Cupcakes and Cashmere

Kitchen Confidential

January 19th, 2012

{Before}

I spend a lot of time in my kitchen, so you’d think that my cabinets would be meticulously organized. Not so much. I heave things back onto shelves while cooking, which means that I can never find what I need, I accidentally buy doubles of items, and am constantly left with a giant mess.

Last year I hired heather|brookes interior organization to get my closet and office in order and I finally decided to do the same thing with my kitchen (after I bought my third box of baking soda). I now have beautifully organized cabinets that display all of the contents in a way that’s both aesthetically pleasing and functional. Since I find it fun to peek into other peoples’ kitchens, here’s a glimpse of mine along with a few simple tips.

{After}



Instead of lining up your sauces and spices in a row (making them impossible to see), put them on a Lazy Susan (I use this one for spices and this one for sauces).

Use containers (I have these) to corral items you reach for the most (for me, that includes a lot of baking supplies) and use a label maker to easily identify them.

I used to have a massive bin with all of my packaging supplies loosely floating around. I now keep them in separate containers organized by category (ie decorative ties, cupcake liners, and bags).

My favorite new addition is the tiered shelving that allows me to stack items so I can see what’s in the very back.

I traded in my wire utensil holder (that was about 8″ too small) for one (here) that now fits perfectly and doesn’t wiggle around every time I open the drawer.

My various types of flour now line the top shelf. Since I use them often, but not on a daily basis, they didn’t need to be front and center on the bottom shelf.

Perhaps the smallest change that had the biggest impact: lined drawers. My old drawers suddenly feel new with sweet dotted liners.

Sprinkles, glitter, and food coloring now have a home in one, easy-to-grab basket.

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  • http://3-chic.com/ Nikki

    I’ve been meaning to do this forever – wonderful tips and inspiration!

  • http://adjectiverobot.com Allison Edrington

    It’s like a wonderland of organization …. amazing!

  • http://acupofmary.blogspot.com/ Mary

    How long can you keep everything like that!? Me not long)))

    http://acupofmary.blogspot.com

  • http://thestylistadiaries.blogspot.com Victoria

    That is all great organization. I used to have a lazy susan for my spices when I lived at home (rather, my mom did :) ) and it was so useful. I totally understand what you mean–I have 3 boxes of breakfast bars, completely forgetting I had the other 2. I need to organize my kitchen too!

    I love lined drawers. I have damask ones :)

    xo,
    Victoria
    http://thestylistadiaries.blogspot.com

  • http://debbiecutieface.com debbie

    I love the containers for the baking supplies! I should organize my kitchen…it’s a total mess.

  • http://silentloveyou.blogspot.com kelly

    i neeeeeed to organize my kitchen!! inspiration!!

  • http://mrtaylorandhislady.blogspot.com Mr. Taylor and his Lady

    oh goodness, i wish i could be this organized! but i feel like whenever i do it just goes back to being messy the very next day!
    xo TJ

    http://mrtaylorandhislady.blogspot.com

  • http://windycityfashionistas.blogspot.com Justyna

    I love looking at befores and afters of organization pictures. Everything looks so great now. I’m inspired :)

    http://windycityfashionistas.blogspot.com

  • http://thepinkmateproject.blogspot.com/ vanessa

    this is a good way to organize the pantry! I should do this!

    vanessa

    http://thepinkmateproject.blogspot.com/

  • http://www.thekinas.com Bettina

    Really good tips for organizing!

  • http://www.pure2raw.com Pure2raw twins

    love a good organized pantry! mine is almost there, just have a few things left to do :)

  • http://redcarpetcloset.tv/ RedCarpetCloset

    Nothing like good organization to inspire me!

    KB
    http://redcarpetcloset.tv/

  • http://itsanewday-kessler.blogspot.com/ Kessler

    Oh wow, what beautiful organization!

  • http://vintagediggs.com/blog/ Annie_VintageDiggs.com

    What a beautifully organized kitchen! I feel inspired to do some rearranging and spring cleaning. You’re making the rest of us look bad! Haha!

    xoxo,
    annie

    http://vintagediggs.com/2012/01/heels-to-clog-about/

  • http://www.savvyspice.net/ Dale @savvy_spice

    Love how you showed the before and after pics. It’s so entertaining and it’s inspired me to organize my closet.

    xoDale
    http://www.savvyspice.net/

  • http://www.thesemireformednerd.com julie @ the semi-reformed nerd

    I spy Stubb’s BBQ sauce in there. Way to put a little Texas in your pantry. ;)

    … oh, and now I feel the need to go organize my kitchen. It’s shameful.

  • http://Www.loveandido.wordpress.com Kerry

    Oh I just love this!! What r all the different types of flour I wonder??

    http://www.LoveandIDo.wordpress.com

  • http://justcallmetiffles.blogspot.com/ tiffany

    wow! I love when things are neat and organized it just makes everything much easier dont you think? I love the labled containers

  • http://hautestandards.blogspot.com B.Weber

    wow, you put a lot of hard work into it. It looks great!

    HauteStandards

  • http://thesomethingfabulous.blogspot.com Kate

    Wow, what a transformation! You’ve inspired me!

    xo Kate

    For more fashion, beauty, recipes, interior design and more, visit:
    http://thesomethingfabulous.blogspot.com

  • http://www.youtube.com/user/alelasirah Alela Sirah

    Such a good post! You are calling me out I need to get my cabinets together too!
    http://fashionablyspeakn.blogspot.com/2012/01/things-that-make-me-happy-this-week.html

  • http://geekyfashionista.blogspot.com/ Amanda

    WOW!! What a difference! Thanks for sharing! You’ve definitely inspired me to do some organizing of my own <3

    xoxo, amanda
    http://geekyfashionista.blogspot.com/

  • http://thebrightsideproject.blogspot.com Callie

    Emily,
    I love the popcorn bags you have in the packaging supplies bin! They’re adorable. Where did you find them?
    Callie
    http://thebrightsideproject.blogspot.com/

  • http://eastbayburbs.blogspot.com Kristen

    I finally started my organizing by tackling my bathroom. Can’t wait to start on my pantry….especially all of my baking supplies. Closet could also use some help!

  • http://excurlythoughts.blogspot.com just me

    i have to do this at my kitchen too… probably will find things i have lost time ago ;)

    http://excurlythoughts.blogspot.com/

  • Sara

    Um sorry, but had to hire someone to do this…?

  • http://www.belle-monde.com Belle Monde

    Great idea i got from you is to tie plastic bags with catchers.

  • http://Www.pretpenser.com V
  • http://jacklovesdanielle.blogspot.com/ danielle

    Good Job!!!

  • http://www.vanillaandroseblog.com Vanessa

    Great inspiration! I’m ready to go organize right now :)

  • http://diary.thetravelingheart.com thetravelingheart

    What great ideas! Thanks for sharing because you think some of these skills would be basic, but they weren’t for me either. <3

  • http://www.serendipityandthesailor.blogspot.com Erin

    Great suggestions for all of the handy organizers! You’ve inspired me to reorganize my mess of a kitchen!

  • Gildete Lima

    So awesome!!!!!!!!!

  • http://www.fineartstyler.com Stephanie

    These are some fabulous tips! We moved into an apt that has a TINY kitchen. There are several cabinets, but only ONE drawer…so I’ve had to get creative…so thanks for your post!

  • http://www.beckschiclife.com Rebecc @ Beck’s Chic Life

    This post makes me smile! I love an organized cabinet!

  • http://www.biologadesalto.com Janine França

    Oh my Gosh!!
    It was a crazy organization!
    good ideias

    xo

    biologadesalto.com

  • Belen

    Showing this to my husband, the chef in our house!
    His domain is the kitchen BUT I can never find anything when I want to bake. I would love to see everything.

  • http://livingchel.com Chelsa

    I love this! I need to do something similar in my house. I especially need organization for my tea because I have a zillion different kinds.

  • http://tomorrowsdust.blogspot.com/ Amy

    As a Texan, I love that Stubb’s Barbecue Sauce is front and center!

  • http://www.youtube.com/missmaviestar Mavie

    I recently did this to my kitchen as well! Lined, reorganized and everything…I felt like ten times better. I also used wood shine to make my cabinets look beautiful. Hoping to paint soon. Any recommendations? My kitchen doesn’t get much natural light so I need something light.

  • http://www.theprettyfactor.blogspot.com Erica

    I NEEDED this post! Thank you for sharing your tips!

    http://www.theprettyfactor.blogspot.com

  • http://www.mizzimeans.wordpress.com Kirsten

    I love organization! I just saved this page, the tiered shelving is genius*

  • http://www.styleisalwaysfashionable.blogspot.com Kate

    It looks amazing now! Where do you get your edible glitter from?
    http://www.styleisalwaysfashionable.blogspot.com

  • http://conniesnow.blogspot.com Connie

    An organized kitchen!!! Be still my heart!

  • http://www.sarahgolightly.blogspot.com Sarah

    Love being organized. You did a great job. I need to get to doing something like this with my kitchen. I’m just like you, I have tons of cooking supplies and ingredients that need to be organized and put in a proper order.

    xxx

  • http://sassysouthernliving.wordpress.com/ Lindsey Long

    Loved my pantry being organized, it makes life so much easier!

  • http://www.todaloos.com mikky

    Hi Emily,

    You should get a foldable footstool to leave in your kitchen. My father in law got us one, I didn’t think I would use it that much, but it’s super handy to reach those top shelves and since it’s foldable you can lean it against the side of your kitchen cabinets and it hardly takes up much space. We’ve had non-foldable ones before and it sounds super lazy, but sometimes you don’t feel like carrying them so you stand on your tip toes or climb on the counter, I’m so lazy sometimes!! So the collapsable ones are awesome cause they are so light and easy to carry that you use it more then a regular stool. I’m like you, always trying to get my place better organized, but half the time I reverts back to a mess – case in point my closet! Thought you might find the stool info useful. (btw, you can get some in funky colours like hot pink and purple now)
    :)
    mikky
    http://www.todaloos.com

  • http://Thefashionhive.com Frances
  • http://www.whtpaper.blogspot.com Cindy K

    LOVE this post! Very inspiring.

  • http://forelyse.com Elyse

    That looks amazingly organized! You definitely wouldn’t want to see my kitchen cabinets! Ha ha

    -Elyse
    For Elyse Clothing Online