Thursday, January 12, 2012

125 My Boot Storage "Ah Ha" Moment

One of the very best reasons to live in the tundra, is to acquire tundra gear.  You know, hats, mittens, snow pants, bulky jackets and boots.  It's awesome.  Sensing my sarcasm?

Anyone who has to deal with the cold weather gear, knows what I am talking about.  And storing it all in a pretty way isn't the easiest thing to do.  Sure, we use our coat closet for the coats and snow pants.  But our coat closet is in our kitchen.  And because it's placed above our stairs to the lower level, it's only a half closet with zero room for boots.


So boots would be placed in piles by our front entry... {sorry, these first couple of pictures were actually taken in the summer months so the mess that our winter gear created is not present, I am sure your imaginations are spot on}


When we put up our tree, we moved the white table out for awhile.  Once the tree came down and we brought the table back in, I had a moment.  One of those fabulous "Ah Ha!" moments.  The kind where you can't focus on anything else until you test out your idea.

We had an old leather storage bench in our guest bedroom that we used to stash away linens {you can see that here}.

I knew that the leather bench would fit under the white table perfectly, since it lived there once before long ago.  But what I was really hoping was that our large boot tray that was living in the garage {it was too big for our entry once our shoe cabinet came in}, would actually conveniently fit inside the bench.  Yes, yes it did!

So I spent $2 at Home Depot on some River Stone...


Popped that fantastic tray inside the bench:


Dumped in the rocks {the rocks keep the boots up off of the tray so the snow can melt down}:


And placed our boots inside!  {My kids were at school while this was taking place, with their winter boots on, so I used mine with a couple other pairs, just to share the example}.


The tray itself actually perfectly holds my boots along with my three boy's winter boots {for a total of four pairs}.  My hubs giant boots live on a shelf in the garage, since he really only uses them for shoveling.


Then, the best part, shutting the lid, keeping those boots concealed and sliding it under the table!



Who you have know that the bench was full of boots?  Me either!  That's the best part!

The kid's don't mind this either as it's better than previous options.  We used to keep the green tray in the garage and tried keeping the boots out there too but that meant the kids taking them through the whole house and then the boots would freeze overnight, so that didn't last long.   Sometimes being tidy and organized comes with the discipline of putting things away.  I like the fact that the clutter is now concealed since our area is so small and it's also open to our living room/dining room/kitchen.

Update: Some readers have questioned the wet combined with lack of air issue.  Although the bench is not airtight, I am still planning on popping a box of baking soda inside and cracking the lid overnight. 

Wanna see how absolutely TINY our entryway is?


No coat closet.  Barely any entry.  It's been a challenge to troubleshoot through the small space, but now that we have the shoe cabinet and concealed boot storage, I am content!

The basket on the wall is currently being used for hats and mittens:



It's not the prettiest display, but in the warmer months, we will use it to keep track of other things, like our library books or magazines, so it always has a purpose.  It was just too easy to keep hats and mittens there in for the colder months.  And because it's not lined, it's easy to find what we are looking for, and allows better air flow for drying.

How about a before and after of the switcharoo?


It seems like every year when I pack up the holiday decor, I am given a fresh perspective on a space.  I love that.  And I was so excited when my brain pieced together a boot tray with a storage bench.  And that it actually worked!!

Have you recently had a design or storage epiphany that left you grinning big?  What about winter gear storage.  It's a pretty common question I receive, so what ways are you keeping all of that bulky business organized and concealed?

125 comments:

  1. Well done! Great idea! Where did you get the basket that you use to store the hats and mittens?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The basket is from Ballard but I have also seen them at Pottery Barn.

      xoxo! Jen

      Delete
    2. Love the basket! I'll be looking for one like that. Also, I would have never thought to hide the boots/rocks in a container! I always put off those design ideas b/c my kids would ALWAYS be pestering with the rock. You solved that problem!

      Delete
  2. What a fantastic idea! I love this! This would be so useful in my boyfriends house, he has a very small apartment that easily gets very cluttered with all our winter gear (we are from Canada so there is quite a bit of ski/boarding gear laying around) and this would be such a wonderful solution to this problem!
    Definitely passing this idea over to him!
    xx


    The Urban Umbrella
    xoxo


    http://urbanumbrella.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
  3. Super smart and clever, I love it! Just curious, what was under the table before and what did you do with it?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The seagrass storage ottomans that were there, were empty. They used to hold art and craft supplies, but then we gave the kiddos an art caddy that is stored in a cabinet in their room, and I moved my craft items down to my future studio space. They are temporarily in our guest room where the leather bench was, not 100% sure where they will end up next!

      xoxo,
      Jen

      Delete
  4. Love this, and it certainly looks great, but I have to ask -- does this mean that every time you want to put boots away or put them on you have to pull out that bench from under the table?

    ReplyDelete
  5. As always that looks beautiful! But questions- Sliding it in and out, without wheels? Doesn't that damage the floors? Is it easy to pull out without a handle? Will the kids really take that extra step in pulling out the bench to put their boots away every day? (and if they do, I am patting you on the back.... you've done a great job with those lovely boys!)

    (Hahaa, can you tell I raised 5 kids and tried everything over the years with their shoes and boots?!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great questions. This was by far the best solution for us given the space we have to work with. None of the doors coming into the home have much room for footwear or outerwear, so it meant getting creative. Sometimes being and staying organized requires being disciplined, and the storage bench idea is far better for us than a giant pile of wet boots in front of the door {which is also a hazard since our stairs are right there}. The bench pulls out nice and easy since there are felt pads on the bottom {no scratching the floor}, and my kiddos are great about managing their boots on their own {they would rather this than carry them through the house to the boot tray in the garage}.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  6. So adorable! You are so clever with everything and I wish you and your family a wonderful 2012!

    ReplyDelete
  7. Replies
    1. We keep coats in the coat closet shown in the first picture in this post.

      xoxo! Jen

      Delete
  8. Do the boots dry out enough? I'd worry about about the damp and muck building up in an enclosed space like that. (But I do agree that it is gorgeous)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Boots dry just fine. If they were ever so wet that I was concerned about drying, we could always just leave the top of the bench opened or cracked.

      xoxo! Jen

      Delete
  9. What a fantastic solution! You are one smart cookie! I also think this is a wonderful solution: http://pinterest.com/pin/262123640781400853/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ah, yes, such a genius idea! Apparently, there are a lot of smart cookies out there! :)

      xoxo
      Jen

      Delete
  10. Love it! I am still trying to find the right solution for my non-existent entryway. I have probably half the wall space as you between my front door and window, and I am determined to have a couple of hooks for bags and jackets there, b/c my coat closet is in another room (kind of inconvenient). The closet is also over a stairwell, but we have the sloped floor inside which has added to the challenge of finding a good solution for utilizing as much space as possible.

    Thanks for the ideas!

    ReplyDelete
  11. I LOVE that idea! I wish I could use this idea but we live in Savannah, GA and mere flurries send the city into a panic. Just an idea of how little it snows, the last time snowed was Feb 2010 and it was gone by 10am. Before that the last time it snowed and stuck was 17 years before that. CRAZY! I miss snow and would love to have to find something to do with snow boots. haha. Great job Jen!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I was thinking the same thing about living in Oklahoma! But why not for the rain boots?

      Delete
  12. Great job!!! I love the ah ha moments.....this is genius!

    ReplyDelete
  13. This is such a brilliant idea. I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Amazing that the tray was a perfect fit for the storage bench.

    Are you going to be using your laptop exclusively in your new snazzy office now instead of the console/desk in the Living Room? Also, what are in the blue boxes on the white table?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yep, the computer has been down in the mess of a studio right now :) Or wherever I land to work. The blue boxes are a new project that I am trying out with the kids. More details on the blog soon if it all works as planned.

      xoxo! Jen

      Delete
  15. What a great solution. After seeing the shoe cabinet on your blog we recently purchased one for our daughter's room. She had a small alcove that was wasted space. Now it houses her shoes perfectly as well as her jewelry.

    ReplyDelete
  16. Do you remember where you got the tray from by chance? I believe I've got the same ottoman and I LOVE this idea!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's from Crate and Barrel, but I have also seen them at Ballard and Target and even Amazon.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  17. Awesome idea! Just one question - when the snow melts off the boots and into the tray, how will you allow the water to evaporate so mold and other icky things don't start growing?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I will probably just start leaving the lid open over night to ensure good airflow. It's a pretty new system so we will just have to see how things go.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
    2. You can also make a bleach/water solution, put it in a spray bottle and spray it on the rocks, periodically. Leave the lid open, to air out, but it will keep the mold and bacteria out.

      Delete
    3. FABULOUS! Great to know and thank you so much for the tip! xoxo!

      Delete
  18. Such a good idea! I would try something similar if I didn't have to worry about my little munchkins thinking that the rocks would be super fun toys. (:

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Yeah, my kiddos are a little older so they know better. I figured if they were out of site for the most part, they would also be "out of mind". We will see how it goes! If for some reason I have a reason to worry, I can always just ditch the rock idea. :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

      Delete
  19. Great idea! We have a major shoe/boot storage issue at our house. I have one question- how do you store your 'cute boots' ? Like nice dress boots that you just don't want to toss into a closet (because unfortunately, that is what my family has been doing with most of our shoes- then we have to 'dig' them out when it's time to go- you would be disappointed, I promise though- it's the biggest organization problem in our house, I'm pretty good otherwise)!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I only have one pair of dress boots and I just roll a magazine and pop it in each one so they stay well formed. Those are tucked in my clothing closet with my dressy shoes. I only keep one to two pairs per person of everyday shoes in our shoe cabinet.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  20. I love the idea of the rocks on the tray. So smart!!

    ReplyDelete
  21. We have a similarly small entry, and I use a similar solution for storing most of our shoes. (Not as neatly though, shoes mostly just get thrown in there, and i clean it out when we can't close the lid! Although we fit more in there that way!) I do have problems with moisture accumulating and leaving a musty smell in the bench. I'd suggest throwing a fridge pack of baking soda in there to help alleviate that problem.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Ahhh genius thought oon the baking soda! Will do right away! Thanks for the tip!

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  22. I would always be stressed about e dripping from door to bench. We have a very small mud/ laundry room coming off he garage, so I put hooks up in the garage right outsid th door. Each of my 5 children have a hook for sports bag, a hook for backpack, a hook for snow pants and coat, and a hook for jackets. Since each plaque comes with 6 hooks, we have some extras. Then they sit their boots on the floor underneath their coat. We live in WI also, so since it gets really cold, they bring their coats inside in the mornings to warm up before putting them in to go to school. We have done this for about 5 years now and it works like a charm!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sounds like a wonderful solution! Don't their boots freeze overnight? We were keeping boots in the garage for awhile, but I found the boots were so cold and frozen in the morning, that the kids were grumpy with me, lol.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  23. What a great idea! I am so inspired by your entry way organization! My entry way opens right into our family room, I have been trying to find more attractive ways to incorporate the storage of our coats, shoes, and school backpacks etc into the family room...rather, trying to figure out how to conceal these things while still keeping them reasonably accessible. Your post has my gears turning, thank you!!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Thank goodness you explained what the rocks were for - this southern girl had no idea! Looks great!

    ReplyDelete
  25. I am so stealing this idea! I have the same storage bench that we use to sit on to take our shoes on and off at the back door. I currently have a tray next to it. We lack a mudroom so our back entrance opens right into the kitchen and eating area. Our front entrance is never used and is similar to yours. I was wondering where you got the green boot tray from? The tray I currently have won't fit into the bench.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Melissa!
      Here is the link to the boot tray: http://www.crateandbarrel.com/decorating-and-accessories/doormats/green-boot-tray/s125680

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  26. This is a great idea! I wish we had room to do something like that in our entry way, it's even smaller and more limited than yours:) Maybe we'll actually get some snow so you can really utilize the boot storage!

    ReplyDelete
  27. This idea is brilliant! I love it!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Love what you did with the ottoman/boots! Can you believe my entryway is possibly smaller? (I can't extend it into the living room like you seem to have!) Love your blog!

    http://www.toddlindsey.com

    ReplyDelete
  29. What about nixing the table now you have the lower level more functional again? I'm just thinking it will be a pain sliding the ottoman in and out, and you probably don't use that desk much more these days...

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We actually still use the table. The kids like to sit there to color or work on school work while we cook in the kitchen. Plus, taking the table away makes that entire hip wall is so bare and empty. We thought about building in a bench someday but that's way in the future, so for now, this was a quick fix using what we had and we love it.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  30. I love this idea Jen! Right now the rug gets the brunt of our wet boots...but the river stone is FANTASTIC and I've seen that on Pinterest too so it must work pretty well! Can't wait to adapt this to my own house (next year...)!

    Kimberly

    ReplyDelete
  31. We use that same ottoman/bench to store our shoes year round - my new question is where did you get that desk? The bench stores under it perfectly, and we could really use the shelf space the desk would give to our tiny entry.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Lisa! It's actually this table from Target: http://www.target.com/p/Glass-Top-Sofa-Table-Espresso/-/A-13082796 Mine was not the espresso version since I got it a couple of years ago. I had painted it white last year and added some pretty paper under the glass top: http://iheartorganizing.blogspot.com/2010/12/fresh-start-to-2011.html

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  32. Great idea. I assume you knock off as much snow as possible before coming inside to minimize the amount of water that drips off? Does the water that does drip off evaporate quickly so you don't have water buildup in the tray?

    Merilee

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Merilee!

      We have mats both on the outside of the front door and inside. Both those catch a lot of the snow/water upon entering the house. As far as water evaporating inside the ottoman, it's no trouble to leave it cracked throughout the evening if necessary.

      xoxo,
      Jen

      Delete
  33. Jen. I just love love love your ideas. What a great way to hide your boots. We live in Ohio and expecting our first real snow tonight the weather has been so unseasonably warm here. The kiddos mostly have been tracking in mud with their rain boots from the rain. A boot tray has been on my list of to do's forever. I'm loving the ottoman idea added to the equation even more.

    ReplyDelete
  34. Great idea-- Although at my house I think I would have just slide the tray and rocks under the table knowing that the extra step of pulling out the bench and opening it would be too much for my kids lol.
    Love the bsket for hats!

    ReplyDelete
  35. cool idea! I am all about finding new ways to organize and declutter! Thanks for posting!

    ReplyDelete
  36. Okay, so I know this post is about your boot storage - fabulous, by the way - but what really caught my attention is the basket in your "coat closet" marked "Returns." What a brilliant idea. My returns either bounce around in the back of the car, or are stashed by the door. Either way, they aren't corraled nicely. Thanks for the idea! Now, I just need to figure out how to incorporate it in my space.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I actually recently stole that basket for another project and decided to use a "reusable" fabric shopping tote instead, which is working out even better. I can just keep it hung in the closet by a hanger so it takes up less space, yet it is still portable for when I am out and about.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  37. Great idea!!! What is the name of the green paint on your walls??? Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  38. I'm seriously considering flying you to Texas to organize my house!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I would seriously consider taking you up on that, it's cold here today! lol! :)

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  39. Honestly, you are a genius. And you inspire me. Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
  40. I recently did a major overhaul of our "project room" which has me smiling. I had a couple of strokes of brilliance while I worked on it. Perhaps the best was the the most obvious:
    About our large stash of board games which I had thought was sacrosanct as far as decluttering goes -- I decided to get them all off their shelves (because I wanted to move their location to another part of the room), and when I had them all stacked on a table I ASKED MY FAMILY to just pull out all the games they wanted to keep. I reassured them that I wasn't trying to say anything had to go, but I just wondered if it might turn out that there were some things nobody really wanted anymore. Imagine my surprise and delight when less than half of the items were pulled. Some people at the thrift/charity shop are going to get some good games, and we gained lots of space. Makes me very happy!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Great idea! And I love that it's a concept that could be used for so many other items as well!

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  41. In the pictures the entry way is just consisting of green, white and solid brown. Maybe you can add a bright and cheery slipcover to the leather ottoman so there will be some "pop" of color. Also you should add a full length mirror against the wall space (behind the door)that is currently empty, that will give the illusion of more space and also allow everyone no matter how short or tall you are to get a quick glance of themselves before they walk out the door. Then you can remove the slanted mirror above the white shoe rack. Also since usually vertical storage looks best in multiples why not move the wire basket a little bit up and add another of the same basket right underneath that for more storage....

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for the tips! It's actually funny because the pictures only show part of the space, it's actually pretty colorful and cheerful in there, and I am liking the simplicity this area provides as it's a passageway to the dining/kitchen area from the living room. Here is a view of the opposite side: http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Btkmp2tHQfM/Tu9jMtnmMpI/AAAAAAAAPLs/7BKPFh8-5Go/s1600/LivingRoomAfter1.jpg

      My fear of a full length mirror behind the door is the kids. I can imagine it would only be a matter of time before it would get cracked...

      I do like the idea of adding a second wall basket, as I don't really love having one there at all since it looked a little lonely. It had sat on the floor there for so long though, that I knew we needed the hat storage there.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  42. This is Brilliant! I am currently having issues with my shoe rack, and I know just the place to get a similar chest. I love it under the table as well.

    I've just reorganised my kitchen after a mammoth painting job - I'm feeling rather pleased with myself

    My kitchen at ididtellyou.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
  43. Love this idea! My parents live where it snows and I am sure my mom will love this!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Wow--two things! you got threaded replies!!!

    I like the idea of the hidden boots too. I wonder if kitty litter under the river rocks would absorb the liquid too.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. klaren@nordlysnett.noJanuary 13, 2012 at 8:06 PM

      Just a little tips from Northern Norway: Be sure that the kitty litter is a kind that doesn't kind of melt when it's wet. I had a "good idea" some day it was really icy outside our home, so I threw some kitty litter on the ice, since I had no salt or sand, guess who had to wash all the floors all the time... *sigh*
      Good luck :)

      Delete
  45. Jen you truly did have an ahh Hah! moment, that is great and I can't believe how perfectly it all fits. I just did a post on my purging process. I am trying to purge my walk-in closet and today was shoes and purse day. I did purge 19 pairs of shoes, but the purses have to wait until tomorrow,life got in my way today!! I have some pretty good storage ideas that I have pinned for shoes on my post, one of them involves an ottoman you can see it Here:
    http://goodlifeofdesign.blogspot.com/2012/01/shoes-and-purses-oh-my.html
    if you have a chance. Kathysue

    ReplyDelete
  46. Brilliant!!! I am especially excited because I have the exact same bench lurking in the playroom downstairs. It looks like it will get a second chance after all....

    ReplyDelete
  47. Your home is so pretty! The green paint is gorgeous! What color is that?
    I hope you don't mind - I linked to your blog here... http://www.getyourmomon.blogspot.com/2012/01/need-to-organize.html

    ReplyDelete
  48. I love the little basket for hats & mittens. Is there a name for that type of basket so I can look for it online?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It's a wall basket, but I just happened to stumble upon it in a ballard catalog, and have also seen similar ones at Pottery Barn. I had searched high and low for less expensive options and came up short. Good luck to you!

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  49. First Jen I would like to say I LOVE your blog. You are on my daily read list. You inspired me to really start to organize our house better.

    I really like the boot storage idea - I'm a fan of consealed storage! But, one thing I would love to know is where did you get the wall paper for your closet? Love it! We have been painting the rooms in our house but I want to add some surprise design in our closets.

    Can't wait to see what else you come up with :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The wallpaper came from a girlfriend and was the leftovers from a project she was working on, but here is a link to the same stuff: http://www.lowes.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1&storeId=10151&catalogId=10051&cId=SEARCH&productId=3313308&cm_mmc=SCE_gps-_-gps-_-gps-_-allen%20+%20roth%20Floral%20Trail%20Wallpaper&CAWELAID=1023670913

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  50. i read this post wanting to shout "this is what i do too!!!"

    Isn't it such a great idea? I'm so happy someone else has done the same thing.

    smappleby.blogspot.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so awesome! Since it's a newer system for us, I would love to know how it's been working out for you?

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  51. So cool! But, the firs thing I wondered was, have you had to deal with dumping out the melted snow from the tray yet? It seems like that'd be kind of a pain, but worth it for the better storage!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Nope, the amount of snow that gets in there is so minimal. We have a mat outside the front door and right inside as well.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  52. As I am in a new house, I am starting out right, thanks to the help of my hubby! We have more storage than ever and it really makes a difference with four kids. The thing that always inspires me about how you go about your work it that you make it PRETTY as well. wallpaper in the closet, just makes me want to sing. I am thinking of using the leftover from my entryway bathroom and adding it to the closet next to it. Waste not want not.

    Have a great week!

    ReplyDelete
  53. You always have the smartest ideas! And like the comment says above me - you always make it pretty. It's summer here in Australia, so I'm tucking this one away for preparations for the coming months :)

    ReplyDelete
  54. I'm in love with your site. I will be coming back because I'm an organizing nerd too!

    ReplyDelete
  55. These are great storage tips! I love the boot one! When I have my own house one day I'll have to do this! Thanks for the inspiration! xo

    ReplyDelete
  56. I also live in area where it snows a lot and winter shoes (and all sorts of other gear) are a huge problem! It's so icky. This is a fantastic idea. I actually have a couple of those storage ottomans that I'm not using now so I could totally do this, but not in my entry. The hard part would be getting the husband on board. Also, my problem is that we regularly use two entrances to our house. We can only park one car in the garage (the rest is storing remodeling stuff), so I use that and my husband parks in the driveway and comes in through the front entrance. Neither of those places actually have enough room to put a little table like you have. Our hands are always full when we walk inside (carrying stuff like shopping bags, purse, lunchbox, work laptop, etc.)and we have nowhere to set stuff down or sit down while we take off our shoes. Therefore we walk upstairs to the living room, and our couch has become a dumping ground for whatever we were carrying. I'm going to work harder to find some sort of even a tiny little table that I might could fit at our entries so we can corral clutter and hoes.

    ReplyDelete
  57. LOVE this idea!! So smart - thank you for sharing your AHA moment! I featured you today in my Friday I'm In Love favorites!

    http://socialsalutations.blogspot.com/2012/01/friday-im-in-love-with-organizing-and.html

    - Jenn @ Social Salutations

    ReplyDelete
  58. I used to have one of your brown-bench boxes and loved it for lots of reasons. I can't remember what happened to it! The good news is that my kids are grown with homes of their own and we have a coat closet for my husband, one for me and one for guests! It doesn't seem fair, I know, but when my 18 grands come home, like over the holidays, we put all their shoes, boots, and garb in bins in the mudroom cause it's immense! Congratulations on all the clever organization ideas you share here!

    ReplyDelete
  59. I so love your blog...although I am not really much into the Blog world yet, I find myself checking yours almost daily...and there is always something here that I want to try for myself...a GREAT source of inspiration...right now several projects are on my To-Do list: the kids school paperwork files is first on my list, then the office reorganization, then the Family Binder. I really admire you, YOU ARE A STAR in my book! I am a mom to 3 young boys myself and I KNOW how crazy it can get. Today, in looking at the pictures of the boot storage, something struck me as odd...the wire basket for gloves and hats, and it got me thinking if, perhaps, attaching it to the side of the shoe cabinet storage, above the umbrella basket wouldn´t be a better place for it, I feel almost silly suggesting this to the expert, but for some reason I feel it would be a bit more concealed and still just as wonderfully functional...just thought I would share that with you, hope it is ok. Thank you so much for all you do!

    ReplyDelete
  60. That is a great idea, if I lived in a place were it snowed I would use it, but I live in the desert :(. I still love your blog and your wonderful ideas. Thanks for sharing

    ReplyDelete
  61. I actually like your wall basket idea for mittens & hats, etc. I might steal this one.

    ReplyDelete
  62. Great idea Jen..as usual. At first I thought the rocks were dog food! Ok, I need more coffee! Saw you on Bower Power this morning! Woo hoo, girl!

    ReplyDelete
  63. it LOOKS good but my question is, how is it for convenience. I'm thinking as in rushing out the door and having to pull the bench out to get the boots, etc.

    I also have a non-existent entrance way for the front door (it opens right into my living room), we use the other door, which has a very tiny entrance, it has a "closet" but when we put coats there they would get knocked off when we opened the door. Finally not long ago I came up with an idea to put hooks, which has helped but there it still isn't a great space. Keep trying, I guess! :)

    ReplyDelete
  64. Jen,

    Where did you get the wire basket on the wall you use for mittens and hats? i love it!

    ReplyDelete
  65. just kidding i should have read all the comments first, sorry!

    ReplyDelete
  66. sorry, I should have read all the comments first!!

    ReplyDelete
  67. What font did you use for labeling the hats and mittens basket? I love it!

    Also, such a great idea. I have a super small entry area and I honestly haven't even come close to figuring it out yet. You can see it here

    http://hisshabbyherchic.com/2011/10/27/entry-way-part-1/

    I'm definitely up for some suggestions if you have any (I could seriously use some)!

    ReplyDelete
  68. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  69. This is the most amazing blog ever and you are a genius. I found you on Pinterest and now I must say that you inspire me on a daily basis. I love the shoe cabinet, but I'm nowhere close to an IKEA store and they don't sell it on-line (grrr..)! Have you or anyone else called in a phone order and had them ship? I'm just curious if shipping is outrageous. I may have to move! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I have heard shipping is completely outrageous - maybe a bookcase could be an option? About as narrow, just tuck the shoes into buckets or line the shelves?

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  70. Love the boot storage! So smart! I'm working on our pantry right now....just finishing it up with some final touches (labels!).

    Thanks for the inspiration!
    Jen
    athomeinthenorthwestblog.com

    ReplyDelete
  71. Someone asked also, and I didn't see a response. Did you have a source for that basket? Also there was a while square "grid" desktop basket in a later post-would love to know where that came from! I have to say, you are very nice! Someone commenting "Nice, but I would do this, and this and this..." Really?!? LOL! Your a sweetie! Glad I found your blog!! I am going to buy that Target side table and put the ottoman underneath and use it in our landing for laundry!!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. The basket is from Ballard Designs but I have also seen them at Pottery Barn for less. The white wire baskets in my closet office were from Target a few years back, haven't seen anything similar since.

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  72. I am so sorry. I am sure you get asked the same things over and over... I tried to find it, but alas... is the "dresser" to the left of the front door Ikea?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Penny--Yes, it is a shoe cabinet. I don't have the link, but if you go to the Ikea website and do a search for "shoe cabinet," it should pop up.

      Delete
    2. Hi Penny! It is from Ikea, it's a shoe cabinet - here is the link: http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/20169559/

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
    3. Sorry Jen, I didn't mean to jump in & answer before you! It's just that I was at Ikea on Monday looking at this *exact* cabinet, so I thought I'd provide some helpful info.

      Delete
    4. Oh goodness, no worries, I just wanted to give her the exact link. So happy you chimed in, this is a community page so please feel free to do that anytime! :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

      Delete
  73. Score! Awesome solutions; really enjoy your blog.

    ReplyDelete
  74. I was *so* inspired by your wall basket for mittens/hats--this is a HUGE clutter issue in our home right now, and they pile up on the entryway table. (While we do have a bin for these in the closet, there are so many hats/gloves that we are constantly digging through it!) This past weekend, while I was cruising the "home" aisles at Marshalls for something similar, I came across an organizer that can only be described as a fabric "over the door" shoe organizer with pockets, only smaller and mounted on a clothes hanger. I hung it on a side-wall hook in our entryway closet, popped a pair of gloves or hat in each pocket, and voila! Instant storage. My 3 year old loves putting her favorite hat/mittens into their own little pocket!

    (I realize that this probably would be a no-brainer for most folks on this blog; however I really needed to read this post to get my "a-ha" moment and clutter solution, so thanks to all!)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That's so awesome! I love the idea of pocket organizers for leashes, scarves, hats, mittens, charging cables, etc... anything entry related and they are the perfect solution. Virtual high fives to you for a job wonderfully done! :) xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  75. Curious if you know the paint colour name of your living room. Love it :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Serena, it's Behr's grape leaves. It's fantastic!

      xoxo!
      Jen

      Delete
  76. Just found you on Pinterest. (thanks Elizabeth Spinelli) super idea for hidden storage. I live in Wisconsin and can't believe people think you can keep boots outside in the garage...brr!
    Wadding up some newspaper inside the boots may help them stay dry.
    I also loved your idea of keeping magazines in your tall boots.

    What color paint did you use in the hallway? haha!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you!

      We did end up sticking some baking soda pods in the ottoman and leaving the top cracked from time to time, and it never got too bad. I finally just put the winter boots into a storage cabinet in the garage and the ottoman never gained a musty smell from a winter of storing boots so that was all good.

      The wall color if Behr's Grape Leaves. :)

      xoxo,
      Jen

      Delete
  77. Hi Jen,

    Where are the seagrass ottomans from? I've been looking for some just like that!

    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Kristin!

      I found them online from Walmart.com a few years back, they are the same as these from Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000WQ4XX2/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=iheaorga-20&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=390957&creativeASIN=B000WQ4XX2

      xoxo,
      Jen

      Delete
  78. I am a college student and my roommates are so bad about throwing their things all over the living room when they get home from class. This seems like it would make it hard to not put things where they belong. Thanks for the awesome yet simple idea!

    ReplyDelete
  79. I love your blog, and how everything is so pretty!
    What do you do when you have company, so more than 4 sets of boots. My sons come crashing in, and out tiny entryway (just like yours) is FILLED! We have boots, coats, backpacks and more, and it is all wet and snowy!
    Thanks!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. We actually updated our system, which you can see here: http://www.target.com/p/evercare-pastel-microfiber-cleaning-cloths-4-pk/-/A-11145993#prodSlot=medium_1_30&term=microfiber

      We also installed a few extra hooks in our entry for our guests coats and mittens/etc.... we just line the extra boots behind the door the best we can. I agree, when we have guests, the entry can still get a little cluttered.

      xo!

      Delete
  80. You are so creative, The bench is fabulous
    akhtala.com

    ReplyDelete

Thank you so much for taking a moment to join in on the conversation! I read and appreciate each and every comment, however, I will remove any comment that I believe to be inappropriate, malicious, or spam-like. I would love for this comment section to be used as a place to engage in purposeful dialogue, I only ask that everyone remains constructive and considerate.

All comments will be moderated and may take a moment to appear.