If You Are Not Including Your Pantry in the Remodeling Process...
You Should!
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Greetings!
There was a time around the turn of the last century when every home had a pantry. The kitchen was the heart of the home, and the pantry was the center of the kitchen. Around mid-century, the pantry fell out of favor as spaces become more streamlined and “modern.” Fast forward to today, and realtors and remodelers report that one of the most frequently asked for features by both home buyers and homeowners is a full pantry. You will see lots of great examples in our website's Inspiration Gallery of pantries that may inspire you to want to redo your pantry too!
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Pantry Storage Solutions For Your Kitchen |
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In today's fast-paced world, having an organized pantry makes everything that happens in the kitchen easier. Whether it's an after school snack before doing homework at the island, or preparing a holiday meal from for the entire family, having an organized pantry gives you quicker access to supplies, appliances, and more while letting you easily see what you need to repurchase.
If you're planning a kitchen remodeling project or a new home and you're planning on including a pantry, you have a wide variety of options when it comes to pantry storage solutions for organizing your new space, from baskets and bins to drawers, shelves, and containers. Here at CHW, we work with our clients to give them custom-designed pantries that meet their unique needs.
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Examine your needs. Are you looking for storage for dry goods? Will you need to store seasonal serving items? Do you want to have a space for your mixer or maybe a spot for brewing your morning coffee? Do you want a sink, countertop workspace, a second refrigerator, or a beverage center? Think about how you'll use your new pantry for.
Shelves
The standard depth of shelves is 12 or 16 inches. If you find things getting pushed back and forgotten, consider shallower shelves. If you're seeking more flexibility, installing adjustable shelves will make this so much easier.
Shelf Heights
Try to plan for what type of items you'll store on your shelves. Plan for about 2 inches of clearance above the tallest item. Here are some general rules/ideas:
• For canned goods allow 6 ½ to 7 inches for canned goods
• 14 to 16 inches for cereal boxes
• Include taller space 18 to 20 inches for larger items like bins of onions and potatoes.
Floor Space
Make sure you give yourself a little space under the bottom-most shelf. Typically 15 to 24 inches is good. This not only gives you room to store large bulky items like dog food, or cases of bottled water, even crates on wheels for onions or potatoes. Plus, you won't have to stoop to get items on the bottom shelf.
Key Items... Don't Be Afraid To Reorganize!
The easiest shelves to access are between waist height and eye level. Put your frequently used items here. If you're planning on using bins, this is where to place them. Once you get a workable system up and running in your pantry, don't be afraid to experiment, reevaluate, and re-organize, for example, to make kid-friendly items more easily accessible for your little ones!
Pantry Storage Solutions and Organization Tips
Once you've designed your pantry, there are many options to consider when it comes time to organize. There are so many ways to bump up the efficiency of your pantry storage, including baskets, bins, containers, and drawers. Here are some excellent pantry storage solutions to consider when it comes time to get organized!
- Mason Jars come in a wide range of sizes perfect for everything for dried beans and rice to pasta and dried herbs. You can see exactly what you have and what you need!
- Baskets are a great go-to storage option that are a perfect way to keep small items organized, for example, loose bags of snacks for the kids, envelopes, or all of your herbal teas.
- For Spice Storage consider mounting a sheet of stainless steel underneath a shelf. Then get small jars and glue magnets to the lids. Fill them with various spices and herbs label the jars, and you'll have a great looking display that's functional too!
- Think Tall... Maximize your space and go all the way to the ceiling with shelving. You can use the highest shelf to store seasonal items or create a display area to show off your serving pieces when not in use.
- Shelf Dividers are great for storing large flat items like cookie sheets or pot lids on their sides and uses much less space.
- Having a labeling system is the key to a well-organized pantry. Using chalkboard labels allows you to switch out foods like flours or cereal. It's a great way to repurpose storage containers as needed.
- Adding a can organizer can keep your canned goods visible. A stair-step shelf is another alternative. Storing items in your pantry is only useful if they're visible. Organizers like can racks or stair-step shelves allow you to inexpensively and visibly store items for easy retrieval!
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Above is a great example of a recent pantry remodel we completed. The customer had just moved into a new custom-built home and never expected to take on a "remodel" project in a new home. But after until living with the pantry as the builder installed it (four wire shelves that were NOT adjustable), they decided it was not what a "custom" home should have. Items were falling through the wires and nothing sat quite flush on the shelves without tipping over. We went in and removed the old wire shelving, and installed taller ADJUSTABLE, SOLID shelves. This made a world of difference! Now this customer can store twice as much and is much more organized. They also went with a light gray finish for their shelving because white is not the only color pantries have to be.
Your pantry doesn't just have to be just functional, it can be beautiful too! Don't hesitate to paint the walls a bright color, spend some time on lighting choices, and make sure you include all of the amenities you need like extra refrigerator space, prep space, and even a sink or additional dishwasher. Think about how much use and the enjoyment you'll get with a well-organized pantry.
If you're planning a project and you live in the greater Columbia area, give the award-winning design experts at CHW Cabinetry a call at (803)520-6837. Our design team will get to know you, understand your lifestyle, and help you to design and create the perfect pantry to meet your family's specific needs!
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Whether you are looking for hardware for your new pantry or any other room in the home, Atlas has some very unique styles that will be the final touch to a great home project. Atlas Homewares was launched in 1994 by Adrienne Morea. She is a notable designer, a guest on HGTV's House Hunters, as well as a go-to consultant to a host of celebrity designers including Candice Olson. Adrienne Morea is also the recipient of the coveted Ernst and Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, and a Stevie Award. As CEO and Creative Director of Atlas Homewares, Adrienne Morea knew well how to connect with consumers seeking to add style to their homes. She was first inspired to design hardware when looking to dress up her own very first apartment. Humble though it was, she knew she could create some spectacular pieces to transform her décor from bland to bling. As a result, she incorporated what she had learned from her jewelry design business to create a new company she named "Atlas Homewares", which featured, as she states, "jewelry for the home". Like fashion, Atlas Homewares styles are ever-changing and ever-evolving. Each collection pays homage to a specific design motif, whether it be minimalist, classic, retro or futuristic. Atlas offers something for everyone from transitional to contemporary to eclectic.
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20% Off Your Atlas Hardware Order
Expires October 30, 2020
Mention the code CABINET JEWLERY when you corder!
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This Month's Feature Recipe |
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This soup is the ultimate fall comfort food! It is a great starter, side or entire meal. Store it in the fridge for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to a few months. |
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 large yellow onion, chopped
- ½ teaspoon sea salt
- 1 (3-pound) butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
- 3 garlic cloves, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh sage
- ½ tablespoon minced fresh rosemary
- 1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger
- 3 to 4 cups vegetable broth
- Freshly ground black pepper
For serving
- Chopped parsley
- Toasted pumpkin seeds
- Crusty bread
Instructions
- Heat the oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onion, salt, and several grinds of fresh pepper and sauté until soft, 5 to 8 minutes. Add the squash and cook until it begins to soften, stirring occasionally, for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the garlic, sage, rosemary, and ginger. Stir and cook 30 seconds to 1 minute, until fragrant, then add 3 cups of the broth. Bring to a boil, cover, and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook until the squash is tender, 20 to 30 minutes.
- Let cool slightly and pour the soup into a blender, working in batches if necessary, and blend until smooth. If your soup is too thick, add up to 1 cup more broth and blend. Season to taste and serve with parsley, pumpkin seeds, and crusty bread.
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Or maybe you wished you had saved a recipe we shared...
No worries! They are all right HERE!
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Carolina Handcrafted Woodworks, LLC.
1819 Two Notch Rd
Lexington, SC 29073
Ph: 803-520-6837
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