Karla's Kitchen "Kabinets"

A few weeks back when I announced that I was looking for some real-life opportunities offering design, organizational services, my dear friend, Karla, gladly invited me over to help clean up her kitchen cabinets. We only had a couple hours to spend together, but I think we accomplished quite a bit. And I was able to give her a few ideas for future projects to do on her own.

The first thing we did was tackle the pots and pan storage. 

What she was doing was not all that bad, but she happened to mention that her lazy susan cabinet right next to this cabinet was empty. She just was not sure what to keep in there.  And I had seen this genius idea on IHeart Organizing where Jen stored her pots and pans in the lazy susan. Karla thought that seemed smart as well, so we quickly moved hers over.

Consequently, that freed up the first cabinet for something else. So we decided the next thing we should focus on was the tupperware storage situation. 

Karla had been using the bottom shelf of this corner cabinet for her tupperware. 

It was hard to reach items in the back corner of the cabinet and lids or containers were often falling out onto the countertop as she rooted through the contents to get the one she needed. Very frustrating.  . .So we determined that it would work much better to place the tupperware in the base cabinet with the pull-out drawers (where the pots and pans had been).

We sorted through her collection of containers and threw away any that did not have lids or were damaged in any way. Then we placed all the "keep" lids inside a basket (re-purposed from another room in her home) on the left side of the cabinet. Then we stacked the "keep" containers neatly on the right side of the cabinet. 

With the pots and pans out of here, there was also empty space on the upper shelf in this cabinet. We decided to move her loaf pans and pie plates over from the island so they would be conveniently located closer to the stove. 

After she put her daughter to bed, we decided to spend a few more minutes on the cleaning closet. 

I categorized all the cleaning products (carpet cleaners, air fresheners, wipes, window cleaners, etc.) and placed them neatly on the shelves. And we used the two white small stacking baskets that I had brought along for paper plates, cups, napkins, etc. We also took paper towels out of their packaging and placed them on the shelves. Additionally, we purged a few items that she knew she could part with. I offered to take them to Goodwill for her since I go there practically every single week. She was thankful for that!

We also talked about how an over-the-door shoe rack could work fabulously for corralling all her cleaning supplies and then the shelves inside this closet could be re-purposed. Just like I saw on Pinterest, here.

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At that point, we decided to call it a night. I wish that I could have spent a lot more time hanging out and helping her, but I'm thankful for the time we had together. I left her with a few ideas for organizing her fabulous walk-in pantry. Many of those ideas I shared with you already, here.

Anyone else have some disorganized kitchen cabinets? Does it give you hope to see what we accomplished in just 2 short hours?

Most Versatile Piece of Furniture - The Armoire

You know, I'm beginning to think that armoires are one of the most versatile pieces of furniture in the entire world. They rank right up there with dressers and storage ottomans, but we'll save those for another time. ;)

After moving our office into a computer armoire that we scored for $100 from Craigslist back in August, I just CANNOT stop singing the praises of the armoire.

There's just something so appealing about forcing yourself to contain all the clutter of one aspect of your home inside a nice cute little piece of furniture that you can easily close the door on.

I could have one in every room of the home. You can use them to hide TVs or computers, or you can set up a little craft or sewing station like these gals did:

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Or you can use them for clothes in a bedroom that lacks a closet!

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Or create a stand-in coat closet in an entry way that lacks one...like I mentioned in last week's post.

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Or you can repurpose your armoire as a freestanding pantry for food or dishes in a kitchen that lacks cabinet space.

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And while you're at it, check out this fabulous armoire makeover by Lisa from Recaptured Charm. The before/after is amazing!

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The possibilities with armoires are endless...craft cabinet for the kids, book storage, DVD storage, CD storage, a place to keep files that's much cuter than a metal filing cabinet. You can line the inside with gorgeous wallpaper, fabric, paint it a bright color. You can do anything with this piece of furniture. And they are pretty easy to come by at garage sales, flea markets, Craigslist. Also, as Ange, from The Blooming Hydrangea, pointed out to me once, the fabulous thing is that you can take an armoire with you when you move! ...Can you tell I have moving on the brain? Just one more week. . .

What other pieces of furniture do you find extremely versatile in your home? Have any of you used an armoire for a surprising purpose that I did not mention here?

Mandy's Entry - Brainstorming Solutions

When I asked if anyone had any problem areas in their homes they wanted advice on...our dear cousin, Mandy, sent me a photograph of her current entry situation.

This is what she said:

 "Katie, here is our problem- old farm house remodel! Only closets we have are the bedroom closets! And the bedrooms are upstairs so no one ever wants to go up to get anything and there's zero money for new furniture! Coats hang on hooks, top shelf acts as catch all for kids' current art projects, second shelf everyone has boots and a pair of shoes, bottom shelf has blankets for in the TV room, and underneath are my weights."

First of all, I told Mandy that the changing table set up didn't really look THAT bad. It is definitely very functional and orderly, given what it is. I think I personally would have a hard time keeping an open unit like that looking half as neat though. You all know I love CLOSED storage. I certainly give her kudos for working with what she had on hand to find a great solution for their family. We live in such a "disposable society", it's great to see someone recycling.

Still, Mandy was looking for other ideas. So this is what I came up with:

Armoire. My first thought was since she does not have an entryway closet, which would be ideal for this type of stuff, then she should get an armoire and repurpose it to serve as a closet. All you'd have to do is install a hanging rod inside just about any armoire and there you go!

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I think I saw this once in a Real Simple magazine and LOVED the idea. 

I suggested she use baskets on shelves or a hanging sweater organizer, as shown in the photo above, on the right, to corral hats, shoes, gloves. We had one of those hanging sweater organizers in our "Mini Mudroom" closet for a while and really loved it. I took it down on whim and packed it up in the attic but the more I think about it, I'd like it back in there. We would keep items handy that needed to go out the door with us, like keys, sunglasses, library books, etc.

Mandy could also install hooks on the back of the armoire or inside the armoire doors for bookbags. She could also hang a mirror on the inside of the door for a quick peak as you walk out the door.

An armoire could completely transform this space. It would be the coat closet they'd always wished they had.

Storage Ottoman or Bench. Another option would be to purchase an inexpensive storage ottoman (like the one mentioned in this post from Young House Love). Or purchase an inexpensive bench with room for storage baskets underneath and set up a "mini mudroom" under the mirror with hooks that Mandy already owns, kind of like this one from House*Tweaking.

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Still, I understand that all of these options so far would cost money, and that is not always easy to come by. So, I told Mandy that if I were her, I'd rack my brain to see if I could come up with some cash for this transformation. 

If I were her, I'd consider selling the changing table (and any thing else around the house that I don't like or need anymore) in a yard sale or on Craigslist. I would be sure to search my home for items that could bring the most money so that I would be more apt to round up the cash for something I really wanted - a functional piece of furniture that would really brighten our day every time we can in the door. 

Also, like I've seen on the Nate Berkus Show before, it's a great idea to look at your monthly budget and see if there's anywhere you can carve out a few extra dollars (cut the cable, clip grocery coupons, etc.) to make these kinds of projects possible. Even if you can just save $10 a month, after 6 months, you've got $60 to throw at home projects. I think it is very important to create a warm, inviting, functional space that you and your family will love. And if that means sacrificing in some other areas, that might be worth it. You just have to decide for your family.

I estimated that Mandy might be able to get $40 for her changing table on Craigslist and then I did a quick search in her area and found a couple really nice armoires for $125-200. Here's the one for $125. 

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Solid wood, originally $600. Can't beat that! A quick Craigslist search also yielded a couple used storage ottomans for $40-$65 in her area. And I picked up our brand new leather storage ottoman from Target for $50 on sale.

Now, moving onto a few more ideas that wouldn't require as much cash. . .

Use free scrap materials. Another option would be to re-use scrap materials like wood from pallets or previous building projects to create a custom shoe storage dresser or bench of some sort. There are tons of plans available on ana-white.com.

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According to her site, this amazing option can be built for $20-$50. It's very similar to the HEMNES shoe dresser from IKEA.

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Upcycled Baskets. Yet another option would be to simply add some decorative baskets with cute labels to the diaper changing table. In fact, you could even wrap cardboard boxes (even diaper boxes!) in wrapping paper or fabric for a really cheap custom storage option.

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Have one basket for shoes, one for weights, one for art, etc. 

Free Tip. Also, consider hanging the mirror with hooks a bit higher on the wall so the bottoms of the coats don't brush the top of the changing table. That would go a long way in making it look neater. Of course, I don't know if all members of the family would be able to hang up their coats, then...

So, what do you guys think? Do you like some of these ideas? Does anyone else have any great suggestions for Mandy? Or are you inspired to go clean up your entry way?

Please email me if you, too, have a problem area in your home. I'd love an opportunity to help brainstorm some solutions!

Day 31 - Wrap Up

Wow. I can not believe the 31 Days to a Clutter Free Home Series is over TODAY! When I started this series, I knew that it would be a huge time commitment but I don't think I totally grasped the commitment required to post every single days for 31 days straight, on the same topic! In the end, I'm so thankful it's over :) And I'm thankful for the friends I've made along the way. And I am thankful mostly for my sweet husband, Dave, for bearing with me during this month. Ironically, as I wrote about having a clutter free home, the level of clutter in our home actually went up because I had less time to keep up with it! Ah!

But don't worry, I definitely plan to keep on blogging regularly in the month of November. I probably will take weekends off though so I can spend a little more time with my family and not on the computer.

Now, we're going to take a quick look back on the past month and share some of the highlights. . .

On Day 1, I shared some of the motivation behind our de-cluttering process. I talked about how my goal was to reduce visual clutter to make our home a more inviting place. On Day 2, I discussed how we purged a lot of stuff using this quote as a filtering process:

Day 12 discussed making intentional design choices to yield a less cluttered look.

Day 21 provided tips to bust clutter and maintain a clean living room, and Day 22 discussed ways to make a dining room really work for your family, whether it be as an area to eat or completely repurposing it to serve as a home office, playroom, or music room.

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Day 20 involved making a relaxing, peaceful sanctuary for your guests. Day 5, Day 6 & Day 10 dealt with reducing clutter in the laundry room.

Day 13 & Day 14 involved cleaning up the bathroom.

And Day 15 discussed organizing the cleaning closet and Day 24 discussed where to keep all those DIY remodeling tools.

And Day 7, Day 8, Day 9 and Day 29 dealt with cleaning up the kitchen.

Day 11 involved cleaning out the Master Bedroom closet. And Day 17, Day 18 & Day 19 involved de-cluttering and organizing kids' rooms, clothes & toys.

On Day 3  we discussed condensing a cluttered home office into a computer armoire, while Day 27 revisited the home office and provided a mood board for Rebekah.

Day 26 provided creative craft storage solutions for my friend Bethany.

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And Day 4 explained the benefits of living debt free and how that would ultimately reduce a lot of paper clutter in your home.

Day 25 talked all about improving curb appeal.

Day 28 touched on organizing storage areas like garages and mini barns.

Day 16, Day 23 and Day 30 involved simplifying your life and creating margin in your schedules to leave time for the important things.

A few of the very simple, overriding principles we touched on over the past month involved:

• Purging.
• Using containers.
• Labeling said containers.

I am confident that you can organize just about any space in your home using those guidelines.

I don't know about you, but I've had a fabulous time this month meeting lots of new friends. And I've found a ton of inspirational blogs through the 31 Days of Change link party over at Nesting Place.

A few of the blogs that I really enjoyed were ironically very similar to what I was writing up so if you've enjoyed this, you should check them out as well:

• The Complete Guide to Imperfect Homemaking's an Organized Home series
• Lattenene's Cup of Chat's 31 Days to Clutter Free series
• Organizing Made Fun's 31 Days to {Cheaply} Organize Your Home series

I invite you all to check back frequently this next month. There are many exciting posts to come for sure! I already have several projects to share that I've completed with friends/family including a kitchen cabinet reorganization, an entryway makeover and a master bedroom mood board.

Also, we will be moving mid-November, so I will be sharing lots more about the actual moving process, any tips that we come up with through that, as well as a tour of our new home. And I'm sure there will be many projects in the new place, both large and small, that I will love to share with you as well.

Day 30 - Hobbies

Day 30 of the 31 Days to a Clutter Free Home Series  focuses on hobbies and how we spend our free time.

When you're growing up and people tell you, "You can do anything you want in life" they failed to mention that although you can do ANYTHING you want, you can't do EVERYTHING you want!

Over the past decade, Dave & I have both dabbled in a multitude of hobbies and have realized we just can't do it all. There are only so many hours in the week that we can devote to fun activities. In order to really enjoy something, it helps to have lots of practice, etc. and that only happens with time that you can commit to that activity.

Back when, I was extremely interested in scrapbooking.

Likewise, Dave loved playing paintball, hunting,

shooting, spelunking,



and restoring Jeeps. We loved throwing parties and playing games with friends.

In order to do all that, we had to keep tons of supplies on hand. Consequently, at least 1 room in our home was always filled with hobby paraphernalia. We began to realize that our home was just not big enough to hold all that stuff.  And then, once we had our first child, we also realized that we did not have enough time to pursue all those activities.

We also read the book His Needs, Her Needs by Willard F. Harley and we learned that it is also wise for a couple with young children or otherwise really busy schedules to make it a point to only do mutually agreed upon activities. If you only have, say, 10 spare hours a week for fun, it is wise to spend those  hours together doing something you both enjoy than to spend them separately, the husband off with the guys and the wife off with her gal pals. You need to spend time together to nurture your relationship and when you're both off doing your own thing you're actually growing apart. This is not to say that we can never pursue our individual passions again, but it is wise in busy seasons of life to put selfish things aside and spend quality time as a family.

Today I challenge you to look at how much free time you have. Are you spending it wisely? Are there hobbies that you like to do but they take you away from your family? Would you rather just part with that stuff and spend the time with your spouse and kids instead?

Day 29 - A Clutter Free Pantry

Day 29 of the 31 Days to a Clutter Free Home Series revolves around pantries.

Even if you don't have a large walk-in pantry, this post can still apply to you. I have a tall cabinet in my kitchen that I call the "pantry" and I use it to store all our food and paper products.

I have various baskets and containers inside our pantry to help keep small items in one place. One basket is for tea bags and hot chocolate. Another is for rice and dried beans.

And if you are lacking in cabinet space (like I once was...), you could easily re-purpose a free-standing armoire/hutch for food storage like I did in our kitchen before the remodel.

You could even build one using plans from ana-white.com (just click on the source of the following photo).

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If your cabinet has glass doors (like mine used to) you could even frost them or cover them with fabric or something. That way you don't have to look at cans of baked beans and boxes of macaroni noodles all the time (like I used to). . .

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Here's an example of a free-standing cabinet that was really used wisely. I love how they maximized the inside of the doors using other materials...cork, tin, chalkboard, etc.

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And if you're one of the "lucky ones" with a walk in pantry or large pantry closet...here are a few ideas. In fact, several of these would work even with a cabinet. . .

• Install an adjustable shelving system so you can move your shelves to accommodate large items like a stand mixer. 
• Paint the inside an attractive color (or stencil, etc.) to make the space more fun.
• Use an over-the-door rack for extra storage.
• Use clear canisters for items like pretzels, cereal, etc.
• Label EVERYTHING. Try to use cute labels if possible.
• Use baskets to corral like items (snacks, baking, etc.)

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Here, Jen from IHeart Organizing covered her pantry closet with decorative tin panels and used colorful, labeled baskets. This pantry was featured on a Nate Berkus House Proud segment.

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Here Dina, from Honey & Fitz, used stick-on chalkboard labels (which I've found on etsy.com) to label glass canisters. How cute!! 

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And I love how Dina used a cart for all her baking supplies and the stand mixer. No lifting that heavy mixer out when it's time to bake...just wheel the entire cart out to the kitchen! How fun! Dina's home was also featured on Nate Berkus...no wonder. It's gorgeous!

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I'm also a huge fan of the House of Smith's pantry which I continually see on Pinterest. The vinyl quatrefoil makes the space. And I love how they have a snack basket and a baking supplies basket. You can even buy the vinyl and canister labels from their shop, along with a ton of other cool stuff. I'm seriously thinking about getting those labels once I move.

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Some other fabulous ideas involve buying a couple little items as shown below, to have 2 levels of cans on one shelf or to slide items in under a shelf.

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And this pantry has a basket for each meal. All ingredients needed to prepare 1 meal are in 1 basket.

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 This person keeps their menu and grocery list on chalkboards inside the pantry doors. How handy!

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And these baskets on the wall inside the pantry are super handy for corralling small items like oatmeal packets.

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Only 2 more days left in this series. Can you even believe it? I know I'm looking forward to November. I have a ton of fun posts in the pipeline for you all!