Sunday, January 31, 2010

Whoo-hoo, My New Storage Closet

Ta-Da! I'm so happy it's finally done.


Remember my pantry project (center) from this past summer? I had it built because the extremely narrow pantry our house came with (far right) didn't adequately serve our needs, but I thought I could put it to good use as a place to store my pots and pans.


This was the closet before its transformation. The wire shelves were deep, too deep - and there were only 4 of them. The wire was flimsy too - it would bend under the weight of whatever was placed on it.


I patched and painted the walls. Then hubby installed the brackets and shelf supports, and cut the shelves to fit.


To be completely honest, this project was very, very low on Hubby's list of priorities, but he finally got it done and earned lots of bonus points in the process.

In the past I stored all my pots and pans in lower cabinets. I had to kneel down and carefully stack and restack in order to get everything to fit - kind of a pain, but I managed. Then I started having the kids put the dishes away. They did NOT share in my vision of a neatly stacked and organized cabinet... they would literally shove things in with no rhyme or reason. Pots and lids were never together. Items would tumble out when I opened the door. And I was constantly worried that my non-stick items would get damaged.
IT WAS SO FRUSTRATING.

Now each pot and pan has it's own shelf space, lids neatly stored with each pan. I still need to add a few hooks to the walls to optimize unused space, but for now, I can take a deep breath and smile - ahhhhhhhh!


Here's a close-up. Small and seldom used items on the top shelves.


Large and more frequently used items on the bottom shelves. Ignore the missing stock pot - it's currently housing a big batch of soup.

Thanks for stopping by.

27 comments:

  1. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment...I am in LOVE with your closet...I am ashamed to show how my pots are stored...someday maybe...someday!

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  2. That's fantastic! I have a bad case of storage envy. :)

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  3. Oh boy, do I wish I had a cupboard like that for my pots and pans. I usually have to get down on my hands and knees to find the pot I'm looking for and its lid.

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  4. Wow, I wish I can have a space like that for my bakeware. I am like Cathy, always on my knees looking for what I need. you are a lucky girl!

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  5. I was just putting pots and pans away in my own kitchen before I read this. It is like getting a tricky jigsaw puzzle back together here! :) I love the variety of depths! I'm glad it made it to the top of the list--well worth it!

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  6. I've been wracking my brain (no easy task) trying to carve out some more kitchen storage. Your pot closet is AWESOME. That's the problem with those of us that love to cook-our "toys" take up so much room!!
    xoxo Pattie

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  7. Nice closet! It's great to be organized, isn't it!?

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  8. Wow!!! I'm so envious of your cupboard just for your pots & pan! I wish i could have a cupboard for my stuff too! :)

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  9. Wow! You make sure your husband knows how amazing he is. I have never seen something so great-lids with pans....my dream.

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  10. You may just start a new trend in home design! This is fantastic. As one who wrestles with pots and pans on a daily basis, I absolutely applaud your ingenuity.

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  11. LOVE IT!! I'm so jealous of all your shiny stainless steel! =)

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  12. Congratulations, this storage unit look so save space.

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  13. OMG, I'm jealous right now (in a good way)... I cannot wait to buy our own home so I can get the kitchen the way I want it... so over other people's less than stellar kitchens.

    Your looks sooo good!

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  14. Isn't it wonderful when everything is so organized? I love it. Can I borrow your husband to make one of these for me? LOL

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  15. Oooo I'm so jealous of your closet and pantry. So organized! Congratulations Patricia. It must make everything easier.

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  16. It looks great...lucky you to have such a handy husband.

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  17. Oh, that is great... So nice to have improved storage. I really like the way you maximized every part of that closet. Your productivity is going to go through the roof!
    :)

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  18. I wanna see the large stock pot full of yummy soup!

    I love your new pantry- that's awesome! In our first apartment that hubby and I lived in (before we got married) we had a dinky pantry like that and things got lost in it because the shelves were so deep, but pots and pans fit great.

    I recently reorganized all my baking pans and cake plates and it's just so gratifying. I think your cabinets are wonderful and I'm jealous too :-)

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  19. I am really impressed by your planning. I never would have believed that such a small space could hold so much. I hope you are basking in the light of a job well done.

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  20. I am filled with closet envy!! You are one lucky girl, Butter Yum!

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  21. Oh you're a LUCKY girl! I'm in the process of getting a new shelf - and it's, it's, it's SO freeing/grand/organized.
    Congrats! ~Mary

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  22. That is so awesome! I would love to have the space for something so creative and well purposed! Thanks for the suggestion on the Zebra cake. I have looked up the recipe and I think I might give it a try. I plan to do zebra pattern in fondant on the outside of the cake. I have never worked with it before, but I am going to give it a go!

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  23. Your husband, he is awesome. Can I borrow him? There are so many projects around here.

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  24. Love storage closets. Yours look very organized. Your hubby did a good job!...Christine

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  25. okay...that does it...more shelves!! that's what I need! There are lots of holes already there...I do have moveable shelves.... perfect. I'm off to check out how many I need ... too bad it'll be cold this weekend... it might not be fun to work in the garage when it's -20C.... but, soon......

    I hate having to stack any of my pots and pans...and besides..it is awkward to get at the ones on the bottom of the stack...which for some reason (must be Mother Murphy's law) ..the bottom one is the one I use most frequently.

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  26. I clearly remember the pantry project and how wonderful it was. This is equally great! You must be thrilled! I don't cook nearly as much as you do but I still have too much "stuff" so hopefully I can get really organized too with all the storage I have planned at the "house in Hooterville." My inner neat freak is so excited!

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