Monday, November 23, 2015

65 Organized Coffee Cabinet

Happy Thanksgiving Week!  I just returned home from a week away and I feel like I am being thrown full force into the hustle that is hosting Thanksgiving dinner and then prepping for Christmas activities.

While my first priority at this point in the game would be to start planning our turkey menu and prepping our guest room, I happened to open my favorite and most used cabinet in the kitchen and let out a huge gasp...


If the image above was what I had seen in that moment, I would have been dancing in delight.  The before was more like this....


Please tell me you still love me.

The photo above was taken with my cell phone to begin the planning process.  This is something I started to do recently and I have found it to be quite helpful.  I study the photo and I think about what I can do without, how I want the space to ultimately function, plan out storage ideas and item placement.  I also take the photo with me while shopping for any storage items I may need and use a nearby notebook or the notepad on my phone to keep track of any measurements and ideas.

We have been slowing organizing our kitchen, one cabinet and drawer at a time.  This has allowed me to really reduce the number of items we need and think about how we utilize our kitchen on a daily basis.  So far we have purged quite a bit during our cabinet clean-outs, and there were also quite a few items on the chopping block in this cabinet as well.  I also had a couple of things that were waiting to be added to this cabinet, so it was really necessary to let some things go to make room for a the new pieces.


Living in a location that is cold 50% of the year (and knowing that I feel cold 100% of the year), means that we find ourselves drinking a lot of coffee, cocoa and tea (morning, noon and night).  We also eat a lot of soup and warm cereal.  Because we love hot beverages and meals, my coffee mug collection tends to keep biggering and biggering and biggering.  I have to learn to "just say no" to this addiction... and this clean out was a huge wake-up call to just how many mugs I had acquired over the past few years (there were a few more in a nearby cabinet as well - yikes).  And not only do we enjoy drinking a variety of warm drinks, we also love to serve up a fancy coffee or cocoa to our guests as well.  It was definitely time to figure this cabinet out, and before hosting our family this week.

My first step was to remove everything, wipe down the shelves and sort through the mess.  I moved all of the water bottles to the lunch cabinet and the individual drawers in our coat closet.  I held a small farewell party for the darling coffee mugs that didn't make the final cut, and finally found a home for those random cinnamon sticks.

When I traveled to NYC back in September, I fell in love with some over-sized, handmade mugs.  They were painted and full of character and best of all, could act as soup bowls, oatmeal bowls or hot beverage mugs.  I purchased six so that we had enough for our entire family to use at once, and they were the first item on my list to figure out how to store.  I went to our utility room and found some large cup hooks which we were able to screw into the bottom side of a shelf after a little measuring and pre-drilling action.


The hooks allow me to easily grab from any of the mugs without them being piled on top of one another.  Because stacking the mugs can also create a cracking/breaking risk, these hooks were the perfect solution for my favorite NYC souvenir.


Because I look at this cabinet multiple times per day, including first thing in the morning, I really wanted it to be special.  However, I didn't want to do anything permanent, so I found some thin mat board (courtesy of my photography supply stash) which I painted a deep navy color.


Our shelves push quite tight to the back of the cabinet, so I sliced each piece of the mat down to size and popped them in-between the shelves.


Now it was ready for all of the goodies, I just love the contrast of the deep navy and white:


We already had some of these canisters from Target to hold ground coffee beans, chocolate chips, whole coffee beans, and a variety of cocoa, you just couldn't see them before behind the cluttered piles.  They stack nice and neat and now it is much easier to see the contents.  The creamer and sugar pot are on a tray that can easily be brought to the dining table or my desk. 


 This shelf also holds our milk frother, travel mugs and special syrup.


At the moment, the only machine we utilize is a Nespresso.  I love espresso drinks, however, I don't love the daily cost so we have made the switch to French pressed coffee for our morning brew.  The middle shelf holds both of our French presses (one was being used while photographing this post) and our bean grinder.  The large mugs hang right within reach for daily use.


The top shelf holds the remainder of my smaller mugs, which work best for tea.  The covered tin stores our tea while the shelf riser offers a place for our kettle to live right where it belongs.  It also created a place for me to keep a few of my favorite mugs for iced coffee.


Down below I added a small tray (made using the same method as I did for our remote caddy) to provide a bit of height and to corral the remainder of our coffee station items.  The canister holds my Nespresso pods while the glass holds my coffee spoons.  The vase of flowers discretely hides the machine cord.


I am guessing not everyone utilizes an entire cabinet for warm meals and beverages, but this is probably the "hottest" cabinet in our kitchen.  And it feels so good to have such a dynamic before and after with just some de-cluttering and purging, a little paint and some smart storage.


Now we are ready to host our Thanksgiving guests!  Oh yeah... I still have that menu to create and shop for, and the guest room to clean... #priorities  Anyone else doing any last minute organizing before guests arrive?

Only a couple more cabinets and drawers to go and our kitchen will be in tip-top organized shape.  You can catch up on all of our completed kitchen organization below:



65 comments:

  1. what do you do with the things your don't put back in the cabinet? Do you purge or find new homes? That is my struggle. Love this space, being in Boston we have cold drinks lots and lots! :)

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    1. Great question! I do both. Quite a few things went into cabinets that made more sense for their function/category, while other items went into my garage sale boxes. For example, the egg crates, measuring cups and water bottles were all relocated, while a handful of mugs didn't make the final cut because I just didn't need as many as I had. We have been doing a lot of purging since the beginning of our renovation and have been boxing up items for a spring garage sale, but what doesn't sell, will head straight to a local donation facility.

      Stay warm! <3

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  2. This is the weirdest question, but wherever did you find those disposable coffee cups in the floral pattern?! I neeeeeeeed those.

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    1. Hi Colleen,

      I found them at HomeGoods this past summer, and I have been extremely selective about when I get to use them because they are just so gosh darn cute. <3

      xo!

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  3. Wow it's beautiful and so organized! I've been following for years now and I absolutely love your blog and all the posts that come out of it! :) thanks for sharing!

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  4. The cabinet looks great! We hear ya on the ever growing mug collection!

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  5. Hi,
    Your cabinet looks great. I would be interested in knowing what you have on your Thanksgiving menu. Jane

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    1. Hi Jane!

      We keep the menu fairly traditional with salad, turkey, stuffing, potatoes, vegetables, rolls and a few deserts. I just try to find a few recipes that have a new spin on a few of the classic dishes. :)

      xoxo!

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  6. Your newly-organized coffee cabinet is sooo fabulous! Love it so much!

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  7. Good job girl! I love that navy backdrop too!...so so pretty!!

    xo,
    Sam

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  8. Hi Jen. I hope you had a restful break.
    I haven't read the post yet as I like to savour it over my morning coffee (it's lunch in Australia). But I immediately wondered if you will be using your revamped garage for Thanksgiving or your new living room. Exciting! (I am guessing it is probably too cold in the garage, I have forgotten how cold the midwest is (I grew up in Ohio). Have a wonderful holiday season!
    Eliza

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    1. Hi Eliza!

      No to the garage, and yes to the living room. :) Opening up our home was done with entertaining in mind, so we are really excited to be hosting this week. The garage is still feeling some of the aftermath of the renovation, and yes, it is far too cold to utilize this time of year. But it should be back in tip top shape just in time for summer parties (fingers crossed).

      xoxo!

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  9. I love this Jen! Do you have any tips for cutting the matboard to size?

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    1. Of course, great question! I use this mat: http://amzn.to/1XnmQMS, along with a straight edge and utility knife. I measure the opening in the cabinet, measure and mark the mat board with a pencil, use a straight edge (often times a yard stick or piece of scrap wood) and score along the edge with the utility blade. Then I just pop it in place. Sometimes I utilize glue dots or double-stick tape to be sure it holds.

      xoxo!

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  10. Everything is so beautifully organized, Jen!! I just love it all.

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  11. I love that you have "coffee spoons"! Every time we have guests over, they're so confused about the two sets. Makes perfect sense to me!

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  12. Jen! You must have read my mind (all the way from California) because this is exactly what I need to do before guests arrive as well! Every morning for the past week I've looked at my coffee cabinet, which is just like yours: coffee, tea, hot cocoa, mugs galore, and wondered how in the world I was going to organize it for the holiday guests. And now I have some great ideas! This is probably one of my fav posts-thanks so much! Also-I wanted to say, I'm so glad you've taken a little step back from posting and focused on what you need to focus on, good for you! Hope you and your family have a great holiday season!

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    1. Thank you so much Heidi! That is so kind of you to say. <3

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  13. I love this so much! First, I NEED white cabinets. Mine are a gross brown. Second, I love love love the blue background. It's incredible how big of a difference that creates! Third, you have the cutest mugs. I need to find new ones. That cabinet would also look amazing with a glass door so you can see how cute and organized it is on the inside. I loved this and will be doing this one day.

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  14. Thank you, MUGS, it's mugs that's been stressing me out. We both work from home and as such drink coffee on and off all day long. My husband is of the opinion that the more mugs we own the less frequently we have to load the dishwasher. I do not share this logic! Am going to purge the mug cupboard while he's at the gym later!!

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  15. Love it Jen. I also bought those cute little legs after seeing how you used them on the remote caddy. Can't wait to use them. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

    Cheers from Trinidad and Tobago :)

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  16. I want to come over for a warm cup of coffee! I love how you made it beautiful and functional. I need to add a spoon holder at our station. Thanks for the continued inspiration!

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  17. I need to do this to my coffee cabinet, it looks so pretty. I totally feel the same about it being cold where I live 50% of the year but I feel cold 100% of the time. I'm always drinking tea and coffee to keep warm.

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  18. Oh and I love that you did that removable backing in navy you can just switch it out easily as your mood changes! Like!

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  19. That is so pretty! I love the contrast of the navy and white as well. Blue has always been my fave color. Good job, Jen!

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  20. Love this idea! As I look out my office window at the snow-covered ground (and it's only November, yikes!!!), I am going to take this inspiration and create my own hot beverage cabinet. So pretty! Thanks for the great idea!

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  21. Wow, I absolutely love this!! That type of cleanliness makes me so happy! I LOVE the hanging mug idea.

    xo,
    Sara Kate Styling

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  22. I love your cabinet but what I love even more is that you switched to a French press. I read an article that the inventor of those K-cups wishes he never put them out there for the world to find. Millions of those pods are being put into the landfill because they aren't recyclable. So good for you for creating a beautiful cabinet, saving money on coffee and putting a little less into our landfills :).

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    1. That is so interesting and also so true Daniella! It is a shame the K-Cups are not recyclable. One of the reasons we selected the Nespresso machine is because we are able to recycle those specific pods (http://www.nespresso.com/ecolaboration/us/en/article/9/3068/collecting-and-recycling-used-capsules-in-the-usa.html) But yes, French pressing is even better. :D

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  23. Oh I love the idea of putting mat behind the cabinets so it's not permanent but still gives great visual to the space! You are so clever Jen!

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  24. Hi Jen

    Amazing Job. I have stumbled onto your blog a few weeks ago and I'm hooked ever since. Love your site and I'm always looking Forward to your Posts. Furthermore it has given me the push to start my own blog: www.ordnungsliebeblog.wordpress.com.
    Thank you all the way from Switzerland.
    Debs

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    1. I love that! Thank you so much and congrats on your blog! <3

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  25. Wow, this looks great! I never would have thought to line the back of kitchen cabs but I need this now! I love the NYC mugs, too.... :)

    The top tea shelf looks too tall to reach safely. Do you use a step-stool in the kitchen? I have a hard time reaching even the middle shelves in my kitchen (shorty here) and I wish I had an easier way to reach up top that doesn't get in the way.

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    1. We do have a small step stool that we leave at the far end of our island because we are short folks also. It is on felt so it is easy to slide around the kitchen as needed. We drink cocoa and coffee far more often than tea, so that is why the lesser used items went up higher. :)

      xoxo!

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  26. Is that a breville milk froather? If so how do you like it? We have been looking at that exact one! Would love thoughts! Thanks!

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    1. We love it! We especially like that it has temperature control and can be cleaned in the dishwasher. And of course, the milk is always perfectly frothed. We also love it for making hot cocoa with the boys. :) It receives a lot of use around here. My only complaint is that it is a little louder than other frothers we have seen/tried in the past.

      xo!

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  27. Still love you? Seriously? of course!! My cabinet right now looks so much like your before picture its ridiculous! Once again you have inspired me to purge and organize. I love this blog of yours!

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  28. I love your blog! Makes me happy to see all your wonderful organizing ideas. Quick question: where did you get the acrylic tray to hold your creamer and sugar? I am in love with everything acrylic!

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    1. Thank you Amna! The tray has been floating around here for awhile, but I believe it was one of these from Container Store:

      http://www.containerstore.com/s/jewelry-storage/view-all-jewelry-storage/large-stacking-acrylic-trays/12d?productId=10028115.

      I also like to use these frames from Michaels as inexpensive acrylic trays as well:

      http://www.michaels.com/studio-decor-acrylic-box-frame/M10118604.html?dwvar_M10118604_color=Clear#q=acrylic+frame&start=1

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  29. I love the mugs with a golf J on them, where did you get them? :)

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    1. Hi Lovisa,

      The gold mug with the J was from Anthropologie a few years ago.

      xoxo!

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  30. Have you ever considered selling what your purge?? Im sure those yellow mugs would have flown!!!

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    1. I never thought of actually selling to blog readers... I typically offer up any purged items to friends and family, donate locally or include them in a garage sale. I will have to think about how I could include my readers in on the process. :) Could be a fun idea!

      Jen

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  31. It's like my dreams are coming through before my very eyes! I LOVE this so much! :)

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  32. I love the idea of painting matboard for the back of the cabinets! I am planning on painting our icky brown cabinets in the spring and love this idea to give the interior some color!

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  33. Love the navy! Planning on painting the back of my cabinets with glass doors the same but was worried about getting a perfect edge- your trick really helped! What color navy dd you use?

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    1. Thank you! The navy is Ralph Lauren's Iron Blue and it is a really great Navy!

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  34. Beautiful transformation Jen! Love your NYC souvenir mugs! Good memories!

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  35. What a great transformation! I love the idea of the hooks for the mugs. I would not have thought to do that, but why not? Thanks!

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  36. This is so pretty. I love the navy backed cabinet wall. You really are pretty amazing.. all of the ideas you are always coming up with! You aren't kidding about it being cold 50% of the time. I, too, am cold most of the time. Unfortunately, I have never drank coffee. It smells so good, but I haven't grown to like the taste of it. My girls' have. I bought my 17 yr a french press for Christmas this year! :) I do love a good cup of hot chocolate, if you have found a good mix, please let me know. I have yet to find one.

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  37. Great coffee station/cabinet! I love it and I love navy & gold together #simplepleasures. Love that gold coffee press too, your kitchen is really coming along nicely!! That would I think be my all time favorite cupboard

    Lauren Baxter | Lovely Decor
    xx

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  38. I enjoy reading your blog and getting some inspiration. On your top shelf if is a tea pot, not kettle. I've found it odd that Americans rarely use and electric kettle to boil water yet it is a standard in UK and Canadian homes. Some even have base that remains plugged in while the kettle can be removed for filling and pouring. Our office has that and a Japanese hot water pot for instant hot water.

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  39. I'm so glad I found your blog! With all your inspiration I have been finding more and more to organize! This coffee cabinet is a dream, great job!

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  40. Hi Jen. Love your blog! I love the idea of painting the matte board for a non permanent pop of color. I have some real wood shelves that I don't want to paint and this is perfect. Do you have a suggestion for obtaining the matte board? (The less expensive the better). Thank you!

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  41. Is the iron blue matte or eggshell?

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  42. Hi Jen, love your work! Always inspiring... Please could you let me know where you got the cups from that you bought in NYC?? Thanks

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  43. Where'd you get the gold stacking shelves?

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  44. Yes where did you get those gold stacking shelves?

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    1. I actually spray painted mine but I would NOT recommend that, especially when storing dishes on it as it can ultimately fleck and it isn't food safe (I now moved it to be used in a non-food/dish storage area).

      However! Good news is now they sell a pretty version of these shelves here: http://bit.ly/2WcPeMH

      Jen

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  45. I love this and have the perfect cabinet for it! The hardest part will be downsizing my mug collection haha! Do you have a link to your Nespresso machine and milk frother? I need to add these to my collection!

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    1. Here is my exact Nespresso machine: https://amzn.to/2Kv0Hks

      I have had it for years and continue to love it. It looks like it is now an older model of this newer version: https://amzn.to/2KtirwF

      There is also a version with a frother attached (https://amzn.to/2IW3Kix). Prior to owning my Nespresso machine, I had purchased a refurbished Nespresso frother and it worked great for quite a few years (created great foam for hot drinks). I eventually upgraded to this frother based on reviews and it has also been a really wonderful option for both hot and cold beverages (https://amzn.to/2WWeEKa).

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