Complete Organizing Solutions » Kitchen and Dining

The Pantry Makeover: After

Tanna Clark — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 16:30:55 +0000

I recently partnered up with The Stow Company to completely makeover my master closet and pantry with custom closet solutions, a dream come true! The Stow Company supplied the product and Nashville ORG dealer Closets & More provided the installation services. This week I will be sharing the whole process from beginning to end.

Here it is, the long awaited pantry of my dreams! I cannot believe how much we were able to fit into this space! I shared before how we made our kitchen drawers more functional by creating custom organizers and this is essentially what we have done with the pantry! We were able to empty out four whole cabinets by combining our food and cooking essentials into one place! Our entire island is now empty except for the coupon drawer.

So here is what we did from top to bottom…

First off we went with the Ivory color in order to keep that light and airy feeling. If you go to dark items will blend into the background especially if the space is dimly lit.

On the very top we have our biggest of big items. For example, the chafing dish and roaster that only comes out at Thanksgiving. We host a huge Thanksgiving dinner but seriously this stuff needs a home the rest of the year and preferably not on the floor!

Oh, the special places for wine, cutting boards and cookie sheets just makes my heart melt! It is so great having everything in one place and easy to access. We thought about putting a wine cooler in the pantry but I didn’t want to take up the extra space.

We now have everything separated into categories such as baking, canned goods, snacks, cereals, crackers, entertaining and drinks. We have drawers for our food containers, Ziploc bags and paper plates. Below that another special drawer where we keep our onions and potatoes!

There is plenty of space for the container of dog food we keep on the bottom shelf and her supplies next to it. I love how everything just fits together! We now have storage right down to the floor so we can use every inch of space! I really disliked having loose items on the floor and having to clear them out to clean. Now I just have to wipe down the shelves every once in a while.

I’m sure we will be tweaking this pantry over time to get it just the way we want it. Right now we are storing our pasta and some dry goods in glass jars and will see how that works for us. I want to make things aesthetically pleasing while still being able to maintain it. I don’t think I will be emptying the cereal boxes or chips into containers anytime soon but we shall see!

The pantry is stocked for Thanksgiving and our Christmas baking needs with plenty of space left over. We couldn’t be happier with our pantry! Another big thank you goes to The Stow Company and Closets & More for this amazing makeover!

The Master Closet and Pantry Makeover: Installation

Tanna Clark — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 15:15:54 +0000

Normally a couple of days before an installation, arrangements will be made to set up portable clothing rods in order to hang your clothes and clear out the closet. We were out of town the week leading up to our big makeover so the installers helped me remove everything from the closet and pantry before they got started. All of the wire shelves were removed and the holes were filled and painted over. Then piece, by piece, by piece the installation began!

Now let me take a moment to explain a little more about The Stow Company’s ORG products and why I chose them. I have always been impressed with our local ORG dealer, Closets & More. They are more affordable than many of the other options available, plus their customer service goes above and beyond. From my dealings with The Stow Company’s staff I can tell the exceptional customer service is not just something that is happening on a local level but the company as a whole.

The system is completely customizable and has tons of options to match your style. They have 20 laminate finishes and 8 wood finishes, including the ability to custom order different veneers. The shelving is adjustable so if your needs change you can easily accommodate them.

ORG is dedicated to sustainability and the core of ORG panels are made of 100% recycled and/or recovered wood fiber. This is a custom solution I feel good about putting in my home. I could have bought bins and organizers and things to go with my wire shelves to make things look more aesthetically pleasing but eventually this stuff ends up in our landfills. Our new closet will last forever and even add value to the house!

The whole process for the closet and pantry took 2 days and a couple of “touch up” hours on the third day. Once the installation was done the installers cleaned up after themselves so much in fact, I tried to talk them into doing the rest of the house! No such luck, but I was thrilled with the attention to detail that was given. In the pantry a piece of the floor board had to be removed for the installation but they replaced it and caulked it! Job well done guys!

The time has finally come!…Up next it’s time to see the all new closet and pantry!

The Master Closet and Pantry Makeover: Planning Sessions

Tanna Clark — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 13:21:18 +0000

The Consultation

Closets & More, a Nashville based dealer for The Stow Company’s ORG products came out to my house for our consultation and ultimately did the install. When my clients are in need of a custom closet, Closets & More owners Tom and Betty Anne are my go to resource!

When Betty Anne came to do our consultation I got a brand new appreciation for how my clients feel when I am coming in to examine their clutter. While my space is not bad the imperfections really stood out in my mind as I showed Betty Anne around. A great reminder that organization does not = perfect! Betty Anne comes in with her non-judgmental approach just like organizer’s do and is focused on the end result. How to turn the space into what the client is envisioning in the most functional way possible.

After showing Betty Anne around we sat down and explained our needs and she shared ideas with us. Then measurements were taken of every nook and cranny in the closet and pantry.

The Plan

The Master Closet

The Pantry

It was amazing to see our ideas unfold before our eyes. I am a very visual person so when you hand me a blueprint with measurements it takes me a while to put all the pieces together. I so love that we were able to see the 3D renderings of our space and make any necessary changes we saw fit.

Betty Anne met with us again to go over our plan and make sure we were happy with where things were. We moved shelves and drawers and changed colors. We picked out finishes and what knobs we wanted on the drawers. This all took place just about a week after our initial consultation.

I was really impressed with how much we could fit into one space but I have to admit I was still worried about whether the corner spaces could be fully utilized or not. From the pictures I couldn’t imagine there being enough space in the corners to hang the clothes and still be able to get to them. But I would soon be proven wrong!

Up next… I will give you a sneak peek into the installation process and then the final reveal!

The Pantry Makeover: Before

Tanna Clark — Wed, 17 Nov 2010 15:00:59 +0000

Again with the wire shelves! I didn’t really like anything about our pantry. Nothing ever sits right or fits right. You can’t adjust the shelves unless you are ready for a major undertaking. There were no customization options…what you see is what you get.

We have a decent amount of cabinet space in the kitchen however you need a step stool to access some of the upper shelves. We have food stored in the pantry and a few cabinets because the wire shelves make it difficult to store some of the smaller items and still look good. And yes I want things to look aesthetically pleasing. Not perfect but pleasing!

Since my husband does most of the cooking this is also primarily his domain and I am so OK with that! If it were me I would have things categorized and stored in bins with labels. For him however things need to be in plain sight so he can see what we have or need.

In the future we would like to replace the island with a butcher block table. The problem is that the current island stores a lot of things. Pretty much all of the baking pans, cutting boards, Ziploc bags, and aluminum/plastic wrap. We need all of this to be in the pantry along with the food. I would love to get all of the food in one place and the big bulky stuff off the floor! I am all about leaving the floor space clear so you can easily clean when you need to.

Stay tuned to see how it all turns out! Next I will show you how the consultation went for our pantry and master closet!

So tell me… what peeves you about your pantry?

Make the Most of Summer by Dining Out(side)

Shaina Olmanson — Wed, 19 May 2010 12:31:24 +0000

I live in Minnesota where it is cold eight months out of the year. Summer is the one chance to really get out and enjoy the outdoors, so it’s best to take advantage of it while it’s here, and that usually means more outings, more running around, more activities. But it doesn’t have to mean more drive-thrus. With just a little bit of organization, you can ready yourself for a summer of easy meals and even meals on the go that don’t involve a single French fry.

Pack a Picnic Basket

You don’t really need a picnic basket for this, but what I am referring to is packing a bag or small box full of things that allow you to seize the day. Just a few weeks ago on a randomly warm day here, we were out grocery shopping as a family on the weekend.

The plan was to go home to prepare dinner, but it was so nice outside (and we weren’t quite done running around) that we decided we’d have a picnic. We simply grabbed a rotisserie chicken, a few rolls, coleslaw and grapes and set off to a picnic at the park overlooking one of the many lakes near our house in between our shopping stops.

You don’t need much to be picnic ready. A small container that slips under the seat should suffice.

What to pack:

Make More Protein

I have found that having excess cooked protein is always a good thing. On the night when my husband is grilling, I simply toss a few extra pieces of chicken on the grill. If I’m making lentils, I make extra. It is as simple as that. I then store the protein in the fridge if I know I will need it that week, or I freeze it in airtight containers. This way I can always have a dinner ready in just a few minutes. It’s perfect for unexpected outings or when the kids’ baseball games run long.

A few simple ideas:

Chicken Salad Sandwiches: Extra chicken becomes a meal quickly when it’s chopped and tossed with a squeeze of lemon, a couple stray vegetables and some mayo. Put it between two slices of bread with a thin slice of cheese and you have a meal.

Chicken Quesadillas: We always have extra sour cream and salsa in the house. Simply top one tortilla with chicken chunks, salsa, cheese, top with another tortilla and heat on a griddle, flipping once until cheese is melted. Cut into triangles, wrap in foil and bring along wherever you’re going.

Texas Caviar: I adore chips and salsa, and this is like chips and salsa taken to the next level. Add cooked beans to diced tomatoes and peppers, maybe some canned corn and olives. Then simply add a bit of Italian dressing. Tastes better after it’s been sitting. Serve with corn chips.

Hard-boiled Eggs: This one goes without saying, really, but they make an excellent portable meal and are easy to have ready beforehand. Packed with protein and low in calories, they fill you up and keep you satisfied.

Pack a Table

Sometimes you don’t even have to leave your yard to enjoy the weather. One of my family’s favorite summertime activities is moving dinner outdoors. This became a problem when we moved three years ago without any patio furniture. Rather than give up this favorite pastime, we simply improvised. A bed sheet is large enough to hold all of us, and it will also cover dirty wagons that are converted into rolling buffets. Use an old one that you don’t use any longer. Sit on the steps, in the grass, on beach towels and, yes, your bed sheets. Get outside and enjoy eating without a roof over your head.

Simply pack a makeshift table to eat wherever you may be, even in your own house. Try stepping outside for a bowl of granola in the morning with fresh fruit. There is nothing more refreshing than a dewy morning before the summer’s hot sun starts baking the ground.

What do you do to enjoy the weather of the summer months with your family?