99 Under the Stairs Storage Reveal!

As we have been spending our efforts on other areas of our home over the previous couple of years, our storage areas have suffered.  We have been spending a huge amount of time and effort focusing on these areas to put in place sufficient storage solutions, to ensure that these spaces don't fall to the wayside again as we continue to work on the remainder of our home.  When it came to under the stairs, it all started with an exciting plan!

But let's back up a moment...

Once upon a time we built a house with under stair storage.  Our basement was unfinished for many years, and under the stairs held some of our home building remnants.  After we finished the space, it started to hold bins.  Those bins contained our memories and were stacked all nice and neat in a row.  And then I added bins of toys, and baskets, and home decor, and binders and things to donate and projects to work on and more memories.... oh my.  As I added more and more {it was for sure becoming a stash and dash zone}, things were becoming more and more challenging to get to.  And things started building up and piling and the entire closet became a giant chaotic embarrassing mess.

Sometimes I get so excited to dive into a project, that I start working on it before realizing I should have stopped for two seconds and taken a before photo.  So, I took one of my studio right after the area under the stairs was completely empty.

Just imagine all of that, plus the same amount behind me, all stored in a not-so-neat way in the 3 1/2' x 8 3/4' storage space.  Not cool.  But what was cool, was having a great, blank slate to play with!

By emptying it out completely, we took advantage of the chance to finish the walls and give them a fresh coat of paint along with some pretty white trim.

Then I had to look at everything I wanted to put back into this closet, and come up with a plan to keep it tidy for the long haul.

There were two areas of the storage space I wanted to address.  Being that the closet is right off of my office/craft room, it was important for me for this space to be the hub of all of my projects.  Once we emptied under the stairs, we donated about 40% of the items!  It was amazing.  So you would think I wouldn't have all that much to put back into this space, however, I still had quite a few things that came out of our utility room and other items that never had a proper home in my office, that needed a place to call home.

So phase one was to use an existing cabinet to turn it into a functional gift wrap/packaging station.  This has been on my drool list since laying my eyes on the Martha Stewart station a few years back.  Phase two was to add in a wall of drawer storage, allowing me to navigate a "hallway" to access everything being stored in the awkwardly shaped space.  When items under the stairs were stacked from the back forward, I had set myself up to fail.  Items in the back were lost, not simple to access, and never maintained.  That created a forward motion for the rest of the closet, and eventually, I had to run for cover upon opening the door.

As I mentioned, I initially thought about splurging on the Martha Stewart cabinets and hutch to put together the primo storage space for gift wrap and boxes and bows.  But the cost of the cabinet combination alone came in at $520!

For the drawer system, again, I was dreaming big.  I have purchased one small set of Elfa drawers in my life {to use in my wardrobe}, and I heart them like crazy.  The quality is amazing and they roll so nice and are extremely sturdy.  So, I initially came up with a plan to check out the Elfa system again.  I am OK in investing in good quality if it is something I think will last the life of the house.  Sticker shock!  $540 for the system I wanted to build out of their drawer frames and baskets.  Yeah, no thank you.

So, we were resourceful, pulled a cabinet from the laundry room, and with the help of some inexpensive wooden dowels, scrap wood, paint and hooks, for around $20, I was able to create my own gift wrap station!

And for the price difference, I am pretty sure the amount of joy I had for this project is unexplainable!

IKEA makes a drawer system which is similar to the Elfa.  However, it is IKEA and not Container Store, so there is a huge price difference.  When I pieced together a similar setup at IKEA using the same number of frames and baskets as I initially planned with the Elfa, it came in at $184.  Sold.  That meant two tall frames, two short frames, 10 small baskets, 5 large baskets and three toppers.  I will admit, the IKEA frames are not as sturdy and the drawers don't roll as nicely, but that is such a huge price difference for the same amount of storage!  It just made the most sense to me given how the space was going to be used.  To glam them up a bit, I gave them some gold spray paint lovin'.

So in the end, my dream vs. reality:

{ALGOT system from IKEA, Martha Stewart Gift Wrap Station, Elfa system from Container Store}

You have seen the gift wrap awesomeness, now, for the remainder of the space under the stairs!

Please forgive the photography.  This closet is so small that with my lens, I was having a heck of a time getting it all into one photo, and no tri-pod could be used either.

I am over the moon for the gold drawer system.  I think the gold spray paint should hold up fairly well, as it had about a month of cure time while we finished the closet space.  And if not, I have a small paint brush for touch-ups.

To label all of the drawer fronts, I added my favorite sticky bookplates found at Staples.  There are always coupons for the Martha collection, so I pick them up whenever I can get them on sale.

I know in the photos above that it looks tight, but we measured for this project about eighteen times, certain we couldn't make it work.  But it did!  And I can easily walk in and access the contents of the drawers from sides because of the small "hallway".

Please forgive my awkwardness.  I hate being in front of the camera, but I asked the hubby to take a few photos to show that I can easily use this tight space.

 
So now what do I have stored in these drawers?  SO much goodness!

• Camera accessories: Lighting, lenses, camera straps, camera bag inserts, flip cam and smaller digital camera, chargers, etc...  Anything camera related now lives in the top drawer.

• Planner and binder making accessories:  Although I am not to a point where I have the resources and capacity to be mass producing these puppies in my Etsy shop, I do create them for locals on occasion and stock up on materials when I can get them on sale.  The binders and inserts and materials take up two drawers.

• Fabric:  Two drawers are dedicated to my years of fabric purchases for pillows, table runners, upholstery projects, curtain panels, etc.... 

The next cart holds home accessories and project materials.

• Accessories:  Candle votives, vases, figurines, etc... anything that I love that I set rotate out with other accessories around our home.  I am always collecting inexpensive votives and dishes from thrift stores because I love to use them for flowers, pens, paperclips, etc...
• Paint samples:  I purchase these to get a custom color on small painting projects.
• Trays:  Use these around the home as well as for entertaining.  Mostly to corral items on a desk or dresser.
• Unfinished Projects:  I am always coming up with projects for spaces we are working on, but can't always get to them right away.  This drawer holds those.
• Project Life:  I am planning on starting back up in 2014 with a photo per day, and use Project Life to document that.  
• Artwork:  We have a stash of frames from 12 years of hitting up IKEA and thrift shops, and I have been wanting to do a gallery wall for.ever.  I have been saving some canvases and prints and also needed a drawer to stash frame glass and mats.
• Shelf Liner:  Always lining cabinets and drawers around here, also love to use it to cover shoe boxes and cereal boxes!

• Free:  This drawer is basically a drawer which can be used to expand my storage, but in the meantime, I toss my extra printer cartridge in there.
• Frames:  We have a stack of large frames tucked at the end of the drawer setup.  All of the smaller sized frames from over the years, now fit inside of the final drawer.

And that completes the full under the stairs closet tour!

It was so fun to play the High/Low game in this space.  And it really feels like I finally am setting up my work area for success.  I love having a designated place for current and planned projects, for home decor and accessories and for all of my wrapping supplies.  Smitten doesn't quite describe my feelings, over-the-moon-happy-in-love starts to cover it though....

Such a wonderful feeling to have the project crossed off of the list.  Although we still have a lot of work to do in the utility room and garage before calling the entire storage room overhaul complete, we are taking the rest of the year off from projecting and organizing to focus on our family.

Anyone else been high-fiving over a high/low storage solution you have implemented?  How do you make the most of your under the stairs storage space?

23 Reader Space: An Organized Kitchen with Class!

The kitchen.  The hub of the home.  The place where families gather.  Where food is prepared with love.  Where homework is done.  Where laughs are had.  Where entertaining happens.  Where memories are made.

It is also the place where dishes are done, clutter piles up on the counter, fingerprints are smeared on all appliances and baking messes sprawl from edge to edge.

We rely on kitchen spaces heavily throughout the year, so having a little bit of order can be a real sanity saver in this high traffic space.

Lauren writes over at a Lo and Behold Life, and I am gaga for her home and style.  Everything she does is so, so pretty!  Yes simple, clean and fresh!  And her kitchen.... sigh.  My heart is beating faster just typing about it.  You have to see what I mean, here she is now to share more!


What is the main function of the space?

"Welcome to our kitchen - otherwise known as the heart of the house!  And it true Italian Family style, we heart food.  So needless to say, the main function of the space has everything to do with food - washing, storing, prepping, cooking and baking and most importantly, eating.  News flash - I love to cook!  However, there are also second and third functions to this space.  The kitchen is our "mudroom" as well as our "laundry" room.  A lot of functions for such a small space!"

Any superstar tips for keeping it organized?

"For keeping this space organized it is important to not only for it to be aesthetically pleasing to the eye, but also super functional and easy to maintain.  So I created 'kitchen zones'.  The 'cleaning zone' to the left of the sink is where food is placed that needs to be rinsed, trimmed or cleaned.  The garbage disposal switch and the garbage can are within arms length, making it easy to keep things tidy as I work.  The 'prep zone' is where the magic happens.

All of my kitchen tools, prep bowls, pots, pans, oils and baking essentials are stored in these drawers and cabinets.

This area is also flanked between the refrigerator and the stove.  Once something is mixed or chopped I can easily drop it into the saute pan or toss it in the oven without running around the kitchen like a maniac and making a mess on the floor."

Which items did you find were essential when organizing the space and why?

"Well, I learn from the best!  I've been a loyal follower of IHeart Organizing for years and am always inspired by Jen's creative and budget friendly organizing tips.  Enter the IKEA HEMNES shoe rack.  I discovered this little gem and knew it would be perfect to retrofit a mudroom at the kitchen back door.   All of our shoes are easily stored away as soon as we walk in the house.

I also can't live without my recipe binder.  All of my favorite recipes are categorized and stored in sheet protectors.  When I decide what's for dinner, the recipe gets pinned up on the fridge so I can quickly reference it from the 'prep zone', and the sheet protectors save the recipe from any yucky food smudges."

What did you do to go the extra mile and "Make it Pretty"?

"OK... so who needs a turquoise pantry with chevron fabric covered shelves?  Probably no one.  But doesn't it look cute?  And I loved it so much that I painted the laundry area turquoise!  I spend time in there, why not make it pretty?

And to spruce up the mundane glass kitchen cabinets, I mounted a coordinating modern fabric that ties in the grey tones throughout the kitchen.  It really makes all my white everyday dishes pop!"

What items did you DIY to stay on a budget?

"Our kitchen isn't big enough for a proper dining table, so to maximize the space, we chose to install new countertops with a breakfast bar.

I didn't have any bar stools at the proper height, so instead of buying new ones, we repurposed some existing stools from Target that were collecting dust in the garage." 

How has this space impacted your life for the better?

"I am a mom of three year old twin boys, so getting a homemade dinner on the table every night is no easy feat.  When the kitchen is organized, I'm in 'the zone'.  Everything is in its place and readily accessible so I can quickly and efficiently move around and prepare a meal for my family without leaving a trail of crumbs.  I'm very passionate about cooking but I'm more passionate about my family and would rather be spending time with them than standing over a hot stove!"

After reading this, I am ready to tear apart our kitchen right before Christmas.  Someone hold me back!  So inspiring right?

• The kitchen is not mansion sized, but Lauren did an amazing job maximizing the space she had to work with.
• I love her counters.  I could caress them, pet them, smooch on them... I will try and keep this PG.
• The baking cabinet makes my organizing lovin' soul feel warm and fuzzy with a cherry on top.
• My most favorite takeaway from this feature was her tips on creating "zones" around the kitchen.  I love that each area has a specific function and is set up for success!
• She earns extra points for the sweet shout-out love she gave me in her responses.  
• I love her tip about pinning up her recipes on the fridge in sheet protectors.  Smart gal!
• OK, I don't know what she is talking about.  I think everyone needs a turquoise pantry! 
• I now want to line every last cabinet in my home.  I mean seriously, those glass faced cabinets with the white dishes smiling in front of the beautiful fabric?  My eyes are happy dancing!
• Oh, hello beautiful fabric covered kitchen stools!  I think I love you.
• Her final statement about the kitchen is what it is all about.  Creating a space that allows you to maximize your use of time while you are using it, so that you can maximize your use of time with your favorite people before and after.

A huge thank you to Lauren for allowing me to share her absolutely lovely kitchen today.  You can read post after post of her kitchen progression to awesomeness, on her blog here.

{via}

 


ATTENTION!!  Want to be featured in a Reader Space edition?  Have an awesome organizing story to share?  I am looking for projects that have made a positive impact to your life.  Please submit your story and photos here and I would heart to feature them right here, on the blog!!  Photos should be high resolution and unedited.  Please include a description of the project, including any costs, inspiration, and how it has changed your life and routine for the better!  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!

7 IHeart: Lettered & Lined & a GIVEAWAY!

Imagine combining organizing with art.  Can I get a heck yes!?  Life can be messy and it is my goal to make it pretty.  Throw in some organization and my heart races.  So naturally, this week's giveaway sponsor is a complete winner in my book.  Say hello to Lettered & Lined!

Lettered & Lined is an online Etsy shop, which sells the most adorable custom artwork for all areas of the home!  All of the designs can be customized with up to 56 colors, and can even be printed on gallery-wrapped canvas or ready-to-hang wood.

Measurement equivalent guide in the kitchen?  Darling!  Stain charts in the laundry room?  Genius!  A guide to the bathroom for kiddos?  Spectacular!  I honestly can't get enough.  A generous giveaway for IHeart Readers?  Yes please!

These prints are also a great gift idea!  And if you are still looking to order before the holidays, a printable gift certificate will be provided to you so you can let the recipient know that their print is on the way!

Today, Lettered & Lined is offering up a $100 credit to their online store!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

IHeart Organizing readers can receive 10% off all orders from Lettered & Lined from now through December 31st with code IHEART10 at checkout!




IHeart Organizing official giveaway entry rules can always be found here.

74 My Kind of Holiday - Our Christmas Traditions

Although it seems as though much of the blogword is focusing their attention on Christmas home tours {cough, cough, guilty}, as fun as it is to get our home holiday ready, Christmas is all about the traditions.  That is what excites me most about the season.  The warm fuzzies.  The kids doing good deeds.  Making a list and checking it twice.  And for once, not a "To Do" list!

I don't always take a moment to switch gears from this organizing and project heavy blog, but it is nice to share a few stories that fill the walls of our home I am always writing about.  And until I sat down to write this post to share with you #mykindofholiday, it never occurred to me how many fabulous traditions we have built into our Christmases, year after year.  I just may cry while writing this and reflecting on some favorites... I am a sappy one...

Yesterday, I shared my new wrapping station setup. 

Although gazing at it just may become my number one hobby, it means more to me than pretty and functional gift wrap.  It also represents one of my most favorite Christmas traditions.

 
This tradition has carried on from my childhood.  And it is funny, as a kid, it kind of annoyed me.  But now, I look back and know my mom was a freakin' genius... and I completely appreciate it. 

There is a reason why they always use the saying, "Like a kid on Christmas morning".  It is one of the most exciting and magical mornings of the year.  Like most kids, my brother and I would wake up earlier than normal, and tip toe out of our rooms and start rummaging through our stockings, and shaking the packages under the tree.  There may have even been mornings when I went as far as unwrapping my gifts to peek inside, and then fixing them back up before my parents woke up.  I know, such a rotten kiddo.  My mom caught on to this and decided to keep the magic and mystery of Christmas morning alive.  Thus, the Santa numbering system was born.

Santa got sneaky and started putting a number on each package under the tree, leaving a letter with the key in the hands of my parents.  All of the sudden, my brother and I had no idea who the presents were for, and the excitement and mystery of Christmas morning returned.

Thinking back on all of my Christmas mornings growing up, I may not recall each and every gift I received, but I do remember the pure exhilaration of sitting in a circle with my family, reading the letter from Santa and realizing which of the packages I would get to tear open.  And even once my brother and I were in high school, the tradition stayed alive and brought us many laughs.

Each day leading up to Christmas, I will plan out the gifts {with my super awesome gift planning printable} and stash them away in secret hiding spots all around the home.  Then, on Christmas Eve, my husband and I turn into Santa's Elves.  We put on holiday tunes and spend time together wrapping all of the gifts.  Then, the really fun part, creating the letter from Santa!

The presents are sweetly tucked under the tree, and we head to bed with giant smiles spanning from cheek to cheek.  Once morning rolls around, we lie in bed and giggle as we listen to the kids playing guessing games and wondering which gifts are theirs, all while we hold the key.  And the best part is that we get to be "present" when the surprises are revealed.

Although the gift numbering tradition is a long time favorite, we have a few more, which we cherish as well.


Christmas Pajamas

This is another tradition that was started during my childhood.  Every year my mom would purchase me a special set of pajamas to wear on Christmas Eve.  From plaid, to penguins to Christmas trees, I rocked it all.  Now, one of my warmest moments each year is watching the boys open their pajamas and letting them wear them much of Christmas day.

Christmas Countdown

A few years ago, we started our Christmas countdown tradition.  I love pulling out a fun activity from the box each day and drinking hot cocoa, having dance parties, blasting Christmas music, crafting, decorating and purely unplugging to enjoy simple moments with one another.

O Christmas Tree

As I mentioned in our holiday home tour, our tree also carries special meaning.  Each year, we head to the very same tree farm and pick out a tree as a family.  Every last member must agree on the tree, and the owners of the tree farm are always excited to see how much the boys have grown from year to year.

Ornaments with Meaning

Each year on Christmas Eve, the kids take a trip down memory lane and tell stories of all of the ornaments they have created, crafted and collected over the years.  We look at their small handprints and toothless smiles, and hang all of our meaningful ornaments all over the tree.

'Twas The Night Before Christmas

When all through the house, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.  On Christmas Eve, no one in our home is stirring because we are all listening to dad read us The Night Before Christmas...

Cookies!

I wish I had a baking bone in my body.  Sometimes we attempt to make Sugar Cookies and usually just eat them straight out of the oven when they are still soft and warm.  Most of the time, members of Bryan's sweet family bake us a plate of delightful treats, and sometimes, I depend on Target.  Regardless of how we acquire our cookies, Santa appreciates them just the same!

Miracle on 34th Street

A movie the entire family can snuggle in and enjoy, each and every Christmas day, while wearing our Christmas cozies, we tune in to watch Miracle on 34th Street.

So there you have it.  A few of our Christmas traditions which we hold near and dear to our hearts.  Now it is your turn.  I would love to hear what makes your home so special to you during the holiday season.  Any traditions that you have been carrying on since childhood, or even longer?

 
As a member of the Target Inner Circle, this post was written as a collaboration with Target and their #mykindofholiday campaign.  All opinions are mine.