Small kitchens that still get the job done...

Chris and I don't have a very large kitchen in our new apartment. It has no windows, but a decent sized pantry - which really helps. Counter space is scant - so we purchased a long, narrow baker's cart at ikea - which was worth every penny. I'm about to stencil the kitchen with a sheen effect - high gloss and matte - in a lovely navy indigo to contrast our beige-pink backsplash and white cabinets. I've been searching through a lot of kitchen inspiration lately and thought I'd share some of my favorite finds...

This painted wallpaper looks stunning.  Our kitchen is going to be painted a very dark indigo - so I like finding other dark kitchens.
via Design Sponge

 Our kitchen absolutely wouldn't work with out our baker's cart.  They are essential for small kitchens.
via Apartment Therapy

via BHG

 Lots of shelving make up for a lack of cabinets.
via Country Living

a puppy in a basket - what else does a kitchen need?
via Rue Mag

oh my...the organization junkie in me gets a bit too excited by this armoire of canisters...
 via Pinterest

love, love, love, love a rug like this in the kitchen. beautiful.  It would look great in our navy/indigo kitchen, too.
via Little Green Notebook

Do you have a little kitchen? How do you make the most of your space?

Calling all neat freaks! (or those aspiring to be)

So, this week I have been scouring the DC area for apartments.  After living in NYC for 3 years I figured every other city would seem inexpensive and abounding in square footage.  I was wrong.  The apartments in DC are less expensive, and slightly larger, but I guess I had my hopes up too high.  That's okay though, because a smaller space forces me to be more creative with how I store, organize, and edit my belongings.  If there's one thing I love - it's solving an organization/space issue beautifully, functionally, and inexpensively.

So the next month or so I might be throwing a lot of organization sales and ideas your way as I'm figuring our how to keep all my belongings in my new, down-sized apartment.

If you have any ideas let me know!  All these goodies are from the fab. sale site Beyond the Rack.  You have to be a member, but it's free and fast to sign up - just click here.

 canisters, $10.99

 I always use a folding dish rack like this, that way after I put away the dishes I can stow the rack under the sink and clear off counter space - important in small kitchens.  bamboo dish rack - $9.99

We eat a lot of fresh fruits and veggies and hanging baskets will keep them from taking up valuable counter space. $5.99

Once I know our exact kitchen dimensions we'll definitely get a kitchen trolley.  They're cute and super useful. $59.99

I think city homes especially should be no-shoes indoors. One treads on pretty nasty stuff walking the city streets...it also keeps your floors cleaner. $17.99

 

In my opinion you can't have too many bins, baskets, and boxes.  $7.99

shoe tree $49.99

hamper $19.99

I've never seen one of these before. It's a boot storage shelf. Good idea if you have a lot of knee-high boots. $44.99

sweater shelf $9.99

metal cabinet shelves and racks - especially those that roll out - maximize your cabinet space. $21.99 - $74.99

If any of these call to the neat freak in you head over to the sale at Beyond the Rack.  Here's the free/fast sign up link.

Fabulous, classy kitchens

These kitchens are elegant and functional, a quality that I think could make my cooking taste decent....

via Pinterest

via Trad Home

check out the arm chair in the kitchen!  Do you like this look?

Stunning...the floor, the tiles...the jumbo baskets...

check out the light fixture....spoons!

An interesting loft minimalist kitchen

Interesting layout - great use of rugs...

5 images above via Schibsted Forlag

Super cute and charming kitchens...

So not all of these kitchens are tiny cottage nooks, but they aren't the glossy granite and marble monstrosities you'd see in the high-end home decor mags either. Most are modest and give me hope that no matter how small the kitchen in my future rental, I can give it some charm and make it work for me...

Some vintage stools add coziness and floor to ceiling cabinets and creative storage solutions makes this small kitchen clever

via Kitchenisms

 

The green dishes are too cute

via Pinterest

via Kitchenisms

adorable coastal kitchen
via Kitchenisms

would love to have me a proper pot rack one day... this island is amazing too
via Kitchenisms

even a galley kitchen can be beautiful and functional!
via Kitchenisms

...amazing butcher block island
via Kitchenisms

 

2 more small but pretty kitchens from House to Home

An organization junkie's dream - Not to miss home organization sale

Spring cleaning is upon us and Beyond the Rack is having an awesome sale on essentials you'll wonder how you ever lived without. Beyond the Rack is one of those sites where you need a membership to shop - and if you click on this link - http://www.beyondtherack.com/member/invite/B3CBBBA8 you can sign up to be a member free and fast.

Enjoy!

$54.99 for this hamper cart
$18.99 for this bamboo shoe rack

$99.99 baker's rack

$11.99 storage set

$8.99 drawer organizer - (I have one of these and it's a life saver)
$19.99 for a 24 pack of wooden hanger

lots of garment racks on sale - $29.99 for this one

rolling cart for $89.99

$34.99 for this entire laundry organization system

They also have lots of nice bedding, decor, and rugs on sale.

A month by month plan to get your home storage organized: February is for kitchen organization

So month two of BHG's month-by-month storage plan is to conquer your kitchen. Here's the strategy. If you missed month one - January, you can see the home office storage plan in my previous post.

Sort and Label. Evaluate all pantry items. Toss everything that's expired and give away everything you didn't use in the last year. (Write today's date on every item so you'll know next year if you actually used each item.) Put items back in pantry and label shelves.
oh...an organized pantry is a BEAUTIFUL thing
via Real Simple


via GharExpert


One cannot have too many jars and canisters. Looks better and keeps food fresher than boxes and bags. I will cut off the label on the box and tape it to the lid of a jar if it's something I might have trouble identifying later.
via PrettyShabby on Flickr

Keep a clipboard in your pantry to jot down any staples you are running low on.
via Martha Stewart

Outfit a Drawer. Double the storage capacity inside a cabinet by adding freestanding wire shelves. Measure your cabinet interiors before heading to the home center or choose expandable shelves. Include riser-style inserts for small items such as spices or glassware.

Utilize Cabinet Doors. Evaluate the interior of every cabinet door and determine whether you can use the space to store spices, loose recipes, paper towels, or utensils. Add shallow shelves, racks, wall-mount pouches, and magnetic or cork boards.

Living in small NYC kitchens I learned early on to utilize the inside of cabinet doors, closet doors, etc. to store things.

Genius! Use tension rods to separate and divide lids, trays, and baking sheets.
2 above via BHG

Add Hooks. Install a utensil bar or metal grid above or beside your stove. Dangle five to eight frequently used utensils from S-hooks. Include a small wire basket to hold salt, pepper, cooking spray, and oil.

via Martha Stewart

I love the nook for the mixer and toaster!

great use of island space - installing bookshelves on the side. I don't know what the TV is doing their though.

2 above via BHG

Go to BHG to see the upcoming/past months' storage plans.