, sugar and flour?  Check.  Corralling packets in a bowl?  Check.

Such a perfect before and after example of how to successfully organize on a budget!


Am I right or am I right?  You can never get enough incredible ideas for the beloved kitchen pantry.

Thank you Jess for sharing your story.  As always, I am so impressed with what can be done with everyday items with a little creative thinking!  Another job well done!

What's your favorite part?  And since we are still on the never get's old pantry subject, who else has been revamping?






P.S.  Have an awesome story to share?  How about some organizing tips and tricks?  Maybe a project completed from an inspiration found?  Please send your story and photos to iheartorganizing@gmail.com and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Oh, and no worries my friends, we will NEVER judge "before" pictures because that just wouldn't be nice!  Only love goes on at this blog!

10 comments:

  1. My favorite part is one, it was cheap, and two, it's practical!

    I love all the pantry redo's and there are some gorgeous ones out there...but some of them don't seem really practical.

    I'm all about pretty, but it must also be practical. Here's my pantry I recently showed off:

    http://wherebeautymeetsfunction.blogspot.com/2010/10/tale-of-pantry.html

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  2. Hooray pantries! One I put the finishing touches on my closet (pix coming soon!), that will be the next thing I tackle! I'm going to need to be creative with this one b/c, like Jess, i'm stuck with those wire-y shelves & a really weird shaped pantry to boot... seriously it's like a triangle! haha

    xoXOxo
    Jenn L @ Peas & Crayons

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  3. My pantry has those same wire shelves! The Posterboard idea is great! Or even maybe plastic placemats.. easier to clean! :)

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  4. Wow! Now why didn't I think of that about 4 months ago?? I went to Lowes and bought the expensive white shelf liner paper and lined the wire shelving since I too hate them. Looks great. I am still on the hunt for the clear plastic jars that hold cookies, spaghetti, etc..

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  5. That looks great! Starting to save my spaghetti jars as of today!!

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  6. Great Job! I've already thought about the spaghetti jars...every time I throw one away...
    Poster board!! ~awesome!

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  7. AWESOME! I love a practically no cost solution!

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  8. I ahve 2 pantries and need a ROOM, LOL! I am a dishoholic, love tablescaping so have ALOT of dishes!!! I can't wait to view all these pantries. The one you featured is GENIOUS!!!!!!!!!! BTW, wanted to tell you I just started a BLOG!!!! Please stop over!!!! XO, Pinky

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  9. Jen, here I sit, scrolling through your WONDERFUL blog, trying to decided where to leave you a comment and I stumble across your Pantry blog. Well, I just recently posted on my pantry (I Linked it up - Peek Inside My Pantry) & So I figured this would be the perfect place to comment. I really enjoy your blog! You are so gifted in the organizing and home decorating (we share the same love) and I wanted to let you know that you have truly inspired me to begin this blogging journey. Thanks so much for the Great Inspiration. Keep it up!

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  10. Love green solutions and resourceful people! Where this is a will, there is a way. Just found your blog and have added it to my google reader and have become a follower. I also love organization (use to be a pro ;) but now I just love to share with everyone on my blog.

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