Organizing the Kitchen Pantry in 5 Simple Steps

Is your pantry an eyesore? Are you buying duplicate food items because you don’t know what’s inside? Has your pantry had any unwanted visitors lately {i.e. ants}?

photo source: BHG KitchenBathIdeas

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, it is time to organize your kitchen pantry. Does this seem like a daunting task? If so, here are five steps to help you organize your pantry with beauty and function:

photo source: BHG KitchenBathIdeas

First – Clear, Discard & Sort
Remove all the items from the pantry and place into boxes based product similarity (i.e. cereals, snacks, canned soups, pasta, baking products, etc.). In the process, check expiration dates and throw away products that have expired {recycle the container / packaging if possible}.

photo source: Martha Stewart

Second – Clean
Clean the pantry shelves and floor with a damp towel.

photo source: La Dolce Vita

Third – Assess
Determine the group of items {cereals} that you use most frequently. With a post-it-note mark that box number one. Proceed to number all boxes from most frequently accessed to least. Also make notes on items that are out-of-stock and need to be replenished.

photo source

Fourth – Make it Pretty
Use decorative storage containers to hold certain items {i.e. tea, rice, flour } and to help you maintain a clutter-free pantry. I particularly like baskets, tins and jars to hide unsightly items. If you opt for plastic, buy BPA (Bisphenol) free containers. BPA is a chemical in many polycarbonate plastics that may breakdown and add harmful chemicals to food. Avoid types 3 and 7 plastics because they may contain BPA.

There are so many adorable ways to label the container like the DIY glass-etched storage jars above from Martha Stewart. It's also important to determine the type and size of container needed before beginning this project.

photo source: Country Living

Fifth - Arrange
Ideally your most used items should be placed at eye-level {except for heavy items such as large water bottles which would need to be at the floor level}. Again use post–it-notes to number / categorize which shelve each group of items will be housed. Fill the shelves on the appropriate shelf. If you are running out of space, consider storing non-essential items in the garage or basement.

Have you organized your pantry? If so, what tips do you have for keeping your pantry organized?

Stylish Kitchens

I am really loving these beautiful and stylish kitchens I found over at Design, Decor. Don't you love the Main Street sign? I need one of those in my kitchen! I am also a huge fan of different color chairs around the table... and don't forget to buy fresh flowers!

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The Island - Kitchen Design Trend Here To Stay

More and more the kitchen is the hub of a home. It's where guests mingle, family meetings are held, and meals are prepared and enjoyed. For this reason, designers are getting back to the basics of functional kitchen design. One element with a perfect mix of form and function is the kitchen island. In fact, according to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), islands are one of the most popular kitchen design features among today's consumers. They claim reports that state approximately 80% of home buyers consider a kitchen island to be a must.

Many of today's kitchen islands have unique design styles of their own. Most include storage, sinks {prep or main}, appliances and/or seating areas. Kitchen islands can have the same design as the main counter and cabinets or it can have a look all its own.

Here are some examples of great kitchen designs that have an island {or two}:

This beautiful open kitchen by architect, Steve Giannetti features a large island with a sleek custom sink and warm wooden countertop. It is balanced nicely with two large industrial pendants. Gorgeous!

Interior design blog, Things That Inspired recently posted an excellent article on Kitchen Sinks and my heart started racing when I saw this kitchen. Designer and architect, William Hefner created it with a stunning island topped in what is thought to be zinc. I just love how the gray surface plays off the two light pendants, dark gray upholstered stools and White Carrara Marble tiled backsplash. Hefner places a small prep sink in the corner of the island {opposite a main sink on the other side of the room}.

In this white kitchen designed by Mark J. Williams, the pale gray island resembling a table takes center stage. Not only does the island's paint color differ from the other cabinetry, it's white marble countertop contrasts with the dark countertop on the cabinets flanking the range. The heavy steel pendant hangs off center over the island and makes me wonder if there is a matching pendant to balance the look not visible in the image. The wooden bench with upholstered seat is my favorite design element in this room. I love how it warms up this otherwise cool space. The image via Traditional Home and photo credit Michael Garland, was first spotted it on Things That Inspire.

In this stunning {and large} kitchen, the dark stained center island stands out from the soft sage green perimeter cabinetry. The slate flooring pulls the color palette together beautifully. The island counter's rounded edge echos the arch in the hood for the range. Picture via flickr.

The former editor in chief of Food & Wine magazine, Carole Lalli designed this large island topped with butcher-block and marble in her Connecticut kitchen. Not only does it provide plenty of space for prep cooks, it houses a sink and dishwasher. Love this! Featured in House Beautiful's January 2008 issue.

Also featured in House Beautiful, Architect Steven Laurin's design for this kitchen's island was inspired by a farm table. The dark CaesarStone countertop and warm wood saddle stools contrast beautifully with the white colored island. Designer Meg Braff also balances the island by selecting a large double pendant fixture.

Seeing double? Designer Anne Miller incorporates two islands in her own kitchen design. Coordinating with the room's other cabinets, both islands are painted white and are topped with white marble. Providing task lighting and a pop of color, Miller hangs two pairs of copper pendants with blue gingham prints above each work area. The islands not only give Miller loads of prep space, but provide seating areas at kitchen dinner parties. Image courtesy of House Beautiful.

This gourmet kitchen in Ted Turner's private desert lodge on Armendaris Ranch sits on his 350,000-acre wild animal preserve along the Fra Cristobal Mountains. Laura Hunt Design created this space featured in Architectural Digest and inspired by historic kitchens of Spanish colonial house in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. The tiled center island offers sitting for two {great rush seat stools}, a beverage refrigerator {or two, depending what is hiding behind the wood panel} and of course additional space for food preparation.

This highly functional kitchen by Atlanta-based designer, Jo Rabaut is stunning and recently won Atlanta Homes Magazine's 2010 Kitchen of the Year Contest. The color palette of warm walnut floors, soft vanilla cabinetry and pale aqua walls gives this busy room a calming feeling. But it is the large island, Rabaut used that anchors the room. The island's dark soapstone countertop focuses our attention and provides a tactile surface for food prep. A custom double trough sink housed in the island also makes food preparation more efficient. A table {on wheels} is placed at one end and can be easily moved to serve as an additional workstation or buffet.

his NY townhouse kitchen by New-York-based design team, William Diamond and Anthony Baratta of Diamond Baratta Design is beautifully eclectic. The white kitchen with pops of ice blue features a stunning stainless steel island. This sleek modern centerpiece is topped with a white countertop {marble?}, under mounted sink and provides numerous drawers for much needed storage. The glass-front kitchen cabinets would have been perfect for this post.

I love kitchen islands. Do you?

Glamorous 4-Square Remodel: Jessica Helgerson Design

Portland, Oregon's Jessica Helgerson Interior Design specializes in environmentally sustainable commercial and residential interiors. In this turn-of-the-century four-square in Southeast Portland, Helgerson give the home a complete face-lift. The new interior is quite striking.

The kitchen, back pantry and mud room were gutted to create a large, open kitchen. Adding to the kitchen's airy feel, the appliances are white or covered with cabinetry. Adding cabinet panels to appliances is an excellent way to keep them timeless and not date your kitchen.

The dark ebony stained floors are a nice contrast to the white cabinets and farmhouse sink. And I do love white kitchens!

Helgerson does a wonderful job transitioning from the kitchen to the dining room by flanking the entry with glass-front cabinets.

Box beams added to the dining room help define the space from the adjacent living room. The sleek round dining table was made custom. The eye-catching blown glass sculpture was by glass artist, Andy Paiko of Portland, OR.

Lovely space. Would you agree?

Designer Kitchens: Glass-front Cabinets

You have seen them in several previous Simplified Bee posts: Clean and Simple White Kitchens, French Inspired Kitchen Design, and Perfect Function - Mick de Giulio Kitchen Design. It seems more than ever, interior designers are incorporating glass-front cabinetry into their kitchen designs. And I love the look!

Glass-front cabinets provide an open, airy feeling and are used to display choice tableware. They are great incentives for you to be organized because any clutter will be noticeable. For this reason however, it is important to place glass-front cabinets strategically and perhaps sparingly in your kitchen. Here are some examples of great kitchen designs - including modern, contemporary and traditional - using glass-front cabinets.

Atlanta, Georgia-based designer, Suzanne Kasler beautifully positions glass-front cabinets on either side of the stove and farmhouse sink. Love the Roman shade in Galbraith & Paul's Zinnia print.

Sage Design uses glass-fronts in a series of standard rectangle shaped cabinets to give this smaller, classic kitchen an open and airy feeling.

In this soft cream kitchen the upper cabinets showcase decorative stained glass. I am a fan of mixing old with new and love how the stained glass old world look balances the contemporary design elements. Image via Decor Pad.

Natural light floods this gorgeous kitchen by designer, Suzanne Kasler. She surrounds a range and hood with divided light or mullioned door glass-front cabinets. The cabinets also nicely echo the look of the adjacent windows. The ice blue tile backsplash and bar stools add a touch of freshness to this beautiful kitchen.

In this Scandinavian kitchen from Vakre Hjem & Interior, the divided light glass-front cabinets are stunning. The X pattern contrasts nicely with the vertical pattern in the country beadboard.

In this kitchen, designer Molly Frey converts an antique hutch from New England into a wet bar. The glass-front cabinet in this case doesn't have to match the kitchen's cabinet style and adds to the overall charm by mixing old and new.

Designed by Elizabeth Dinkel, this kitchen's glass-front cabinets house books and frame an open window into the adjacent living room.

This curved glass display case is beautifully positioned on a corner. Love this use of space! Image via Kitchen Bath Ideas.

Painting the back or interior of a glass-front cabinet allows you to add a shot of color into your kitchen. Select a hue that complements your existing color scheme and is a contrast to your tableware. Image via House Beautiful.

Here is another example {via Decorology} of glass-front cabinets with a splash of color. Notice that all of the items on display are in a neutral white or glass so that they don't blend into the background. Using storage bins such as the large white labeled tins on the top shelf are a great way to display items you otherwise won't in a glass-front cabinet.

Featured in the August 2007 issue of House Beautiful, the interior of these divided light cabinets are painted by architect Gil Schafer and color consultant, Eve Ashcraft. Both the white cabinets and china contrast nicely with the apple green backdrop. The glass insert appears to be reeded which would help conceal the cabinets contents.

A fluted glass insert, as seen in the stainless steel cabinets above is another good option if you struggle to keep your dishware organized. Image courtesy of Luxury Housing Trends.

Frosted-glass cabinet doors also hide tableware, spices and other cooking supplies. In this colorful kitchen featured in Coastal Living, the homeowners etched letter into the frosted-glass to make finding items easy as ABC.

Do you have glass-front cabinets in your kitchen? Do you love the look?

* First image courtesy of Charles and Hudson.

Tia Zoldan Interiors - Sophisticated Del Mar Home

Los Angeles-based interior designer, Tia Zoldan was tasked with the challenge of transforming a traditional home into a sophisticated space that remained beach-casual and kid-friendly. And, boy did she succeed. The single-story 4,000 square foot three bedroom, four bath home located in Del Mar, California had an existing semi-open floor plan. To ensure visual flow and connectivity, Zoldan used a common color scheme of gray, white and black as a base with hints of bright color throughout the home.

In the living room, Zoldan lines the room with custom sofas by Holly Hunt in a durable, brushed white velvet (she swears it's a kid-friendly fabric and even tested it by spilling coffee on it!). The symmetrical sofa arrangement forces our attention the the gorgeous limestone fireplace. Zoldan infuses vivid color by adding charcoal gray and bright pink throw pillows to the sofas and an avocado green tufted bench in front of the fireplace. The unifying hand-knotted wool and silk rug is Tibetan and is gorgeous over the dark walnut floors.

The dining room is a bit eclectic with modern, traditional and vintage elements, but Zoldan pulls it together brilliantly. I love the upholstered white chairs with with backs in a bold, textured orange fabric. The light fixture from Foscarini and the zig-zag rug by Jonathan Adler add more whimsical elements.

Natural light floods the simple, yet stunning white kitchen. The counter-high table with wooden top serves multiple purposes - it adds visual warmth, a place for family members to gather and of course, an additional food prep area. The white backless stools are from Design Within Reach.

The media room features a large, inviting sectional sofa covered in a gray vintage velvet. Again, Zoldan adds vibrant pops of color with a collection of solid and geometric throw pillows. I am curious to know what color gray paint she used on the walls and cabinets.

The sweet, yet sophisticated girl's room in purple, pearl and beige is certainly one that any age would love. The beautifully designed headboard is brilliant with the pearlescent wallpaper, mirrored chest and chenille rug by Madeline Weinrib. I should have featured this room in a previous post,
Interior Design Color Trends for 2010 - Purple.

The tranquil, airy master bedroom features beautiful windows with ocean views. Zoldan uses the perfect mix of colors throughout the room. The dark gray custom bench and tufted headboard contrast beautifully with milky bed linens.

The serene master bathroom is perfection. The beautiful floor-to-ceiling Calcutta marble tile was vertically set. The raspberry bench with lucite X legs and glass light fixture are fabulous!

I am loving Zoldan's design and the down-to-earth feeling this home communicates. How about you?

*images from Luxe Magazine