Okay, everyone has areas in their home that drive them crazy. Well, I've been cursing my pantry for years. I hated all the grocery bags stuffed in the corner, the fry pan and mondo tin foil that always fell at my feet, and the lunch bags and cooler that were just generally in the way of anything I tried to get to. Here is a picture of my annoying pantry floor.
Now, here is the solution to my problem: for less than $8 I bought this nice stainless steel grocery bag organizer that mounts to the wall. It even fit perfectly. It only holds about 30 grocery bags, but really, when have I ever needed more than that? I recycled a ton of bags, and now only keep what fits. I moved the annoying cooler downstairs in storage since I realized that I hardly use it, and the fry pan now fits so much better. I also installed wire shelving on the door for the kids' snack, freeing up space inside the pantry for other things like the annoying mondo tin foil. Ahh, so much better!
My other kitchen annoyance was this.
Now, some of you might look at the picture and wonder what exactly is annoying about it. Well, I'll tell ya'. The kids cannot reach the cups and drag a barstool over to the cupboard to reach them. The problem is that the barstool never made its way back to the bar, and was parked right by the dishwasher nearly all of the time. I got so annoyed with returning the barstool back to its home so I could load or unload the dishwasher.Now, the solution: I was at my sister's house and she had plastic kid cups down in a cupboard where they could reach them. Now, why didn't I think of that?! I looked around my kitchen and really didn't have a lower cupboard that would work, so I used the bottom of the wire shelving that I had installed in the pantry for a few kid cups. It has taken a little retraining, but the kids are pretty good about checking the pantry shelf for a cup first before moving that annoying barstool.
So, what are the annoying areas in your house, and how did you solve it?
7 comments:
I love things like that!!! Way to go. It's fun reinventing a space.
That's really clever! I am no good at thinking outside the box. I tend to just live with the messes that bug me and chalk it up to "that's the way it goes." Plus, with moving every 3 years, it takes all the energy I have just to get my house unpacked (much less streamlined) just in time to pack it all up again.
I love your solutions!
I like that bag holder - where did you get it? My annoying room was my laundry room. It is small, had inefficient shelving, and always had junk on the floor. When our machines died, we got stackables, put in a simple utility sink and cupboards (that close and hide the mess). It was amazing the difference it made, and it made me happy.
I love this post! It's got me thinking...I might have to see what "annoying spot" I can narrow it down to! ha ha Great job with the solutions you came up with!
I so wish I had a pantry in my kitchen. I have had the kids cups in the bottom cupboard for a couple of years now. I use a pull out drawer and just throw them in there. Thanks for sharing and making me jealous of your now perfect pantry.
Rachel - I got the bag holder at Smith's Marketplace only because it was on sale and cheaper than anywhere else, and I happened to be there. But, I've also seen it at Bed Bath & Beyond and Home Depot, so it's pretty common and usually $10-$12 depending on where you get it, but I paid $8. :)
Oh, and Jen - my pantry is still FAR from perfect, but I don't curse inside every time I try to close the door anymore.
Hey, I noticed your new and improved pantry the other day, but forgot to say anything to you. It looks great! And man, you have one brilliant sister to think of cups down low. :) Finally I have taught YOU something for a change.
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